Classified As Murder

He was right. I would be thrilled to complete my job and not have to deal with this lunatic family any more than I had to. Eloise alone was enough to give anyone the willies. Dressing in long-outmoded clothing, making remarks that made her sound like a complete loony tune—I felt really sorry for her.

Pendergrast approached Truesdale and laid a hand on his shoulder. Truesdale started at the lawyer’s touch and gazed up at him.

“We have some business to discuss when you’re up to it. Sometime this week, if possible.” Pendergrast spoke to the servant kindly, because it was obvious Truesdale was still trying to take it all in.

“Yes, sir. Of course, sir.” Truesdale stood. He wobbled slightly but then took a deep breath and steadied himself.

“In the meantime, Mr. Harris here is going to need your assistance. He has a job to do, and I know you helped James with his collection.”

A shadow passed across Truesdale’s face. “That I did, sir. We spent many an hour working together, caring for it and cataloging it.” He looked down for a moment. “I don’t quite know what I shall do without him. I was with him for forty-three years, you see. Ever since I was twenty-seven.”

At least one person in this house appeared to mourn James Delacorte, I thought, as Truesdale offered a tremulous, fleeting smile.

“Yes, well.” Pendergrast was obviously uncomfortable in the face of Truesdale’s restrained display of emotion. The antics of the Delacorte clan hadn’t fazed him, as far as I could tell, but the servant’s simple statement of loss was making him squirm.

“I’m very sorry for your loss, Mr. Truesdale,” I said. “I knew James Delacorte only casually, but I liked him.”

“Thank you, sir.” Truesdale’s eyes glistened. He plucked a handkerchief from an inner pocket of his jacket and dabbed at his eyes.

“I’m expecting Deputy Berry here soon,” Pendergrast said. “I’ll meet with her in here, while Charlie, his son, and my daughter continue to use the smaller parlor, if you have no objection.”

“Certainly, sir,” Truesdale said. “Whatever you wish.”

I didn’t think Truesdale caught on to the fact that the lawyer was consulting him as the owner of the house, rather than as its chief servant.

“Why don’t you go and have some time to yourself?” Pendergrast suggested.

Truesdale nodded. “Yes, sir, I believe I shall.”

When the door closed behind him, Pendergrast spoke. “Let’s go check on the young’uns and make sure they haven’t done each other lasting damage.” He chuckled. “I think that son of yours has gotten under Alex’s skin, and that’s a good thing.”

I was taken aback by the lawyer’s words, but I couldn’t argue with him. There was some kind of spark between Sean and Alexandra, but whether it was complete antipathy or a more positive emotion I couldn’t tell. “I’m right behind you.”

We crossed the hall, and Pendergrast opened the door and motioned for me to precede him.

Upon sight of her parent, Alexandra stood and put aside the papers she had been reading. “How did it go?”

“About as well as I expected.” Pendergrast spoke with an undertone of humor, and his daughter flashed a quick smile in response.

I looked about for Sean, Diesel, and Dante. There was no sign of my son and his dog. Diesel walked from around the back of the sofa and mewed as he approached me. He rubbed against my leg, and I scratched his head.

“Where is Sean?” I asked. “Gone to walk the dog?”

With a pained smile, Alexandra nodded. “Yes, he left about twenty minutes ago. I presume he’ll return shortly.”

“No doubt,” I said. I had something I had been wanting to discuss with Pendergrast and Alexandra, and now was as good a time as any. “Q.C., did Deputy Berry talk to you about Edgar Allan Poe and a copy of Tamerlane?”

Pendergrast frowned and shook his head. “No, she hasn’t spoken to me about it. Is it part of James’s collection?”

Kanesha would not thank me for breaking the news before she had a chance to, but it was too late to have any regrets.

“Possibly,” I said. I explained about the two letters found under Mr. Delacorte’s hand and the conclusions Kanesha and I had drawn from them.

“James hadn’t said anything to me about the possibility of his buying it,” Pendergrast said. He glanced at his daughter, and she shook her head. He turned back to me. “He usually did talk to me before he made a major purchase, but not always.”

“If he did buy it, it’s entirely possible it was stolen,” I said. “I’m sure he told you he suspected someone was stealing from the collection.”

“Yes, he did,” Alexandra said. “It will be up to you to determine what, if anything, has been taken.”

“Mrs. Morris mentioned that the house was searched,” I said. “Do you happen to know if they turned up anything significant?”

“Not yet,” Pendergrast said. “That’s one of the topics I plan to discuss with Deputy Berry. If they found anything pertinent to the rare book collection, I assure you I’ll share the information with you.”