It Takes a Spy... by Sheridan Jeane

Author:Sheridan Jeane
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Flowers and Fullerton
Published: 2014-11-01T04:00:00+00:00

7 - Intuition and Logic

“No. I-I don’t believe it,” Evangeline stammered.

“But it makes complete sense,” Cecilia said. “I told you I could never see LeCompte as a thief, but Kenning is another matter altogether.”

Evangeline glared at her. “Cecilia, how could you? I thought you were here to help us. How could you side with LeCompte?”

Cecilia glared right back. “If you’d bother to open your eyes and ears, you’d see that this isn’t some petty argument about whose side I’m on. I’m on the side of truth.”

“Truth?” Evangeline let out a bark of laughter. “You wouldn’t know truth if it hit you over the head.” Evangeline’s look of scorn felt as though it might scald Cecilia’s skin. “You walk around with your head in the clouds, letting people lie to you and trick you. You should be embarrassed.”

“It isn’t an embarrassment to have faith in people. And it isn’t an embarrassment to help those less fortunate than I am.”

“But you let them lie to you. You listen to their stories about sick husbands and lost jobs and evil employers, and then you dig into your purse. You’re a fool.”

“Why? Because I give coins to beggars? Because I volunteer to help those less fortunate?”

“They see you as a mark. A soft touch.”

“And you think you’re better off than I am because you’ve hardened your heart to them? Evangeline, I’m not a fool, I’m compassionate. There’s a difference.”

“No,” Evangeline said. “There isn’t.”

“Do you think we could postpone this discussion?” Devin interrupted. “We need to stay focused on the matter at hand.”

“Kenning,” LeCompte said.

Cecilia blushed as she nodded, but she noticed that Evangeline continued to glare at her.

“Miss Paring is right. I went into the room,” LeCompte said.

“Ha!” Evangeline said.

“But I didn’t attack the guard. I found him lying on the floor in a pool of blood. He had a wound near his temple. Judging by the blood on the edge of the table, it looked as though he’d hit his head on it as he fell. I think the thief must have knocked him into it.”

“Do you think it was an accident?” Cecilia asked.

“The jewels were gone, so whether he meant to knock out the guard or not, he did it while committing a crime,” LeCompte said. “I’m not inclined to give a thief the benefit of the doubt.”

“Then why didn’t you raise the alarm?” Evangeline demanded.

“What makes you think I didn’t?”

Evangeline’s mouth snapped shut.

“But you were in the ballroom when the police arrived,” Devin said.

“I thought the thief might have been a guest from the ball.” He glanced at Evangeline. “I saw someone leaving the room as I arrived, but he was wearing a top hat and coat, and I couldn’t see his face. And you just identified him as Kenning.” He tipped his head. “Thank you.”

Evangeline looked mutinous. “You’re hiding something. I can tell.” She put her hands on her hips and took a step closer to LeCompte. “That wasn’t the first time I caught you snooping around. I saw you

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