The Apothecary's Poison (Glass and Steele #3)(82)

"I see the connection." He scrubbed a hand over his jaw, slowly shaking his head as if he couldn't quite believe it. "You are stopping now, aren't you?"

I nodded. "Matt insisted."

He cocked his head to the side, his handsome brow furrowed. "You don't seem as though you agree."

I felt Miss Glass's glare bore into the side of my head. I didn't dare turn to her and experience its full force. "I do agree," I said quickly. "But we were getting close. This attack proves how close. The problem is, we can't untangle our evidence. It’s a giant mess of leads and lies."

"Talk it through with me," he said. "It may help you sort it out."

The prospect of such grim discussion must have been too much for Miss Glass. She finally spoke up. "I'll leave you two to talk among yourselves," she said, rising. "Ah, here's Bristow with tea. I'll take mine in my rooms, Bristow. Goodbye, Mr. Barratt. It was a pleasure to meet you. Do come again. India speaks so fondly of you. Now I see why."

He looked utterly shocked. Perhaps as shocked as I felt. He managed to recover and bid her farewell. He didn't speak as Bristow poured tea for us then followed Miss Glass out with her cup. I was beginning to think it was Miss Glass's intention to leave me alone with Mr. Barratt all along, but only if he met with her approval first. Clearly, he'd passed whatever test she'd set for him.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised. The best way to keep Matt and me apart was to find a suitor for me. She need not have bothered. I had enough willpower to resist Matt on my own, but Mr. Barratt was a welcome companion, nevertheless.

"Now that she's gone," I said, "we can discuss magic freely."

"She's not aware of yours?"

I shook my head. "Are you ready to hear everything we learned?"

"Most eagerly."

I told him about Mr. Oakshot's purchase of the remaining bottles of Dr. Hale's Cure-All as well as Mr. Clark's purchase of Hale's personal medicine collection. "The transaction was done without the hospital's knowledge, or that of Mr. Pitt, Hale's heir. It was quite illegal."

"You suspect Clark or Ritter of killing Hale?"

I sighed into my teacup. "Neither motive seems strong enough. If Mr. Clark wanted to study Dr. Hale's medicines for magic, he could have simply stolen them. Killing Hale so he could purchase the medicines is an extreme measure. And I think Dr. Ritter is merely taking advantage of Hale's death to profit."

"So Oakshot is your main suspect. He certainly seems to have hated Hale enough to commit murder."

"As does Dr. Wiley." I told him about Wiley's resentment of Hale, and how he blamed him for his ill luck.

He sat back and regarded me, a smile on his lips. It was not the response I expected in the midst of a discussion about murder. "You are remarkable, Miss Steele."

"I didn't come up with this on my own," I said. "Matt and I have worked together."

"Yes, but few women of my acquaintance would be so comfortable talking about murder, particularly when their own life is in danger. It's a shame you have to give it all up after getting so far. But I do agree that you must stop. Leave it to the police, now."

"We will."

Mr. Barratt cleared his throat then concentrated on his teacup as if he could see something of immense importance in there. "Miss Steele…"

"Yes?"

He set down the cup and fixed me with his pleasant blue eyes. "Miss Steele, I wonder if you'll do me the honor of attending the theater with me on Friday evening."

"What's showing?"

"I…I don't know." He picked up his cup again. "I probably should have found out before inviting you."

For some reason, I found his awkwardness amusing. I giggled then, a little ashamed, tried to smother it. I ended up making an unladylike noise through my nose.

He grinned and we both began to laugh.

The front door opened and I heard Bristow greet Matt, but not Matt's response. A moment later he strode in. He lifted his eyebrows at me and I instantly sobered. He looked tired and damp from the drizzling rain.

"Mr. Barratt," he intoned.

"Mr. Glass."

They exchanged nods but nothing more. One of those awful silences ensued where seconds felt like minutes. It was as if each man were waiting for the other to give in and break the silence first. I was not prepared to do it for them.

The clock in the entrance hall struck the hour, and finally Mr. Barratt spoke. "I'm glad to see you looking well after your ordeal yesterday." He nodded at me. "Miss Steele was just telling me about it. Nasty affair."

"It was." Matt accepted the teacup I handed to him and sat beside me on the sofa, rather closer than appropriate. If Mr. Barratt noticed, he gave no sign.

"The others aren't with you?" I asked Matt.

"They're at the Cross Keys."

"Have you spoken to Inspector Brockwell?" I asked.

Matt nodded. "I told him everything I could. He'll send some men out to question the neighbors, but if no one has come forward yet, it's unlikely the gunman was seen." He seemed to be waiting for someone to speak next, but when no one did, he added, "You came to see me, Mr. Barratt?"