Very Important Corpses Page 6

  ‘But,’ said November, leaning forward to give me her best hard stare across the table, ‘from this moment on, you will not speak to any of us directly. We have important matters to discuss and we are not to be interrupted. If you feel the need to communicate with us, you will do so through the Major Domo. Is that understood?’

  ‘Oh sure,’ I said. That actually suited me. I’d made the necessary first impression, in order to establish my authority, but I really didn’t want to be remembered by such important people once this mission was over.

  ‘You can go now,’ said December.

  ‘I know that,’ I said.

  I turned my back on the Baphomet Group and marched out, Penny striding proudly along beside me. The guards scattered to get out of our way, almost falling over themselves to give us plenty of room. The Major Domo bowed to the principals at the table, and followed us out. As she closed the door behind us, I could hear what sounded like the start of a lengthy dressing-down for the guards. Penny and I shared a grin. The Major Domo shook her head.

  ‘It’s all right for you, I have to work with these people. The principals can say what they like to the guards, but after this you won’t get an ounce of cooperation out of them.’

  ‘Never thought I would,’ I said briskly. ‘At least now they’ll stay out of our way.’

  I looked around for the twelfth guard, but there was no sign of him. The Major Domo’s mouth twitched.

  ‘He’s gone for a little lie-down, and probably a good hard think about whether to get into some other line of business. You were a bit hard on him.’

  I shrugged. ‘Can’t make an omelette without traumatizing some eggs.’

  ‘I would be grateful if you could avoid antagonizing the principals further,’ said the Major Domo. ‘The sooner they finish these talks, the sooner we can be rid of them and things can get back to normal around here.’

  ‘What about Jennifer Rifkin’s death?’ Penny said bluntly.

  ‘I have no doubt that whoever or whatever is responsible for her unusual demise is connected to the Baphomet Group’s presence,’ the Major Domo said carefully. ‘And the killer will depart when they do.’

  I looked thoughtfully at the closed door. ‘What kind of discussions are they having in there?’

  ‘Very private ones,’ said the Major Domo.

  ‘But what do they talk about?’ said Penny.

  The Major Domo stared impassively back at us. ‘I don’t know the specifics. No one outside that room does. It’s none of our business anyway.’

  ‘It is if I say it is,’ I said.

  ‘From what I can gather,’ the Major Domo said reluctantly, ‘they’re here to talk about what they’ve achieved, or failed to achieve, in the previous year. How much money they’ve made or lost, problems arising, and what they intend to do next. The business of the Baphomet Group is business and nothing more. Whatever they eventually decide will remain strictly private, among them.’

  ‘So,’ I said, ‘whatever happens at Coronach House stays at Coronach House?’

  ‘Of course,’ said the Major Domo.

  I looked at Penny. ‘Why am I not in the least surprised?’

  ‘Experience, probably,’ said Penny. ‘Spy secrets are nothing compared to business secrets. Not because they’re any more important, but because they’re always so very transitory. Today’s financial advantage is tomorrow’s old news.’

  ‘Speaking of secrets,’ said the Major Domo, ‘there is another complication to our already delicate situation. I have reason to believe an investigative reporter has found a way into the House, masquerading as one of the staff.’

  I grinned at Penny. ‘Told you!’

  ‘Smugness is very unattractive in a man,’ said Penny.

  ‘He cannot be allowed to learn anything of the principals’ deliberations,’ the Major Domo said loudly. ‘The Baphomet Group can only continue to operate under conditions of absolute secrecy.’

  ‘Are the principals really that important?’ I said. ‘A few people with months for names sitting around a table?’

  ‘If the world knew the kind of things those people talk about and the kinds of decisions they make, the financial markets would wet themselves,’ said the Major Domo. ‘It’s one thing to suspect someone is pulling strings behind the scenes, quite another to know it for sure.’

  ‘How could an impostor take the place of one of your staff?’ said Penny. ‘Don’t you know your own people?’

  ‘Normally, yes,’ said the Major Domo. ‘But most of my regular staff couldn’t meet the necessary security clearances, so I’ve had to bring in a lot of new people to deal with this many guests.’

