less trouble. I was wrong. But maybe the police will leave Anton alone because they know—or think—Nutall killed Von Faber.”
Thalia said, “Maybe. But even if the police haven’t yet questioned him, that doesn’t mean they won’t do it soon. I do think Anton may know something no one else does. May I talk to him?”
Madame Ostrova eyed Thalia warily. “If I say no, what will you do then?”
“Nothing.” Thalia answered hurriedly, hoping somehow to win back Madame Ostrova’s former approval. “I won’t tell anyone anything. Only I’ll have to poke around while I’m clearing Nutall’s name, and who knows what I might stumble into that way?”
Madame Ostrova shook her head. “I will talk to him, not you. To me alone, he will tell the truth. Our name must not be dishonored by lies. If Anton is involved in this wickedness, he is not an Ostrova anymore.”
Thalia covered her mouth with her hand. “Don’t say that. Anton is always an Ostrova.”
“You don’t know anything about our family, Trader girl.”
“Don’t I? When we were children, I played with Anton and the others. I think I know everything that matters about the Ostrova family.”
Madame Ostrova drew a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. “Very well. What do you want me to ask him? I have questions of my own, mind. But I will share what I can with you.”
“If he wasn’t there on your behalf, why did Anton go to the theater? Nutall said he was on the point of leaving as Anton arrived. Who did Anton talk to? Did Anton see anything that seems suspicious now?”
Madame Ostrova held up her hand to stop Thalia. “Enough. Go home. I will send for you when I’m ready to tell you what Anton has done.”
“Can’t I just sit here and listen, quiet as a mouse, unless there’s something I need to ask him?”
Madame Ostrova shook her head. “A mouse you never were. I talk to him alone.”
“I’ll wait.”
“Not here.”
“I can’t just come and go as I please now. I’ll wait at the professional entrance, then. With Mr. Ryker,” Thalia conceded. “But I’m not leaving until I know what you find out from Anton.”
“Oh, very well.” Madame Ostrova rose and escorted Thalia back to the front room. “Sit. I’ll tell you when I’m finished.”
Thalia took the chair beside Ryker and listened so hard her ears rang, but she heard nothing once Madame Ostrova had retreated through the bead curtain. Not the slightest footfall told which way she had gone.
Ryker looked hopeful. “Are we done here?”
“Not yet. Now we wait.”
No one else came to the professional entrance while Thalia sat there with Ryker. There was nothing to read. Thalia had no desire to make small talk with Ryker. None of the things Thalia wondered about Ryker, she suspected, would fit into anything but the largest possible talk. She wasn’t yet ready to put that to the test.
Ryker, luckily, had no apparent wish to chat either. They sat in silence for half an hour. Thalia found it restful.
At last, the bead curtain rattled. “Come,” commanded Madame Ostrova. Behind her, Anton Ostrova stood chastened, eyes reddened. “Not you,” she told Ryker, who sank back obediently in his chair.
Thalia joined Madame and Anton Ostrova in the office. Before she could say anything, Anton Ostrova had seized both her hands in his. Even through the leather of her gloves, Thalia could feel how cold his hands were.
“I am so sorry, Miss Cutler, so ashamed of what I’ve done. Please don’t let my crime damage my family’s honor. If you can’t forgive me, try to forgive my family.”
“What crime?” Taken aback, Thalia glanced quickly from Anton to Madame Ostrova and back again. “What have you done?” If Madame Ostrova had discovered her son was the true culprit in Von Faber’s murder, surely this was not how she would deal with it?
“I stole a rifle from the tricks you and your family put in storage here. Your father trusted us and I have betrayed that trust.”
Thalia stared at Anton. “That’s where it went? You took it? Not Von Faber?”
Anton looked distraught.
“Go on,” Madame Ostrova prompted.
“I gave it to a girl.” Anton suppressed a sob. “I’ve known the rifles were there ever since Mother had me help with inventory. She asked me to help her get one, and I did.”
“Who asked you?” Thalia demanded, although she had a very good idea indeed whom Anton meant. “Which of your girls exactly did you give it to?”