Imitation in Death (In Death 17)

“I don’t know.” She bit her bottom lip as she tried to remember. “I think not. I was in Rose’s room, helping her pick her dress for the day. She must wear a proper dress on Sunday. I saw, from the window, Mr. Renquist drive to the house. It was perhaps nine-thirty. He sometimes plays golf or tennis on Sunday mornings. It’s part of his work, to socialize.”

“What was he wearing?”

“I . . . I’m sorry. I don’t remember. A golf shirt, I think. I think. Not a suit, but something casual for summer. They dress carefully, both of them. Appropriately.”

“And last night? Was he home all night?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t come to my room.”

“This morning. How did he behave this morning?”

“I didn’t see him. I was instructed to give Rose her breakfast in the nursery. We do this if Mr. or Mrs. Renquist is very busy, or unwell, or if they have appointments.”

“Which was it?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t told.”

“Is there any place in the house where he goes that you and the child aren’t allowed?”

“His office. He’s a very important man, doing very important work. His office is locked, and no one is to disturb him there.”

“Okay. I may need to talk to you again. In the meantime, I can help you. What Renquist is doing to you is wrong, and it’s a crime. I can make it stop.”

“Please. Please. If you do anything, I’ll have to leave. Rose needs me. Mrs. Renquist doesn’t love Rose, not the way I do, and he—he barely notices the child. The other, what he does, it’s not important. It isn’t so very often, not any longer. I think he loses interest.”

“If you change your mind, you can contact me. I’ll help you.”

Chapter 19

A call to Renquist’s office netted her the information that he’d been called out of town, and would be unavailable for the next two days. She went through the formality of making an appointment upon his return, then drove to his house.

The housekeeper gave her the same information.

“You see him leave? You personally?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You watch him walk out the door with his suitcase?”

“I fail to see the relevance of such a question, but as it happens, I carried Mr. Renquist’s luggage to the car myself.”

“Where’d he go?”

“I’m not privy to that information, and would not be free to divulge it if I were. Mr. Renquist’s duties often require travel.”

“I bet. I’d like to see Mrs. Renquist.”

“Mrs. Renquist isn’t at home. Nor is she expected to be until this evening.”

Eve looked past her, into the house. She’d have given a month’s pay for a search warrant.

“Let me ask you something, Jeeves.”

She winced. “Stevens.”

“Stevens. When did the boss get this call to duty?”

“I believe he made the arrangements very early this morning.”