  ‘A reporter …’ I said. ‘Am I to take it we’re not talking about the regular media?’

  ‘Of course not,’ said the Major Domo. ‘Our impostor will be one of those wild-eyed fanatical types. The kind who live and breathe conspiracy theories.’

  ‘Oh,’ Penny said wisely. ‘One of those …’

  ‘What is the current situation with the staff here?’ I asked.

  ‘There are staff who come with the House,’ said the Major Domo. ‘They answer to me. Then there are the staff the principals brought with them to see to their personal needs, as well as their security guards.’

  ‘How many does that make in total?’

  ‘Two people for each principal and twenty under me,’ said the Major Domo. ‘Forty-four, in all. Not counting the chauffeurs, and the armed guards patrolling the grounds.’

  I frowned. I didn’t like the idea of so many potential suspects running around loose, complicating things.

  ‘So many people …’ said Penny. ‘What do they all do?’

  ‘The whole point of being exceedingly rich,’ said the Major Domo, ‘is never having to do anything for yourself. My staff are concerned with preparing meals, running errands, cleaning and general maintenance. It takes a lot of hard work to run a house this size.’

  ‘So … we have a murderer, or possibly a creature, to catch,’ I said. ‘And a reporter hiding among the staff. We don’t know how or why Jennifer was killed, or what the reporter is looking for. Or if these two problems are in any way connected. Tricky …’

  The Major Domo sniffed loudly. ‘If you’ve quite finished upsetting people for the moment, I can recommend a number of good hotels that can put you up for as long as you’re working this case. Nothing too expensive, of course.’

  I shook my head firmly. ‘We’re not leaving the House until the case is closed. So find us a room, or we’ll take yours.’

  The Major Domo looked like she’d just been waiting for me to say that. She also looked like she had an answer she knew I wasn’t going to like. She led us back to the reception area to collect our luggage. Penny glared at me until I picked up her suitcase as well as my backpack, and then the Major Domo led us up to the top of the house and what looked very much like the attic. She unlocked a tucked-away door with a triumphant flourish, and ushered us into a small dusty room.

  ‘This is all that’s left,’ she said flatly. ‘All the other rooms are occupied. This used to be part of the servants’ quarters. Make yourself comfortable. You’ll find fresh sheets in the linen cupboard on the next floor down. Along with the nearest toilet. When you’re ready, come back down to the reception area and I’ll show you Miss Rifkin’s room. Or what’s left of it.’

  She swept out with her nose so far in the air it was a wonder she could see where she was going, leaving Penny and me to look over our room. It was small and cramped. The single bed had nothing but a sagging mattress, the sink had two dripping taps, and there was no wardrobe, no chairs, and no window. I dropped Penny’s suitcase on the bare wooden floor, and the boards creaked ominously.

  ‘What is that smell?’ said Penny.

  ‘Best not to think about it,’ I said. ‘This is just the Major Domo trying to put us off, in the hope we’ll give up and leave. But we are made of sterner stuff.’

  ‘Speak for yourself,’ said Penny,
folding her arms firmly. ‘I am not staying here.’

  ‘Never intended we should,’ I said. ‘I thought we might kick out one of the security guards and take his room. They’re bound to have nice ones.’

  Penny smiled. ‘Sounds like a plan to me.’

  ‘We’ll leave our luggage here for the time being,’ I said. ‘Once we’ve got the investigation under way, then we can go room hunting.’

  Penny nodded. ‘Where do we start? This situation is a lot more complicated than the Colonel led us to believe.’

  ‘If it was simple, they wouldn’t need us,’ I said. ‘But you’re right, this whole situation is a mess. There are far too many people in the House. Too much security can be worse than too little, if everyone keeps getting in each other’s way. And too many staff means too many unfamiliar faces. Who might or might not be who they claim to be? I really don’t like the fact that everyone is claiming not to have seen or heard anything while Jennifer’s room was being trashed.’

  ‘And of course there’s one more complication, which you carefully didn’t mention to the Major Domo,’ said Penny. ‘The possibility that one of the principals has been murdered and replaced.’

