Page 29 of Murder on Harley Street
The finger that touched mine now hooked around it. “She isn’t the only one who admires you for your skill as a detective.”
“Thank you, Harry. That is very sweet.”
“I do admire you for other reasons, too,” he quickly added. “Not just because you’ve helped my business.”
I laughed at the panic in his voice as he tried to clarify his response.
“There are many, many reasons I admire you,” he went on. “Your kindness, bravery, insight into the human character…”
“You’d better stop there. It’s starting to rain, and an omnibus is coming.” We could have walked back to the hotel, but at least we’d keep dry on our journey and it would get us there faster.
Once seated in the cabin, we discussed in low voices what we’d learned from the interrogation of the Iversons. When a woman sat beside Harry, we stopped talking altogether and traveled the rest of the way in silence. As the omnibus drove down Regent Street, however, Harry and I turned to one another as we passed number fifty-nine. We both had the same idea, but didn’t discuss it until we alighted outside the hotel.
“I’ll wait at the rendezvous point tonight at nine and see if someone comes,” Harry said.
“Wewill wait there together,” I countered. Before he could protest, I pointed out that nine wasn’t too late. Respectable people were out and about, coming and going from the theater or parties.
“That’s the problem,” he said. “We shouldn’t be seen together.”
“I’ll wear a cloak and keep the hood up at all times.” I spied Frank watching us as he opened the door for two guests to enter. “Collect me from across the road here at eight-thirty. That will give us plenty of time in case the letter writer is early.”
We greeted Frank amiably and received a grudging, “Good afternoon,” in response. It was a positively friendly greeting for Harry, considering Frank had sided with my uncle when Harry was dismissed from the assistant manager position. Frank tended to side with my uncle on most things. He was a loyal employee, a quality I admired, even though it was sometimes misguided.
Although October was a quiet month for the hotel, the foyer was quite busy. Late afternoons tended to be one of the busiest times of the day, with ladies coming and going from the main sitting room for the Mayfair’s famous afternoon teas. Mr. Hobart and Peter, the assistant manager, were chatting to different parties, while the front desk clerk was on the telephone. The lift door opened and Floyd emerged. He struck a direct course toward Harry and me, but before he arrived, two elderly ladies who recognized Harry from when he was assistant manager drew him away.
Although Floyd regarded Harry with a flinty glare, it was me he wanted to see. “Have you seen Harmony? I need to speak to her.”
“I’ve just come in. Is something wrong?”
“You mean aside from you being here with Armitage?”
“He needs to talk to Uncle Ronald, as it happens.”
Floyd’s eyebrows rose. “He’s not coming back to work for us, is he?”
“Lord, no. As part of his investigation, he stumbled across something that affects the hotel. A man may be intending to sabotage Mr. Lombardi’s event.”
Floyd’s gaze sharpened. “Is this an investigation that you are conducting with him?”
“Is that the first question you wish to ask? I thought you’d be more concerned about the potential sabotage.”
He tugged on his cuffs. “I am. Although I’m conflicted. I would rejoice to see Lombardi fail, and not just because of his tonic. Harmony and I had a long meeting with him today. He treated her poorly.”
“Oh dear. Because of the color of her skin?”
“It could be that, or it could be because she’s female and in a subordinate position to him. He was a little too tactile to be considered a gentleman.” He put up his hands and wiggled his fingers. “After she slapped his hand away when he went to touch her, I had to tell him not to do it again or he’d be looking for a new venue for his presentation.”
“Well done, Floyd. Is Harmony all right?”
“She’s more all right than I am, or seems to be. I’m worried Lombardi will complain to Father who’ll take out his irritation on his favorite whipping boy.” He poked himself in the chest.
“He won’t do that. He’ll be on your side, once he knows the details.”
“I don’t trust Lombardi to give him the correct details, but you are probably right. Knowing what we know about the Nerve Elixir, Father is unlikely to think favorably of Lombardi.” He smiled at a regular guest who passed by. Once the gentleman was out of earshot, the smile vanished. “So you haven’t seen Harmony? Lombardi has changed one of his requests for the event and I need to inform her.”
“Have you checked the staff parlor? She often enjoys a cup of tea in the afternoons with the others.”
He pulled a face. “It’s not my place to enter their domain during their time off. You shouldn’t go in either.”
