reason.â
âReally?â Marjorie challenged. âI heard you used a different approach.â
âOh?â Creighton asked innocently.
âYes. I overheard Barnwell telling the story to Robert. Barnwell claims you tricked him into surrendering.â
âTricked him, did I? Well, I suppose I did outwit him in a way. Itâs difficult not to when you have a superior intellect like mine.â
âMmm,â Marjorie grunted in agreement. âYou did an excellent job. Especially when you complained about your nagging âold lady.ââ She arched a finely trimmed eyebrow. âI can only assume you were referring to me.â
Creighton reared back in surprise. âNooooooo,â he nearly sang. âI mentioned an old lady, yes. But I wasnât referring to you.â
Mrs. Patterson stopped rocking and chewing and leveled an âI dare youâ glare at her male guest.
Creighton waved his arms frantically. âNo no no no no! I would never say anything like that about you, Mrs. Patterson.â
The elderly woman smiled complacently and went back to consuming her cookie, while rocking back and forth in her wicker chair.
âThen whom did you mean?â
âNo one. I was merely trying to commiserate with Barnwell. Find common ground so heâd trust me and I could convince him to turn himself in peacefully. If I went in there boasting that I was going to marry the smartest, most beautiful girl in the world, heâd have punched me in the nose.â
âThatâs quite the yarn youâve spun there,â Marjorie commented. âWhat do you think, Mrs. Patterson?â
âYep. Heâs a smooth one all right.â The older woman narrowed her eyes appraisingly. âBut heâs good looking and he seems to mean well. Weâll let him off the hook ⦠this time.â
âThatâs a nice âhow do you doâ for apprehending a suspected mu-ehem, kidnapper,â he replied. âI hate to imagine what you would have done to me had I failed to bring him in.â
Mrs. Patterson drew a finger across her throat.
âThanks, Mrs. P. I knew I could rely upon you.â
Mrs. Patterson smiled sweetly and sipped her tea.
âSo,â Marjorie posed, âdo you think Michael Barnwellâs guilty?â
âI donât know. For Elizabethâs sake, Iâd like to think he isnât,â Creighton replied. âBut his story has more holes in it thanââ
ââSt. Andrewâs Golf Course,â Marjorie completed. âYes I know.â
âI was going to say the woodwind section of the London Philharmonic,â he stated drily. âAnd what about you? Do you think heâs guilty?â
Marjorie poured herself a second cup of tea before responding. âOf ⦠um, kidnapping ⦠Veronica Carter? No, I donât think he is.â
âBut, darling,â Creighton argued, âwhat about the suitcase? It had Veronica Carterâs ⦠fingerprints in it. I mean on it. And the key? You donât honestly believe that story of his do you?â
âPeople do some very strange things when theyâre panic-stricken. If Michael thought he might be considered a suspect, heâd certainly try to cover any signs that he had been in that cellar. As for the suitcase,â she sighed noisily. âIt is pretty damning, isnât it? And t he one piece of evidence I canât explain.â
Creighton nodded smugly. âBecause there is no other explanation. Michael Barnwell mu-kidnapped Veronica Carter.â
âBut when? Does he have an alibi for the time of the ⦠kidnapping? He may not remember where he went after seeing Veronica, but someone might remember seeing him. And how did he ⦠manage to steal away with her? Did he beat her with his fists? Because if he did, he has no bruises or cuts on his hands. And what did he do with ⦠the rest of ⦠you
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