The Darkest Days (The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Book 6)

by Liza O'Connor

  “Of course, which room would you prefer these interviews to occur in?”

  “The library would be fine,” Vic said, knowing Jacko had very comfortable chairs.

  Thomas led them to the library as if they hadn’t a clue where it might be. Had he forgotten she used to visit this house frequently when she was a young ersatz boy? Aunt Maddy and Alice’s mother were best of friends back then. As were Vic and Alice, until Alice turned sixteen and decided they should marry each other. Since then, their friendship had been decidedly strained. Though now with Alice happily married to Jacko, their friendship had once again strengthened.

  “What do you wish to know?” Thomas asked. “I assure you Master Jacko had nothing to do with Daisy’s death. He was in bed with Mistress Alice.”

  “I believe you, but could you explain for the record, precisely how you know that to be a fact.”

  “Of course. I woke to an animal’s howl, a large dog, I suppose. I grabbed a robe and went to the gardener’s room, and suggested he check his chickens. When leaving his room, I heard footsteps on the main stairs so I hurried to my room and dressed at once. Just as I left my room to investigate who else was awake at this hour, a gunshot sounded from outside. I thought it the gardener shooting at something trying to get his chickens. Only he ran in soon after and reported hearing a shot from Frederick’s farm. I planned to wake my master and let him know, but he was already coming down the stairs when I arrived at the entrance hall. He assured me he could saddle his own horse, but Mistress Alice would require the carriage. I woke the grooms and then provided my mistress tea while she waited for her carriage. Once transportation was readied, she left. Fifteen minutes later she returned with Greta Berger. The woman was highly distraught.”

  “Thank you for your details. Barns do you have any questions?”

  Barns rubbed his chin with his forefinger and thumb. “Just one clarification. You said you heard footsteps on the main stairs, but then a great deal happened before you actually saw Jacko descending the stairs.”

  Thomas tilted his head and frowned for a moment. “I know I heard someone running up or down the steps, but it was nearly ten minutes later when Master Jacko came down. Now that I give the matter further thought, the footsteps I first heard could not have been my master’s.”

  “How can you know that?” Barns asked.

  “Because he is very quiet when he walks.”

  Vic nodded. “That’s true. If Thomas heard footsteps, they didn’t belong to Jacko.” She could tell by Barns’ furrowed brow he wasn’t done chewing this bone, but she could explain no more in Thomas’ presence. “Are any of the servants housed on the upper levels?”

  “Yes, the maids sleep on the fourth floor, however, I assure you, they only use the servant’s stairs.”

  “But then who does that leave to go up or down the steps?” Vic asked.

  “I cannot guess. Master Pete, I suppose…but his step is light as well.” Thomas rubbed his forehead. “It is possible one of my male servants is risking his job to enjoy time with one of the maids. In that case, he might believe the main stairs safer than the servant’s stairs, which are located next to my bedroom and creak loudly when walked upon.” Thomas sighed heavily.

  Vic leaned forward. “Since we have to interview the servants anyway, let us ferret out this mystery.”

  Thomas stared at her a long moment. “Normally, I would insist upon doing this myself, but given the extenuating circumstances, I will allow you to question the servants first. However, if you do not find the answer, I intend to.”

  “Fair enough,” she said and looked to Barns. He nodded in agreement. “You may send the servants in whatever order you wish, but just make certain we speak to everyone who works for Alice and Jacko.”

  “I understand,” he stated then left the room.

  Barns spoke the moment the door closed. “Why are you so certain the footsteps did not belong to Jacko?”

  “Because you’ll never hear Jacko’s footsteps, any more than you’ll hear Tubs. Nor do I believe it was Li’l Pete because by now Jacko would have taught him the art of a silent step. This was undoubtedly a servant.”

  “Why couldn’t it have been Jacko purposely making noise so you’d think it wasn’t him?” Barns challenged.

  “A fair question, if Jacko was an unknown entity. But he is not. Do I need to remind you of why he is not?” she asked.

