Frank couldn’t imagine prancing around naked in front of people, but since Roderick helped Devries dress and undress every day, he supposed Devries would’ve thought nothing of it. The question was, did he think nothing of being naked in front of his son, who might’ve stabbed him in the back when he took off his robe?
But what would the son have stabbed him with? Frank didn’t see an ice pick or even a hat pin lying around.
“So Devries was just walking around the room, naked?”
“He was eating a walnut.”
“What?”
“A walnut.” Roderick indicated the bowl on the table near the fireplace. “Mr. Devries is…was very fond of walnuts.”
Frank was fairly certain Devries hadn’t been stabbed with a walnut. Or a nutcracker either. “Then what happened?”
“Someone knocked on the door. I thought it was the girl bringing up the breakfast tray, so I opened the door, but it was Mrs. Devries.”
“And she came in?”
Roderick flinched a little at the memory. “Yes.”
Frank could imagine her reaction to finding her naked husband standing there eating a walnut. “Did you leave the room again?”
“Very quickly.”
“And did you hear—”
“Before I left, I heard her say Paul had told her about their argument, but I didn’t listen to any more. If you want to know what they discussed, you will have to ask Mrs. Devries.”
Frank couldn’t imagine doing any such thing, but maybe Sarah could do it. Did women talk about things like that? He had no idea, but he would find out. From Sarah.
“Did Mr. Devries put his robe back on when his wife came in?”
“No. At least not that I know of. He was still naked when she left and I returned to the room.”
“Maybe he thought if he was naked, she’d leave.”
Roderick had to make an effort not to smile. “Or at least not stay as long.”
“Then what happened?”
“I brought him his underwear, and he started to dress, but the girl finally delivered the breakfast tray, and he stopped to eat.”
“Was he still naked when the girl delivered the tray?”
“Not completely, no.”
“Did the girl see him?”
Roderick stiffened again.
“Did the girl often see him naked?” Frank guessed.
“Mr. Devries was not a modest man.”
“Did he make use of the maids?” Frank understood this was not an uncommon practice in wealthy households.
“Oh, no, not…not at all. He just liked to shock them, I think.”
The maids and his wife and his son. Very interesting. “He ate his breakfast. Then what?”
“He finished dressing. Then he left the house.”
“To meet with Mr. Angotti.”
Roderick had no reply to that.
“And he never mentioned being injured or having pain or anything like that?”
“I don’t recall anything out of the ordinary. Mr. Devries was not a man to complain. He felt it was a sign of weakness.”
“Too bad. It might’ve saved his life. I don’t suppose Paul Devries is at home.”
“Yes, but he has a visitor.”
“Does he now? Who is visiting him?”
“I’m sure that’s none of your business.”
“Maybe I’ll just go see for myself. I think I remember where the parlor is.”
Roderick flushed with the effort of holding his temper. “Mr. Hugh Zeller arrived to offer his condolences.”
“And who is Mr. Zeller?”
“Mr. Paul’s oldest friend.”
“Then he’s like a member of the family. I’m sure he won’t mind if I ask Mr. Paul a few questions.”
“You can’t—” Roderick protested, but Frank was already in the hallway. He found the main staircase with no trouble at all and was halfway down them when Roderick caught up.
“At least let me announce you!”
Frank knew this was not a task someone in Roderick’s position would ever stoop to, so he agreed, wondering why Roderick was so protective of Paul Devries.
The parlor door was closed, and Roderick knocked rather loudly and waited for a summons before entering. “Mr. Malloy from the police is here. He’d like to speak with you, Mr. Devries.”
Frank didn’t wait for a reply. He had to give Roderick a slight shove, but he managed to squeeze through the door before Devries could refuse to see him.
While Roderick stammered an apology for Frank’s rudeness, the two young men standing in the middle of the room gaped at him. Hugh Zeller was a strapping fellow with chiseled features and a lot of money to spend on clothes.
“Excuse the intrusion,” Frank said when Roderick at last fell silent. “I need to ask you a few questions before I go.”
Paul glanced at Zeller, as if asking permission or perhaps seeking advice. Zeller simply shrugged.
“I suppose it would be all right,” Paul said. “Just a few, you said?”
“That’s right.” Frank looked at Roderick expectantly.
Plainly, he didn’t want to leave, but he said, “If you need me, Mr. Devries, I’ll be right outside.”
This made Zeller grin, and when Roderick had closed the door behind himself, he said, “I guess Old Roderick is afraid you’re going to give Paul here the third degree.”
“What’s the third degree?” Paul asked.
“Where they beat a confession out of you,” Zeller said.
Paul saw no humor in that. “Do you really beat people?”
“Only if they don’t answer my questions,” Frank said, making Zeller grin again.
Paul actually blanched, but Zeller said, “He’s just teasing you.” To Frank, he said, “I tell him all the time he’s too serious.” Zeller clapped a hand on Paul’s shoulder and said, “Let’s sit down so Mr. Malloy can do what he needs to do and get on with it.”
The two men sat side by side on a sofa, and Frank chose a nearby chair.
Paul wrung his hands. “I don’t know what I can tell you, Mr. Malloy. I don’t have any idea what happened to my father.”
“I’m just trying to figure out everything that happened that day, and you can help me by telling me what you saw. Roderick said you went to see your father that morning in his room.”
Paul glanced at Zeller, who nodded encouragement. “Yes, I…I was only there a few minutes.”
“What did you talk about?”
He stiffened. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
“Roderick said you argued.”
Paul flushed. “We often argued.”
Zeller placed a hand on Paul’s shoulder. “Was it about me?”
“No!” Paul shook off the hand and glared at Frank. “It had nothing to do with his death.”
“How can you be sure?” Frank asked.
“He can’t hurt you anymore,” Zeller said. “Why would you want to protect him?”
“I don’t want to protect
