The Apothecary's Poison (Glass and Steele #3)(13)

"Is it wise to leave a young man in charge of a murder case?" Matt asked.

Munro bristled. "Are you questioning my methods?"

"Perhaps I can help him," Matt went on. "Guide him down the right path, that sort of thing."

"That would be a conflict of interest."

"Only if I were guilty, which I am not."

Munro grunted. "I'll keep your offer in mind."

He opened the door and his constables fell into step behind him.

Matt touched my shoulder and mouthed, "Ask him questions." Did he not think Munro would answer him but would say more to me?

"How was Hale poisoned?" I asked, thinking quickly. "Was it in his food?"

"That's not yet clear," Munro said, without breaking stride. "Although there was a bottle of his Cure-All found near the body, its contents spilled over his paperwork."

"Where was he found?"

"The hospital, in his office, sitting at his desk. The type of poison is not known. The signs on the body don't match any that we know."

"Hale was an apothecary," Matt said. "He might have made his own poison."

"And swallowed it accidentally or deliberately?" Munro nodded slowly. "It's possible."

Matt signaled that I should keep asking more questions, but Bristow was already opening the front door.

"He was found at his desk at the hospital," I said, "but he was dismissed from his position, just as we left."

"He was given until the end of the day," Munro said. "At five, when Dr. Ritter realized no one had seen Hale leave, he checked the office and found him dead."

"How awful for him."

"He sees dead people every day," Munro said with bland indifference. "I doubt the sight of one more affected him."

Yes, but it was someone he knew, someone he worked with. "Does Dr. Hale have next of kin?" I asked.

Matt nodded, satisfied with my question.

"None that we are aware of. We're not yet sure who inherits or if there was a will at all."

"Did he have enemies? Aside from Dr. Wiley, perhaps."

Munro halted on the doorstep. His constables stopped too, like automaton with rusty mechanisms. "Wiley?"

"You don't know about him?" Matt said, all innocence. "Are you sure you don't require my assistance?"

Munro frowned. "Good day, Mr. Glass, Miss Steele."

Bristow shut the door and Matt stared at it. "We need to investigate this. I'm not leaving our freedom in the hands of a young but enthusiastic detective. It's a recipe for wrongful arrest."

"I quite agree." But I had a more pressing concern and needed to clear the air. I waited for Bristow to melt away toward the back of the house before speaking. "Matt, I'm sorry I told him about your illness, but I couldn't see any way out of it."

He sighed. "Neither could I, but…"

"But you’d still prefer he didn't know."

"I prefer no one to know, India. Not even you." He smiled gently, softening the sting of his words. "But I understand why you told him, and I don't blame you."

"I should hope not." I picked up my skirts and marched up the stairs. He quickly caught up to me.

"Why?"

"Because I am not to blame for your pride, Matt. You don't like people knowing because you don't like to appear weak."

"Name any man who does."

"Don't get snippy with me for pointing out your fault. It's only a minor one, after all, and you have few others of note, if any."

"I'm thoroughly relieved," he muttered.

I stopped on the landing. "Now you're upset."

"I am not."

"And you're acting like a child."

He frowned. "I think you are upset with me."

"Why would I be upset with you?"

"For what happened in the carriage yesterday."

"Not at all. I'd forgotten about it, to be honest." I continued up the stairs. He didn't follow until I was half way up.

"I hadn't forgotten," he said quietly.

We found the others in the sitting room, playing cards. Willie discarded her hand upon our entry, but the others continued.

"Does he want you to investigate the murder?" Duke asked, discarding two cards and accepting another two from Cyclops.

Matt shook his head. "Where's my aunt?"

"In her parlor writing correspondence," Willie said. "Matt, what's wrong? You don't look so good. Do you need your watch already?"

"No," he growled. "And will everyone stop talking about my health."

"I was only askin'. You've got a temper this morning."

Matt stood by the fireplace where a low fire warmed the room. "Munro didn't come to ask for my help in finding out who murdered Hale. He came to question us about our involvement in Hale's murder."

Willie jumped up. "Question or arrest?" She stalked off to the door, hands on hips, only to stop and slam it shut.

"He hasn't arrested them, Willie." Cyclops nodded at us. "They're still here."