9308-3953

sort of creature lies beneath.
“Well, if your plan is to implicate poor Sang,” Weaver said mildly. “I am not sure how
an electrocution happening weeks after his death bolsters your case.”
“True, true, all true enough,” Michael said. “But perhaps they will conclude it was some
other Indian. I have reason to believe it was. The majordomo at the Byculla Club greeted me in a
most insolent manner when I arrived last night, so there is no telling what that fellow was about. He
was just like Sang, you know, as I have tried to tell you and Mother endless times. You keep the old
ones around too long and they begin to feel they own the place.”
Weaver stretched his legs out in front of him and coughed. “Your Benson was not the
only Scotland Yard detective in Bombay.”
“There is no need to be clever, for I met them last night. A chap named Welles
surrounded by the most bizarre gaggle of companions I have ever encountered. Women, Jews, and
schoolboys. I am only surprised he didn’t bring along a trained monkey.” Michael blew air from his
cheeks with an exaggerated huff of displeasure. “When I first heard of your arrest, I went to the
Queen for help, thinking she might send a letter authorizing my inquiry but she did me one better and
unleashed Scotland Yard on the matter. Can’t think why.”
“Perhaps they have kept her around too long and she thinks she owns the place.”
Michael ignored this. “These Yard chaps shall dig around in a most inconvenient
manner,” he said fitfully. “It is what they do.”
“I imagine so. But is that not what you want? As I have told you, I am an innocent man.
Anything they find shall only free me from this cell and leave you equally free to pursue your political
ambitions without the threat of scandal.”
“Perhaps. But in my experience with policemen, they lack all discretion. They may
raise issues which have nothing to do with the case.”
“Such as your relationship with Benson?”
Michael flushed. “I have nothing to hide.”
“Then you have nothing to fear.”
Michael looked at his stepfather with an exasperation bordering on contempt. “It would
appear that a lifetime in this backwater has made you simple minded. You say that you did not kill
Mother and I believe you. Now I tell you in all candor that my relationship with Benson was nothing
but business. But human lives can be so very complicated, can they not? Do you really wish to lay
every detail of your past exposed to the unblinking eyes of Scotland Yard?”
***
The Tucker House
1:52 PM
“On to the strange business of last night,” Trevor said. “Tom, you said you dropped by
to call on Amy Morrow after your time in the lab. You found her on the mend, I trust?”
“Admirably recovered and as giddily charming as ever,” Tom said. “Her grandmother is
quite the character as well, is she not? She was threatening to charge up to the Byculla Club and rip
out every wire from every wall with her own hands. Candles were good enough for her generation,
she said, and should suffice for ours.”
“She has a valid point,” said Geraldine.
“I’m happy to hear that the girl is better,” said Trevor. “Plans have been made for the
immediate transfer of Jonathan Benson’s remains to England.”