The King's Evil

'Indeed?' mumbled the other.

'You know that it is so, Mr Creech. And that is my first question. Why were they not told? What kind of husband keeps something as important as this from his wife?'

'It is not for me to speculate.'

'Sir Ambrose had a reason to conceal that house from them.'

'I suppose that he must have.'

'What was it, Mr Creech?'

'I can only guess,' said the other evasively. 'Sir Ambrose Northcott was a close man. He took nobody into his confidence.'

'Except his lawyer.'

'Only in respect of legal matters.'

'Building a new house is a legal matter,' Christopher reminded him. 'You drew up the contracts and visited the site while Sir Ambrose was away. That brings me to another point. Where did he go during those three weeks?'

'It is a private matter, Mr Redmayne.'

'I need to know.'

'Well, I am not able to tell you.'

'But it may have a bearing on his death. Something may have happened during that time while he was away which led to his murder.' He spread his arms questioningly. 'Do you not want this crime solved?'

'Of course.'

'Then give me some help. Where was Sir Ambrose?'

'I wish I knew.'

'Surely he confided in you?'

'I knew only that he was going away on business. He often did that. I never pressed him for details of his wherabouts.'

'But you must have had some inkling where he went.'

'No, sir.'

'I think you are lying.'

'You may think what you wish.'

'I am minded to shake the truth out of you.'

'If you do, my clerk will fetch a constable to arrest you.' , Christopher stood up abruptly and leaned across the desk.

'Who killed him, Mr Creech?'

'How should I know?'

'Because you were closer to him than anyone else. Sir Ambrose trusted you. He told me so himself. His business affairs must have brought in an enormous amount of contractual work for his lawyer.'

'That is true,' conceded the other.

'Then you were more aware of his activities and his movements than anyone else.' He remembered the look of surprise on the two faces at Priestfield Place. 'Far more aware, for instance, than his own family. They were kept wholly in the dark, it seems. Come, Mr Creech. You must have your suspicions about the identity of the killer. Reveal them. Who were Sir Ambrose's enemies? Who were his rivals?'

'Mr Redmayne—'

'With whom did Sir Ambrose do business?'

'That is confidential information.'

'Heavens, man! This is a murder investigation.'

'In which you have no rightful part.'

'Give me some names!'

'No!' howled Creech. 'I'll not be interrogated like this!'

'I need your help.'

'Well, you will not get it by forcing your way in here and trying to intimidate me. Nobody is more eager to have this crime solved than I am, believe me. The death of Sir Ambrose Northcott has left me with the most extraordinary amount of work to do on his behalf,' he said, waving a hand at his desk. 'I have to process his will, write countless letters to inform people of his demise and take over the running of his business affairs until someone else is appointed to do so. With all that pressing down on me, I do not have time to indulge in pointless guesswork with you.'

'It is not pointless. You know those names.'

'I know only what Sir Ambrose permitted me to know.'

'What was the motive for the murder?'

'Good day, Mr Redmayne.'

'Where should I start looking?'

'Anywhere but here!' affirmed Creech. 'The only legitimate business you have with me regards the house and I can assure you now that the contract will not be revoked. Though the house will not be built, you will not lose the entire fee. Compensation will be paid.'

'That is the least of my worries at this moment.'

'It is among the most immediate of mine. I like to keep things neat and tidy, sir. It is a rule of mine. Funds will soon be released to all the parties involved. Mr Littlejohn will get his money. So will you. And so will your brother.'

Christopher frowned. 'My brother?'

'Yes, Mr Redmayne'.

'Monies are due to him as well?'

'Did you not realise that?'

An unsettling thought came into Christopher's mind.

'Tell me more, Mr Creech,' he said.

Seated among his cronies at the coffee house, Henry Redmayne held court. Days after the murder of Sir Ambrose Northcott, the event still continued to dominate the conversation and, as a known associate of the dead man, Henry was accorded a great deal of respect and attention. He enjoyed his moment of celebrity.

'I did warn him,' he said airily, sipping his coffee then holding the cup aloft between finger and thumb. 'Sir Ambrose had many enemies but he would go abroad without due care. I offered to be his bodyguard on many occasions but, alas, he spurned the suggestion. Would that he had not, gentlemen! My sword would have saved him. Sir Ambrose would even now be sitting here with the rest of us. I grieve for him.'

Henry gave a theatrical sigh but his grief was shortlived. When he caught sight of his brother, he quickly put down his cup and excused himself from the company. Christopher was bearing down on him with a scowl which promised a stern reprimand and Henry did not wish to receive it in front of his friends. Intercepting his brother, he guided him to an empty table in the corner of the room.

'What a pleasant surprise!' said Henry, taking a seat.

'It is more pleasant than the one I have just had,' returned Christopher, remaining on his feet. 'I come from the offices of Solomon Creech.'

'And?'

'He tells me that you are to receive a percentage of my fee.'

'The treacherous devil!'

'Is it true, Henry?'

'Sit down a moment.'

'Is it or is it not true?'

'I am saying nothing until you sit down,' said Henry, conscious that everyone was now looking at them. 'And lower your voice while you are at it, Christopher. I do not want the whole world to know my business.'

Christopher sat down. 'It seems that you did not even want your brother to know your business. This is