moved. The stone — about twenty carats — was mounted in yellow gold.
“As a gem it’s probably not all that valuable,” said Delia, handing it back to Uda, “except for its rarity, which would raise its worth considerably.”
Uda had put the ring away and returned to stand by Davina; waiting for the next snap of the fingers?
“There were physical similarities too,” Vina said. “John was different in coloring and features, but his facial expressions were pure Max. Ivan saw it immediately. Ivan is the nephew.”
“Why did you invite the Doctors Hunter to your dinner?”
“To please John. He knew them in California, and I thought it would be nice for him to have some friends of his own there.” Another shrug; she used them for all sorts of reasons. “After all, Sergeant Carstairs, Max, Val, Ivan and I all know Dr. Jim very well through C.U.P. It was his wife we didn’t know.”
“I understand you have high hopes for his book?”
“Naturally!” Davina said impatiently. “If A Helical God is a big bestseller, then Tunbull Printing and my own Imaginexa stand to make a lot of money. We do well out of printing any C.U.P. book, but Dr. Jim’s is unique. Max has already printed twenty thousand copies.”
“But isn’t the title still a matter of debate?” Delia asked blankly. “Wasn’t it rash to go to press?”
“It was my idea,” Davina said triumphantly. “Dr. Jim is in love with his title. So if the book and its cover are already in print bearing his title, we win!”
“You could as easily wind up in a court battle with C.U.P. that could go on for years,” said Delia, hardly able to credit her ears. She reasoned like a small child! And Max and Val and Ivan had actually risked their business on her instincts? When in the right environment, Davina Tunbull must be able to sell the Brooklyn Bridge ten times a day.
“You have the cow by the feet instead of the ears,” Vina said, sounding blithe. “We only stood in danger if Tinkerman was the Head Scholar, and I knew he would not be. I asked Uda to look in the bowl of water at the future — she is never wrong! She said Tinkerman was going to choke to death at the banquet, and that is exactly what happened. Dr. Jim will keep his title. We stand in no danger now that Tinkerman is dead.”
Ye gods, the woman is a child! thought Delia, alarmed. “Mrs. Tunbull, I think it’s time I reminded you that you are entitled to have a lawyer present while you’re being questioned,” she said urgently. “I’ve endeavored to keep our conversation neutral, but you are incriminating yourself out of your own mouth. Juries are not impressed by soothsayers. Do you wish to continue to speak to me, or would you rather have a lawyer present?”
“I need no lawyers,” said the lady loftily. “I did not kill the man. I went nowhere near him. As for my dinner — why should I kill poor John? He told Max and me that he didn’t want Alexis’s inheritance. His adopted father is very rich and has already settled millions on John. If I were you, I would look at Ivan. He thought he would be the big loser.”
“Thank you for this most illuminating interview,” Delia said hollowly. “Is there anything else I ought to know?”
“Only that John —” Vina’s voice dropped to a whisper “— was enamored of me. I could not tell Max, and I did not tell Max! But it was a good thing John died in that respect, Sergeant. He was so ardent that I had to fight him off with myteeth and my nails. Then Uda came in, and I was saved. Is that not so, Uda?”
“Yes.”
“When did this happen, Mrs. Tunbull?”
“Last Friday. At the dinner. He got me alone.”
“Bad man!” said Uda, glowering.
“At the dinner, Mrs. Tunbull, did you go into the study at any time after the men repaired there?”
“No,” said Davina.
“No,” said Uda.
“I do advise you to ask your husband to seek legal counsel, Mrs. Tunbull. You have a tendency to be indiscreet,” said
“As a gem it’s probably not all that valuable,” said Delia, handing it back to Uda, “except for its rarity, which would raise its worth considerably.”
Uda had put the ring away and returned to stand by Davina; waiting for the next snap of the fingers?
“There were physical similarities too,” Vina said. “John was different in coloring and features, but his facial expressions were pure Max. Ivan saw it immediately. Ivan is the nephew.”
“Why did you invite the Doctors Hunter to your dinner?”
“To please John. He knew them in California, and I thought it would be nice for him to have some friends of his own there.” Another shrug; she used them for all sorts of reasons. “After all, Sergeant Carstairs, Max, Val, Ivan and I all know Dr. Jim very well through C.U.P. It was his wife we didn’t know.”
“I understand you have high hopes for his book?”
“Naturally!” Davina said impatiently. “If A Helical God is a big bestseller, then Tunbull Printing and my own Imaginexa stand to make a lot of money. We do well out of printing any C.U.P. book, but Dr. Jim’s is unique. Max has already printed twenty thousand copies.”
“But isn’t the title still a matter of debate?” Delia asked blankly. “Wasn’t it rash to go to press?”
“It was my idea,” Davina said triumphantly. “Dr. Jim is in love with his title. So if the book and its cover are already in print bearing his title, we win!”
“You could as easily wind up in a court battle with C.U.P. that could go on for years,” said Delia, hardly able to credit her ears. She reasoned like a small child! And Max and Val and Ivan had actually risked their business on her instincts? When in the right environment, Davina Tunbull must be able to sell the Brooklyn Bridge ten times a day.
“You have the cow by the feet instead of the ears,” Vina said, sounding blithe. “We only stood in danger if Tinkerman was the Head Scholar, and I knew he would not be. I asked Uda to look in the bowl of water at the future — she is never wrong! She said Tinkerman was going to choke to death at the banquet, and that is exactly what happened. Dr. Jim will keep his title. We stand in no danger now that Tinkerman is dead.”
Ye gods, the woman is a child! thought Delia, alarmed. “Mrs. Tunbull, I think it’s time I reminded you that you are entitled to have a lawyer present while you’re being questioned,” she said urgently. “I’ve endeavored to keep our conversation neutral, but you are incriminating yourself out of your own mouth. Juries are not impressed by soothsayers. Do you wish to continue to speak to me, or would you rather have a lawyer present?”
“I need no lawyers,” said the lady loftily. “I did not kill the man. I went nowhere near him. As for my dinner — why should I kill poor John? He told Max and me that he didn’t want Alexis’s inheritance. His adopted father is very rich and has already settled millions on John. If I were you, I would look at Ivan. He thought he would be the big loser.”
“Thank you for this most illuminating interview,” Delia said hollowly. “Is there anything else I ought to know?”
“Only that John —” Vina’s voice dropped to a whisper “— was enamored of me. I could not tell Max, and I did not tell Max! But it was a good thing John died in that respect, Sergeant. He was so ardent that I had to fight him off with myteeth and my nails. Then Uda came in, and I was saved. Is that not so, Uda?”
“Yes.”
“When did this happen, Mrs. Tunbull?”
“Last Friday. At the dinner. He got me alone.”
“Bad man!” said Uda, glowering.
“At the dinner, Mrs. Tunbull, did you go into the study at any time after the men repaired there?”
“No,” said Davina.
“No,” said Uda.
“I do advise you to ask your husband to seek legal counsel, Mrs. Tunbull. You have a tendency to be indiscreet,” said
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