Page 16 of Murder on Harley Street
“Or whether anyone else had access to the cupboard where the Electro Therapy Machine was kept.”
“Ah,” I said, realizing what he meant. “If it was locked, just like the front door, the killer would have neededbothkeys. But we’ve only been asking about the key to the clinic, not the one that locked the cupboard door.”
“Precisely.”
“The killer may have picked both locks.” It was a consideration we’d overlooked earlier. “I can’t believe we didn’t think of that immediately.”
“To be fair, we were distracted.”
“By what?”
“I was distracted by you, and you by me.”
“You don’t distract methatmuch, Harry.”
He smiled into his coffee cup.
I cleared my throat and took a sip of my coffee, too, while avoiding looking directly at him.
He lowered his cup to the desk. “I had another look at both doors when I went back yesterday. There were no signs of forced entry, and no scratches around either lock, but that doesn’t rule out the use of lockpicking tools altogether.” He passed me his notebook, opened to a page showing a list written in his neat hand. “What do you think of the plan of attack for today?”
“I think it’s a good idea to start with the manufacturer. The more we know about the device, the better armed we’ll be when we question the suspects.”
We finished our coffees and Harry pocketed the notebook. As he assisted me into my coat, his fingers lightly brushed the back of my neck. Then he kissed the bare skin there. I turned and tipped my head back to receive a kiss on my lips.
When we drew apart, our fingers remained twined together. As we were both wearing gloves, it wasn’t as intimate as it could be, but the touch still felt as thrillingly improper as the kiss. If my family knew what Harry and I were doing in the privacy of his office, they’d be shocked.
I quickly withdrew my hand and retrieved my umbrella while he collected the empty cups.
Harry seemed to guess the direction of my thoughts. “What excuse did you give your family for being out all day?”
“I haven’t. I didn’t see any of them before leaving the hotel. I’ll have to think of something by the time I return, though. There’s an exhibition at the Tate Gallery. I could say I was there.”
“All day?” He opened the door for me. “I think you should say you’re helping me with this case. Sir Ronald hasn’t forbidden you to see me if we’re investigating. And it is the truth.”
“But he loathes me investigating murders. He thinks a lady detective should limit herself to finding missing puppies.”
“Perhaps it’s time he knew just how many murders you’ve solved. You did his friend an enormous favor last time. I think he can overlook your penchant for murder cases now as thanks.”
I wasn’t so sure. My favor for Lord Kershaw had been repaid by Uncle Ronald when he allowed me to continue to see Harry at all.
Harry locked the office door and followed me down the stairs. “Is the Tate open on Sundays?”
“Are you going to take me to the exhibition? That would be lovely. I do want to see it.”
“I was thinking you could use it as an excuse when you join us for lunch. My parents asked me to invite you.”
I glanced at him over my shoulder as we descended the staircase to street level. “All right, unless your mother plans to interrogate me.” Harry’s adoptive mother was very protective of her only son. Although she seemed to have forgiven me for getting him fired from his job as assistant manager at the hotel, I often wondered if she had, deep down.
“I doubt she will. She wants to mark the occasion with joy.”
“What occasion?”
He flashed his dimples. “You’ve forgotten.”
I gasped, then followed it with a groan. “It’s your birthday. Sorry, Harry. I did forget.” I placed a hand to his chest and stood on my toes to kiss him. “I’ll make it up to you by buying you a special gift.”
He circled his arm around me and gently pulled me against his body. “More of this is gift enough.”
