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“The most likely theory yet, I would say,” Rayley nodded. “My afternoon in the gentlemen’s
enclave felt a bit like Alice down the rabbit hole. We cannot assume they approach life, much less
matters like guilt or innocence, in the same manner that we do. To apply British motives to a Russian
crime scene would be the most foolish mistake of all.”
“So while we are in St. Petersburg, we are to readily accept all offers of friendship on the
surface but privately remain skeptical of the sincerity behind the offer,” Tom said airily. “I like it, for
this is pretty much my philosophy with all new acquaintances, no matter what their nationality.”
“We don’t have to do any of this, you know,” Davy blurted out. “It isn’t our fight.”
The others turned toward him, their faces showing different variations of inquiry, but all of them
confused.
“We are behaving as if we’ve been brought here to solve a crime,” Davy said. “But that isn’t
the case at all. I remember the Queen’s words on the ship most specifically. She wanted us to
determine whether or not the Winter Palace was a safe home for her granddaughters. Asked us to find
out if the revolutionaries could get their people in. Well it seems to me that question was answered
within hours of us getting off the boat, before we even had the chance to do anything. Mrs. Kirby’s
murder proved the earlier two weren’t suicides, so what more do we need to know? It is only pride
that makes us so determined to push further when we have no authority in this country. Trevor wants
us to finish in time to talk with the dancers at seven but why should they bother to speak to the likes of
us? We are outsiders.”
A silence followed this. Emma glanced to see if Trevor was offended by Davy’s words, but he
didn’t seem to be. He actually seemed to have been rendered momentarily shamed by Davy’s quite
accurate assessment of the situation.
Tom spoke first. “We didn’t have any authority in Paris either, but that didn’t stop us.”
“That was different,” Davy said. “Detective Abrams had been kidnapped, and of course we
would move if one of our own was in danger. But in this case…Mrs. Kirby might have been English,
but beyond that, I cannot see why we owe her the same level of loyalty we feel toward each other.
And even if we find her killer, who is to say what the palace police will do with that information?
There is no way this can come to a satisfactory outcome, at least by the standard of Scotland Yard.”
“You’re right,” Rayley said. “At least as far as you and Emma and Tom are concerned. Your
responsibilities begin and end with the question put forth by the Queen and, just as you say, that
question has been answered. But Trevor and I are bound by a different level of duty. If we are aware