All those present heard the music - and then Rendell's voice.

"Excuse me. Would you stop playing now?"

The music died away ... one of the musicians seemed to be muttering.

Then, at a distance .. Rendell again. "Excuse me, ma'am. Are these your gloves?"

There was a pause ...

And then a woman's voice said, "Why ... "

Then the tape cut out.

Oswald frowned. "I couldn't tell who the voice was, could you?" he asked.

"I couldn't this time," said Adrian , "one more play-through, maybe, and I
might have it, though."

"One of them was that butler," said Mabel. "I don't know who the woman was, though. Let me play it again."

Now that she knew which section of tape was wanted, it did not take long to rewind it to the head of that section. Mabel eased up the volume and played the conversation again.

The conversation was played again. The one voice was definitely Rendell's ... the other was unclear.

Then they heard the sound of voices coming back into the Hall.

"Say nothing of this," said Oswald hurriedly to all those who had gathered to listen. "Not for the moment - we may be able to use it."

Mabel nodded. She quickly stopped the tape, then hit the switch to rewind it to the beginning.

Soon the party who had discovered Josette made their way back to the Great Hall.

The people who had been left there were standing in a group, discussing something, it appeared, but they moved to look at the new arrivals.

"Mary!" said the Rector warmly. "Are you all right? It was not you who screamed?"

No," said Colin. "It was Miss Bellesur. Who, for some reason, locked your wife in the drawing room and entered Mrs MacKenzie-Brown's rooms. I think she should perhaps explain it to us all.

"And I'd also like to hear from Dr Marsden and Dr Campbell why they were suspicious of her in the first place.

"I suggest everyone finds seats," he added. "Getting to the bottom of this could take time."

Garreth took a seat not far from Colin, but one where he could see most of the others' faces.

Sandra resumed the chair nearest the fire. "Josette was caught eavesdropping earlier on Mr. Arthur and Mr. St. Pierre. Dr. Campbell wished to talk to her about it, and asked if I would accompany him when he did." She pulled a cigarette case out of her pocket and extracted one of the remaining cigarettes from it, lighting it up before continuing. "I wasn't particularly suspicious of Miss. Bellesur before, but now that we've caught her snooping around in Selina's room, I think there's a bit she does have to tell us."

The former barrister looked to the chanteuse. "Before you answer any such questions, I think it would be best to hear your account of the happenings?"

Josette gulped, clearly looking uncomfortable and indecisive, "Where would you like me to begin?" she asked.

"Perhaps you could begin with the alleged eavesdropping," Garreth suggested.

"Oh...that wasn't 'alleged', Josette informed him, "Dr.Campbell caught me trying to listen through the door on Will and Zap. You see, I had just had a private conversation with Will and when Zap came up and asked to speak to him privately," Josette shrugged apologetically, "I couldn't help but be curious."

"So," said Colin. "Would you like to tell us what you overheard - and whether it was this that sent you to search Mrs MacKenzie-Brown's room?"

"Go on," Eversham said. His sister had gone to bed, pleading a headache, which was an annoyance -- she was not liable to be necessary, but in the event she proved to be, she should have to be summoned and brought down again. Still, that bridge could be crossed when it was reached.

The Earl would wait to reveal the matter of the gloves ... and to press for more information. Perhaps the Belesur would provide something worthwhile in that line, though he rather doubted it.

David took a seat similar to the one he had taken last night and sat with his hands folded. His eyes focused on Josette and tried not to stare as he listened to her start her account.

He did not speak, but his eyes and ears were focused intently on every word.

Will was acutely conscious of the way several pairs of eyes seemed to light on him at this point. He lit a cigarette, looking, if not nonchalant, at least relaxed, though clearly interested in what was going on.

Selina slumped in a velvet lady's-chair nearby, a tear-track trailing mascara a little way down one cheek; dazed-looking, sallow and lost in her unforgiving gray woolen shawl. It wasn't clear whether she understood or was even listening to the brandishing of verbal rapiers about her.

