A Spear of Summer Grass - By Deanna Raybourn Page 0,115

were barely acquainted. If you think I know anything else, I can only say you are barking up entirely the wrong tree.”

“Am I?” I shifted and the white silk slipped a little off one shoulder, showing a bit of flesh that was every bit as smooth and white as the fabric itself. The inspector’s eyes dropped to my skin. He leaned nearer still and I caught the smell of tobacco and bay rum and hair oil. “I want the truth. Are you and the Masai known as Gideon lovers?”

I miscalculated the slap a little. I wanted to hit him squarely on the cheekbone. If you aim it just right, you can actually split the skin on the ridge of the bone, leaving a spectacular mark. But I rushed it and caught his temple. My ring cut into his hairline and a bright line of blood appeared, marking the path of my hand like a river on a map. His head snapped back, but his body didn’t move. He must have been expecting it, which was a dangerous thing. It meant he was far more experienced in these matters than I was and he was willing to risk a minor assault to get what he wanted.

He never took his eyes off mine. He reached into his pocket for a handkerchief as a few bright drops of his blood fell into my lap. I watched him press it to his temple as a slow smile crept over his face. He rose then and took out a card. He dropped it on the table.

“I will be in touch, Miss Drummond.”

When he left it was with a bit of a swagger, and I lit a fresh cigarette, wondering how much damage I had just done.

21

The next morning a council of war was held at Fairlight. I had sent out a summons, asking Tusker and Rex and Ryder and the Halliwells to come. Rex was in Nairobi making funeral arrangements for Kit, but Tusker and Ryder appeared with Jude in tow. Dora came with Mr. Halliwell, although Evelyn stayed behind to mind the school. Helen was there, looking older and more fragile, a damp handkerchief clutched in her hand. We convened in the drawing room to compare notes. Ryder was the last to arrive, hollow-eyed with fatigue and shaking dust out of his hair.

“Where’s Gideon?” I asked him.

“In the barn. He couldn’t stay in his village. The police have already been there again asking questions. We’ve been one step ahead of them for the last day and night. It’s only a matter of time before they find him.”

“We cannot let that happen,” I said flatly. I turned to the others. “I wanted you to come because we must devise a plan to protect Gideon.”

Helen spoke up, her voice sharp with emotion. “We can’t take him. That’s far too obvious. Ours will be one of the first farms they search, as will Nyama.” Tusker nodded. Jude said nothing, and Halliwell frowned. Dora was busy passing out sandwiches, although no one ate. I turned to Halliwell. “Can you keep him for a little while at the school?”

He gave me a sorrowful look. “I’m afraid not. He was a student there. It’s only logical that they would search the place, and I cannot let that happen. I have the children to consider.”

I thought of Helen pounding drinks back with both fists as Halliwell leered at her cleavage and I stared him down. “What about friends of yours? I know the mission has connections all over Africa. We could put him in touch with one of them and send him out of Kenya altogether.”

He hesitated and I pushed forward. “We just need time. I talked to the inspector yesterday and I think he is fixed on Gideon because he’s the easiest suspect. Once he finishes his inquiries and doesn’t turn up another suspect, he’ll stop looking. He will bring a case against Gideon and he will make certain Gideon hangs. Can you live with that? Because I can’t.”

Halliwell’s eyes slipped away from mine as Ryder spoke up. “The inspector hasn’t fixed on him because he is easy. He has evidence.”

“What evidence?” I demanded.

“They found a bracelet at the scene, a Masai piece, and the colours indicate it came from Gideon’s village.”

I opened my mouth in astonishment, but before I could say a word, Jude broke in.

“I’ll take him.”

“The hell you will,” Ryder cut in. “You heard what Helen said. Nyama is one of the first places they’ll search. Besides,