"Who owns it?"
"Ballyclose Manor. Not one of Sir Cedric's-one of the general hacks. I collared the groom who brought it in. He says no one's been riding this one much that he knew of. Just Mr. Appleby now and then."
Demon glanced at Lucifer. "Is that enough?"
Lucifer's smile was all teeth. "I think so. Let's find Sir Jasper-"
"Cynster! Where the devil are you, man?"
Both Lucifer and Demon turned. Cedric came barreling through the crowd. He saw them, waved, and plowed toward them. Jocasta Smollet hurried after him. Others, anticipating some sensation, quickly gathered.
"It's Appleby, man-Appleby!" Cedric halted, puffing, before them. "Just got the word from Burton, m'butler. Appleby told him he's off home-touch of the sun. Silly blighter came with no hat. That's when I remembered. The hat! The hat Phyllida said was the murderer's hat. It's Appleby's. Seen it in his hands times without number
, but I rarely saw it on his head. Just put it together. He hasn't been wearing a hat since Horatio was killed."
"That's correct, sir," Burton, the Ballyclose butler, stated. "While I cannot vouch for the particular hat in question, Mr. Appleby has not worn a hat for some time."
"I'm fairly certain Cedric's right," Jocasta put in. "I didn't get a good look at the hat that day, but I do know Appleby was forever doffing his-quite the gentleman in his way. He hasn't worn a hat for the past several weeks."
"We're going after him." Cedric straightened and looked around. "Hue and cry-that's what we need! We'll round him up and haul him back here to Sir Jasper."
"Excellent idea!" Basil surprised everyone with his vehement agreement. "We've plenty of men here-he won't escape this time."
Cedric blinked, but nodded. "Right, then! Finn, Mullens-come along, lads."
Basil was already collecting his workers. Grisby, too, was gathering his forces to join the swelling throng. The crowd was awash with exclamations and gabbling.
Sir Jasper strode through. "Cedric! What's this? There's to be no summary justice, you hear?"
"I know, I know-we'll truss him up and bring him back to you, and then we can hang him."
A rousing cheer rose. Before anything more could be said, the assembled congregation was off, streaming like a tide after Cedric, Basil, and Grisby, cresting the lip of the field, then pouring over, heading for Ballyclose Manor.
"He won't be there," Demon muttered.
"Assuredly not." Lucifer turned as Phyllida and Flick, having been deserted by the children, came up. Other than their small group and the older ladies and village women, the fete field was bare.
Sir Jasper eyed Lucifer, shrewd suspicion and certainty in his gaze. "Now, what's afoot?"
"We believe," Lucifer said, waving their group toward the church, farther from the remaining ladies, "that Appleby, if, as now seems likely, he's our murderer, will make another attempt to get at Horatio's books. That's what he's been after all along. To that end, we've purposely left the Manor vacant and the doors unlocked."
"A trap, heh?"
"Oh, no!"
They all turned. Mrs. Hemmings was staring round-eyed at Lucifer. "What is it?" he asked.
"Did you say that that murdering Mr. Appleby will be going to the Manor?"
"So we believe. But it's empty-"
Mrs. Hemmings was shaking her head. " 'Tisn't. Amelia went back a while ago-too hot for her, it was."
Lucifer frowned. "Amelia?"
"Oh, God!" Phyllida grabbed his arm. "Sweetie!"
Lucifer looked at Phyllida. "She went back?"