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"So did you learn anything froave a start of surprise at that question from Bricker as she stepped out of the pickup Anders and Bricker had led the way ho in the pickup, and she&039;d spent the ride silent, herthat moment in her head when Armand had said he loved her in front of everyone She&039;d quite forgotten all about Agnes and their conversation

"Let&039;s talk inside," Ar around the truck to take her are her toward the house

Eshe noticed the way the lanced warily around and realized they orried that whoever had controlled Mrs Ra them She allowed herself to be ushered into the house, her curious gaze sliding repeatedly to Armand as they went He&039;d been silent on the ride ho what he&039;d been thinking It was hard to tell from his expression He appeared to be in a solemn mood now

"Should I put coffee on?" Bricker asked as they entered the kitchen "And ? I think I saw so expedition"

"I didn&039;t knohether it needed refrigerating or not," Armand explained as he ushered Eshe to the table, and then he added, "It looked good I&039;ll have so in a chair at the table

"None for me," Anders said drolly, and Bricker snorted and said, "Like I couldn&039;t guess that"

Eshe s around one hundred and fifty or two hundred years old Bricker was still young enough that he ate, but Anders was ed blood ashere andArmand

"So?" Armand said quietly as he settled on the chair next to hers "Did you learn anything useful?"

Eshe considered the question and wasn&039;t sure how to answer, but finally said, "I learned a lot I just don&039;t think any of it helps much with the case"

"Tell," Bricker said as he stuck the coffeepot under the sink to fill it ater "We&039;ll sort out if it&039;s useful after"

"Well," she said slowly "We didn&039;t get a chance to discuss Susanna&039;s death at all, or any of the deaths really But she did say Althea waserwell, you were right, she was having affairs on you and Agnes knew it"

Armand merely nodded, neither surprised nor upset, so Eshe continued, "That and the fact that Althea wanted nothing to do with Agnes and John and apparently made that plain to them is the real reason why they went to Europe"

That did upset hie that Althea nes from his home, from their home

"What about Rosamund?" Bricker asked, finished with the coffee and now retrieving plates and forks for the coffee cake "Did she say anything about her?"

"Just that she was nice enough but nosy," Eshe recalled

"I wouldn&039;t say Rosamund was nosy," Armand said slowly "She liked to talk a lot and was inquisitive, but" He shrugged

"Did you ask about Annie?" Anders asked

Eshe scowled as she nodded "Yes Nicholas brought Annie down three tiuess they spent the weekend the last tiames and talked till the wee hours"

"But Annie never came down herself?" Bricker asked, and then added, "I doubt she would have been asking about the deaths of Armand&039;s wives in front of Nicholas He had no idea what she anting to tell hines onlynarrowed eyes on Armand, "why the hell has no one told her that Annie is dead and Nicholas is on the run?"

"What?" he asked with surprise

Eshe nodded "Agnes has no idea She thinks Nicholas has just abandoned her or so and is co Annie back and visit again when they had such a nice time the last time they were down"

Armand stared at her hat appeared to be honest a it up around Agnes, that it was an upsetting subject to her He said not to even mention Nicholas or Annie to her"

"Well, John has apparently told her nothing," she said grimly "He&039;s just said they are probably busy to explain why they haven&039;t been around for fifty years"

Arnes loves that boy like a son She&039;d understand his not visiting if she knew he couldn&039;t because he was on the run, but leaving her to think he just can&039;t be bothered" He shook his head again "I don&039;t knohat the hell John is thinking of"

"Probably his next bag of High Ti startled looks from all three men "I suspect that&039;s the real reason John &039;wasn&039;t feeling well&039; and wanted to &039;rest&039; The refrigerator there is full froh Tines showed me but asked me not to tell you She said you&039;re happy now and would just worry, and to let you be happy She&039;s apparently tried to get hiust "No doubt he&039;s cuddled up with a couple of bags right now, sucking theh in that soundproofed basement of his"

Arrowled, "He alas a damned fool"

Eshe didn&039;t comment She didn&039;t knohat to think of John Maunsell He&039;d seeuy when she and Bricker had talked to hiht had been disturbing

"There was one other thing Agnes said that bothered me," she announced abruptly

"What&039;s that?" Ar a lifechildren, but she said she was quite sure that would never happen She said, and I&039; here, &039;John would never allow that&039;"

"John would never allow it?" Armand repeated with disbelief "What the hell does that et the chance to ask You guys came back before I could"

They were all silent for a moment, the only sound the hum of thestopped and a little ding sounded, Armand shifted in his seat and said wearily, "I see what youto the case"

Anders comht"

"But it doesn&039;t change the fact that he wouldn&039;t have killed Susanna and couldn&039;t have killed Althea"

"I suppose," he admitted with a frown, and then his lips twisted with irritation "Which leaves us again at square one"

"Which leaves us with Mary Harcourt," Eshe corrected "Annie had to have talked to sori the wouess we&039;ll have to talk to her"

Eshe nodded and glanced to Bricker "Which hotel did she say they were staying in?"

Bricker stiffened, his back to them as he cut the cake, but then he turned slowly, diset the hotel they were staying in," Eshe guessed grimly

"I&039;ll find out," Bricker said at once As Anders began to chuckle, and Eshe dropped her head in her hands with disgust, he vowed, "I&039;ll call every hotel in Montreal until I find the one they&039;re atIn theover to slip a plate with a large slice of coffee cake between her elbohere they rested on the table

Eshe opened her eyes and peered through her fingers at the cake suddenly beneath her nose It sed, but she wasn&039;t quite ready to forgive Bricker until Armand slid his hand over her back and pointed out, "They probably aren&039;t in right noay They&039;re probably out taking in plays or dancing or so in and we can call closer to dahen they&039;re likely to be in"

Eshe lifted her head and accepted the fork Bricker held out to her with a sigh "Right Cake now Call later"

"And coffee," Bricker said, spinning around to rush back and begin pouring three cups

"Okay then," Anders said, standing up "If you guys are going to stuff your faces again, I&039;o see if there are any old Lassie reruns on television"

Bricker watched hio as he carried a tray with coffees and more cake on it to the table and then co?" Armand asked uncertainly

"Nicholas&039;s new life mate Jo has a Ger ith theht up to theed to catch Charlie, but Jo and Nicholas got away," Bricker added "We took Charlie back to the enforcer house with us and he took a shining to Anders, started following hi after him But Anders had to leave hied "I think he&039;s got attached to thehis," Ar a slice of cake and a coffee fros?" Eshe asked curiously

"Oh yeah," Armand said, and smiled "I&039;ve had several of theo I&039;ve been ed, and then asked, "Do you like dogs?"

"Yes, but I can&039;t have therimace

"Then we&039;ll have to live so