Mr.Brandeis blanched.He stood abruptly and gathered his papers.“I’m so sorry, Lady Virginia, but I completely forgot a meeting I must attend this afternoon.”
His reaction wasn’t entirely surprising, given his attempt to lie to her.But she had to press him further.Clearly he knew something about Freddy Mortimer.And because the concession was missing, perhaps Mortimer was involved.She tried a bold guess.“Mr.Brandeis, did you give the paperwork about the concession to Mr.Mortimer?”
He made another feeble attempt at an excuse, then sank back into his chair, mopping his brow.Now his face looked pained.“Please, Lady Virginia, you must understand.He came with a letter from your father.And because he was so well connected to your father and Lady Hendricks, I had no reason to doubt him.He was supposed to return with a document detailing the precise location of the concession paperwork.”His upper lip had broken out into a sweat too.
The paperwork had been stolen, then.
A sinking feeling went through Ginger.How on earth was she supposed to track it?Had Mortimer been a thief?A con artist?“Then I suppose it’s fruitless to ask where Mortimer is now?”
“I don’t know, I haven’t seen him for several months.”Mr.Brandeis gave her a pitiful look.“I swear I wouldn’t have given a thing of such value to him if—”
Ginger cut him down with a look.“Do you have the letter Mortimer presented you?From my father?”
Mr.Brandeis reddened further.He opened the file in front of him.With a trembling hand, he removed an envelope with a broken seal and handed it to her.
Ginger frowned.The seal she recognized immediately.Her father had used a signet ring with the family crest to seal his letters.Her heart sank further.The handwriting was undoubtedly her father’s.And he did direct Mr.Brandeis to give the paperwork to Freddy Mortimer, freeing Mr.Brandeis of responsibility.
“You’re entirely correct, Mr.Brandeis.This was from my father.”She folded it and returned it to him.“Do you remember what Mortimer looked like?”
Relief filled Mr.Brandeis’ expression.He replaced the letter, his countenance clearing.“He was a tall man.Thin.Reddish hair—but not like yours.More auburn.A bit of a dandy.”
That could be anyone.
Ginger rose.“Thank you for your time, Mr.Brandeis.That’s a promising start.You said he was connected to Lady Hendricks?”She didn’t know who that was, but from the way he had said it, she imagined her mother or Lucy might know.
Mr.Brandeis gave her a hesitant smile, as though delighted she hadn’t raked him over the coals.“Yes, yes.He dined with her at Shepheard’s frequently.”
Ginger wanted to groan.Another person to question—and this time, one that didn’t know her.She glanced at the ledgers on Mr.Brandeis’ desk, thinking of all he had shared.Then, impulsively, she asked, “Would you mind writing the addresses for my father’s properties out for me?My mother wanted to have them handy.”
“Of course.”Mr.Brandeis opened the file and flipped through a few pages.He pulled out a fountain pen and a fresh sheet of paper, then copied quickly.
She took the paper from him and folded it.“Thank you so much.I appreciate you receiving me.”
“Happy to be of service.”The solicitor started toward the door.
She thanked him and left, tucking the paper Mr.Brandeis had given her into her handbag.She hailed a calishe and climbed in.As the driver took her toward her house, she pulled the list out.Four properties in Egypt were listed, along with the one in Malta.
Why had her father obtained so much property?And how?He couldn’t have had the money for this.
But, then again, he’d borrowed a great deal of money from Stephen.He must have used Stephen’s money for these properties.Were they still in her father’s name?Her mother might know.
She shuddered.The plain fact was that Stephen likely knew more about her father than she’d ever known.She hadn’t been admitted to her father’s inner circle.And Stephen had been as close to her father as Henry had been, since Stephen had been Henry’s best friend.
Stephen would be an excellent source of information about the concession but she’d rather get nothing from it than to ever speak to him again.
She replaced the list of properties in her handbag.One property was in Old Cairo.She frowned.Why would her father have another property here?
She would have to ask her mother about all of this.But her mother’s silence made Ginger wonder if she could trust her mother as much as she once had.After all, her mother had been informed of her father’s activities, to some extent.A heavy feeling rested on Ginger’s shoulders.
Flies swarmed on the horse attached to the calishe, and she watched the tawny tail swish.A dirty, scrawny thing, she felt sorry for the poor animal.She sat further back against the seat of the calishe, frustrated by the day.She’d hoped Mr.Brandeis could provide a simple answer, but this seemed more complicated than ever.
Then again, if any of this had been easy, the CID wouldn’t have likely felt the need to ask for her help.
She needed to find Freddy Mortimer.
ChapterEighteen
Deep within the heart of the Khan-el-Khalili, Noah had picked up a shadow.
