Page 22 of Miss Morton and the Missing Heir (A Miss Morton Mystery #4)

T he next morning, they were all at the breakfast table when Inspector Ross was announced by Jenkins.

Inspector Ross entered the room and bowed to Mrs. Frogerton. “Good morning, ma’am, Mrs. Scutton, Mr. Scutton, Lady Caroline. I have good news. Mr. George Brigham has been apprehended.”

“Just George?” Mrs. Scutton, who always found the negative in any positive, asked. “Where is Albert?”

“I’m sure we’ll find out when we interview George,” Inspector Ross said. “He was discovered in a brothel in a state of drunkenness and claims to have no knowledge of anything relating to Mrs. Brigham’s death.”

“I suppose he would claim he’s innocent.” Mrs. Scutton sniffed. “He is a Brigham after all.”

“As soon as I have more information, I’ll pass it on, ma’am,” Inspector Ross said.

“Thank you, Inspector,” Mrs. Frogerton said. “Caroline? Why don’t you walk Inspector Ross down the stairs and see him on his way?”

“Yes, of course, ma’am.” Caroline rose to her feet but gave her employer a challenging stare.

Inspector Ross held the door open for her, and they went down, side by side, to the entrance hall in silence. Caroline paused as he picked up his hat and gloves.

Aware that things weren’t quite right between them, Caroline ventured a remark. “I do hope Mr. Brigham can provide some clarity on this matter.”

“Once he sobers up, so do I, my lady.” Inspector Ross headed for the front door.

“I’m sure you’ll quickly find the other Mr. Brigham now.”

He looked down at her without his usual smile. “I thought you weren’t interested in hearing about these matters.”

“I was merely attempting to congratulate you on your excellent police work, sir.” Caroline didn’t look away from his gaze.

“Thank you for your confidence in me.” He set his hat on his head and opened the front door.

“Inspector Ross …”

“Yes, my lady?”

Her desire to set things right between them rapidly receded. It was the third time this week she had offended a man’s dignity, and she was becoming remarkably tired of it. Why was it always the woman’s job to soothe ruffled male feathers?

“Nothing.” She offered him a bright smile. “Have a good day.”

He tipped his hat and left the house.

Caroline shut the door and went down to the kitchen. Mrs. Frogerton’s dogs should have returned from their walk and finished their breakfasts. At least they would be happy to see her.

Later that afternoon, Inspector Ross returned and asked if he might speak to the Scuttons again. As Mr. Scutton had gone out, his mother requested Mrs. Frogerton and Caroline join her.

Mrs. Scutton barely waited until he took his seat to start speaking. “Well? What news do you have? Has Albert been arrested yet?”

“Not yet,” Inspector Ross said. “George claims his brother is in Ireland.”

“I know exactly where his family is from in that benighted country if you need that information,” Mrs. Scutton said. “He’s probably gone back to them.”

“But would he leave his brother behind to take the blame for his actions?” Mrs. Frogerton wondered.

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Mrs. Scutton said. “He isn’t a good man.”

“Mr. George Brigham is still denying he was involved in the murder,” Inspector Ross said. “He claimed he didn’t even know your daughter was dead.”

“That seems absurd,” Mrs. Frogerton said. “Perhaps after the tragic event, Albert knocked his brother unconscious and left him at the brothel, hoping that if George did wake up, he wouldn’t remember a thing.”

“With respect, ma’am, that seems unlikely,” Inspector Ross said. “Albert would have no guarantee that George would forget everything.”

“Then he must be lying.” Mrs. Frogerton pressed her lips together in a thin line.

“I suspect that is the case, and that he’s simply trying to buy time for his brother,” Inspector Ross said. “If he has the funds, Albert might be considering fleeing the country.”

“Mary’s purse was missing from her bedroom,” Mrs. Scutton said.

“And there were those empty jewelry boxes,” Mrs. Frogerton added. “I should expect those items would fetch a pretty penny if they were pawned.”

“Jewelry boxes?” Both Mrs. Scutton and Inspector Ross spoke at the same time.

Despite her reluctance, Caroline spoke up. “I found two velvet boxes that I handed over to Mr. Scutton with the rest of Mary’s possessions.”

“He didn’t mention them to me.” Mrs. Scutton frowned. “I have no idea where Mary would’ve gotten such jewelry.”

“Maybe Mr. Brigham gave it to her?” Mrs. Frogerton suggested.

“If he did, it was probably stolen or won over a gaming table.” Mrs. Scutton sniffed. “He wasn’t a wealthy man.”

“I will ask Mr. Scutton about the matter when I return, ma’am,” Inspector Ross assured her. “But to your point, if Mr. Brigham had given Mrs. Brigham the jewelry, he would’ve known how to retrieve it.”

