The Autumn Republic

Adamat continued to explore the wing of the palace. He found two more rooms filled with Claremonte’s employees and another with printing equipment. The presses were all cold and empty, but they must have been used recently, as the room had been lined with cotton batting to keep down the sound. Thousands of newspapers were hung to dry on lines up in the vaulted ceiling.

Printing his own paper, in addition to the presses he’d bought from Ricard’s competitors. Smart. “Claremonte seems very confident,” Adamat commented, his words echoing down the hall.

“Yeah,” SouSmith rumbled. “Too confident.”

“I don’t like it. Have you heard anything about this endorsement?”

SouSmith shook his head. “People talk. Some like him. Some hate him. Nothing certain.”

Well, that wasn’t much help. Adamat drummed his fingers on the head of his cane. “Did anything seem strange about Claremonte himself?”

SouSmith shrugged. “Seems nice enough.” He cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing down the hallway, and a dark look passed over his face. Lord Vetas had killed SouSmith’s nephew, and SouSmith wasn’t ever going to let that go. Adamat realized suddenly that bringing the big boxer here may not have been the best idea.

Of course, if he put Claremonte’s head through a wall, it would certainly make life a lot easier for everyone.

“There’s just something…” Adamat trailed off as they returned to the silver sitting room. Claremonte’s manservant eyed him and SouSmith suspiciously, but didn’t ask where they had been.

“Ah, there you are,” Hewi said. “We were just leaving, Inspector.” She made an impatient gesture toward the door with her hat.

“Pardon me, Commissioner,” Claremonte said, “but could I speak with Adamat alone?”

Hewi gave a nod and stepped outside. Adamat felt his heart suddenly beat a little faster. Alone? With Claremonte? The temptation to brain him over the head with his cane might prove too much. He nodded to SouSmith, and a moment later he was alone with Lord Claremonte.

“Inspector,” Claremonte said. “I hope that any past unpleasantness that you may think occurred between us can remain in the past.”

Adamat bit his tongue. Your man kidnapped my wife and family! Abused them in unspeakable ways, and caused the death of my son! I’ll see you dead. “As you say,” he said, remembering one of the phrases he used to use when caught in an awkward conversation with a nobleman.

“Don’t waste your time with me, Inspector. I didn’t try to kill Mr. Tumblar. I don’t know who did. I would offer my help with the investigation, but I don’t think you’d accept it.”

“We’ll see,” Adamat said, matching Claremonte’s condescending tone. “Thank you for the advice.”

Claremonte quickly rose from his seat and crossed the room to stand beside Adamat. The sun shone just behind him, surrounding Claremonte with a glowing halo and forcing Adamat to look away. “If I wanted Mr. Tumblar dead, Adamat,” Claremonte said, his voice barely above a whisper, “then he’d be dead.”

“Or else your men cocked up the job.”

Claremonte snorted. “Indeed. You’re a very suspicious man, Inspector. Be sure it doesn’t put you in an early grave.” Claremonte turned away, his back to Adamat, and Adamat was sorely tempted to take a swing at him. One well-placed strike with his cane could paralyze the man-Adamat was sure he’d then be able to strangle him before anyone returned to the room.

Instead, he tried to come up with some witty retort. When none was forthcoming, he joined Hewi, SouSmith, and Hewi’s officers in the servants’ halls.

“What did he want?” Hewi asked.

“Nothing important,” Adamat murmured.

They were led back out through the maze of corridors and servants’ doors to the side of the palace and Adamat got inside his carriage. It rocked heavily when SouSmith climbed in beside him. Adamat rapped on the ceiling with his cane, but the carriage didn’t move.

“Inspector,” Hewi said, coming to the window. “You should steer clear of Claremonte.”

I should. But I won’t. “I have work to do, Commissioner. With all due respect.”

“And with all due respect, steer clear. Claremonte isn’t the man we want.”

“How do you know?”

Hewi tipped her hat back and leaned into the carriage. She glanced at SouSmith, then gestured for Adamat to step outside. He followed her a dozen paces from the carriage. “One of the officers I had with me is a Knacked,” she said in a low voice. “We keep it quiet, because he’s very hard to see in the Else if you have the third eye.”

“What is his Knack?” Adamat asked.

“Swear to keep this quiet?”

Adamat nodded.

“He can hear lies. He knows when a man is telling the truth or a fib. It’s one of our secret weapons, and if it ever got out, the Proprietor would doubtless have him killed.”