The Troublesome Apprentice (The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Book 1) Read online

In desperation, she sought Claire or Gregory to come to the rescue before the girl unmasked the young Mr. Hamilton as an imposter—a woman dressed as a man. When Gregory left the library and headed towards her, she sighed in relief.

  As he neared, the pinched expression forewarned her something had not gone to his liking.

  “Problem?” she asked in her naturally low voice.

  “I’m afraid a situation requires your attention immediately, sir.” Gregory glared at the young girl with his intimidating stare until she released her captive. He clasped Vic’s arm and headed to the library.

  “Do you think it wise to be embracing a lady?” Gregory hissed.

  “I didn’t hug her. She had me in a stranglehold before I knew what she planned. Is something wrong other than that? You do seem out of sorts.”

  “Me out of sorts? Never!” he said. “However, the man in the library is abominably rude. I trust you will not be picking up his manners along with his skills.”

  “Aunt Maddy said he’s all bark and no bite.”

  “Well, no reason to bark at me. I perform my job to perfection.”

  “Always,” Vic agreed and squeezed Gregory’s arm before she entered the library.

  “Don’t touch the doorknob,” Xavier warned. “It has…”

  “…hair oil on it. Yes, I know,” Vic replied to the tall gentleman with a large hawkish nose. His intense black eyes followed her every movement. “I am sorry for the delay of my arrival. I hope you can help me assess what happened here, for in honesty, I cannot make sense of it.”

  “Well,the intruder came through—”

  “The window, cutting his hand on the broken glass and leaving a very clear foot print on the cushion.” Vic stopped talking, as Xavier’s anger became evident by his clenched jaw and fiery eyes. “Sir, I apologize. Please, continue.”

  “Why should I? It appears you have discovered all there is to be found,” Xavier snapped.

  “I sincerely hope not. All I know of my aunt’s murderer presently is that he, or someone he hired, has a small cut on the right palm and wears a wide, size eight, rather stylish black shoe.”

  Xavier stared at him for a moment. “What clue makes you believe it is black?”

  “Outside, on the brick facing, he scuffed his shoe as he pulled himself up into the window, leaving black polish on the bricks. Which leads me to believe he is either overweight or normally inactive, because if I were to enter the window, I would simply hop up.”

  “Would you, indeed?” Xavier returned to the window where he berated someone outside.

  Vic moved closer. A soggy man with red-rimmed eyes and a runny nose bent over, examining the brick face.

  “It’s twelve inches down, a bit right from center,” Vic said.

  “If the mark exists, my man will find it.”

  His tone angered Vic, but she held her temper in check, and returned to the teapot to pour herself a cup of tea. Xavier Thorn was the best sleuth in London. Vic could not let the man’s arrogance derail her need for assistance. Someone had killed Aunt Maddy, and the matter has not ended, neither in her mind, nor in the killer’s. She needed the rude man to help her find the murderer.

  Xavier sent his driver off and turned back to Vic. “Although your reasoning was a bit dodgy, the conclusion turns out to be accurate. By the depth of the footprints, the man weighs more than fourteen stone and required assistance into the window. There are two different sets of prints outside.”

  “One of those may be mine.”

  “You walked on the evidence?”

  “I thought I had avoided the footprints, but I did examine the outside of the window.”

  “And what did you make of the fireplace?” Xavier asked.

  “It was the first place the intruder went, although that doesn’t make any sense to me. Why would someone go tossing about in the embers?” Vic looked to Xavier for the answer.

  “I gather they weren’t hot?”

  Vic shook his head. “No fire was set in here yesterday. I spent the day retrieving Aunt Maddy from the morgue and then getting her ready for burial.”

  “If you were not here, how do you know the intruder came last night and not yesterday afternoon?” Xavier challenged.

  “The footprints are muddy. It began to drizzle around ten last night. Besides, Gregory would have heard the vase break…” Vic paused. Gregory was as devastated as she and Claire over the loss of Maddy. He might not have heard a bomb go off the previous night.

  Xavier placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed in a gesture of comfort. His touch reminded her she no longer stood alone in her task to find the murderer.

  “The footprint is conclusion enough. Let us refocus on the fireplace. This short, pudgy gentleman with a taste for fancy shoes and fruity hair oil has his driver lift him into the window.”

  “But—”

  “There are three footprints, two made last night and one this morning,” Xavier explained.

  “But I saw only one.”

  “You doubt my ability to count?”

  “No, of course not, but—”

  “There are two. Let us move onward.”

  “If there are two and one is the driver, why wasn’t he sent in?” Vic challenged.

  “Excellent question. Why would this gentleman climb in a window, cut his hand on the glass, and then root about the embers when his driver could presumably have been ordered to do the task?”

  Vic pondered the question. “Because whatever he searched for, he didn’t think the driver could find or didn’t trust him to do so.”

  Xavier smiled. “I had not considered the latter possibility. Very good, Victor. You have the makings of a fine sleuth. I’m amazed Oxford hasn’t driven such insightfulness out of your head by now.”

  “They keep trying, but I’m rather stubborn.”

  His expression turned dark and somber. “You do realize your aunt was murdered?”

  “Yes,” Vic replied. “I thought so from the first. My aunt would not stumble and fall in front of a carriage. However, I had nothing to go on until this morning. At first glance, none of the evidence made sense in here but, with your assistance, matters are becoming clearer.”

