Page 89 of Murder in Moonlight
“Couldn’t they just have askedyouwhatever they wanted to know?” Mrs. Winsom said.
“They would not believe anything I said. I am a suspect, after all. We all are.”
“Don’t,” his wife said shortly. “The situation is distressing enough.”
Solomon lifted his napkin to his mouth and let it fall. Constance knew it would be now. Of the servants, only Richards remained in the room, and the subject had been raised perfectly.
Solomon said, “At least it should be quickly over now. I believe they are closing in on the culprit.”
Everyone stared at him. He certainly had their attention, and they all looked anxious.
“What makes you say that?” Randolph asked uneasily.
“I’ve been talking to them, and their line of reason and evidence is very similar to my own. If I know who killed Mr. Winsom, so do they.”
Constance played her part, speaking into the uneasy silence with a deliberate trace of mockery. “Yes, butdoyou know, Mr. Grey? Or are you just speculating, as I’m sure we all do privately?”
Solomon gazed from her to Davidson and onward around the table. Constance looked too, observing the stunned and uneasy faces, until she came to Solomon’s own. There was no doubt that he dominated the room.
“I have proof, of course. The only question I have in my mind is what I should do with it.” He fixed his gaze on Mrs. Winsom. “We all know this was a vile and heinous crime. Whatever the circumstances, murder cannot be tolerated. And yet the punishment of the perpetrator affects everyone concerned, almost as much as the original crime. The scandal may be great. Perhaps you, as the victim’s widow, should decide what must be done in order to keep your family safe.”
“I?” Deborah squeaked. “What am I against the power of the law? Which I amnotagainst, in any case!”
“Of course you are not. Nor am I.”
“You owe it to us to tell us what you know,” Davidson said, shoving his plate aside.
“That isn’t necessarily the case,” Solomon argued. “I know who committed this wicked act, but I don’t know why. I’m not sure the why matters, although the law prefers it, so perhaps we should too. So here is what I propose…”
Here it comes,Constance thought uneasily.Will they believe in his arrogance? Allow him to take control in this way?Davidson and Bolton were frowning. Alice looked unexpectedly dazed. Randolph seemed impatient, as he often was. Mrs. Winsom was clearly frightened. But only Ellen looked angry.
“I shall keep the name of the culprit to myself for tonight, giving him—or her—the chance to explain to me why they did this thing. Once I have this last fact, I shall lay the whole before Mrs. Winsom. Or before the police, whichever she prefers.”
“You cannot lay such a burden on my mother!” Miriam burst out. “Has she not suffered enough?”
“Too much,” Solomon said gently. “Which is why she needs to choose the best way to spare herself and her children yet more. Obviously, if Mrs. Winsom refuses to hear, then I shall go straight to the inspector. I know I should in any case.”
“Do you expect us to confess over the dinner table?” Ellen demanded fiercely.
“Of course not. Immediately after dinner, I shall retire to the library and remain there all night. If the murderer comes to me and explains, then I will have a complete picture to present to Mrs. Winsom.”
“To all of us,” Miriam said tensely. “We should all decide. Except the person who killed my father.”
“Perhaps. Either way, we will have to agree to abide by whatever decision is made.”
“But you said the police have solved it, too,” Constance argued.
“Suspect, not yet solved. I have the proof.”
“Which you would really destroy if my mother asked it of you?” Randolph said in a voice of disbelief, overlaid with contempt.
“Sometimes justice needs to be flexible.”
“Not in this country!” Albright said angrily. “The law is absolute and with reason. There is no justification for murder!”
A look of weariness crossed Solomon’s face. “When you have knocked about the world as much as I have, you learn there are circumstances which might justify almost anything. My proposal is not to create anarchy but to protect friends.”
“One law for this household and another for the rest of the country?” Ellen exclaimed.
