Page 63 of In Want of a Suspect

“And what do you want us to do?” Elinor asked.

Lizzie considered a moment, then said, “Can you confirm that the substance on the brick is graphite? Whatever tests you must run, please run them. This brick might link us to the killer. Marianne, can you track down and follow Jack Mullins? I can give you a description and the address of his temporary lodgings. I would like to know what he’s up to now that he has dismissed me from the case.”

“Of course.”

“What about Hughes?” Darcy asked.

“Leave him alone for now,” Lizzie said. “If he’s the one who threw that brick through my window, let’s not get too close. Let him think his intimidation worked.”

“And if he wasn’t responsible for the brick?” Darcy asked.

Lizzie looked at the offending object with its crudely drawn message. Stop? Never.

“Then I suppose we all better watch our backs.”

Fourteen

In Which Darcy Makes a Long-Overdue Apology

FOR THE THIRD TIMEin a week, Darcy found himself approaching Josette’s front door. He held Guy’s leash and looked down at the dog while he rang the bell. “You have to be on your very best behavior here, understand?”

The dog cocked his head to the side, and Darcy got the eerie feeling the dog was casting judgment on him. Margaret had mounted a strong argument for keeping him at her sisters’ shop while Lizzie and Darcy went on their errands; but Elinor had put her foot down, which left the dog with Darcy as Lizzie could hardly bring him with her into the various jewelers she intended to visit.

“There will be a treat in it for you if you’re good, understand? What do you eat, anyway? I haven’t the faintest clue, so I hope Lizzie fed you a good breakfast—”

The door opened, revealing the disapproving face of Mr. Dupont. Before Darcy could draw breath, he said, “Miss Beaufort is not accepting callers—”

“She’ll see me,” Darcy cut him off. “It’s about her cousin’s death.”

Mr. Dupont’s expression was doubtful; but after a long pause, Darcy and Guy were admitted into the foyer. The dog’s nails clicked on the shiny marble and Mr. Dupont looked down at the dog with a pained expression. “Perhaps you’d like to entrust your dog to a footman while you call upon Miss Beaufort?”

“Yes, thank you,” Darcy said, passing the leash to a hovering footman. He gave Guy a look that he hoped said,Be good.

Moments later, he was ushered down the hall, past the drawing room, and to a morning room. Josette, wearing a black mourning gown, sat in a chair by the window, which overlooked a small garden.

“Josette,” Darcy said as he entered. “How are you?”

Josette managed an indifferent shrug. “What are you doing here?”

Darcy was not offended by her bluntness. “I have some news.”

“You know who killed Leticia?”

She looked up at him with such raw hope that Darcy felt horrible as he shook his head. “Not exactly. The man who said he saw someone who looked like Leticia... Jack Mullins? He’s decided to drop the case. I’m sorry.”

“Is that supposed to make me happy?”

“Well, no. But I thought it might bring you some relief.”

“Relief. Ha.” She looked back out the window. “I have no relief. Even if you presented her murderer before me, I still wouldn’t have any relief. My cousin is dead.”

“I know,” Darcy said quietly. And even though he hadn’t been invited, he sat across from Josette.

“What are you doing?” Josette demanded.

“Sitting.”

“Why?”