Page 10 of When You're Safe

Process, Finn thought. Theysound like robots.

“Accident?” Finn askedrhetorically. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

“Please, sir!” Thaddeus now said,more animated than before. His words echoed around the grim courtyard. “We donot wish to wallow in the idle speculation of the tabloids. Leave that to thegutter press.”

“It is speculation,” Finnresponded firmly. “But there’s good reason for that speculation. We believethat Maggie may have been running from someone when she was killed.”

Now it was Finn’s words that echoedupward, and as though those words stirred something within the castle’sinnards, Finn noticed an open window three rows up. A red curtain obscured theinterior, but Finn caught a ruffle of it that was not caused by any draft.

Between the curtain’s drapedsplit, a white hand emerged, pulling the gap wide, and then dashing back insideas soon as Finn laid eyes upon it.

He leaned to the side andwhispered in Inspector Winters’s ear. “Someone is watching us, three rows up,five windows along.”

Winters nodded and then looked upto the same spot. Then, returning her gaze to Thaddeus, she spoke loudly as iffor other ears.

“If Maggie was involved in somethingbefore she died, the gutter press, as you put it, will find out.” Winters lookedupward again to the window. “If the DeGreys are worried about their reputationin all of this, it would be wise to assist us. Only then can we get out infront of this and stop rumors and gossip from piling misery on top of grief.”

“I have my instructions,” Thaddeussaid, resolutely. “I wanted to deliver them to you in person. Believe me when Isay, the DeGreys have been part of this country’s institutions for eighthundred years. They have served it well and helped it prosper. The decent thingwould be to leave them alone to grieve, rather than dragging up old wounds.”

“Old wounds?” Winters asked. “Nobodysaid anything about old wounds. What would they be?”

For the first time, Thaddeuslooked flustered. But he didn’t have time to explain what he meant.

Finn’s eyes were drawn to thedouble-arched doorway behind Thaddeus. A young woman with glasses and blondhair, dressed in a black suit, emerged.

“Mr. Lincoln,” she said politely.

“Yes, Gwen?” he said, turning toher.

“Stewart DeGrey says he will meet withthe officers,” she said. “They are to be seated in the lower drawing room.”

Thaddeus shook his head. Finn couldtell he wanted to say no, but there was no doubting that whoever Stewart DeGreywas, he was clearly an authority figure.

“It appears my instructions havechanged,” Thaddeus said. “Follow me, but I implore you to be quick about yourbusiness.”

Thaddeus turned and walked withthe young woman through the large double archway.

“Something is wrong here,” Finnwhispered to Rob and Winters.

“Don’t let your imagination runwild again,” Winters said. But Finn could tell she was unsettled by something,too.

“Let’s do everything by the book,”Rob said. “I’ll need to liaise with our communications team shortly to decidehow to handle Maggie’s death in the press. You’ll be on your own for a whileafter this.”

If only Rob knew how much washanging on Finn doing everything by the book. Anything less would givethe courts, his bosses, and the press adequate ammunition to shoot down hiscareer and any future prospects.

The problem was, by the bookwasn’t how Finn was used to getting things done.

They walked up to the doublearchway and stepped off of the cold stone onto a rich red carpet.

“Don’t worry, Rob,” Finn said. “Winterswill hold my hand if I get scared.”

“Hold your own hand,” Wintersreplied, shaking her head but with a smile on her face.

He liked that smile. Truth betold, he liked to be around her. He just wished that murder wasn’t the reasonfor their meeting.

CHAPTER FIVE

As he and his two partners wereled through its long hallways, Finn was struck by how different the interior ofDeGrey Castle was. He remembered their previous case at Ferguson House, and howthe mansion had been sprawling and filled with opulence. But DeGrey Castle had adifferent side to it.

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