  Barns huffed. “I am not comfortable with this.”

  Vic stared up at the ceiling. “Barns, I am not wasting time suspecting Jacko. We have a great deal of real suspects to go through, one of which will be the murderer. If, at the end of assessing all our truly possible suspects, we have not discovered the murderer, then we can readdress this matter. Is that a reasonable compromise?”

  After a long silence, he spoke, “I can live with it.”

  “Good, then put Jacko aside and help me find who really did this.”

  The cook arrived first and frowned as she gazed about the library. “Where is Mr. Thorn? I wanted to discuss the soup he ruined.”

  Vic grimaced. “It was an accident, I assure you, and will not happen again. We had to interview people about the murder and the soup smelled so wonderful and we were so hungry, not having eaten since early this morning, that we…I’m ashamed to say, fought over the serving spoon.”

  Her anger turned to concern. “Are you still starving?”

  “I know I am, and poor Barns was barely able to touch his soup before we had to leave.”

  “Once I answer your questions, I’ll ask Thomas if I can bring you food leftover from dinner.”

  Vic smiled. “You are a life saver!”

  “Well, you’re growing boys, and neither of you look prepared to go without food all day. Now how can I help you find Elwood? I’m very worried about him. He’s most reliable. He wouldn’t just run off and not come home, even if he is heartbroken and sees only a lifetime of regret in his future.”

  “Because he liked Daisy?” Vic asked.

  “Oh, he didn’t just like her, he adored her. When he returned with the camera this morning, he was like the walking dead. I asked him what was wrong, but he couldn’t speak. He just dropped the camera on the kitchen table and went to his room.”

  Vic was confused. That didn’t sound like the young man who had delivered the letter. The more she considered the matter the more certain she became. The boy waiting in her office hadn’t been a gentleman.

  “Can you describe Elwood to me?” Vic asked.

  “He is slender, with perfect posture, so tall and dignified, smart as can be.”

  “Length of hair and color?”

  “Brown hair, neatly trimmed, rather like that young man,” she nodded to Barns.

  Definitely not the boy who delivered the letter.

  “I understand he was considered a rather fine catch for the ladies around here.”

  The cook rolled her eyes. “Not a young lady on the staff who didn’t flirt and dream, but he only had eyes for Daisy.”

  Upon getting the girls names, Vic tread upon icy water. “Do you think any of these girls might do something drastic to get Elwood?”

  “You mean did they kill Daisy. No! How could you even suggest such a thing?”

  “Actually, I meant if there were any who could offer Elwood a place to recover from his loss and perhaps ingratiate themselves into his life while doing so.”

  The cook’s eyes narrowed as she gave the matter thought. “Now that bit of trickery, Nora or Chelsea might do. Those two girls are full of themselves and a bit sly if you ask me. They came from London and have an air about them. Yes, I can see them pulling a stunt like that.” She sighed heavily. “But where would they put him? It’s not like they have family around here to take him in.”

  “Are there any unoccupied buildings?” Vic asked.

  “There’s the mill and an old cabin out in the woods…that’s all I know of.”

  “Oh, one other thing. Why was Elwood carrying a camera?”


  “The master requested it. Something about preserving evidence.”

  “And where is it now?”

  The cook shook her head. “I don’t rightly know. Shall I tell Thomas you wish to know its whereabouts?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Once the cook left, Barns sighed. “You are amazing. I thought interviewing the cook was a waste of time and she turned out to be a fountain of information.”

  “More than she knew. The young man who delivered the letter to us was not Elwood, which means Elwood probably disappeared before he ever left this village.”

  Barns grimaced. “There goes my theory. I suspected he’d gotten snared by one of the businesses looking for handsome young fellows who can pass as gentlemen.”

  “Yeah, I know all about places like Dragon’s Cloud.” She had worried about the same.

  “You’ve gone to one of these establishments?” he asked in shock.

  “Not intentionally,” she muttered, recalling her abduction.

  Before Barns could ask for more information, the next servant arrived.

