Cat and Mouse by Genella deGrey Page B

parlour.”
    “That’s very kind of you, but do you even remember what Jimmy looked like?”
    “Oh. You may have a point.”
    “Besides, what could possibly be done to convict his murderer?” She opened the door with her free hand.
    “You would be surprised how efficient Scotland Yard’s Criminal Investigation Department can be in that respect.” Then he whispered, “Especially if we could procure the murder weapon.”
    “Very well.” She nodded and they crossed the catwalk to the stairs.
    * * * *
    Thankfully, no one else occupied the small kitchen area. She joined Max after she had changed into a simple ivory day dress with embroidered lilacs down every other stripe. She looked charming as she buzzed around the table like a bee.
    “Your suit is completely rumpled,” she commented and handed him a piece of bread dipped in berry jam. “I doubt if you’ll get across the threshold of White’s looking as if you’ve slept in your evening clothes.”
    Her observation drew his attention to his attire. “I don’t suppose you have a butler service here?”
    A tinkling laugh brought his gaze to meet hers as she took the seat across from him. “I don’t think you’ll find a single flat iron for miles. Hot or cold.”
    “So what do you suggest?” Max bit into the day-old slice of bread and chewed while Katrina tapped her perfectly kissable lips with an index finger.
    “There’s nothing for it. You’ll have to change before you take Brenner on his dream outing.” She glanced down at her heel of bread and slid it towards the centre of the table, as if at once uninterested in the bland fare. And rightly so. He set his bread down as well.
    “What if his men are watching the doors?”
    Katrina sat up a little straighter and whispered. “I found a corridor not three weeks ago that had at least an inch of dust on the floor, indicating that no one had ever used this particular passage. I may have been an awful thief, but I’m an ingenious sneak.”
    Mice usually are . He kept the thought and the grin that accompanied it to himself. “Shall we, then?”
    She nodded and stood.
    Max glanced about to double-check they were alone, which they were. “I think we should also call at the funeral parlour.” He hated to bring up the subject, but knew eventually that they’d at least have to touch upon it. “Are you up for such a morose excursion or would you prefer to wait a day or two?”
    He watched something akin to pain pass over Katrina’s features. She then lifted her chin. “If it will help convict Bren—the murderer, then I’m all for it.”
    His chest squeezed in sympathy for her, making it difficult to draw breath. He took her by the hand. “Your bravery does you credit.”
    “I’m quite sure it’s merely a shell of courage, but it’s all I have left.”
    * * * *
    His mouse had avoided the guards by taking them through the isolated, cobweb-strewn corridor, the clever girl. Once they were well away from the Den and strolling along the streets of London blending in with the crowd, Max suggested they visit the funeral parlour first as it was on the way to his town house.
    Her hand trembled in the crook of his arm as he reached for the doorknob. He glanced down at her. “You are sure?”
    She nodded and they stepped into the parlour. A bell attached to the back side of the entrance sounded, announcing their arrival. Max closed the door behind them and detected a faint stench of decay in the air. Aside from the smell, it seemed a normal yet mostly unfurnished parlour, save the two caskets on display at the far end of the extensive, narrow room. Light streamed in through the muslin under-drapes, but the space still seemed dark—must have been the fact that it was permanently dressed for grim occasions. It was likely only those who’d recently lost loved ones that visited.
    A man entered through drawn velvet curtains beyond the caskets and walked sullenly down the long floral runner towards them. “Good