Murder on Charles Street - Leighann Dobbs Page 0,14
under her breath, she dodged around the desk and cut off Emma’s escape. Her pet huddled around her prize, hunching her head low. Katherine used her fingers to pry loose the wooden handle—she dared not contemplate what of—from between Emma’s teeth. “Haven’t you learned your lesson about consuming things that don’t belong to you?”
“Get out.” Mr. Gammon turned his frigid gaze to Lyle, who took the censure in stride.
Matching the man for frostiness, Lyle informed, “I’ll escort her.”
Katherine unfolded her frame, Emma cradled between her arms to keep her out of mischief. Despite not finding the papers she had come to retrieve, she retreated from the room. The back of her neck prickled until she reached the door, Lyle at her heels.
He didn’t leave her there, but followed her all the way to her townhouse. Bitterly, she said, “I didn’t need your escort home. I wasn’t going to try to sneak in again.” At least, not while Mr. Gammon is still there.
“He has a point, and one you should take heed of if indeed the victim was murdered.”
Katherine rounded on her friend. Emma wriggled in her arms, but she held the dog tightly. “You called him a victim. You think I’m right.”
Lyle hesitated. “After all our years together, I’ve learned to trust your sense. But I need further proof, and I won’t find it if you rile the victim’s son to the point that I can’t question him. Please, stay at home for the time being.”
Her breath fogged the air between them as she struggled with the request. Katherine was a detective. She searched for evidence—she didn’t sit home and wait! “Will you visit later to tell me what you’ve learned?”
Lyle nodded.
Not ideal, but at least she wasn’t being cut out of the investigation altogether. “Then I’ll stay home. For now.”
The door swung open to reveal Harriet, color flushing her cheeks. “There you are! When you disappeared with the others, I thought you’d accompanied them back to Lord Annandale’s residence. And in that dress, too!”
Katherine stifled a sigh. “I took Emma for a walk to Number Four to learn more about the investigation. But it seems I’ve been ejected from the premises for now.”
Harriet danced from foot to foot. “Is there something I can do? A cup of tea?”
Katherine started to nod then paused. “Actually, I think there will be something you can do for me. I promise to stay indoors if you will ask along the street. Perhaps someone noticed something strange. And ask if Dr. Gammon had any other servants coming in. We should question them as well.”
“Now?” Harriet cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t you have an event to prepare for?” Her gaze dipped to Katherine’s clothes, which Harriet had chosen this morning.
Katherine held her tongue. “I can ready myself.”
Harriet snorted.
Scowling, Katherine thrust the dog into her maid’s arms. “Very well, first help me dress. Then ask questions. Does that sound acceptable?”
Lyle shoved his hands into the pockets of his greatcoat. “Waiting would be a splendid idea, if you don’t mind. I have a few matters to consider at the crime scene, but I’ll accompany you once I’m finished. It’s getting dark, and I need to ask some of those same questions for our records. What do you say we ask them together?”
Harriet looked from Katherine to Lyle and back again as she shifted Emma’s weight onto one hip. “I suppose we might. Very well, Lady Katherine. Let’s ready you for the musicale.”
Chapter Five
Harriet tugged on Emma’s leash to keep the dog in line next to her and Lyle. With his shoulders hunched near to his ears, Lyle hadn’t said a word to her since she’d exited the townhouse despite the fact that they’d called on half the houses along Charles Street. This wasn’t out of character for the inventor, whose focus often wandered to problems no one else could see. However, he usually didn’t volunteer to keep her company.
“You didn’t have to walk with me, if you’ve other matters to attend. I could have inquired on Lady Katherine’s behalf on my own,” Harriet said.
Snow crunched beneath his boot as he sidestepped a slick of ice. Under the darkening sky, the light spilling from the lanterns hung in front of every house cast eerie shadows over his face. He frowned. “I’m not accompanying you for Katherine’s sake.” He turned his face away, his cheeks pink from the cold. “Like I said, I have questions of my own to ask.”
“In that case, I can ask them for you.”
Harriet didn’t know