Zap spoke up from the chair he'd found against the wall of the room. "All I will say..." His voice was very quiet as he looked Josette in the eyes, "that what goes around, comes around." He scratched absently at his ankle.

Josette looked uncomprehendingly at Zap, her glance trailing distractedly down to his ankle.

"Oh for heaven's sake!" Dr. Marsden exclaimed. "Will someone please illuminate the rest of us what the discussion between Mr. Arthur and Mr. St. Pierre was all about?"

Josette flashed Dr. Marsden a dirty look, "Might I suggest the next time you wish to know the contents of a private conversation you do the eavesdropping yourself? Yes...yes..." Josette waved her off, rolling her eyes, "I know... it is beneath you."

Sandra took a long drag of her cigarette before answering. "Actually... no. But such things do have consequences, as I and others, have discovered," she said calmly. She glanced at Oswald and Lucinda before returning her attention to Josette.

"Colin, that's not really the point at the moment, if you please?" Garreth said, obviously upset with Zap's seemingly immature response.

"So, you were eavesdropping, caught and then what? You returned to the Hall and then left with Mrs Roberts..." he prompted.

"Please continue from there."

 

Eversham looked sideways at Mr. Arthur, and said, "If Mr. Arthur doesn't wish to speak, he needn't. But secrecy brings problems of its own."

He extracted a cigarette from his case, tapped it on the lid.

"Foremost of these," he went on, "suspicion. Are you the murderer, Mr. Arthur? The cross thief? A royal assassin, an international spy? Until we know the gist of your discussion, and your desperation for secrecy, the rest of us, you will understand, have legitimate cause to wonder ... and some of us to fear."

"We all have private concerns and things we're not likely to share with just anyone, Lord Eversham," Garreth soothed.

"We're not discussing what was heard, but what occurred after. Miss Beleseur, if you would please continue..."

Zap shrugged. "I'm sorry you feel that way. I am not a murderer. Nor am I a thief -- or I haven't been since I was a child, hoisting odd bits on the East Side of New York City to sell and buy penny candy with. Couldn't hoist the candy itself." He chuckled. "If you think I have time for the rest while making movies, then you know nothing about making movies.My life is rather an open book -- I refer you to Life magazine and every gossip columnist in America ." The thought of that group getting hold of all this made Zap shudder. He continued, more soberly, "But the private conversation I had with Mr. St. Pierre was, as far as I'm concerned, private." He gazed at Josette. ~And if you hadn't decided to snoop on it and get caught, I wouldn't be having this conversation.~ He returned his gaze to Eversham. "So, what do you intend to do with me? Send me to bed without supper? -- a crime, that would be," he added sincerely. "Lock me in my room? Keep me under close personal watch at all times? All for the crime of having had a private conversation?"

It was the longest speech he had made in...quite some time, and he was quite astonished that he had done it.

Dr. Marsden blinked at the eloquent monologue. "I see..." she said, smoke idly drifting up from her cigarette forgotten in her hand.

"Mr. Arthur... there is only one thing I care to know... did your conversation involve either the Verrisay Cross or the murder of Mr. MacKenzie-Brown?" Dr. Marsden asked directly.

"It did not," Zap said, "except tangentially. And there are few conversations in this place that do not involve those subjects, except tangentially." He'd learned that word from Julius. It was the first time he himself had ever used it.

"Forgive me if I came across a bully, Mr. Arthur," Eversham said easily.

Zap only looked at him. His voice was quiet, but very stubborn. "I don't like bullies." ~You want bullies, Eversham? Try growing up on the East Side and being off your street.~

Eversham lit the cigarette, and leaned back on the sofa, crossing his leg. "I merely meant to state your position as I see it.

"Here, right now, among we civilians, you may not feel at liberty to reveal the nature of your discourse with Mr. St. Pierre -- and naturally that is your prerogative." He took a drag, and blew it swiftly to one side to continue.

"However, when the police become involved in the matter, your situation may alter. It will almost certainly come to their attention, when the story of Miss Belesur's scream comes to light, and then you will be obligated to risk whatever implication in the murder it might reveal."

