With the information he’d gotten recently, it had all come together, and William was certain Patrick was the man who had killed Harding and Mrs. Johnson. His acting abilities and stage makeup had convinced William he was ill and then grieving. William was certain Whitney had switched the trust by forging Harding’s name to the document replacing the trustee, then killed Harding before he could learn of his perfidy.
William approached the house carefully. If he was correct in his assumptions, Patrick was the owner of the gun that had been used to shoot at him and Amy the night they broke into Harding’s house. He was also the person who had stolen the ledger from Amy to continue with Harding’s blackmailing scheme and had most likely taken William’s appointment book, which might have supplied an alibi.
He wanted to make this seem like a friendly visit and ensure that Whitney was unaware of his intentions before he pulled out his gun and tied the man up in preparation for the police to arrive.
He planned to offer a smug smile to the two detectives when he told them their concentration on him as the murderer had once again proved their incompetence.
William paced outside the house, hoping Marsh and Carson would catch up to him so he wouldn’t have to face Patrick alone. Eventually, afraid Patrick might see him and try to leave out the back way and disappear again, he climbed the steps to the front door.
It took a few minutes for Patrick to answer. He wasn’t wearing any stage makeup and looked quite fit and hardy. “Good morning, Patrick. I just came by to see how you were doing.” William edged his way into the house.
“Nice of you to stop by, Wethington, but as you can see, I am quite well.” Patrick did not look inviting and frowned as William stepped past him and headed to the drawing room.
William turned as Patrick followed him in. “You look as though you’ve recovered nicely from your illness. And the grief of Mrs. Johnson’s death.”
Patrick scowled. “Yes. I just told you. I am doing quite well.”
It might have been wiser to wait for the detectives to arrive, but since he had no way of knowing how long it would take, he didn’t want to give Patrick the chance to abscond.
“Have you seen your stepmother? She was concerned about you.”
Patrick snorted. “No. I haven’t seen her yet.”
William took a seat, looking as though he intended to make this a lengthy visit. Patrick sighed and sat across from him. After a few minutes of banal bantering, Patrick stood. “If you will excuse me, I need to retrieve something from my bedchamber.”
William also stood and took out his gun. “No. I don’t think so.”
“What’s this about, Wethington?” Patrick asked. “Is there a reason you are pointing a gun at me in my own home?”
“I know you killed Harding, Patrick. The police are on their way. I have evidence that you changed the trustee on your stepmother’s trust to your name the week before Harding died.”
Patrick shrugged. “So? He asked me if I would take over because it had become too burdensome for him.”
William needed to remember that the man was an actor. “I don’t believe you. Also, you told me your father left you a considerable amount of money as well as two businesses. I saw the will, Patrick. He left you one pound.”
“Yes, he did, the bastard!” Patrick slammed his fist into his hand. “He left it all to Carol, but then tied it up in a trust so she couldn’t get at the money either.”
“You were in the King’s Garden the night Lady Amy and I spoke with Mrs. Johnson, weren’t you? You killed the woman who took you in and provided you with an alibi.”
“No. He didn’t.”
William’s head whipped around at the female voice coming from the doorway. Carol Whitney pushed Amy into the room, a gun at her back. “I killed Millie Johnson, because this sneaky bastard was having an affair with her.”
She narrowed her eyes at William. “Drop the gun, or your lover here will get a bullet in her sweet little head.”
William felt all the blood drain from his face, almost to the point of making him dizzy. This woman who had just admitted to killing another woman in cold blood had a gun pointed at Amy’s head.
He immediately placed the gun on the table in front of him. “Let her go, Mrs. Whitney.” William raised his hands and stepped back from the table. He could feel the sweat trickling down his back. “I will not touch the gun or move in any way toward you or Patrick.”
“Patrick?” She snarled. “Ha! That snake betrayed me.” She swung around and aimed the gun at her stepson. “I killed my husband for you! We were supposed to be together, with all his money. Yet after Harding died, you disappeared. I had to act the fretting, nervous stepmother and ask these people to find you.”
It appeared that both Carol Whitney and her stepson possessed acting skills. And she had killed not only Mrs. Johnson but also her own husband—Patrick’s father? The woman was deranged, and he had to get Amy out of here. Fast.
“Mrs. Whitney. I ask you once more. Please let Lady Amy leave.”
“Cease!” She pointed the gun away from Patrick and aimed it at William. “I will decide who leaves and who stays.”
If he could keep her talking and if the detectives arrived soon, they might get out of this mess. A couple of ifs, but it was all he had. Keeping Patrick in his view, he turned to Mrs. Whitney. “I doubt they were having an affair, Mrs. Whitney. Mrs. Johnson made an appointment with Lady Amy and me. I’m sure she was going to tell us Patrick killed Harding.”
Mrs. Whitney waved the gun around, taking all of William’s breath from his
