Murder at the Arizona Biltmore by Edward Marston

Author:Edward Marston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2023-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Merlin was exhausted. Two hours with Norm Kozelsky were a revelation in every way, but there was so much information being fired at him about people, events, and architecture that Merlin could not assimilate it all. His visitor had unquenchable vitality. Words come out of him like showers of sparks. And yet he was capable of listening as well. When Merlin began to describe how he met Rosa, the other man heard him out with rapt attention. He was patently touched by the innocence of the friendship. The description of how her dead body was found made him turn away in anguish.

It was a full minute before he was able to speak.

‘That’s been a great help to me,’ he said softly. ‘A great help. But I’d better leave you alone now. You look as if you’re going to keel over if I keep you out here much longer.’

‘I am fading.’

‘One last favour.’

‘Of course.’

‘Show me where it happened.’

‘Are you sure you want to see it?’

‘I have to. Painful as it’s bound to be. You don’t have to hold my hand. Just point me in the right direction and leave me alone for a few minutes to come to terms with it all. Is that too much to ask?’

‘No.’

‘Let’s go.’

Merlin led him to the site then walked some distance away to wait. The area was still cordoned off, and Kozelsky held one of the ropes tightly in his hands while he stared at the spot where Rosa Lustig had fallen. Merlin saw his shoulders sag and his head fall onto his chest. It was a long wait. When the American finally re-joined him, he was much more subdued. Merlin escorted him to the parking area.

‘Where will you spend the night?’ he asked.

‘I’m booked into a hotel in Phoenix.’

‘Will you be back out here again tomorrow?’

‘Oh, yes. I’m sure there are lots of things I forgot to ask you. Besides, if I arrive in daylight, you won’t ambush me with the pick handle.’ He offered his hand once more, but there was no strength in its grasp now. ‘Thanks, Merlin.’

‘If you come tomorrow, you may meet Mr Wright.’

‘Will Daddy Frank be here?’

‘Hopefully. So will Tom Vernon.’

‘I’d like to see both of them. Even in such lousy circumstances as these.’ A doubt festered. ‘Hold on a minute. Ingrid Hansa isn’t in the party as well, is she?’

‘She may be.’

‘Her, I can do without. She hated Rosa. I can’t handle that sort of thing just now. I only want to be around people who loved and appreciated her. As you obviously did.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Merlin. ‘I thought she was marvellous.’

‘Let’s hope Ingrid has the decency to stay away.’

Kozelsky climbed behind the steering wheel of his Packard. He was clearly a person of some wealth. His car, his clothing, his manner, and his account of his architectural career since leaving Frank Lloyd Wright all spoke of success. Merlin was not at all surprised that his visitor had been closely involved with Rosa Lustig and that he had aroused the unwelcome attentions of Ingrid Hansa.

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