“By murdering my daughter in front of my eyes.” Mrs. Scutton dabbed at her cheeks with her handkerchief. “Perhaps that’s why he came back in the first place.”

“How so?” Inspector Ross asked.

“Maybe he needed the jewels to get out of the debtors’ prison, but Mary refused to give them to him. So he thought when he got out, he’d come and get them anyway and take his revenge.”

Inspector Ross wrote a few more words in his notebook and nodded.

“What else did George Brigham say?” Mrs. Frogerton asked. “Did he deny visiting her here?”

“He’s refusing to answer that until he can find a lawyer.”

“I don’t understand why you are allowing him to prevaricate, Inspector!” Mrs. Scutton snapped. “Officers are not known for being temperate with criminals. Perhaps you are too gentlemanly to deal with this case.”

Inspector Ross said, “I’ve never found that threatening or torturing a subject leads to a truthful confession, ma’am. And I would never allow it under my watch. George Brigham isn’t as clever as he thinks he is. We’ll get the truth out of him eventually.”

“You’d better. Because while he runs rings around you, his brother is preparing to leave the country without a care in the world.” Mrs. Scutton rose to her feet. “I am gravely disappointed in you, sir. Please return only when you have a full confession and Albert is in your custody.”

Inspector Ross stood as well. “Perhaps in future I would do better to update Mr. Scutton, ma’am, and spare you the necessity of dealing with me.”

Mrs. Scutton ignored him and sailed out of the room, her nose in the air. Inspector Ross grimaced.

“Sit down, Inspector.” Mrs. Frogerton waved him into a chair. “Mrs. Scutton might be offended, but I am not, and I have questions for you.” She turned to Caroline. “While Mr. Scutton is absent, why don’t you go up to his bedroom and see if Mary’s belongings are still there.”

“Mrs. Frogerton …” Caroline bit her lip. “It would not feel right to invade Mr. Scutton’s privacy in such a way. Perhaps we should wait—”

“Don’t bother.” Mrs. Frogerton stood up and headed for the door. “It’s my house. I’ll do it myself.” She left the room, shutting the door behind her.

Caroline stared at the door and sighed. “Oh, dear.”

Inspector Ross cleared his throat. “In truth, I think your objections were valid, my lady. If Mr. Scutton had returned while you were investigating the luggage and discovered you, he could have you charged with theft.”

“And what if he discovers Mrs. Frogerton doing the same thing?” Caroline turned to look at him.

“As the owner of this property, she retains certain rights.”

“She rents it.”

“But she is the legal tenant.”

Caroline walked across the room to the windows that overlooked the street. “Perhaps I should keep watch for Mr. Scutton so that I can warn her if he returns.”

Inspector Ross followed her over to the window and, after a moment, spoke. “I don’t like being at odds with you.”

Caroline kept her gaze on the street below and didn’t reply.

“As you might imagine, I have been under considerable strain recently, what with Richard and the trials of my profession. Being reprimanded by you was … difficult to hear.” He sighed.

“On reflection, I’ve come to realize that the fault was mine.

I should not have been offended when you voiced your concerns. ”

She turned slightly to look up at him, searching his face for the truth of the matter.

His smile was wry. “I apologize unreservedly.”

“I was not in a particularly good mood that day, myself, Inspector,” Caroline said.

“But, as you were not one of the people who caused my state, I should not have become vexed with you.” She swallowed hard.

“I am heartily sick of all the trouble the Scuttons have brought upon this household, and I wish I’d never set eyes on them. ”

He reached out and cupped her chin, bringing her gaze up to his. “Then can we forgive each other and move past this?”

“I’d like that.”

“Good.” He leaned closer, and she held her breath.

The drawing room door opened, and Mrs. Frogerton came back in. “I couldn’t find those boxes anywhere, Caroline! What on earth do you think Mr. Scutton has done with them?”

While Mr. Scutton took his mother out for a drive in the park. Caroline wrote a letter to Susan and Mrs. Frogerton perused the financial section of the morning newspaper.

Jenkins came in and addressed Mrs. Frogerton. “There is a person wishing to speak to Mrs. Scutton.”

“Did you tell them that the Scuttons aren’t home?”

“Yes, of course, ma’am, but she insisted she needed to speak to someone before she left.”

“Then we’ll come down and speak to her.” Mrs. Frogerton set her newspaper to one side and stood up. “Come along, Caroline.”

They descended into the hall to find an older woman dressed in black awaiting them. She looked up as they approached, her expression determined.

Mrs. Frogerton went toward her. “I’m sorry the Scuttons aren’t here, but if you wish to leave a message with me, I’ll make sure they receive it.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” The woman bobbed a curtsy. “I traveled to London on one of the brewery carts, and I can’t stay much longer as he’ll be leaving again at five.”

“I’m Mrs. Frogerton, and this is Miss Morton.”