Page 26 of Dirty Looks

“What exactly does a house manager do?” Martinez asked.

“Anything and everything to make sure the lives of the family run smoothly. I organize everyone’s schedules except for Mr. Lidle, as he has his own private secretary. I pay bills, hire staff, oversee raises and bonuses, coordinate events with vendors, and communicate with local charities about donations. On top of that I make sure the house is always presentable and ready for company should the need arise.”

“That’s an important job,” Martinez said. “You must know everything about this house and the people in it.”

The way Martinez said it had Astrid licking her lips nervously. “Of course. It’s my job.”

“You were saying Mrs. Lidle didn’t like to be disturbed before noon?” he asked, leading her back into the conversation.

“Yes, well, I came straight in and got to work, and I didn’t think about going up to the nursery to see if Ms. Kitty was still there with Evie. Normally she makes her way down whenever she rises and gets ready for the day. Molly always keeps fresh scones and pastries and hot coffee available on the sideboard in the mornings since no one prefers a hot breakfast. Ms. Kitty has always been very independent for as long as I’ve known her.”

“How long is that?” Martinez asked.

“It’ll be twenty-five years this August,” she said. “I answered their employment advertisement as soon as I graduated from university. Mr. Phin and Mr. Everett were both still in high school, and Ms. Janet was just starting seventh grade. The Lidles liked for all of their staff to speak multiple languages because of the children, so they flew to Copenhagen to meet me in person.They arranged everything for me to come back to America with them.”

“When was the last time you saw Evie and Mrs. Lidle?”

“It was before six,” she said, licking her lips. “I went up about half five to see if I could remove the dishes from dinner, and while I was there Ms. Kitty asked if I’d make her some chamomile tea as she wasn’t feeling too well.”

“Did she and Evie both eat the chicken soup?” I asked.

“No, ma’am,” Astrid said. “Only Miss Evie ate the soup and some sourdough bread. The dishes were empty when I came to get them. She must have been starving after not being able to keep anything in her stomach for so long.”

“You brought the tea up for both of them?” I asked. “There were two cups.”

“Out of habit,” she said. “But Miss Evie doesn’t like tea, so I knew she wouldn’t drink it. I would normally bring her hot chocolate before bed, but I didn’t think she was quite ready for that yet.”

I tucked away that bit of information. The lab would test the cups to make sure, but if Evie was the only one to eat the soup, and Kitty was the only one who drank the tea, then that made our theory about being drugged a little more complicated.

“Had Mrs. Lidle been drinking when you saw her last?” Martinez asked.

Two spots of color appeared on Astrid’s cheeks. “Molly shouldn’t have said that. It’s not our place to speak out against the Lidles. What they do in their personal lives is of no concern to us.”

“Molly said not many people know about her drinking,” he pressed on. “I assume you know?”

Astrid exhaled slowly, obviously trying to measure her words. “Of course,” she said. “She says she can’t sleep without having something to calm her nerves. She’s always struggledwith having a peaceful sleep, ever since I’ve known her. She told me once she didn’t like the darkness. A drink or two before bed helps her relax.”

“Had she had anything when you brought up the tea?” Martinez asked.

“It’s hard to say,” Astrid said. “I didn’t see any glasses in the nursery, but like I said, she wasn’t feeling well. But when she drinks she usually starts before the dinner hour. You’d be better off asking Molly that question. Sometimes Ms. Kitty and Molly willtippletogether, as Molly so indelicately put it.”

“What happened after you brought the tea?” Martinez asked.

“They were fine,” she said, almost pleading with us. “They were both fine. Ms. Kitty was sitting in the pink lady’s chair next to the window, pouring her tea, and Miss Evie was reading a book on the rug. I brought the supper dishes back to the kitchen and loaded them in the dishwasher and wiped down the counters. Ms. Kitty asked me to set the alarm before I left so I did. And then I locked the door behind me and went home. It doesn’t make any sense. They werefine.”

Her voice had a ring of hysteria to it, but the facts remained that she and Molly were the last two people to see Evie alive.

“And then when I came in today I didn’t think to check on either of them,” she said, panting for breath. “I was worried about what Mr. Lidle would say if everything wasn’t perfect for his guests. I had a list of calls to make—the florist, musicians, extra security since there would be dignitaries on-site. I didn’t go check on them right off. Maybe if I’d come in earlier I could have made a difference.”

“No,” I told her. “Evie was taken last night. There’s nothing you could have done.”

“Ms. Kitty never would have let anyone take Evie if she’d been able. She would have fought. Ms. Kitty was no one to be messed with, especially when it involved one of her children.She’s a formidable woman. She was always protective of the children.”

“I imagine she’d have to be to run her family’s empire for as long as she did,” Martinez said. “You mentioned that you left and went home last night. Where is home?”

“About a mile south,” she said. “There’s a road that cuts behind the stables and the staff cottages are located there.”

“Which staff live there?” Martinez asked.

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