Murder in Chelsea by Victoria Thompson

Author:Victoria Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group, USA
Published: 2013-05-06T16:00:00+00:00

9

HICKS ESCORTED THEM OUT TO THE LOBBY, WHERE SEVERAL young men sat at high desks, scratching away at important papers with their pens. One young man stood at the front counter, however, idly chatting with the man seated there.

“Don’t you have something to do, Udall?” Hicks asked. Frank got the impression he asked that question a lot of this particular young man.

“Yes, sir, of course I do, but I hoped to speak to Mr. Decker.” He smiled, and Frank knew he’d gotten away with a lot of mischief with that smile.

“Are you acquainted with Mr. Decker?” Hicks asked, apparently immune to Udall’s charm.

“No, sir, but I made the acquaintance of his lovely wife just this afternoon.”

This got Decker’s attention, as Udall had meant it to. “And where did you meet my wife, young man?”

“At my cousin’s home.”

“You’re Cousin Terrance,” Frank said, remembering Ozzie’s description of the man who had tried to terrorize Emma Hardy. “A Van Horn on your mother’s side.”

Udall’s smile flickered for a moment as he tried to figure out who Frank might be and how he knew so much about him. “You have the advantage of me, sir. Have we met?”

Hicks, who seemed to enjoy Udall’s momentary discomfort, quickly introduced the men, taking great delight in informing Udall that Frank was with the police. “Mr. Udall is one of my clerks, or at least he is when he bothers to come to the office.”

Frank remembered what Decker had said about the Van Horns putting their sons to work with mixed results. Judging from his expression, Decker remembered it, too.

“I had to go to Gilda this afternoon when I heard what’s happened,” Udall said. “She’s extremely upset, you know. Is that why you’re here, Mr. Decker? About the child?”

“I’m sure that’s none of your business,” Hicks said.

Udall furrowed his noble brow. “The welfare of an innocent child should be everyone’s business, don’t you agree, Mr. Decker?”

“Yes, it should,” Frank replied for him, “especially for those who know her. You met her, didn’t you, when you and Ozzie Wilbanks went to see Emma Hardy.”

Udall’s confidence evaporated into dismay. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, yes,” Decker said. “Ozzie told us just this morning how the two of you went out to try to frighten Emma Hardy into leaving Wilbanks and taking her little heiress with her.”

Plainly, this was news to Hicks. “Is this true, Udall? Did you go with Ozzie to see this woman?”

“Ozzie wanted to go. He wanted to see his father’s . . . uh . . .” He glanced around, belatedly realizing how many other clerks could overhear their conversation.

“Paramour,” Malloy said helpfully.

“Yes, well, he wanted to go see her, and I was afraid of what he might do. He has quite a temper, you see, so I went along to make sure he didn’t get himself into any trouble. But I only had a glimpse of the child. Ozzie had no time for her, although now that I think of it, she’s his sister, isn’t she? He really should have taken more interest.

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