"Those are proper authorities. You are not."

Lord Eversham glanced around the room, and decided to make a general announcement. He said:

"I think it advisable to discover the murderer's identity. If we do, we are at far less personal risk for our lives -- and in addition whatever personal information one wishes kept secret will be subject to far less circumspection by the police, when they become involved. They will have their culprit, and concern themselves with saddling him with enough evidence to earn a conviction.

"If that is our objective, I think it wise to lay what cards on the table as appear relevant. This conversation, between two Americans -- the two of whom we have been told have no prior knowledge of each other, let alone any shared connections -- and which must be kept so very private, seems to fall square under that heading."

He looked Arthur straight in the eyes, in a look of mild expectation.

He received back only a gaze of stubborn, quiet anger.

When no explanation seemed forthcoming, he shifted that same look to St. Pierre .

"Unless the brother-in-law of the deceased would rather tell us?"

Will shrugged. "It really wasn't relevant to the murder or the missing cross. Which, I'd like to point out, my sister said she didn't want. And Mr. Arthur has shown no interest in whatsoever. As for our having no shared connections, we do have one. My sister. Selina and Mr. Arthur worked together awhile ago. They're friends. Nothing more, nothing less. This is all a tempest in a teapot. What Miss Belseur was doing trying to listen in, I don't know, but if she heard anything through the door, she must have been bored." He looked at Eversham. "With all due respect... what does our being Americans have to do with anything?"

 

Josette who had seemed hesitant except for when she was snapping at Dr.Marsden, suddenly looked quite determined. Something in Zap's speech had set her off.

"Fine, " she said with a wave of her hand, "I am a thief. I stole the stupid cross. It's true," she assured them," it's sitting in my jewellery casket as we speak."

Josette reached her hand into one of the pockets in her dress, pulling out the key to the drawing room, "Oops, " she said , blushing apologetically in Mary's direction and digging into yet anther concealed pocket, pulling the key to her case out, "Check and see if you do not believe me."

Dr. Marsden took the key from Josette and handed to Colin. Her expression was one of astonishment at the turn of events.

"But! If Zap is unwilling to give the details of the conversation it is because he has something to lose...or gain!"

Zap could be heard murmuring in the background, "Yes. My honour."

"Thank you," said Colin to Sandra. "Rector, perhaps you and ... " His eye travelled around the room. "Mrs Skeffington-Nottle could go and retrieve the cross."

The Rector took the key and left the room with Lucinda.

When the party went upstairs to fetch the cross, Davis MacKenzie had moved from the stairs to the door to the library. He had glanced in the library, nodded, and returned his full attention to Colin and the Great Hall.

"You see," Josette went on, "when I confronted William St.Pierre...he pretended affection for me...affection he could not possibly feel being a married man!" Her eyes rested on Will for a brief moment...then fell quite pointedly on Selina..."I am sorry Selina..."

At the sound of her name, Selina looked up. "No," she said dully. "No, I don't think you are sorry, Josette." No bitterness, no anger. "But if it makes you feel any better, I'm not sorry either."

"For God's sake, Seelie..." Will said sharply. "Whatever Miss Belseur thinks she overheard... Mr. Arthur was satisfied. This has nothing to do with the murder. Or the theft of the cross."

If Garreth seemed annoyed at his questions being ignored, he hid it well. "What exactly are you suggesting, Miss Beleseur? That Will and Selina aren't siblings, but spouses?"

"Yes, that is exactly what I am suggesting." Josette confirmed.

"My God," muttered Miss Tawney, "it's like a bloody Border ballad."

Davis nodded. "Yes, Miss Tawney. Child 27, or possibly 16, but only if it turned out that the Laird was a changeling."

Mabel rolled her eyes. "At this point, it wouldn't surprise me."

Colin winced and glanced at Adrian .

Garreth chuckled and looked to Colin before following his gaze to Adrian . He cocked his head questioningly, but asked nothing.

