Rita laughed and then grew thoughtful. “This case with the grandson. You need to talk to those friends of his. That’s the next bit. If it were you acting oddly or disappearing, we’d have the best idea of what was happening with you. Victor probably would, but he’s your twin. Not even Isolde would know since she spends so much time taking care of poor Tomas, and she’s your next closest relative.”
Violet grinned. “I tell her everything in letters.”
“We should plan a trip together,” Rita suggested. “Somewhere that Isolde and Tomas will be comfortable.”
Vi nodded. “Well, I suppose we should go talk to these poor friends of Jason’s.”
Rita started to nod and then glanced up when Ham and Jack walked into the room. Vi watched as Ham crossed to his wife, lifting her hand to kiss it before surreptitiously taking her pulse. The two women grinned at each other and then Rita said, “You need Vi for the Tapper sister. Vi may well be the only way to get her to speak.”
Vi snorted since Rita wasn’t even trying to hide her attempt to make Jack let her investigate as well, and given the expression on Jack’s face, he hadn’t intended to leave Vi behind regardless. Vi changed the subject, asking Ham, “But what did you find out from the brother-in-law of Mrs. Meyers?”
Ham shook his head and then sighed, sliding down to sit next to his wife, though never letting go of her wrist.
“Ham,” Violet snapped for Rita. “Stop taking her pulse. Use your eyes. Her cheeks are pink and healthy, she’s not wincing from pain, she clearly has energy. I thought you were an investigator.”
Ham scowled and eyed Vi darkly.
She gave him a cheery grin and a wink and then turned her gaze to Jack, who seemed to be examining Rita just as Vi had suggested.
“But what did you find out about the brother-in-law?” Vi pressed Ham.
“He despises his sister-in-law. Always has. He swore that the worst and most life-ruining choice of his brother’s life was marrying Bertha Meyers.”
“And the grandson?” Vi asked, suddenly thinking how very glad she was that she’d been far more careful in her choice of a spouse.
Ham shook his head while he slid his fingers down Rita’s wrist to hold her hand instead. “He has nothing good to say about the grandson, Jason. He likes the other grandchildren. He likes the daughter that you two met. Did you like her as well?”
Jack and Vi looked at each other and Vi answered. “I suppose we noticed that both mother and daughter reacted similarly. Is it because they’re versions of each other and both actresses? Or is it because the habits of the elder naturally migrated to the younger? I liked Mrs. Watkins much more, but I think I might be inclined towards believing an unloved daughter.”
“It’ll be interesting to see how the friends measure up,” Ham said. “Are you sure that you don’t want me to come?”
Jack shook his head. “We agreed that you should speak to Jason’s siblings if you can. We’ve established he’s a scoundrel, but where could he be? It’s very possible that he’s been able to convince one of his siblings or these Tappers to give him somewhere to stay.”
“It’s interesting that she wants to know her grandson’s location. Why?” Rita scrunched up her nose. “Surely, he’ll just come back when he runs out of money like he’s done so many times before.”
“That is a good question,” Ham told her, his fingers slowly, almost helplessly making their way back to her wrist.
Vi met Ham’s gaze, lifted a brow, and then, ignoring the way he was taking Rita’s pulse again, said, “Smith did say that he thought there was something funny about this case.”
“Smith?” Ham growled.
Vi laughed and her giggle was echoed by Rita’s. “Don’t bother. Rita and I were just as responsible for what happened in that pub. What I am saying is that Smith met this woman, right?”
Jack nodded. “He did. He was busy, and he referred her to Ham and me. Do you think she’s up to something?”
“Why would she be up to something?” Ham countered. He had the look of a man who was still irritated with Vi. They had the relationship of siblings, and given the look Vi was receiving, they were on the road to a small feud.
Violet followed Jack up the steps to Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Tapper’s house. Their children had agreed to meet with Jack today, but when they arrived, they weren’t there.
“I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Tapper said. “They’ve gone.”
The woman looked sorry. Her manners were demanding she apologize, and Vi guessed Mrs. Tapper was upset to be in this position. Violet tried to smile as she met the woman’s gaze. She had pretty green eyes and golden hair that was fading a little. Was her daughter as lovely as this woman? If so, Vi could understand why someone as self-absorbed as Jason Meyers would never quite let Miss Tessa Tapper go.
“I wonder,” Violet said with a commiserating grin as she hoped her thoughts didn’t show through, “if you can tell us if you’ve seen Jason Meyers?”
The woman’s face sealed over and Vi made a bet with herself that Jason’s grandmother wasn’t the only woman led on by him. “People are looking for him.” Vi said it as though she knew all too well that it was the authorities who were looking for Jason Meyers.
Mrs. Tapper’s gaze narrowed, unimpressed with the statement. “I’ve tried that angle.”
“Have you?” Violet asked. “The constables turned you away?”
“They can’t arrest you for giving money to someone willingly.”
Vi
