he arrived. Sitting in Haynes’s cluttered office, Frank spent the time mulling over all that he had learned about Chilton Devries. Usually, when he investigated a murder, all he needed to do was figure out who would profit most from the person’s death. In this case, however, he wasn’t even sure the person who stabbed Devries had intended to kill him. The weapon—which might’ve been a nut pick, of all things—wasn’t particularly large or dangerous enough to give the person wielding it confidence in its ability to do serious damage.
No, the incident that caused Devries’s death had probably been a spontaneous act of anger or frustration meant only to cause him pain or divert him from causing it to someone else. If Felix Decker had left it alone, that person would have gone unpunished but rightly so, in all probability. And Roderick would still be alive. If Sarah felt guilt about that, Frank felt even more. He should have used his considerable skill to force Roderick to tell him everything he knew about Devries’s encounters with his family when he’d first had the chance. Instead he’d chosen to bide his time and win Roderick’s cooperation. That decision had cost Roderick his life.
When Doc Haynes finally returned to his office, he plopped wearily into his chair and peered at Frank with bloodshot eyes. “Killers have no imagination, Malloy.”
“If they did, maybe they could figure out a better way to deal with their problems.”
“You’re probably right. The whiskey had been laced with arsenic, just like you thought. Rat poison, straight out of the box. It works pretty fast if you take enough of it, and there was plenty in the bottle. I’m surprised he didn’t balk at the taste.”
“He’d only had a glass or so, judging from how much was left.”
“So maybe he did notice the taste, but he’d already drunk enough. Any idea who did the deed?”
“Yes, unfortunately. A bunch of swells.”
Haynes muttered a curse. “Poor fellow. He was the butler or something, wasn’t he?”
“Valet to Chilton Devries.”
“Oh, the one I saw last week.”
“Yeah, and I wanted to ask you something. Do you think a nut pick could’ve made the wound that killed Devries?”
“A nut pick?”
“Yes, that thing you use to pick out the inside of a walnut when you’ve cracked it open. It’s about this long —”
“I know what it is. Would it be sharp enough?”
“It’s got a point, and if somebody stabbed hard enough, I think it would probably break the skin.”
Haynes considered the possibilities. “Could be. It’s the right size and shape. What made you think of that?”
“Devries liked walnuts. He was always walking around, eating them and dropping the shells. And one of the nut picks is missing from a set he had in his bedroom.”
“So you need to find out who has the missing nut pick.”
Frank was very much afraid he already knew.
SARAH’S PARENTS HAD LONG SINCE WITHDRAWN. GARNET and her mother had easily dealt with the trickle of mourners who found them, accepting their condolences with such a blatant lack of appreciation that they soon fled.
At last Paul appeared, followed by Hugh Zeller. He hurried to Garnet’s side. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” she said with a small smile.
“This must be ghastly for you.”
“No worse than it is for you, and Mother has been keeping me company.”
Paul seemed to notice his mother-in-law for the first time. “I’m so glad you could be here for Garnet, Terry. Thank you for coming.”
She seemed almost offended by his gratitude. “I would do anything for my daughter.”
Paul gave her a crooked smile. “I know, but this must tax even your motherly devotion.”
Some emotion flickered across her face, but she returned his smile with a sad one of her own. “Nothing could do that.”
Paul turned back to Garnet. “Have you eaten anything?”
“No, she hasn’t,” Mrs. Richmond said.
“Let me take you to the dining room, then. You can see my mother and my sisters there for a few minutes, then go back to your room.”
“I couldn’t eat a bite,” Garnet said.
“You won’t have to. Just stand there looking appropriately somber and murmur your thanks if anyone speaks to you. I’ll make sure you don’t have to stay long.”
Hugh Zeller stepped forward. “And I’ll escort you, Mrs. Richmond. Two pariahs together,” he added with a knowing smile.
His frankness seemed to disconcert her, but she rose and took his offered arm. They waited for Paul and Garnet to precede them, but as they moved to the door, Garnet stopped. “What about Mrs. Brandt? You’ve been so quiet, I almost forgot about you!”
“Don’t worry about me,” Sarah said. “I’ll find my parents.”
“Sarah?” Paul peered at her with a puzzled frown. “Sarah Decker?”
“I’m Sarah Brandt now, Paul. It’s nice to see you.”
“It’s nice to see you, too, but what on earth are you doing here?”
“Paul!” Garnet said in dismay.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” he said. “It’s just that I haven’t seen you in so long and…I’m surprised you’re here today.”
“Mrs. Brandt is my friend,” Garnet said. “She came to support me.”
This news surprised Paul even more, but he seemed pleased by it just the same. “Then I’m very grateful to you.”
“I’m glad I could come,” Sarah said.
“Hugh, would you escort Mrs. Brandt as well?” Paul asked.
“I would be delighted.”
Paul quickly introduced the two.
As they moved out of the room and down the hallway toward the dining room, Sarah tried to hear what Paul and Garnet were saying to each other as they walked on ahead, but Zeller distracted her.
“Paul called you Sarah Decker. Are you any relation to Felix Decker?”
“He’s my father.”
“Ah, then perhaps you know why he’s so anxious to blame someone for old Devries’s demise.”
Zeller’s smile was charming and his tone light, but Sarah saw the sharp intelligence in his eyes. He was more than a little interested in her reply. “He and Mr. Devries were old friends.”
“Then he must know whoever killed Devries did us all a favor.”
Beside him, Mrs. Richmond stumbled, and he caught her.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m sorry,” she said unsteadily. “I just…Perhaps I’ll go back to the parlor and wait for Garnet there.”
“Would you like me to go with you?” Sarah asked.
“No, no, I’ll be fine. I just…I’m not looking forward to seeing Mrs. Devries, and I’d rather not cause a scene. For Garnet’s sake, you understand.”
“Of course,” Zeller said. “Although her scenes can be amusing if one isn’t involved in them.”
Mrs. Richmond smiled weakly. “I’m sure. Please tell Garnet where I’ve gone.” Before they could reply, she fled back down the hall.
“Do you think she’ll be all right?” Zeller asked Sarah.
Sarah had no idea. “I’ll be sure to check on her in a few minutes.”
But when she did, Mrs. Richmond was gone.
SARAH HAD BEEN WAITING FOR MALLOY ALL EVENING. AS she had half expected, he
