Page 87 of The Trick of the Treasure
“I heard you two had involved yourself in this business.” He glared at Constance. “Haven’t you had enough?”
“Lord, no,” she said affably. “How are you, inspector? Sergeant Flynn. Do I need to introduce you to Miss Lloyd and Captain Tybalt?”
“We’re very glad to see you,” Solomon said. “Because we have found the treasure and, we think, the murderer of Mr. Clarke. Perhaps you would care to join us in breakfast?”
“I would not,” Harris said bitterly. “But I have the nasty feeling I’m going to need all my strength to deal with the next couple of hours.”
*
Fortunately, the policemenhad brought their own rickety carriage, so although they all traveled in caravan, they had room to pick up Ben Devine on the way.
“Why him?” Constance asked in clear surprise.
“Why not?” Solomon replied. “I feel everyone concerned should be in at the—er…final act.”
Constance was no fool. She continued to hold his gaze until his lips quirked without permission.
“And because I am not yet entirely convinced,” he admitted. “If Barnabas murdered Clarke, why wait until now to do it?”
“Because we had just told him Clarke was Samuels and he guessed the man had stolen his treasure?” Constance suggested. “Or because he guessed Miss Lloyd was involved with him once more? Or the combination was too much for him.”
Audrey said, “He is the sort of man who believes he is different from the rest of us who must follow the law or be punished. Barnabas is above all that.”
“But he is not violent, is he?” Solomon said. “He has subtler means of getting his own way, of bullying. You may well be right that something simply snapped inside him. Everyone has a breaking point, after all. I’m just not convinced quite yet that this was his.”
“It’s never easy to suspect a client,” said Constance, who had fought for a long time against suspecting their last employer. “And we certainly need to talk to him. Toallof them, I suppose.”
To his visible outrage, Ben Devine was more or less forced to travel with the policemen. Constance smiled out of the window at him.
Although it was full daylight by the time they drew up to the Lloyds’ Mayfair house, it was still ridiculously early for a morning call.
Garrick admitted them with some consternation, for there were far too many of them to stuff into the usual small salon near the front door. Then Audrey stepped out from behind Captain Tybalt and said, “Don’t worry, Garrick. I’ll take everyone up to the drawing room. You had best tell Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd that their presence is requested.”
“Also Mr. Sydney,” Solomon said, “and the young ladies.”
“Ladies?” Garrick repeated in clear dismay. “You want Miss Rachel there too?”
“If possible. She is the most observant of the household, I have found.”
“Yes, but—”
“Don’t worry, Garrick, I shall look after her,” Audrey said.
“Very good, miss.” He bowed. “And may I say how very good it is to see you back home?”
Audrey looked more dismayed than charmed by this accolade, though she nodded polite acknowledgment and led the way upstairs to the drawing room. Here, even before everyone had sat down, they were joined by Barnabas Lloyd himself, who strode in like a whirlwind, his gaze sweeping around until it landed on Audrey, who alone did not rise from the sofa. Beside her, Tybalt stood, though with more intent to guard, Solomon felt, than submit.
“Audrey, thank God!” Lloyd exclaimed, starting toward her with his arms held wide. “Have you any idea how worried we were? What on earth were you thinking about to disappear like that without a word?”
“You mean behave like you?” Audrey said, her voice level and dispassionate.
He closed his mouth, apparently stunned by her answer, or perhaps only by the fact that she chose to give one rather than apologize. His arms dropped back to his sides. Then, as though seeing the captain for the first time, he blinked.
“Tybalt? What are you doing here at this hour? Is all well with the ship?”
“I assume so, although I have no knowledge of it. I merely accompany Miss Lloyd.”
An ugly look sprang into Lloyd’s eyes and quickly vanished again, possibly because he had already noticed the policemen, to say nothing of Devine, Solomon, and Constance. Still, it was enough to make Solomon think again.
