William Monk 05 - The Sins of the Wolf

thoughts so easily observed. It made him wonder if she had seen the lies he had told as well, and simply chose not to remark on them.
    “I don’t care for artificial flowers,” he agreed, forcing himself to keep the smile on his face.
    “You must have worked very hard,” she went on quite casually.
    For a moment he had no idea what she meant, then with a jolt he realized she was referring to his report on Deirdra again. Had he overstated his findings? How could he substantiate such answers if she were to ask him how he knew?
    “You are quite sure of what you say?” she pressed. There was a flicker of amusement in her eyes—or was it perception?
    There was nothing to do but be brazen. He made the same laughter reflect in his own face. It was not difficult.
    “Yes, I am quite certain that I have no evidence that she is anything more than extravagant and unaware of the amount she needs to pay rather than can be persuaded to pay,” he answered. “And there is much evidence that she is, in all ways that matter, a thoroughly respectable woman.”
    She was standing with her back to the window and the light made a halo of her hair.
    “Hmm.” She sighed a little. “All in so short a time, and yet it has taken you many days to search for evidence that will convict Miss Latterly….”
    He should have foreseen that, and he had not. He thought quickly.
    “Miss Latterly has taken a great deal of trouble to hide any such evidence, Mrs. McIvor. Mrs. Farraline had nothing to hide. Murder hardly compares with a little extravagance in one’s dressmaker, milliner, glover, hosier, bootmaker, haberdasher, furrier, jeweler or perfumier.”
    “Great heavens!” She laughed, turning to face him. “What an array of people! Yes, perhaps I begin to understand. Anyway, I am obliged to you, and also for having the courtesy to tell me so rapidly. How is your own investigation proceeding?”
    “So far I can find nothing with which the defense could trap us,” he said truthfully. “I should like very much to learn where she obtained the extra digitalis, but either it was not from an apothecary locally or, if it was, they prefer to remain silent about it.”
    “I suppose that would not be altogether surprising. The sale would make them, however innocently, party to the murder,” she said, watching his face. “People do not like to compromise their reputations, especially if they are in business. It would not improve his trade.”
    “No.” He pursed his lips. “Although I would like to have found him. The defense will point out that she had very littletime in which she could have left the house. She was in a city she did not know—she cannot have gone far.”
    Oonagh drew breath as if to say something, then let it out in a sigh.
    “Have you given up, Mr. Monk?” There was only the faintest shadow of challenge in her voice, and disappointment.
    He too nearly spoke before thinking. It was on the edge of his tongue to deny it fiercely, then he realized how the emotion would betray him. Carefully he masked his feelings.
    “Not yet,” he said casually. “But I am close to it. I may soon have done all I can to assure the outcome.”
    “I hope you will call on us again before you leave Edinburgh?” There was nothing in her face. She needed no artifice and she knew it. Such a thing would be beneath her.
    “Thank you, I should like to. You have been most courteous.”
    He excused himself, and in the empty hall, after she had returned to the nether part of the house, he ran lightly to the stairs and up them to search for Hector Farraline. If he waited for McTeer he would have to explain why he wished to see Hector, and would very likely be politely refused.
    He knew the geography of the house from his earlier visits, when he had questioned the servants and been shown Mary’s bedroom, the boudoir and the dressing room where the cases and the medicine cabinet had been.
    He found Hector’s room without difficulty and knocked on the door. It was opened almost immediately with eagerness which was explained when Hector’s face fell, and Monk realized he had been expecting someone else, probably McTeer with a little refreshment. Monk had observed that the family did not restrict Hector his liquid sustenance, or seem to make any stringent efforts to keep him sober.
    “Oh, the detective, again,” Hector said disapprovingly.“Not that ye’ve found out a damn thing all the time ye’ve been here! Some poor fool’s paying ye