I was tempted. Tempted like I've never been tempted before. But, 'I can't. I took the job. If I quit because it's getting tough, it won't be that long before I find some good reason to drop another one. That happens a couple times and I won't get work at all.'

He politely refrained from mentioning the fact that I spend most of my energy avoiding work. 'Figured you'd say something like that. So. Let's get on with it. I want out of here even if you don't.' He started up the final flight of stairs. 'You drink much milk, Garrett?'

'No. Beer.'

'I sort of figured.'

'Why?' The others watched us like we were a road show.

'Not sure what it is about milk. But it's good for the teeth and bones and brain. A man who drinks milk always has a healthy sense of self-preservation. Beer guzzlers get increasingly feeble in that area.'

He was dressing up a cautionary message as one of his crackpot dietary theories. That way it was easier to tell me he was afraid I was in way over my head.

Peters said, 'I don't know what you're talking about, Garrett. I don't much care. But I do think we ought to get on with it.' He stared at the gla.s.s at the rear of the house. The glow from the burning stable shone through. He looked like he wanted to rush off and get involved.

'Right. Go get the old man set.' I stared at the firelight while the rest moved toward the General's suite.

'Garrett!'

'Coming.'

I caught a glimpse of the blonde across the way, behind a pillar. She smiled and looked like she might wave back if I started it.

I growled and headed down the hall.

Her portrait was one I'd saved from the flames. I'd bring it in and ask some questions. And I was, by d.a.m.n, going to get some answers.

I was getting tired of being nice.

28.

Peters moved on into the deeps of the old man's suite. The rest of us waited in the study. I killed time by tossing logs on the fire and exchanging puzzled glances with Morley. Each of us wondered how much the other was pulling his leg.

The General arrived, bundled as though for an expedition to the Arctic. He looked at the fire, at me stirring it around so I could get a few more logs on, beamed approval. 'Thank you, Mr. Garrett. Thoughtful of you.' He surveyed the crowd. 'Who are these people?'

'Mr. Morley Dotes, restaurateur and an a.s.sociate of mine.' Morley gave him a nod.

'Indeed?' The old man seemed startled, like maybe he knew the name. He looked at me hard, reconsidering his estimate of me.

I said, 'You've met Mr. Tharpe. The other gentlemen prefer to remain anonymous, but they've agreed to point out your thief.'

'Oh.' A hollow sound, that. Faced by the imminence, he wasn't that anxious to know. I recalled his instructions: don't let him evade the truth. He asked, 'Where are the others?'

I told Peters to get them. He didn't move till the General agreed. I said, 'They're out trying to contain a fire somebody set in the stable.'

'A fire? Arson?' He was confused.

The doc and Morley studied him intently.

'Yes, sir. Near as I can figure, whoever killed Bradon was afraid something in the stable could connect him with the murder. The place had been searched. Whoever did it probably thought he didn't have time to do it right so he took second best.'

'Oh.' Again that hollow sound.

I walked over to the door, peeked out. Nothing out there. 'Saucerhead, want to warn us when the mob comes?'

He grunted, came over. I whispered, 'Did you rehea.r.s.e those two?'

He grunted again. He didn't have time to explain. I had to trust his judgment. 'General, shall I take the position I did last time? Mr. Tharpe and Mr. Dotes can hold the door.'

'I suppose. I suppose.' As the fire grew and threw more light, I saw that his color was as bad as it had been the other day.

I took my place. A few minutes later Saucerhead announced, 'People coming.'

'Let them in but don't let them back out.'

'Check.'

The doctor retreated into a corner. So did the fence. Morley moved to the side of the door opposite Saucerhead.

They came in looking tired and wary and dispirited. They looked at Morley and Saucerhead like they all thought they'd been caught doing something. Even Peters, and he knew what was happening.

The General said, 'Mr. Garrett has some news.'

Mr. Garrett looked at the fence. So did Mr. Tharpe, glowering like the man wouldn't get out of the house alive if he didn't point a finger.

He didn't have to. The bad boy gave himself away.

I said, 'Somebody's been stealing doodads from around here, about twenty thousand marks' worth. The General wanted to know who. Now we know that, Dellwood. I'm curious why.'

He took it pretty well. Maybe he'd figured that being found out was inevitable. 'To meet household expenses. There was no other way to raise the money.'

The General sputtered through a bad case of not wanting to face the truth. He ranted. His people kept blank faces but I got the feeling their sympathies didn't lie with their employer.

For one second I entertained the possibility that they all wanted to do him in.

Dellwood persisted, 'The General provides funds suitable for maintaining a household of ten at the time he left for the Cantard. He won't believe that prices have risen since then. Not one copper has gone into my pocket. Not one has been spent needlessly. Our suppliers refused to extend further credit.'

