Page 55 of The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
Ethan pulled a scone off a tray. “So is there anything that goes on around here that you don’t know about?”
“I don’t know if the tea tray was tampered with or by whom,” James said shrewdly. “And I don’t know where Eleanor is.”
Maggie felt Ethan glancing at her, as if he’d noticed it, too, but neither asked when James had started calling Eleanor by her first name and notMs. Ashley.
“There’s a gun missing from the game room,” Ethan said with the kind of calm that you can only have when there’s never been a doubt that you’re a badass.
“I saw that.” James studied Ethan from over the top of his glasses. “I also noticed that at some point yesterday afternoon, someone removed the firing pins from the remaining rifles.”
Ethan’s grin was slow and slightly crooked. “Someone did.”
James nodded slowly. “Can I assume that someone could replace one of the pins should the need arise for a working rifle?”
Now Ethan was serious. “Someone could.”
“Good.” James went back to his eggs.
“We have to ask, where were you when the shooting started?” Maggie said, and James nodded as if he’d asked himself that question at least a dozen times.
“I cannot say for certain, as I did not hearthe shots, but I was clearing the morning room when I heard Miss Honeychurch scream because she’d found Sir Jasper.”
Ethan glanced at Maggie, who nodded. That tracked. They’d both seen James rush up the stairs behind them.
“Can you think of anyone who might have had a reason to hurt Eleanor?” Maggie watched James turn off the stove, then move the eggs off the heat, buying time as he considered the question. He didn’t look like a man who was trying to find a lie—it was more like he was trying to carefully word the truth.
“Eleanor Ashley is a strong and powerful woman. Wealthy. Independent. And there will always be those who resent that.”
Maggie felt herself leaning closer.
“And...” Ethan prompted.
Even though they were the only people in the room, James lowered his voice. “A few months ago, she started making phone calls. To her attorneys. I believe she was considering changing her will.”
Maggie had no idea what they might pay junior barristers at the firm of Proctor, Banes & Jones but clearly it wasn’t enough, because Freddy Banes III was sitting alone in the breakfast room, scarfing down food like he hadn’t eaten in weeks.
“This is good,” he mumbled with his mouth full, pointing at the eggs. “Do you want some?”
“No—” Maggie started at the same moment Ethan said, “Yeah.”
He grabbed a plate off the sideboard and started filling it, but Maggie just looked at the man she hadn’t paid much attention to before then.
Freddy Banes was in his late twenties, she presumed, with the kind of unobtrusive face that might be called cute or nice-looking but would never be considered handsome. He had the look of a man who would always be a boy, and there wasn’t a doubt in Maggie’s mind that he would grow a little more forgettable every day as he slid toward middle age.
“So how long have you beenEleanor’s attorney?” Maggie asked as he took a sip of coffee.
“Oh.” He laughed. “I’m not. I mean I am. But I’m not. You know?”
Maggie looked at Ethan, who shrugged because they didn’t know, actually. Which was why she’d asked the question.
“Ms. Ashley has been with the firm for ages. With my grandfather. And my father. But I’m just...”
“Baby Banes,” both Ethan and Maggie filled in.
“Exactly. Say”—he eyed the food behind Maggie—“can you pass the bacon?”
Maggie turned to the sideboard. She saw something that looked like ham and a tray full of sausages but no...
“It’s there. On the left,” Baby Banes said.
