Page 99 of Murder at the Piccadilly Playhouse
“Pardon?”
“Uncle Alfred wondered why Mr. Hirst wanted to leave a perfectly good position where he would one day take over as manager. It seemed odd that he would go to another position that was exactly the same, not a step up. His references were good, however, and his previous employer spoke highly of him, so Uncle Alfred and Sir Ronald saw no reason not to hire him.”
“But his previous employer left out the fact he was forced to leave,” I finished. “Most likely because they discovered he had an arrangement with the man known as Tucket to smuggle in his girls. The hotel probably wanted to keep thescandal out of the newspapers so gave him a reference to stop him talking.”
“Hopefully Hirst won’t stir up trouble for the Mayfair.”
Mr. Hirst might not go to the newspapers, but he had already stirred up trouble for me with my uncle. I wouldn’t worry Mr. Armitage with that, however. I didn’t want him to feel compelled to change the nature of our friendship.
Mr. Armitage crossed his arms and ankles. “Two crimes solved. What a day you had yesterday.”
“It was a most satisfying day.” I rose and put out my hand. “Thank you again, although I wish you’d accept some payment for your trouble.”
He shook my hand. The pressure was firm but not hard, and I could still feel it after he let go. “Goodbye, Miss Fox.”
“Good day, not goodbye. I’m sure we’ll see one another soon.”
“I don’t see why, unless you know something I don’t.”
I simply smiled and gave him a little wave as I left.
I madeone more stop on the way home, via Fleet Street, then spent the rest of the day avoiding my uncle. While I knew the lecture was coming, I wanted to delay it as long as possible.
The following morning, Harmony brought in my breakfast tray with a copy of the newspaper I’d requested. A letter sat on the top of the folded paper. She poured coffee from the pot while I read it.
“It’s from Mr. Larsen. How lovely of him to write.” I scanned the untidy scrawl but struggled to see the end of it through my tears. “Oh. I shall never say a bad word about Lord Rumford again.”
Harmony accepted the letter from me and read it. She gasped when she reached the part that had brought tears to my eyes.
Lord Rumford had called on Mr. Larsen and Millie the afternoon before. He’d given Mr. Larsen a sum to pay for his relocation closer to the school for blind children. Millie would attend all day classes there while Mr. Larsenworked in his new job as a foreman at a factory. Lord Rumford, as an investor in the factory, had obtained the job for him.
Harmony blinked back tears as she folded the letter up. “I still don’t like that he kept a mistress. But I can forgive him a little.”
“I think we should. It seems like he loved Pearl. Anyway, by all accounts, his wife is enjoying herself with her lover. If Lord and Lady Rumford’s arrangement works for them, who are we to judge them harshly?”
She handed me a cup of coffee then sat back, blowing on hers to cool it. “I suppose not everyone is wholly bad.”
“True. Even Mrs. Larsen had her good points. I think she did want Millie to attend that school or she wouldn’t have asked her sister for the money.”
Harmony didn’t seem quite so convinced, however. “I reckon she only wanted her to go so she wouldn’t have Millie around all day. It was a way to get rid of her. You know, I’ve noticed that about you.”
“Noticed what?”
“That you tend to see the good in people.” She lifted the lid on the platter of breakfast, which was enough for both of us. The kitchen staff knew to add more, now, and not let their superiors find out. “You might want to stop that if you wish to make a go of the detective business. You ought to think everyone’s guilty and wait for them to prove otherwise. It’ll make the task of investigating easier.”
I pulled a face. “No thanks. I prefer my way.”
I picked up the newspaper and was pleased to see the solving of Pearl’s murder had made the front page. I quickly scanned the words for names, then re-read it to make sure mine didn’t appear anywhere. It did not. But one did.
I smiled into my cup as I sipped but Harmony noticed.
“You don’t happen to know who told the journalist that Armitage and Associates helped the police solve the case, do you?” she asked, oh-so-innocently.
I sipped so I couldn’t answer.
“Odd that the only newspaper that mentions Armitage and Associates in relation to the case is this one. The same one you requested to see this morning.”
“Mr. Armitage refused payment for helping me, so I hadto get creative. It wasn’t right that he received nothing for his efforts. This way, I get his portion of the fee as well as my own, and he receives free advertising.”
“I wager the mention in the paper will ultimately be more beneficial to him than his portion of Lord Rumford’s fee.”
I grinned. “I hope so.”
She passed me a plate and cutlery. “He’ll feel like he owes you.”
“His thanks will be more than enough. However, if he does feel the need to thank me in other ways, I’ll suggest he paints my name on his office door. Armitage and Fox Detective Agency sounds very professional, don’t you think?”
Harmony did something rare—she tipped her head back and laughed.
