Stokes looked, then shut the wardrobe doors and turned to Barnaby and Penelope. “What does this tell us?”
Promptly, Penelope replied, “That he—the murderer—is still in the house.”
Nodding, Barnaby added, “And that at least to the time he searched in here, he hadn’t found what he’s after.”
“Presumably,” Stokes said, “the evidence he believes Underhill held of his misdeeds, whatever they are.”
“I think,” Penelope said, “that this also reinforces the notion that the murderer hadn’t previously known that Monty was his blackmailer. If he’d known that prior to coming to this house party, he could easily have arranged to search the house—all of it—while the family was absent, for instance, when they were recently at Wyndham Castle.”
Barnaby nodded. “There would have been only a skeleton staff here—much easier to avoid.”
Stokes’s features firmed. “You’re right. Everything we’re seeing fits with our theory that the murderer only learned Underhill was his blackmailer while here, at this house party.”
“So,” Barnaby said, “sometime since Sunday afternoon, once everyone was here.”
Penelope glanced around, then walked to the dressing room door. “Also,” she said, opening the door, “the attack on Grimshaw is proof positive that we’re not dealing with the actions of a passing vagrant, demented or not.”
Barnaby and Stokes shared a cynically amused glance, then followed Penelope into the corridor.
With Barnaby and Stokes, Penelope descended the stairs to the front hall to find Richard and Rosalind waiting.
As Penelope stepped off the stairs, Rosalind glanced up the flight. “What’s going on?”
Penelope looked at Stokes. He met her gaze, then Barnaby’s, before turning to Richard and Rosalind and waving the pair toward the library. “Come and join us, and let’s see what we can make of our latest developments.”
Richard and Rosalind looked eager, and soon, the five of them were settled in the armchairs at the far end of the library, well away from the door and any sharp ears.
Stokes regarded Richard and Rosalind. “You’re both sensible enough not to panic, so it’s better you know that the murderer—whoever he is—is still among the company here.”
Penelope clarified, “He’s almost certainly one of the guests.”
“And also almost certainly,” Barnaby added, “one of Monty’s victims.”
Rosalind darted a glance at Richard, then, pressing her palms together in her lap, stated, “I want to help. If that’s possible.” She met each of the investigators’ eyes. “I believe it’s uncontestable that until the murderer is identified and exposed, Regina—and her future—will remain under a cloud.”
Penelope saw no grounds on which to argue. “Perhaps…” She glanced at Barnaby and Stokes. When both nodded, she returned her gaze to Rosalind and Richard. “The pair of you are perfectly placed to watch and listen to the other guests. In particular, if you could keep your ears open for any mentionsof where people were when the murder was committed—say between a quarter of an hour after nine o’clock and ten or so minutes before ten. We’re asking them that, of course, but what they tell us and then reveal to others might not always be exactly the same.”
Richard was nodding. To Rosalind, he remarked, “Everyone remembers where they were at the moment when some shocking event occurred.”
“Also take note of any unexpected behavior,” Barnaby said.
“And most importantly,” Stokes stressed, “tell us the instant you hear or see anything odd.”
Her expression stern, Penelope instructed, “Find us, wherever we are. Don’t dally.”
Rosalind and Richard regarded her with faint surprise, but then both saw that Barnaby and Stokes were equally serious, and their demeanors grew more solemn.
Tight-lipped, Richard nodded. “If we learn anything, we’ll bring it to you immediately.”
“Good,” Stokes said. “Whoever this murderer is, they and the threat they pose are not to be taken lightly.”
With nods confirming their understanding, Richard and Rosalind rose.
“The rest of the guests are presently taking their ease on the rear lawn.” Rosalind glanced at Richard. “That’s as good a place to start as any.”
Richard agreed, and the pair left the investigators to their day and quit the library.
As the door shut, Penelope drew out her list of guests. She scanned it, then looked at Barnaby and Stokes. “Best we get to it. We only have the younger crew to get through, and as none were Monty’s victims, with any luck, interviewing the lot won’t take too long.”
