Page 19 of The Moonstone Pirate
Hawes groaned. “He was handed a note. One of your footmen delivered it. Driscoll read it and laughed, then headed down the cliff walk to meet whoever it was who sent it to him. We did not see him alive after that.”
“Did he tell you who he was to meet?”
“No, he merely tucked the note in the breast pocket of his costume and said he would be back shortly.” Hawes began to rub his temples. “I need that drink.”
Draco nodded. “You will have it, but first you must tell me more.”
“There is no more to tell. When he failed to come back, a few of us went down to see what was taking him so long. I mean, if he was with a woman, how long does it take to lift up her skirts and spread her legs so he can stick his—”
“Got it.” It made Draco ill to think those men had been leering at Imogen. “Was he with a woman?”
“I have no idea. He simply laughed when he read the note, then said to wait for him because it wouldn’t take long. The supper dance was in progress, and we knew the guests would soon unmask and then be called in to supper. We were hungry. We shouted down to him and got no answer.”
“Is that when you went in search of him?”
Hawes nodded. “We found him on the rocks at the mouth of the cave with a knife in his chest. Suddenly, eating did not seem important. We just wanted to get away.”
“You were going to run and not report his death to anyone? Why would you do this if you had nothing to do with killing him? He was your friend.”
Hawes regarded Draco through bloodshot eyes. “Would you have believed us if we proclaimed our innocence? And you know our group. We are not friends so much as disillusioned lords, each with our own demons to conquer. Not that we shall ever conquer them, for they have already taken possession of our souls.” He stared down at his trembling hands once again. “Only death will allow us to escape. Woodley, I really need that drink.”
Draco rose to pour a little of the scotch into a glass. “Here.”
Hawes grabbed the glass from his outstretched hand and gulped the dark amber liquid down fast. “More. I need more.”
Draco nodded. “Finish your story first.”
“There is nothing more to tell. Your dog came bounding out of the house, and we just wanted to get away. That’s when you saw us. We didn’t kill Driscoll. He was already dead when we found him, and there was nothing more we could do for him.”
“Did any of you search his pockets for that note?”
Hawes shook his head. “No. None of us thought to do it. We just wanted to forget any of this had happened.”
“Did you see anyone climb up or down that cliff walk while you were standing there?” If this murder had been planned, Draco doubted the killer would have been so brazen as to usethose cliff steps down to the beach and caves. It would have meant passing in front of Driscoll’s friends and possibly being recognized. No, a smart killer would have approached from the meadow, which was a slightly steeper climb down the cliff side but still quite easily managed, and not have been seen by any of them.
“Not a soul passed us. It was getting dark, and we were the only ones still out there.”
“What about earlier?”
Hawes laughed. “I wasn’t paying attention. None of us were. We were too busy watching that pretty butterfly walk around your garden. You know the one I mean. You were eyeing her for dessert, as well. Driscoll was going to approach her, but then you showed up and would not leave her side. Did you get lucky, Woodley?”
Draco wanted to grab the boor by the throat and knew the viscount wished to do the same. “She is a lady, not that any of you miserable curs would know the difference. Rest assured, had Driscoll set a hand on her, it would have been my knife found sticking out of his chest. Same for any of you who ever dare approach her. My guests are under my protection.”
“Driscoll obviously wasn’t,” Hawes shot back.
“Driscoll wasn’t a guest of mine. I never invited him or any of you. Why did you show up?”
“Someone invited us…in honor of our friendship with your brother, Nolan. That’s what the note tucked in our invitations said.”
Draco exchanged a glance with the viscount. Could Driscoll’s death be related to Nolan’s untimely demise?
He concluded the interview with Hawes, poured the wretched man another glass of scotch, then had one of the fort’s soldiers escort him back to his room. “Wait,” Hawes said. “Aren’t you letting me go?”
Draco cast him a hard look. “Not before we finish interviewing all of you.”
Hawes was led out, and that gave Draco a moment alone with Brennan to discuss what they had learned. “Blast, if this is some plot to avenge Nolan’s death, then I am at a loss. I was not in England when my brother died and knew nothing of his friends or their misadventures. My brother was a pompous, selfish, drunken lout. Is it any wonder he consorted with Driscoll and his toady friends?”
“Hawes is a pathetic character,” Brennan remarked.
