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"But I didn’t kill Peter, I tell you I didn’t kill that little bastard!"
Sherlock said, "Then why, Mr Hart, was your gun lying beside Peter’s body?"
"I told you, it’s beenfor years, anyone--"
"Did you panic, Mr Hart, run before you could get yourself together to search Peter’s apartether! And Friday night as well Ask her!"
Hart looked at his wife, standing beside Sherlock, looking vague and stupid to his She was his only chance, and he knew it
Mrs Hart said slowly and precisely, "He could easily have slipped out Friday night; last night as well We have separate bedrooly, as if they both knew so Hart to say what he would
Savich saw Hart’s face go slack, saw defeat in his eyes
"Of course, Mr Hart," Savich said, "it could be you are telling the truth about Peter Melissa Ivy saw so, not well, but well enough to think it wasn’t you she saw, but someone shorter
"So let me paint another scenario Since Mrs Hart can’t vouch for your being hoht, you can’t vouch for her It could have been Mrs Hart who drove to Peter’s apart she knew and guessed enough to blame him for Stony’s death, for Tommy’s death, too Peter would have pleaded for his life when he saw the gun, told Mrs Hart everything about the video, about To you, that it was you who had killed Toh to know he’d put To by himself
"That’s when she realized if she shot Peter, you would be blamed for it, that all the evidence would point to you, particularly if she left your gun next to Peter’s body All she had to do was to vouch for your being with her that night, as any good ould All she had to do ait, knowing the FBI would find a copy of the video, and that ould arrest you, not her, Mr Hart"
Another long look passed between husband and wife Carolyn Hart said to hi, "Our son, our precious Stony, he did nothing wrong And noe have only our two daughters Would you leave the finally for one tiain, then said very quietly, "I did kill Tommy and Peter I killed both of them"
• • •
THEY WEREN’T HOME UNTIL DAWN Sherlock lay on her back in the dull gray light, exhausted and sad Had Wakefield Hart really killed Peter, and dropped his own gun there beside Peter’s body? And did it evento swear to it now? At least the two Hart daughters would have a parent to raise and nurture theinia
WednesdayThey could see her suitcase open, i in the doorway, blocking them
She eyed the three of the here? What do you want?"
Griffin said, "You see?"
"Not that it is any of your business, but I aed, and crossed her ar She wore loose black sweats and thick white socks on her feet Her hair was in a ponytail, and she earing bright red lipstick "I do not approve of Stanislaus any longer I had such high hopes, but I was deceived Look at what has happened here in your countryside--a cave filled with cocaine, a ent Ha Thank you, no, I will return to France, to civilization I am afraid to remain here"
"That’s not very nice of you to say," Griffin said "What about Professor Salazar? He’s hurt very badly Doesn’t he need you? I thought you were in love with him and he with you Why aren’t you at his bedside at the hospital?"
There was no explosion of French expletives, only a lovely Gallic shrug "I was deceived by Professor Salazar as well He toyed with my affections He prefers your sister, I think It see er care what happens to hient plans to leave the country, don’t you think?" Griffin asked He stepped forward, but she didn’t oblige him and back up Instead, she leaned into him "I do not invite you into my apartment"