Death in Kew Gardens by Jennifer Ashley

Author:Jennifer Ashley
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2019-06-03T16:00:00+00:00

13

“The tea is there?” Mr. Li said, rising. “You are certain?”

“Not certain,” I said. “Though I strongly suspect. But as it is the middle of the night, we can hardly go rushing either to Kew Gardens or next door this moment. Let us have another cup of tea and think about this calmly.”

Mr. Li sat back down, though he looked as if he wanted to dash next door immediately and begin crawling through the garden as Mr. Chancellor had. I knew, however, that we had to go carefully in order not to alert the world to this theft and the tea’s value.

“How did Inspector McGregor know where to find you to arrest you?” I asked Mr. Li as I poured more tea for him and set down the pot. “He didn’t send constables running up and down Limehouse and the docklands until they chanced upon you, did he?”

Daniel answered before Mr. Li could. “Chancellor gave McGregor his name, as he met Mr. Li the night he came to call on Sir Jacob, and told McGregor that Mr. Li was a translator. Chancellor didn’t remember Sutherland’s name, but McGregor was wise enough to ask at museums and Oriental societies until he was directed to Mr. Li’s lodgings. I did the same, which is how I found out about Mr. Sutherland. Because Sutherland is a Cambridge man, I knew Thanos would know him—being Thanos, he is naturally acquainted with everyone who ever attended.”

“You went to Cambridge,” I said, lifting my teacup. “Or so you told me.”

“I was there, yes.” Daniel’s gaze was steady, giving nothing away. “But no one knows the place and its people like Thanos.”

“I lodge with another Chinese gentleman who works as an interpreter,” Mr. Li finished. “Near the British Museum.”

“I see. At least the inspector let you go,” I finished in relief.

Daniel and Mr. Li exchanged a glance. “He didn’t,” Daniel said. “Not really. Mr. Li is under a sort of house arrest. He can go to his translation jobs, but if he leaves his lodgings for anywhere else, I must accompany him. I barely convinced McGregor to agree to the last bit.”

“But we ruled you out as a suspect,” I said to Mr. Li.

Mr. Li gave me an amused look. “Your Inspector McGregor does not want to lose sight of me. In case he can find no one else who committed this deed.”

“Blast the man,” I muttered.

“If McGregor truly thought you the culprit, Mr. Li, you’d even now be in Newgate,” Daniel said. “The inspector isn’t the sort who’d send you to prison and a trial without evidence, but I admit he’s hedging his bets.”

“I agree Inspector McGregor is careful,” I said. “And, I must allow, fair.” I pushed back my chair and rose. The two men did as well, but I waved them to sit down. “While it is far too late to skulk about the Harknesses’ garden, and Kew is closed for the night, I might be able to show you what Mr. Chancellor took from the garden next door.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.