  As she questioned the other servants, she discovered while none believed Chelsea or Nora were capable of murder, none of them liked either girl.

  “I have no proof, but I think Nora killed my kitten,” Jenna, the kitchen help, whispered.

  “I am so sorry. Why would she do such a thing?”

  “Because I wouldn’t give it to her. Nora always got off work earlier than me. Then one day she took Precious from where it slept in the pantry and refused to return it to me when I ask for it. Somehow Thomas found out and told her in no uncertain terms Precious was mine and she was to leave it alone.”

  “Why would the butler become involved over such a matter? Why not the housekeeper?”

  The young thin girl shrugged. “I don’t know why anyone yelled at Nora. I never complained.”

  Ben leaned forward. “Why didn’t you?”

  The girl’s bottom lip trembled. “Because I loved my kitten. Nora swore if I said a word, she’d kill it.” Tears welled in her eyes. “The morning after she got scolded, Precious was gone.” The girl broke down in sobs, ending the interview.

  Thomas returned a moment later with no servant in tow. “Is it really necessary to send my servants into fits of tears?”

  “I apologize. She was telling us about her missing pet.”

  “Ahhh…” He then frowned. “Why on earth would you ask her about the kitten?”

  Vic shrugged. “People often tell me of matters weighing heavy on their heart.”

  Thomas smiled ever so slightly. “You are easy to converse with. I understand why Mr. Thorn allows you to interview people. Unfortunately, no further servants can be interviewed tonight. However, the cook has warmed the food if you care to follow me to the dining room.”

  Barns popped up from his seat at once. “Food would be greatly appreciated.”

  “Wait. I want to interview Nora and Chelsea.”

  “My apologies but they are not here. The housekeeper says she gave them the weekend off to visit their families in London.”

  Vic flipped back in her notes to the housekeeper.

  “She never mentioned it during her interview,” Barns stated.

  Vic found the section, Barns was correct. She glanced at her notes. “She seems to prefer these two girls over the others…unlike everyone else on the staff.”

  Thomas nodded. “She does, and I have no idea why. Otherwise, she is a fine housekeeper. I have lectured her on the matter several times, and she assures me she shows no favoritism.”

  “But you disagree,” Vic stated.

  Thomas’s eyes widened. “I never said that.”

  “No, you did not. However, it explains why you scolded Nora about the kitten.”

  He sighed heavily and nodded. “I am glad to see you excel at your career. Miss Madeline would be proud.”

  “So you do remember me. The way you keep leading me about this house as if I’ve never been here had me wondering if you’d forgotten me entirely.”

  He smiled. “Not at all. I am merely performing my duties as a butler. Now, may I lead you to the dining room?”

  Barns rushed forward, clearly wishing to be led. Vic sighed and joined the parade. She was most annoyed with the housekeeper for allowing servants to wander off while they investigated a crime. In the future, she would forbid them to do so the moment she arrived.

  As Vic entered the dining room, she yelped in outrage. This day was just one disaster after another!

  Chapter 9

  Xavier had piled all the leftovers onto his plate.

  “Bloody hell, you have to share! Barns and I are starving.” Vic grabbed a large slab of ham with her fingers, but Xavier stabbed the meat with his fork holding it firmly against his plate while her fingers slipped off.

  “Victor, shall I request you be fed with the dogs? You are completely out of control. Now sit down and wait to be served.”

  “Served what?” Vic demanded. “You’ve all the food. Now share your food or Barns and I will refuse to share our findings.”

  Thomas, having disappeared early in their battle for sustenance, entered from the kitchen, carrying a large platter of meat and potatoes.

  “The cook kept your food in the warmer,” he explained and properly served both Vic and Barns.

  Vic smiled with relief. “Please give the cook my most heartfelt appreciation.”

  Thomas nodded as he moved to Barns and filled his plate.

  Vic stopped cutting her meat. “Is this all the leftovers?”

  Xavier glared at her. “My God, you have more than I do. How much food could you possibly require?”

  Vic ignored him and focused on Thomas. “Tubs will be starved when he comes in. Perhaps you can take half of mine back and hold it for him?”