Must be h.e.l.l to be rich and broke.

The General managed, 'You might have told me instead of subjecting me to this humiliation.'

'I told you repeatedly, sir. For two years I told you. You had your eyes firmly fixed on the past. You refused to believe that times have changed. I had the choice of doing what I did or allowing you to be hounded by creditors. I chose to s.h.i.+eld you. I'll collect my things now.' He turned to the door.

Saucerhead and Morley blocked his way. I asked, 'General?'

The old man didn't say anything.

'For what it's worth, sir, I believe he's telling the truth.'

'Are you calling me a miser?'

'I said nothing of the sort. But you do have that reputation.' I was piqued. I've never gone out of my way to cuddle up to a client-of the male persuasion, anyway.

He sputtered some more.

Then he had one of his fits.

For a moment I thought it was a ploy. The others did, too. Maybe he'd cried wolf a few times. Everybody just looked till it was over. Then they all moved in, tripping over each other. I gave Saucerhead the signal to turn the fence loose.

Dellwood led the charge. n.o.body hung back. Which did not bode well for my hope that breaking one of the cases within the case would start everything unravelling.

'Back off,' I told them. 'Give him some air.' He was past the worst. 'Saucerhead, let Dellwood go, too.'

Dellwood managed his exit with considerable dignity. I reflected on the fact that my pay, and Saucerhead's, and everyone else's, was likely being financed by his efforts. I glanced at Cook. She'd told me the old man didn't have a pot to pee in. Here he was, living on his princ.i.p.al without even realizing it.

Was some other helpful soul trying to salvage the estate by hurrying an incompetent, tightwad manager to his reward?

The General got himself under control. 'I shan't thank you for what you've done, Mr. Garrett, though I asked for it. Dellwood. Where's Dellwood?'

'He's gone, sir.'

'Get him back. He can't leave. What'll I do without him?'

'I have no thoughts on the subject, General. I think we've accomplished all we can here.'

'Good. Yes. You're right. Leave me. But get Dellwood back here.'

'Everybody out. Peters, you'd better stay. Kaid? Morley, Saucerhead, I want to talk to you.' I scooted out first.

29.

I caught Dellwood in his quarters. He hadn't bothered to close his door. He was stuffing things into bags. 'Come to make sure I don't take the family jewels?'

'I came to tell you the old man wants you to stay.'

'I've spent most of my life attending his wants. Enough is enough. It'll be a relief being my own man.' He lied. 'A man's loyalty will only stretch so far.'

'You're upset. You did what you had to do and it brought you trouble. n.o.body holds it against you. Not even me.'

'Bull. He'll hold it against me the rest of his life. That's the kind of man he is. Whatever my reasons, I rubbed his nose in something. He doesn't forgive, no matter who was right.'

'But-'

'I know him. Give me credit for that.'

I did. 'You walk, you lose everything.'

'The bequest never meant much to me. I'm not poor, Mr. Garrett. I had few expenses while I was in service. I saved my money and I invested it well. I don't need his bequest to survive.'

'Your choice.' I didn't move.

He stopped throwing things into bags and looked at me. 'What?'

'The General didn't just hire me to find out who was kyping the family trophies. He also wanted me to find out who's trying to kill him.'

He sneered. 'Kill him? n.o.body's trying to kill him. That's just his imagination at work.'

'So was theft when I arrived. Except to you. He was right about that and I think he's right about this.'

'Bull. Who'd profit?'

'Good question. I don't think the estate has anything to do with it. I can't supply another motive, though. Yet.' I looked at him expectantly. He didn't say anything.

'Any friction with anybody? Any time, ever?'

'I can't give you what you want, Mr. Garrett. We've all had our troubles with the General-none of them the kind you kill over. Matters of discipline, that's all.'

'None of these people are inclined to hold grudges?'

'Chain. He's a big, stupid farm boy gone to fat at the hips and between the ears. He can hold a grudge forever, but he's never had one against the General. If you'll excuse me, sir?'

'Not yet. You've known this moment was coming since I got here, haven't you?'

'I wasn't surprised you found me out. I was was startled that you found the man who bought from me. Will that be all?' startled that you found the man who bought from me. Will that be all?'

'No. Who killed Hawkes and Snake?'

'I wouldn't know. I expect you'll find out. You're a first-cla.s.s finder-outer.'

'It's what I do. You didn't perchance try to discourage me when you decided I could cause you trouble, did you?'

'Sir?'

'There have been three attempts on my life since I arrived. I wondered if you'd thought you could cover your tracks-'

'That's not my way. I made it through a Marine career without killing anyone. I have no intention of starting now. I told you, I have nothing to lose here.'