  ‘She has enough to worry about as it is,’ I said. ‘And besides, there’s always the chance she might be involved in the substitution.’

  ‘Let’s go back down and annoy her some more,’ said Penny. ‘I feel on safer ground there.’

  ‘Let’s,’ I said. I dropped my backpack on the bed, and the mattress sagged a little more. ‘Keep an eye out for a nice room, on the way down.’

  When we arrived back in the reception area, the Major Domo was busy giving orders to a small but very attentive collection of servants in smart old-fashioned uniforms. They wanted to look at Penny and me as we came forward to join them, but didn’t dare take their eyes off the Major Domo. She finally ran out of instructions, and dismissed her little army with a sharp wave of the hand. They scattered immediately, disappearing into the surrounding corridors before she could think of something else for them to do. I coughed meaningfully, and Penny clapped me on the back. The Major Domo turned unhurriedly to face us. She thought we’d come to complain about our room and make demands she could legitimately turn down, putting her back in control of the situation. So I just nodded briefly to her and didn’t even mention the room.

  ‘Hello again, Major Domo. Having a nice time drilling the troops? Nothing like a spot of shouting when you feel the need to exercise your authority. Now, take us to Jennifer Rifkin’s room.’

  ‘It’s not convenient just at the moment,’ said the Major Domo.

  ‘It is for me,’ I said.

  ‘I’m busy,’ said the Major Domo, drawing herself up to her full height, the better to glare down her nose at me.

  I smiled calmly back at her. ‘It’s up to you, Major Domo. Either you cooperate or I will have the Organization send a small army of agents to occupy Coronach House and question absolutely everyone about absolutely everything. How do you think the principals will react to that, particularly when I explain to them that it’s all your fault?’

  The Major Domo looked like she wanted to throw her hands in the air and stalk off. But she didn’t. She just inclined her head stiffly, and led the way up the main stairs to the middle floor. Penny leaned in close to murmur in my ear, as we followed after her.

  ‘The Colonel said not to request reinforcements, because there wouldn’t be any.’

  ‘I know that,’ I said, just as quietly, ‘but she doesn’t.’

  The door to Jennifer’s room was closed, but there was no one on duty. In fact, the entire corridor gave every appearance of being completely deserted. I gave the Major Domo a significant look.

  ‘You said this room was secure, and under guard.’

  ‘It was until you got here,’ said the Major Domo. ‘I didn’t think our creature, or killer, would dare make a move while there was an Organization agent in the House. So I reassigned the guard to other duties. We’re very short-staffed!’

  ‘Tell me the room is still locked,’ I said.

  ‘Of course it’s locked.’ The Major Domo produced her key ring again and unlocked the door. ‘There are no electronic locks in Coronach House, just old-fashioned locks and keys. That’s part of the olde-worlde charm the clients are paying for. Besides, these days electronic locks are easier to pick than the old-fashioned kind.’

  She threw the door open, and waved me into Jennifer’s room with a sweep of the arm that challenged me to find something she’d missed. Some people have body language that shouts at you. I stood in the doorway looking around carefully, with Penny crowding in behind to peer over my shoulder. The room had been thoroughly trashed. The wardrobe, the chest of drawers, a bedside table and two chairs had all been thrown around or reduced to pieces. The killer couldn’t have done more damage with a wrecking ball. A series of claw-marks had been gouged into the walls, deep and vicious. It looked like something had run amok in the room. But appearances can be deceiving …

  I moved slowly forward, taking my time, inspecting everything while touching nothing. Penny stuck close, studying me as much as the room. The Major Domo stayed in the doorway.

  ‘Well?’ Penny asked finally. ‘First impressions? I think I’m ready to go along with the Major Domo and call this an animal attack.’

