Page 73 of Death of a Courtesan
‘How did they react to the news of our discoveries?’ Riley asked.
‘The father seems befuddled, and I don’t reckon he understood much of what we told him,’ Soames said. ‘Consumed with guilt for having let his daughter down, I shouldn’t wonder. But the uncle and aunt took it all in, that’s for sure. The look that passed between them was one of outright shock.’
‘Fear, more like,’ Carter added. ‘Anyway, we told the uncle that you’d appreciate seeing him here at the Yard tomorrow morning. Right put out by that demand, so he was. He said there was nothing more he could do to help but that he’d be here anyway.’
‘I’ll bet he will be,’ Salter said scathingly. ‘It’ll be interesting to hear what he has to say for himself this time.’
‘It will indeed,’ Riley said, glancing at the clock and standing to reach for his hat and coat. ‘Time’s getting on. If Mirabelle and Ray Clement don’t make an appearance tomorrow then we shall have to call them in as well and you’ll finally get your chance with them.’
‘I look forward to it,’ Salter snarled.
‘In the meantime, you’d best come with me. I’m for Battersea and Celeste Clement. Since we now have reason to believe that she’s not quite as innocent as she would have us believe, it would be better if I didn’t call upon her unaccompanied.’
‘Need a chaperone, do you, sir?’ Salter asked, grinning.
Riley treated his subordinate to a droll look. ‘Naturally, we won’t tell her that we are aware of her windfall, but we will make it clear that we’ve tracked down Adelaide’s solicitor and plan to visit him tomorrow in the hope of learning who benefits from her demise.’
‘Should prove interesting,’ Salter said, grabbing his own hat.
‘I want all of our suspects feeling desperate enough for the actual killer to do something foolhardy,’ Riley said. ‘Adelaide deserves justice.’