  “He can have half mine as well,” Barns offered.

  Vic rewarded him with a smile.

  “Bloody hell. Take half of mine as well,” Xavier grumbled.

  “One moment, please.” Thomas left the room and returned less than a minute later. “Mistress Alice requested that Tubs be provided several two-inch slabs of roast, two loaves of bread, and fifteen baked potatoes when he returns.”

  Vic sighed with happiness and dived into her food.

  A half-hour later, full and happy, the three returned to the library, to find one of the fine leather fireplace chairs already occupied.

  “Jacko, it’s good to see you conscious,” Xavier said as he snared the other leather chair. Wasting no time, Vic took claim to the chair behind the desk, leaving poor Barns with the hardwood guest chair.

  “Damn!” Vic cursed. “I forgot to ask Thomas if he knew what happened to your camera. Tell me you took pictures of the crime scene and not some odd cloud formation.”

  When Jacko turned to glare at her, his face twisted in pain from the effort, and whatever snide remark he’d intended was forgotten. Not wishing to cause him further torture, she rose and pulled her chair next to Xavier. “Barns, join the circle.”

  Soon all four were in a half circle around the fireplace.

  “Now you may glare at me, but only if you have pictures of the crime scene.”

  Jacko released his frustration with a heavy sigh, which Vic interpreted as him admitting he had not.

  “Damn it, Jacko. Why did you ask for a camera if not to shoot the crime scene?”

  Jacko glared at her. “I did capture the crime scene, only in my current condition, I cannot develop the film.”

  “Tell me how and I’ll do it,” Vic offered.

  Jacko ignored her and looked at Xavier. “Any chance you know how to develop film?”

  “No.”

  “Then we’ll have to wait until I get—”

  “I can,” Barns stated.

  Jacko frowned at the boy. “And who are you, exactly?”

  The young man straightened in his chair and said with excessive pride, “Constable Clive Barns of Scotland Yard.”

&nb
sp; “All the same, I’ll wait and develop the film myself,” Jacko said. “There were three different prints in the blood. One exits through the barn door, another set enters and leaves the scene. Then barefoot prints enters then crawls up the loft and uses a rope to climb down from the loft pulley.”

  Vic smiled. “Excellent. Then we can compare Frederick’s boot with the prints to determine if he was the killer or second witness.”

  Jacko frowned at her but continued. “I discovered long hair tangled in the rope as if the person sliding down had it yanked from his body…and Frederick insisted he saw a werewolf running from the barn.”

  Vic waved him off. “Yes, yes, we know about the wolfman. Tubs is out looking for him as we speak, but we now know he’s a witness, not the murderer.”

  “How do we know that?” Barns challenged.

  Vic was too tired to teach baby inspectors. “Because Jacko just told us. Two people wearing boots left the scene of the crime, but only one set of boots made blood prints when walking toward the corpse.”

  “Oh, I see. When the murderer entered, there was no blood.” He then frowned at Jacko. “But what about you? Did you not make footprints as well?”

  “No, I stayed back and took pictures. Given the quantity of blood, she was unquestionably dead.”

  “So everything depends upon this film,” Barns stated. “I am most experienced at developing film. Not only am I a chemist, but I have possessed a camera for two years.”

  Vic was about to declare the job his when Jacko spoke up. “Sorry, kid. I don’t know you, so you aren’t touching my camera.”

  Vic turned to Xavier to intervene. He sighed heavily. “If Jacko were dead or unconscious, then I would hand the task to you, Barns, but by allowing Jacko to develop his film, we are only incurring a small delay in proving what we already know. Jacko did not kill Daisy, and neither did the wolfman. What the evidence can prove is if Frederick killed his daughter.”

  “Frederick? He adored Daisy,” Jacko snapped. “Who put him on the suspect list?” he glanced at Barns with contempt.

  “I did,” Vic said, refusing to let Barns take the blame.

  “Then you’ve lost your intuitive skill,” he snapped.