  ‘Of course,’ I said. ‘That’s what we’re supposed to think. But this is just like the way Jennifer was killed. A very loud kind of evidence designed to distract us. Don’t look at what’s here, Penny. Look at what isn’t. All the signs suggest a frenzied attack, but there’s no blood anywhere and the two puncture wounds were the only harm to Jennifer’s body. The furniture has been smashed, but the carpet isn’t rucked up. There was no frenzy in this, no hurry … This was all done very methodically. Our killer took his time, because he wanted to create a scene. One that would tell a misleading story.’

  ‘Mislead us about what?’ said Penny.

  ‘I’m still working on that.’ I turned to look back at the Major Domo. ‘How could all this have taken place and no one heard anything? It looks like a rock group stayed here.’

  ‘No one heard anything because no one was here,’ the Major Domo said steadily. ‘The principals were holding a meeting, so the security people were guarding them. And the staff were all busy in other parts of the House. No one had any reason to be on this floor at that time.’

  I nodded slowly. I’d just realized something else. ‘The bed is intact. The rest of the furniture was destroyed, but the bed was spared. The bedclothes are still mostly in place.’ I moved in for a closer look. ‘Just a few drops of dried blood on the pillow. From where Jennifer’s head rested after she’d been killed. Why leave the body on the bed, in the middle of all this chaos?’

  ‘I have no idea,’ said the Major Domo. ‘But I’m sure you’re about to grace us with a theory.’

  ‘Because the murderer wanted Jennifer’s body to be seen,’ Penny said patiently. ‘Like Ishmael said, he was creating a scene.’

  ‘Still think this was an animal attack?’ I said to the Major Domo.

  ‘I don’t know what to think,’ she said, not giving an inch.

  ‘There is still the legend of the Coronach creature,’ said Penny.

  The Major Domo shook her head firmly. ‘There hasn’t been a sighting of the beast in centuries. The story’s been largely forgotten outside the local area. I’m surprised you’ve heard of it.’

  ‘You’d be surprised at the things I know,’ I said.

  ‘He’s right,’ said Penny, ‘you would. How is it you know the story, Major Domo? Are you local?’

  ‘This house used to be my family home, back when I was a child,’ the Major Domo said steadily. ‘Before my father suffered the financial reverses that made it necessary for him to sell it. I was only a young thing when we left, but I have always thought of Coronach House as my home. When the opportunity arose for me to take up the position of Major Domo here, I jumped at the chance. I s
hould have known better. Acting as servant in a house that used to be my family’s …’

  ‘Do you believe in the Coronach creature?’ asked Penny.

  ‘I never did before,’ said the Major Domo. ‘Until I saw this. The destruction of a creature, guided by the malice of a man.’

  She turned abruptly and left the room.

  I got down on my hands and knees and crawled around on the carpet. Penny watched me, saying nothing very loudly.

  ‘I’m looking for the tread of an animal,’ I said, not raising my head. ‘But all I’m seeing are shoe impressions, none of them distinctive. Any number of servants could have been in and out of this room, for any number of reasons.’ I got to my feet again and peered around. ‘No point in looking for fingerprints, for the same reason. Although … perhaps that was why the setting was destroyed so thoroughly – to disguise any evidence the killer might have left behind.’ I sniffed at the air. ‘I’m picking up human scents, but so faint they’re little more than shadows. Nothing that smells the least bit beastly.’

  ‘So what do you think happened here?’ said Penny.

  ‘I think we need to talk to people,’ I said. ‘Get a sense of what’s going on in the House. I think the Baphomet Group is only part of it …’

  All the way back down the stairs I was thinking about things hiding behind other things: the creature’s attack that might have been a creation, a reporter disguised as a member of the House staff, and just possibly a killer masquerading as a principal. But I still couldn’t see any obvious motive for Jennifer’s murder. The Major Domo was waiting for us at the foot of the main stairs.

  ‘The killer could have left the House,’ she said brusquely. ‘There’s no telling how much time might have passed between Miss Rifkin’s death and the discovery of the body.’

  ‘No,’ I said, ‘he’s still in the House.’

  ‘Why?’ said the Major Domo. ‘What possible reason could he have to stay here and risk being caught?’

  ‘Because his work isn’t finished yet,’ said Penny.

  ‘How well do the people in the House know each other?’ I said.