Shadows Fall Away by Kit Forbes

business.”
    “Sounds like a plan.”
    I turned, took several steps then stopped to see why Mark wasn’t following. He’d gone back into the Inspector’s office for his hat. “Come along, Mr. Stewart. I haven’t all day to dawdle.”
    He followed me outside. The day had turned out fine and it was certainly more inviting than being stuck the dark police station. “Perhaps we could walk up towards the High Street and continue our talk,” I suggested, already turning in that direction. He walked beside me, close to the building.
    Surely he wasn’t rude on purpose. I stopped and stared at him. “Is it not the custom in America for the man to walk next to the curb?”
    He looked perplexed, then switched sides with me. “You do everything backwards here.”
    “Or perhaps you do everything backwards in America,” I shot back.
    He grinned. Rather ruefully it seemed, as if he regretted coming here. Perhaps it wasn’t merely the choice of location he was regretting.
    Steeling my resolve, I turned my own thoughts from regret at what might have been. “Mr. Stewart, let me get to the point. I need the cooperation of the authorities and I believe you can provide that.”
    “What makes you think that, Miss Trambley?”
    “You are Inspector Fraser’s nephew,” I said. “While he has shown some sympathy to my ideas, I believe with your support he would be even more amenable to providing the assistance needed.”
    Mark shrugged. “I don’t see what I could say that you haven’t already said.” He paused then added, “Repeatedly.”
    My shoulders tensed, my smile remained tight. “But surely—”
    “I doubt he’ll listen to me. I gave him my opinion of the murder and he reminded me that this is police business and that I’m no policeman.”
    I studied his face, noted the indignation his calm voice concealed. “But you are a man, and unfortunately, the opinions of men, even those my age, seem to carry more credence with the authorities than the most strenuous pleas of a woman of any age.”
    He said nothing. He simply gazed back at me with penetrating hazel eyes that both invigorated and frightened me.
    “Tell you what,” he said finally. “You wash my back, I’ll wash yours.”
    Assisting with a shave was one thing but this—this was an outrage. “I beg your pardon?”
    “I mean, I’ll help you if you help me.”
    I still wasn’t at all sure I liked the sound of that. “Help you in what way?” I moved away from him, and started forward once more.
    “I need a job and a place to stay. You know a lot of folks around this part of London, right? And I take it not all of them are poor and downtrodden. I hoped you might know someone who knows someone…”
    “And why not ask your uncle for help in this?”
    “Because I don’t want to ask him for any more favors than I already have.”
    “But you are perfectly willing to ask favors of me?” I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, not quite sure if I was offended or flattered. It was obvious he bit back a rude comment before he replied.
    “You’re the only person my age I know here. The way I see it, that makes you the only friend I have. And friends help friends, right?” He breathed a quiet sigh. “If it makes you feel better I’ll owe you a favor back. Anything you want I’ll do, okay?”
    As we walked I pondered his words, tried not to smile because I found that notion disquietingly attractive.
    “I do hope you’re of good moral character, Mr. Stewart,” I said after we’d walked a bit in silence. “I’d not want peoples’ opinion of me diminished should you prove an unsuitable boarder or employee.”
    Mark glanced over at me. “My morals are suitable.”
    I replied with a quirk of my eyebrow then quickened my pace. “Be that as it may, Mr. Stewart, I require your word that you will not disgrace me if I introduce you to some of the people I know.”
    Mark shrugged. “I can’t guarantee I won’t disgrace you. After all, I am