Page 79 of Garden of Lies

“What was that about?” Brice demanded. He swallowed another dose of brandy, loosened his tie and glared uncertainly at Slater. “Why did the American try to murder you?”

“It all goes back to the Olympus Club,” Slater said. “That is why I wanted to talk to you tonight.”

“But I am not a member. I don’t see how I can help you.”

“You may not be a member but your social world is a small one. You no doubt know some men who do belong to the club. I’ve been away from London too long. I don’t have the connections I need to get answers.”

Brice reflected. “I’ve heard one or two mentions of the Olympus. Very secretive.”

“We believe that the management of the club makes a certain drug called ambrosia available to the members,” Slater said. “The killings appear to be linked to the trade in the drug. Lady Fulbrook is evidently growing the plant from which the stuff is derived.”

“Lady Fulbrook?” Brice shook his head. “That makes no sense.”

“It does if one considers that the ambrosia business is apparently quite lucrative—so much so, in fact, that we believe Fulbrook may be in business with an American businessman named Damian Cobb. Thus far three people are dead—a courier, a drug maker and a certain Mrs. Wyatt, the proprietor of a brothel named the Pavilion of Pleasure.”

Brice’s expression tightened in a troubled frown. “I’ve heard talk of that house. Supposed to be very exclusive.”

“When you’re talking about brothels the wordexclusivecan have a great many different meanings,” Slater said.

“True,” Brice agreed. “But I seem to recall overhearing someone say that the Pavilion accepts clients by referral only.”

“Whatever the case, Mrs. Wyatt and the other two murdered people all had one thing in common,” Ursula said. “All three were involved in the ambrosia trade.”

Understanding settled on Brice. He switched his attention to Slater. “You believe that little man who attacked you tonight killed those three people?”

“I’m quite certain he murdered Wyatt and Rosemont,” Slater said. “I’m not entirely sure that he killed Anne Clifton. It’s possible she died accidentally from an overdose of the drug.”

Ursula clasped her hands very tightly together. “I am certain Anne was murdered.”

Slater let that go without argument.

“Why would anyone commit murder because of a drug?” Brice asked. “It’s not as if drugs are illegal.”

“Opium is legal but for centuries wars have been fought over it and fortunes founded on the trade,” Slater said.

Brice grimaced. “I take your point. The opium business has a very violent history. A damned pity, given the great medical benefits of the drug.”

“There’s another factor involved here that may explain the violence we are seeing,” Slater continued. “In the past few years the attempts to regulate opium and the products derived from it have started to gain momentum on both sides of the Atlantic. There is talk now of making such drugs illegal altogether. If that happens, the business will be driven underground.”

“Where men like Fulbrook and Cobb stand to make huge profits,” Ursula said. “Assuming they can control the trade.”

Lilly swirled the brandy in her glass. “Viewed from that perspective, the ambrosia offers an unusual business opportunity. Opium is widely available from many sources. It will be impossible for anyone to establish a total monopoly. But as far as we know the ambrosia plant is still quite rare and hard to cultivate. If a strong, ruthless individual can establish control of all ends of the trade, he might be able to establish a very lucrative empire.”

They all looked at her. Lilly smiled sweetly.

“Slater’s father always said that I had a head for business,” she said. “Edward wasn’t all that interested in such matters. He always took my advice when it came to investing the Roxton fortune.”

There was a short silence.

Ursula cleared her throat. “Evidently you did very well when it came to that sort of thing.”

“Yes,” Lilly said. She swallowed some brandy and set the glass down. “I did very well by the Roxton money. Which is, of course, why Edward was always so generous to me.”

Ursula smiled. “He paid bonuses and commissions, didn’t he?”

Lilly raised her brows. “I assure you I earned every penny.”

“If we might return to the matter at hand,” Slater said.

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