Blood Guilt. Lindy Cameron
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had given us, to confront him. I wanted to see him on his own turf so as not to create a scene in front of Celia. The woman who answered the door said she didn't know anyone called Byron Daniels, and claimed she'd had been living in the place for six months. So I had to wait until he arrived for work yesterday, whereupon I discharged him.'
The thick plottens, Kit thought. She was trying very hard to stop herself from thinking the worst about this whole situation but Geoffrey was making it very difficult. Why was he doing his best to cast Byron in a less than favourable light? If Celia's death was an accident then this stuff about Byron was pretty irrelevant. Sow the seeds now, just in case. But why? The good-old standby of the ex-employee with a grudge, doing-in the mistress of the manor was about as obvious as the butler doing it. It also implied that something had been done.
Geoffrey seemed to be working on two levels here: agonising over Celia's alcoholism and the tragic nature of the accident while hammering in the notion of misplaced trust and betrayal. Every second thing Geoffrey said made Celia's death seem even more suspicious. Well it did to Kit. She had no idea what Marek was getting from all of this.
It suddenly dawned on Kit that she was so anxious to disbelieve everything Geoffrey said that she was rather overlooking the obvious. As much as she didn't like to acknowledge it, there had to be some truth in what he was saying; he couldn't just make it up because Byron himself would be able to dispute it. Unless of course Geoffrey had something else on Byron that had convinced him that here was not a good place to work any more. But if he hadn't been sacked for stealing then what would make him leave Celia's employ? And why didn't Douglas know? It was all too weird; too coincidental.
'If he'd been stealing, Mr Robinson, why didn't you go to the police?' Kit asked.
'That was Celia's decision,' Geoffrey replied, before returning his attention to Marek. 'I was all in favour of it, of course, but Celia was anxious to avoid any scandal.'
'Excuse me, sir,' Nick said from the doorway. 'There's a woman out the front to see Mr Scott.'
'That will be my niece. I rang and asked her to collect me. I didn't think it would be a good idea for me to drive myself home,' Douglas said. 'Do you need me for anything else?'
'No, Mr Scott. We have your statement,' Marek said.
'Geoffrey, will you be all right if I leave now?' Douglas asked.
'Yes, thanks. I asked the officer who brought me home to inform Jane and Colin and ask them to come over. That's my sister and brother-in-law,' Geoffrey added, looking at Marek. 'I'll be fine Douglas. You go on home.'
'OK, if you're sure. Oh, I've already put in a call to London, to inform Elizabeth, but she was out. I'll keep trying. That's if you'd like me to, Geoffrey,' Douglas said.
Geoffrey nodded gratefully, saying he didn't think he'd be able to cope with breaking the news himself. Kit followed Douglas out into the hall and walked with him to the front door.
'You didn't know about this business with Byron?' she queried.
'Of course not. It's very strange indeed. I do, however, know where to find him. Kit, I trust your professionalism and your discretion - mostly because Celia seemed to have so much faith in it.'
'Likewise, Douglas.' Kit said with a smile.
'For the same reason I am a little concerned about the welfare of Byron Daniels. But I would rather not discuss that here and now. As we have other unfinished business, on Celia's behalf, perhaps we could meet in my office on Monday, say at noon.'
They shook hands and Geoffrey made a dash out into the storm. Kit caught a glimpse of athletic legs, clad in tight black tracksuit pants, as the woman lounging against the Mercedes beneath a huge red umbrella rushed forward to give him shelter. They embraced tightly and Douglas, suddenly looking decidedly the worse for wear, allowed his niece to help him down the drive to the car parked behind Kit's.
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