Cat on the Scent

            He drew a deep breath. “In part, Sarah, that is what we have been fighting about. Archie is a coward. He wanted the money and he has been handsomely paid by the three of us in terms of his share of the corporate profits. He has a ten-percent share. On top of that we pay him an annual stipend through a complicated trust that I set up, one that leaves no trail to him. I’m too tired to go into the details.”

            “Some other time, my love?”

            His eyes brightened under his ginger brows. “Some other time. Yes.”

            “But Archie had to have known what he was doing.”

            “He did. As the county hearings and various other meetings heated up he realized that if his involvement with Teotan ever saw the light of day these grillings would be as little minnows to the whale of discontent, to paraphrase Boswell on Johnson.”

            “Is there more?”

            He shrugged. “He’s having problems in his marriage. Tupping some damsel, I should think. That’s usually what happens. I don’t know who the unfortunate might be. Archie has little to offer, although I suppose he’s handsome to women.”

            “There’s no accounting for taste. Some country girl might be thrilled to be sleeping with a county commissioner.” She burst out laughing, the silver, tinkling, infectious sound filling the room.

            This made Vane-Tempest laugh, too.

            Sarah, still smiling, said, “Darling, I want to be part of Teotan.”

            “Everything comes to you when I die.”

            “I want to work with you. I want to learn. I don’t want to wait until you die. And I want to know why you men have been buying these properties.”

            “I’m tired.” He was, too.

            “You can’t avoid this. Henry, I want to learn. I’ve watched you. You can turn a shilling into a pound and a pound into a fortune. I do know that before you built those airports in Africa you bought the land on which they were built.”

            “Ah.” He smiled. “You’ve been doing your homework.”

            “Yes.”

            “Have you studied a map of this county?”

            “I have, which is why I want to know why you have bought the particular lands you have bought. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.”

            “Have you spoken to Blair or Archie or Tommy about any of this?”

            “Of course not. And I’ll never speak to Tommy again. He was found hanging in a refrigerated vault at Good Foods today.”

            “What!” Vane-Tempest’s eyes seemed to bug out of his head.

            “Gruesome, isn’t it?”

            “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

            “I thought you could hear about it tomorrow. I wanted tonight just for our business. But it occurs to me, darling, that Tommy’s death is our business.”

            “In what way?”

            “He was a partner in Teotan. He’s been murdered and someone tried to kill you. Which is why you must prosecute Archie. You must. He’ll strike again. Don’t you see? If he kills each of you he’s safe. Not only will he cover his tracks, he’ll reap the profits of whatever you all have created—you saved him with that trust, that untraceable trust.”

            “I don’t believe it,” Vane-Tempest blurted. “Archie Ingram isn’t smart enough to do that.”

            “Weren’t you worried when Tommy disappeared?”

            “No. Off on a toot, I thought. Slumming.” He grimaced. “And then I had other things to think about. I haven’t given Tommy much thought. Hanging? Did he hang himself?”

            “Sheriff Shaw isn’t forthcoming with the details but it’s all over town, mostly because the manager of the plant fired the man who found him. Said he was remiss in his duties. And that man, Dabney Shiflett, has been babbling nonstop. I really don’t know the details. But Tommy didn’t hang himself. Now will you pìck up the phone and call the sheriff?”

            “No, but I will pick up the phone and call Ingram.”

            She stepped toward him, stooping down to meet his eyes. “Henry, if that man makes one move to harm you, I will kill him.”

            Secretly excited by her ardor, he replied, “That won’t be necessary. Archie Ingram has neither the intelligence nor the guts to pull off a scheme such as you imagine. As for Tommy’s death, I wouldn’t rush to conclusions. His demise and my—well—accident are unrelated.”

            “Will you include me in Teotan?”

            “Yes. But I must discuss this with Blair Bainbridge—”

            She pressed her hands together again. “Unless someone kills him, too!”

            “Calm down, Sarah. I must have the approval of the other partners, and that includes Archie. As for Tommy, the corporation is set up so that if one principal dies, his share is parceled out equally among the survivors.”

            “You can’t ask for the vote of a man who tried to kill you!” Her eyes were wild.

            “I can and I must. Now if you would bring me the handy, I will arrange a meeting.”

            She gave him the cell phone. He dialed and got Archie’s answering machine. “Hello, H. Vane-Tempest here for Archie Ingram. Call tomorrow after nine. Good-bye.” He folded the phone, putting it on the tea trolley. “Now I can’t very well call Sheriff Shaw, can I?” He paused, a dark shift clouding his features. “I liked Tommy Van Allen. Did you?”

            “Yes.”

            “Terrible thing.”

            She settled on the chintz sofa, squeezing in next to him. “Henry, you must be careful. You must. I don’t want to lose you.”

            “Promise.” He leaned forward and kissed her.

            32