Murder at the Mayfair Hotel (Cleopatra Fox Mysteries #1)- C.J. Archer Page 0,88
that it? You’re manipulating me?”
Mr. Armitage’s eyes darkened. “I don’t want my position back. I have no interest in working at the hotel again. It’s time I moved on. In fact, I should thank you for giving me the push I needed, although your timing could have been better. My uncle is run off his feet.”
“He brought that on himself.” Uncle Ronald looked to me. “Cleo, why are you here?”
“I want to hear what Mr. Armitage has to say.”
He indicated we should sit. I did, Mr. Armitage didn’t. “So who is the thief?” Uncle Ronald asked.
“Mrs. Kettering,” Mr. Armitage said. “She’s been hiding the silverware somewhere on the fifth floor until she can smuggle it safely out of the hotel. All we have to do is catch her in the act.”
Uncle Ronald smoothed his moustache with his thumb and forefinger. “Are you sure it’s her?”
“Almost, but I prefer to catch her in the act of moving the stolen goods before I accuse her.”
Uncle Ronald nodded. “And I suppose you want me to hire you to catch her?”
“I’ll do this task for you gratis, if you stop punishing my uncle.”
“I’m not punishing him.”
“Then let him know you forgive him.”
“But I don’t.”
“Pretend,” Mr. Armitage all but growled.
Uncle Ronald stroked his moustache again. “I can order one of the staff to watch Mrs. Kettering. I don’t need to hire you, gratis or not.”
Mr. Armitage blew out an exasperated breath.
“He is the best choice,” I said to Uncle Ronald. “All the staff are currently too busy to be taken away from their regular duties. Besides, Mr. Armitage is very good at talking his way out of tricky situations. If Mrs. Kettering spots him following her, he’ll think of something to deflect her suspicions.”
Uncle Ronald’s gaze shifted to Mr. Armitage. “He is very good at lying.”
Mr. Armitage bristled. “Do you want to catch her or not?”
Uncle Ronald hesitated then nodded. “She’ll probably act tonight while the hotel is busy and everyone’s attention is focused on the ballroom. If anyone asks, say I’ve hired you back for the evening. That will give you a legitimate excuse to be here.”
“Thank you for your faith in my abilities, sir.”
“I never doubted your abilities, Armitage. You could have been manager one day.”
“He still can be,” I said, hopeful.
“No,” both men said at the same time.
I could say something about stubborn men, but it wouldn’t have achieved anything. I simply sighed and rose to leave.
“Did Cleo help you discover the culprit?” Uncle Ronald asked. “Is that why she’s here?”
Mr. Armitage stared at him for a long moment. “She—”
“No, I didn’t help,” I said before he could tell the truth. “Mr. Armitage returned to the hotel earlier and spoke to Mrs. Kettering alone. I saw him come out of her office with an odd look on his face, and that’s when he told me he’d solved the crime.”
Mr. Armitage turned his glare onto me. I lifted my chin and glared back.
“So how did you discover it was her?” Uncle Ronald asked Mr. Armitage.
I opened the door and ushered Mr. Armitage out. “There’s no time to explain now. He has work to do.” I closed the door, but not before I noticed the amused gleam in my uncle’s eyes.
“You can’t come with me,” Mr. Armitage said. “Two of us watching her will be too obvious.”
“I don’t plan on coming with you. The theft is your mystery to solve, not mine.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re not going to attempt to solve the murder alone, are you?”
“I believe we agreed to leave it to your father. Peter really did just telephone Scotland Yard.”
We parted ways at the staircase. He headed up and I went to my suite. But I didn’t stay inside for long. I couldn’t stop thinking about the murder and Edith’s involvement. Had she been complicit? Did she willingly hand over the key to her lover so that he could poison Mrs. Warrick in the night? Or had he stolen it from her? Had she known Hookly intended to kill Mrs. Warrick, or had it come as a shock?
Despite promising I wouldn’t investigate, I felt compelled to. After all, there was someone close by who could give me a clue as to Edith’s reaction on the morning she discovered the body. The guest opposite Mrs. Warrick had seen her both before she went in and immediately after. If anyone could speak about her initial reactions, it would be him. And he was just one floor below.