Page 52 of Ghost in the Garden
“Four or five, they think.”
Solomon nodded thoughtfully. After a moment, he became aware that the other two were gazing at him, as though waiting for something.
“You didn’t askhowhe died,” Kemp said.
“Violently, I would guess.”
“You guess correctly. What is your interest in the matter, Mr.”—Kemp glanced at the cards before him on the desk—“Mr. Grey?”
“I have been investigating the collapse of the tenement in St. Giles.”
“Grey and I represent a charity working for better housing,” Sir Nicholas intervened, by way of explanation. “We were eager for Gregg’s prosecution, along with anyone else associated with him in the ownership or upkeep of the building.”
“Well, you can’t prosecute him now,” Kemp said. Impossible to know if it was a matter of satisfaction or disappointment to him.
“But we could go after any partners,” Solomon said.
“He insisted he acted alone in that and certain other ventures,” Kemp said. “And only his name is on the title deeds.”
“Other ventures such as the building next door? Mr. Kemp, where do those rents go? Mr. Gregg’s people assured me they were paid into a bank account.”
“It will all be looked into now. He had several bank accounts, personal and business ones.”
“Do you happen to know who is his heir?” Solomon asked.
Kemp hesitated. “I have already told the police, so I suppose it doesn’t matter if you know. His brother does, after all.”
“His brother is his heir?” Solomon said, disappointed at the disproving of his theory.
“No. His elder brother, Mr. Alfred Gregg, knows he isnotthe heir. Huxley Gregg changed his will a year ago to leave everything to his ‘friend and associate of many years,’ Mr. Caleb Lambert. I imagine the elder Mr. Gregg is grateful for the distance between them since the scandal of St. Giles. He resides mostly in the country, which is why I was called upon to identify the body.”
Got you, thought Solomon savagely.
Only he hadn’t. The inheritance was an undoubted motive for murder. But it was not proof. The body in the cellar had been that.
Constance had been right last night. They should have followed the donkey into the Devil’s Acre.
*
Constance did notstay long at home, only enough to sort out a couple of minor squabbles and speak to everyone. They were managing perfectly well without her—they always did, which was somewhat lowering when she liked to think she was necessary to the whole business. She approved a prospective new girl—a very young one given to theft whom they would have to watch carefully, though at the moment she was too sick and too grateful for a bed to give them any trouble.
Besides that, there was the small matter of a load of furniture and boxes that had been delivered to the establishment and which clearly belonged to her mother. At least she had taken the threat of Boggie seriously, which was such a relief that Constance bade her people store it all in the cellar. After all, she had a discreet arrangement with the local police.
“Evenings are good,” Maggie reported. “But all the gentlemen are asking after you. You’ll have to put in an appearance soon.”
“I will,” Constance said vaguely, and set off for the Silver and Grey office.
As she opened the front door with her key, her mother emerged into the hall. “Afternoon, Con.”
“Good God. What areyoudoing here?”
“Minding your shop. Himself is out, and so’s the girl.”
Constance closed the door, removed her hat and coat, and walked purposefully into her own office, where she all but fell over a trunk and a carpetbag.
She stared at her mother. “Have you moved in?”
“Nah, moved out. Your Mr. Grey told me he had premises.”
