Part 34 (1/2)
Part Three.
Ruse.
Oh what a tangled web we weave,.
When first we practise to deceive!
-Sir Walter Scott, Marmion.
Chapter 23.
Adrian blew a long breath. ”How?”
”His throat was slit,” Max said calmly. ”He was found floating in the Thames this morning.”
”I see.” He met the other man's gaze firmly. ”This puts the theft of the file in an entirely different context.”
”As it does Sir George's death.” Max nodded. ”There are any number of ways to kill an elderly man without making it apparent he was killed. Lord Lansbury's death, however, leaves no question.”
”Let us say for a moment that Sir George did not die of natural causes. His death was in November. The file was stolen in February.” He thought for a moment. ”If Sir George was murdered, great pains were taken to make it appear natural. Yet no effort at all was made to hide the nature of Lord Lansbury's death.”
”Which might well mean whoever is behind this is running out of time,” Max said.
”My thoughts exactly.” Adrian drew his brows together. ”A deadline of some sort?”
”That would make sense.” Max chose his words with care. ”With Lord Lansbury's death, there is reason to believe the theft of the file and Sir George's death are connected.” He met Adrian's gaze. ”Agreed?”
Adrian nodded. ”Carrying that a.s.sumption to a logical conclusion: two of the last three heads of the department are now dead. One might conclude, therefore-”
”That you are next.”
”Perhaps,” Adrian said slowly. ”But to what end?”
”Revenge is the obvious motive.” Max shrugged. ”Against the department most likely. Or the government in general. It might well be personal although there's no connection between you, Sir George, and Lord Lansbury.”
”Except,” Adrian said slowly, ”for my wife.”
”Given recent events, it's obvious why she is the first thing that would spring to mind. But she has no link to Lansbury.”
”Isn't he the one who first approached her about working for the department?”
”As he recruited both of us and any number of others, I doubt that's significant.” Max shook his head. ”Besides, he left the department within days of her arrival. I don't think they spoke more than twice, if that. The tie between them is practically nonexistent. The stronger connection is that you, Lansbury, and Sir George are all former heads of this organization.”
”Which would seem to indicate revenge as a motive.” Adrian considered the matter. ”If the goal was to disrupt the department or even bring it to public exposure, thus embarra.s.sing the government, the more appropriate throat to slit”-he cast his friend a humorless smile-”would be yours.”
”Thank you for putting it into perspective,” Max said wryly. ”Still, all we have at the moment is a file that was stolen and returned that included the names of three former heads, one of whom was already dead, who may or may not have died naturally, and another who was definitely murdered. And you.”
”And I am alive and well. Extremely well.” His thoughts drifted back to last night. ”Better than I've been in quite some time.”
”You have my heartiest congratulations. Now, however, we do need to keep you alive.”
Adrian shrugged. ”I'm not especially worried.”
”You should be.”
”Nonsense. First of all, we have no idea if our conclusions are remotely accurate. We may well be stringing together pieces that do not fit the same puzzle.”
”Still, I would think caution is advisable.” A warning sounded in Max's voice.
”Perhaps. Second ...” Adrian ticked the points off on his finger. ”Sir George was elderly and we are not sure he was killed. But, given his advanced years, he could scarcely fend off an attacker. Third, Lansbury thought Sir George's death was nothing more than coincidence and was therefore not concerned about his own safety. I would wager the man took no particular precautions. I, however, am well aware of the potential danger and shall certainly be on guard.”
”Nonetheless-”
A knock sounded at the side office door. Adrian cast Max a sharp glance.
”My secretary, Mr. Sayers.”
”Oh?” Adrian raised a brow.
”I can't do this all by myself, you know.” Max huffed. ”There have been a lot of changes in two years. More accountability and much more paper. Reports, files, expenditure accountings. We are not all as overly efficient as you are.”
”I didn't say a word.” He bit back a smile. He had preferred to handle the bureaucratic nonsense that went along with the job himself. It was one less person to have to trust. ”I didn't see him when I came in.”
”His desk is in the small office to the side of the stairway, connected to mine.”
”The room that used to be for storage?”
Max nodded in a satisfied manner. ”There is a series of hidden mirrors that allows him to see who is approaching.”
”How very clever,” Adrian murmured.
”Come in,” Max called.
A fair-haired, vaguely familiar young man entered the room, an envelope in his hands. ”A woman delivered this a few minutes ago for you, sir. Most attractive, spectacles, striking eyes. She said it was urgent.” He stepped to the desk and handed it to Max. ”Shall I wait for a reply, sir?”
”I shall let you know if a reply is necessary,” Max said.
”Of course, sir.” He glanced at Adrian. ”Pleasure to see you again, my lord.”
”Mr. Sayers,” Adrian said cordially.