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of a crime, whether it lies within our jurisdiction or not, we are compelled to follow the trail.”
“That is just the sort of thing the revolutionaries say,” Davy said, once again speaking
recklessly, for Rayley’s cheeks flushed with irritation. “If there is an injustice anywhere, any time,
they believe they must correct it. And so they will always fight.”
“Your point about knowing the limits of our power will be duly noted,” Rayley said, this time
more sharply. “But men of the law do not cease to be such because they have crossed an international
border. Trevor and I do not expect the rest of you to necessarily heed the same call.”
It was a bit of an indirect scold toward Davy, who was also a man of law, and he tension in the
room thickened. Emma gamely waded into the mix. “Davy is quite correct in that we are behaving as
if the Russians want us to help solve these crimes,” she said. “While the truth of the matter is that
they likely wish we would all go away and leave them alone. And he is also right to remind us that
we didn’t know the ballet dancers and had scarcely met Mrs. Kirby, who appeared to be roundly
disliked and justifiably so. But it is hard to remember areas of jurisdiction and limits of power when
one is in the middle of this sort of situation, is it not? Now that you tell me Konstantin is being
framed, I find that I too must remain involved. I feel a personal loyalty to him which has nothing to do
with nationality.”
“My motivations are different as well,” Tom said. “Mrs. Kirby was on her way to meet me
when she was killed and her body dropped at my feet. It is not that I feel responsible for the fact that
curiosity ultimately killed this cat, but her killer came very close so I feel that I too must-“
“Of course,” Davy said. He was flushed. “I did not mean to suggest that any of you were
wrong to want to see justice done, or to wish to protect innocent people, no matter what or who they
are. I was just saying that we answer to the Queen, no one else. I think we should admit that as we
proceed – and I will keep helping as well – that this is not an official case. We are all doing this for
reasons of our own.”
“You have changed, Davy,” Trevor said. “You have begun to think for yourself.”
“I have always thought for myself,” Davy said, this time a ghost of a smile coming to his mouth.
“It’s just that I have now begun to speak for myself as well. But I have taken enough of our time,
haven’t I, Sir?”
The “Sir” seemed to once more establish equilibrium within the group. Emma poured herself
some tea, and the men all leaned back once again in their seats.