Page 33 of Murder on the Upper East Side

‘May I offer you a drink? With the salad course, we are suggesting—’

‘A Lenox Martini,’ Theo said.

The sommelier frowned, then turned to Hannah. She looked down at the delicate salad. She’d had two drinks already and should absolutely stick with water if she wanted to keep a clear head, but fuck it, she wanted another drink.

‘The same.’

The sommelier turned to go, and Theo gestured through the archway with his fork, where theuniformed officer stationed at the stairs was speaking to Edward Beaumont and pointing up. Edward’s back was ramrod straight and a deep scowl cut his face.

Theo let out an almost imperceptible laugh. ‘Guess Edward thought he was above an interview with New York’s finest.’

‘Of course he did.’ Hannah’s eyes trailed to the dining room wall opposite the windows, to an oil landscape of the Hudson Valley in springtime, recalling the first time she’d met the elder Beaumont brother, right in this room. One thing she could say about Edward – he’d shown his true colours right from the start.

She watched as he shook the officer off and began his ascent of the stairs.

Edward Beaumont sank heavily into the chair opposite Detective Raina Wellesley and Detective Randall Crews.

‘Is this really necessary? Madison was an old, dear friend.’

‘Mr Beaumont.’ Detective Crews steepled his fingers. ‘As you know, it’s our responsibility to take a statement from everyone close to the victim.’

‘Fine.’ Edward gestured to the recorder on the table between them. ‘Go on, then.’

Detective Wellesley leaned in. ‘Do you find it odd that Hannah Miller is in attendance at tonight’s gala?’

Edward’s lips spread into a thin smile. ‘She’s alum, she received an invite.’

‘And does Ms Miller make it a habit to attend Prescott alumni functions?’

‘I’ve never seen her at one. Come to think of it, the ticket probably cost her a month’s pay. Or more? Frankly, I have no idea what second-rate journalists make these days. And it’s hardly as if she has friends at Prescott, especially after that hit piece she published. So yes, I suppose it is odd that she came. Unless…’

‘Yes?’ Detective Crews prompted him to go on.

‘Well, it’s not Hannah’s first time at the club. She’s been here before, as Bash’s guest. She would have known that we don’t have cameras. That we don’t permit devices on the premises. Whoever killed Madison took advantage of the club’s privacy policies, and it’s well known that Hannah despised Madison. One plus one equals two.’

‘Thank you, Mr Beaumont.’ Detective Crews’ voice was clipped. ‘Now, what can you tell us about your own relationship to Madison DuPont?’

Edward pressed his lips together. ‘Like I said, she was an old family friend. The Beaumonts and DuPonts have run in similar circles going back several generations. We grew up attending the same functions, we both went to Prescott of course. But Madison was a year behind me in school, in Bash’s class. We never became close.’

Detective Wellesley frowned. ‘So which was it? Were you “old, dear friends”, or not that close?’

Edward let out an exasperated sigh. ‘The two arenot mutually exclusive. Madison DuPont and I grew up together, but on a personal level, I barely knew her. We were acquaintances.’

‘I see. So you would describe your relationship as strictly platonic?’

‘Entirely,’ he said quickly. ‘Madison was too young for me. At that age, a year makes a difference.’

‘And as adults?’ Detective Crews cut in. ‘Did you maintain an… acquaintanceship?’

Edward shrugged. ‘I suppose you could say that. We’re neighbours on the Upper East.Wereneighbours. I saw Madison around town from time to time, at charity functions and the like, but that’s the extent of it. She’d been very involved in Henry’s political career since they married last summer. Before that, even. And while the Beaumonts are fiscally conservative, our leanings are not, well, let’s simply say we don’t like the direction the party has taken in recent years.’

‘The Republican party?’ Detective Wellesley clarified. ‘Henry Alcott Winslow’s party?’

‘Yes. I suppose you could say I’ve put some distance between myself and Madison of late. For political reasons. It’s nothing personal, but when you run a company like Beaumont Capital, image matters.’

Detective Crews frowned, consulting his notepad. ‘But you are no longer employed by Beaumont Capital. I see here you stepped down shortly after your father’s death?’

Edward let out a frustrated puff of air. His eyes trailed longingly to the bottle of scotch on the barcart. ‘Yes, that’s right. I’m in stocks now. But Sebastian has taken over the company. Maintaining the family name is still paramount.’