Remarkable discipline kept Quinn's face unreadable by any except perhaps Sir Colin or Emma Sinclair. A light of discomfort flicked across his eyes, and was gone as quickly as it came.

Turning to Selina, Garreth chuckled, "I've been rumoured to have some odd relationships in my past, but what did it benefit Dougie to have you play at this role, or was he as unaware as the rest of us?"

Will said coolly, "So far there's been a lot of rumour thrown around and precious little evidence. Is there anyone in this room who can prove any of this scurrilous gossip about my relationship with Selina? Or how it has any bearing on the murder?"

"I can," Josette announced, looking squarely at Will, "There are a pile of letters on Selina's desk, she was being blackmailed over it."

Quinn spoke up. "While Mr. Skeffington-Nottle and I were searching the guests' quarters for stained gloves, I saw a large pile of grouped correspondence, addressed to Mrs. St. Pierre by what I then believed to be her married name. Once we have this sorted out and the Verrisay Cross retrieved, with her permission, I'd like to look at the pile in question long enough to confirm this - and to see whether there is any information hidden within that might point to the identity of the murderer."

Will looked at Selina in disbelief, less at the revelation than at the fact that she had not come to him with it. He turned back to Josette. "So we have a blackmailer to deal with as well as a thief and a murderer. It is getting crowded in here, isn't it?"

Josette answered him with a small shrug.

"Oh my..." Dr. Marsden stared at Will and Selina with large brown eyes, the cigarette in her hand completely forgotten. "That would mean... Selina wouldn't be Mr. MacKenzie-Brown's heir! Rather the fortune would revert back to the family. And Verrisay would almost certainly revert to Colin, correct?" Sandra looked at Garreth for confirmation.

Quinn looked significantly at Colin, but did not say anything.

"Isn't that a little premature, Dr. Marsden?" Will said. "For all we know, Selina never was his heir. We never saw his will. And we all know what a sadistic bastard Douglas was. Everyone in this room had reason to hate, fear or resent him."

"I didn't..." Josette said with a shrug, "I mean fear, hate or resent him...Sure, his fun side didn't exactly pop out at you, but...I never knew the man until I came here."

"You robbed him, nonetheless," said Colin quietly. "How are we to know that he didn't catch you ... or that Rendell did. Perhaps you feared the scandal too much ... "

"Don't be ridiculous..." Josette dismissed him, "If I'd killed for the cross why would I confess to having it?"

"She's right," Will said, a little flatly, not much enthusiasm in his voice. "She's put herself squarely in the spotlight with that admission. Why not hold out till someone came up with some proof? Anyway, the timing's all off. If she killed him because he saw her steal the cross..." He shook his head.

"It couldn't happen that way. She wouldn't have enough time to crush the damn yew berries and get them into his drink - and why wouldn't he denounce her on the spot? I can't think of any reason he wouldn't want to humiliate as many people as possible at once..."

"Willie!" Selina spoke up suddenly, with a dash of something that could almost be called spirit. "Stop it. Cards on the table, like Lord Eversham said."

She turned toward Garreth Warren. "It's true, yes, and no, Douglas didn't know -- and yes, I was being blackmailed, by somebody who knew me beforehand. It started because married actresses don't get parts, so ... we pretended. And we went through a -- bad patch, and I let Douglas go a little too far, and Willie found us and got all big-brothery, and -- and that's all, except that I've felt like a common whore ever since."

She rubbed one cheek, where the tears were starting to wet it again. "I didn't kill Douglas -- what do I know about yew berries? -- and I didn't hurt the poor maid or Rendell; Mrs. Bannister saw me take the doctor's pills, and I slept all night. Willie says he didn't hurt anybody either, and I don't believe Willie about everything, but I do about this. I really do. And you can punish me all you like -- after Douglas , it won't seem like much -- but we need to find who's killing people first."

She turned toward Zap and blew him a forlorn little kiss. "You're a real gentleman, you know that?" she told him. "Go home and forget all about this. Find some people who deserve you."

