‘They did.’
‘The dating agency?’
‘Yes.’
‘Is there a list of clients who used Quincy’s agency?’
‘Hang on.’ There was a shuffling of paper. ‘Yes. I have it here.’
‘Can you see the name Alistair Stubman there?’
Disgust lit Stubman’s eyes.
‘No,’ Quincy said. ‘There’s no-one with that name.’
I wasn’t surprised. I raised an eyebrow at Stubman. Hmmm. He didn’t strike me as the kind of man who had a lot of friends, but he did know a few people. In fact, his job as a bellman meant that he knew a lot of people – and there was one person in particular that hedefinitelyknew.
I took a gamble. ‘What about the name Max Vargman?’
Stubman stiffened and his gaze landed on the fallen gun once again. This time he stared at it as if it were about to rise up of its own accord and shoot him.
There was more shuffling from the phone. ‘Yeah,’ Phileas grunted. My heart missed a beat. Shit. The gamble paid off. ‘That name is here.’ His voice altered. ‘Who is he?’
Max was the one I’d told that I was looking into cold cases. He was the one who’d watched me accost Phileas Carmichael on the street to ask about his nephew. He was the one who knew that Stubman was volatile. He was the one who also worked next door to Supe Squad and could have finagled access to the building. He was the one who might have met Quincy Carmichael in the café down the road while wearing a top hat and tails. And he was the one who’d given me an alibi and told me he was leaving work early on the night of the fire because it was his birthday party – and then arrived late.
I ran a hand through my hair. I still didn’t have all the puzzle pieces, but I was getting closer. ‘He’s the man who killed your nephew,’ I told Phileas.
I ended the call. Stubman stood up then sat down. A moment later he stood up again. ‘Max,’ he whispered. The betrayal in his eyes told me everything.
I was right, I was sure of it, but I didn’t have the evidence I needed. Not yet. ‘Is Max your landlord?’
Stubman nodded. Yes.
‘Did he give you that gun?’
The pale-faced bellman didn’t respond but he didn’t deny it.
‘Is it Max,’ I asked, ‘who told you that the supes were coming for you and that you had to run?’
He looked away, then he gave a tiny nod.
‘Mr Stubman?’ I leaned down and reached for the gun so I could check it was properly loaded. ‘I need you to do me a favour.’
ChapterTwenty-Nine
It wasn’t easy sneaking back out of the building. I couldn’t afford to let anybody catch a glimpse of me, and I certainly couldn’t afford any of the police noticing me. Everything rested on getting away without being spotted.
I ended up breaking one of the windows on the ground floor of the stairwell and gingerly clambering out so I could scoot through the car park and keep well away from the main entrance. I crossed the road, keeping my body low and in the shadows to avoid being seen.
Fortunately, the police officers were engaged with the loud argument taking place between the werewolves and the vampires. Lukas, in particular, was doing an excellent job of yelling epithets at Buffy while she was responding with energetic insults. I wondered if they were completely faking their mutual antagonism. Probably not.
As soon as I launched myself into Tallulah’s driving seat, I checked the time. There were still a few minutes to go. I sat for a moment, then I made a phone call. ‘I’m sorry, Lady Elena, for disturbing you at this late hour,’ I said,
She laughed musically. ‘I’m a vampire, darling. The night is yet young.’ I could hear the smile in her voice. ‘Are you calling to invite me to that wedding of yours?’
I pulled a face. ‘Not yet. I wanted to ask you again about your experiences with Quincy Carmichael’s dating agency. When we spoke before, you said that Lukas was one of the more suitable men you dated when you came to London. Does that mean that the others were unsuitable?’
‘That’s an interesting question after so many years.’