Will gave a wry little smile and took Selina's hand in his. "Together to the end, right Seelie? Whatever that is..." He turned to the others. "We didn't kill anyone. We didn't steal anything. Selina's right. Whatever comes down on us for trying to get something from Douglas ... we'll face that later. Right now, we need to figure out why someone hated or feared Douglas so much that they killed him - and his butler. It wasn't us. We gambled, we lost... we'd have picked up and started somewhere else. We're down. Not out." He squeezed her hand again. "Right, Seelie?"

Selina's pretty white hand lay limply in his. She neither spoke nor looked at him, huddling back in her chair as listless as before.

"Given Mrs. MacKenzie-Brown's - or should I say Mrs. St Pierre 's? - admission, and your confirmation of same, I think it has a great deal of bearing on the murder." Dr. Campbell said hotly. "After all, if your sordid marriage to the late Laird was a sham, but went undiscovered, Selina St Pierre would very well be entitled to at least some of the Laird's money as his wife. Seems a motive for murder to me. Or perhaps Mr. St Pierre couldn't bear the thought of his wife sharing MacKenzie-Brown's bed, and the motive was jealousy. Whether the two of you killed him or not, its obvious that there's a motive to do so.

"We'd best look at his will."

"I agree," said Colin. "Perhaps the time has come to unseal the desk ... and see what secrets emerge."

He glanced at Garreth as he spoke - perhaps because Garreth was the lawyer present.

"There have been too many secrets bandied about these two days," David said, pitching his voice to the group at large. "And too much tension and discord, on top of two horrible and unspeakable foul acts." His eyes looked around the room. "Law be damned, seeing the will of the Laird might rattle more cages."

"But perhaps some lingering questions will finally be put to rest, and the mystery of these murders cleared up in the process. If this is a democracy, I vote to open the desk." David finished.

Mary's head rose from where she had been studying her hand, intertwined with her husband's. "I agree," she said, in a soft voice that carried. "I know my conscience rests easy."

Zap shrugged. "Let's do it."

"I don't know that it is -- a democracy, that is," said Mabel, "but I have no objections."

Will had frowned sharply at the Rector's wife's prim comment, but he nodded and said, "I agree. And when you read the will, you'll see that Selina and I had no financial motive. I doubt he named her his heir..."

Sandra finally remembered her cigarette, leaning over to the fireplace to tap off the ash. "Doesn't that imply you already know the contents of the will, Mr. St. Pierre? As for me... I expect Mr. MacKenzie-Brown had never even heard of me before yesterday. So I rather doubt I'll be mentioned anywhere in his papers."

"As a matter of fact, Dr. Marsden, I don't know the contents. It's an educated guess." He lit another cigarette. "I guess we're about to find out if I'm right."

Davis turned to the library door, looking inside and making a brief hand gesture to the footman within, indicating that he should stay in the armoury doorway. He hoped his younger cousin would understand and follow his lead if trouble broke out, and would be in a position to watch everyone's back.

"All right," said Colin. "Rector ... Warren ... If you would be so good. Quinn, perhaps as the other next of kin, you should be there with us to observe."

"Certainly, Sir Colin," said Adrian .

Garreth nodded to Colin and rose to follow.

The rest would have to stand, it seemed, at a little distance.

Leaving her recorder in the Great Hall, Mabel trooped into the library with the rest of them, and stood peering over shoulders and around heads.

As they walked into the library, Colin spoke quietly to Davis .

"Keep as close as you can, and watch our backs."

" Davis , do you know an Andrew MacKenzie?" Garreth asked as they walked. "One here on the island?"

"Yes. He's a relative, of course. Why?"

"He's been pressing Bastable for money. Gambling debts, it seems,"
Garreth explained.

Davis nodded. "He had that habit. He's not...welcome here, much. Why would he press Bastable? And did we no' hear that Bastable was bankrupt?"

"Aparently Bastable owed Andrew, and it was trying to pay those debts among others that created the bankrupcy," Garreth explained.

"Unless Yohe was posing as Andrew in addition to Douglas, giving the Major motive," he proposed.

 

End of Chapter 15

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