  “So, what do you think happened?”

  “To break into a house and search in the fireplace embers seems very odd. Assuming the man wished to find something he didn’t want the driver to know about…”

  “Why choose that possibility? Why not assume he was uncertain to what he sought?”

  “Because if I were uncertain, I would search the desk first, but he went straight to the fireplace.” Vic studied the stone mantelpiece. “How tall do you think he was?”

  “Not more than five-two, possibly less. Notice the short distance between his footprints and the location of blood on the curtain.

  Vic knelt down to reduce her height and reached to the sill of the fireplace. “What if he knocked over the vase when searching the sill, then feared the item might have been in the vase and had fallen into the embers?”

  “A reasonable possibility. Do you think he recovered what he sought in the ashes?”

  “No, for he continues his search. You can see soot on the coffee and side tables.” Vic pulled the top drawer of the side table open to study the contents. Dark smudges marred the napkins and doilies. Next, she tried the bottom compartment, which was completely empty. “How odd.”

  “What did this one have in it?”

  “Buttons.”

  “As in for dresses?”

  “Rather too bold for a dress, although some had been snipped from coats. Aunt Maddy collected fanciful buttons.” Vic stared at Xavier’s suit. “The ones on your vest would have caught her eye. I used to tease her she was part crow, for they are reputed to have a weakness for gewgaws.”

  Pain filled her heart. She’d never tease Aunt Maddy about anything ever again. She paused and choked back the tears threatening to fall.

  “Were they valuable?” Xavier’s voice lost its bark.
/>   “Some had jewels embedded, but nothing one would kill for.” Vic shook her head. “I don’t think he came for Maddy’s collection, I think he simply couldn’t resist it once discovered.”

  “I agree. How did you reach your conclusion?”

  “Because he now searches the desk. If he had come for the buttons, he would have left directly.”

  “And how did you determine he searched the desk last?”

  “The footprints show he went first to the fireplace, and from there we can follow a trail of soot until we reach the small side table. It is here the soot stops. Perhaps he took out his handkerchief, wiped his hands, before bundling the buttons in the cloth. With his hands now clean, he ran them through his hair, either because he has a nervous tick or perhaps a stray lock had fallen into his eyes. Intending to search elsewhere, he walked to the door and tried to open it. In doing so, he left an oily residue from his hand. Finding the library door locked, he returned to the desk and, using the letter opener, pried free the center drawer.” Vic opened the desk drawer and frowned at the chaos. “He certainly searched in here. Aunt Maddy kept a very tidy desk.”

  “Can you tell if anything is missing?”

  “Not in this state. I would have to put everything back in place first.”

  “Do it,” Xavier said. “So far all we know about the object the man sought is it isn’t paper. Had it been, he would have gone to the desk first.”

  “Nor is it something he expected Aunt Maddy to value greatly, or why would she leave it on the fire sill or in a table drawer?”

  Xavier stared at her.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. Continue on with your work.”

  As Vic put all the objects of the drawer back into their proper places, she discovered one thing: Xavier Thorn had absolutely no patience.

  “How long could this possibly take?”

  “There are hundreds of items,” Vic explained.

  Xavier exhaled in frustration. “It is good I sent home my driver. He would have died from pneumonia by now. By the way, your butler has obligated you to provide me with a carriage home.”

  Vic smiled at his declaration.

  “I trust your smile is one of compliance. Are you not done yet?”

  “I will tell you when I’m finished,” Vic snapped. “And why are you suddenly so impatient?”

  “Beyond the drawer, we are done here. I wish to proceed with the investigation!”

  Vic stopped. “Mr. Thorn, I do not expect you to do more than what you have so ably done today.”

  “Are you firing me?” Xavier asked in outrage.

  “I have not actually hired you. I only wished for your advice, but it was wrong of me to think you would do this without expecting compensation. Send me your bill and I will see it is paid.” Vic had no idea how she would do so, given she had no money.

  “Bloody hell! I will not be brought in and then tossed aside at your whim. Maddy Hamilton was not just a client, but a friend, and I had every intention of finding her killer before you invited me here to use me and cast me off like a dock whore.”

  Vic stopped working on the drawer. Clearly, she had insulted Mr. Thorn, but what caught her attention was a particular part of his ranting. “You knew she was murdered before we even spoke?”

  “Yes. It is why I wished to speak to you. If you recall, that is what I said when I introduced myself.”

  “How did you know her death was not an accident?”

  Xavier paused, as if debating whether to answer.

  “I am sorry I insulted you,” Vic offered in hopes of soothing his temper. “It was not intentional. Please understand, I loved my aunt dearly, and I can either fall apart over her death or focus on finding her killer. I believe the latter is more productive. Moreover, I would greatly appreciate your help, but it appears Aunt Maddy had little money left when she died and, until I find a job, I cannot afford your services.”

  She paused and met his unnerving glare. “I should have explained my situation from the first. But before you leave, could you please tell me how you knew she’d been murdered?”

  ***

  Xavier stared at the young man in stunned silence. Victor had no idea Maddy had left him a fortune. He opened his mouth to enlighten the boy, but changed his mind. “If you are in need of a job, I know of an opening for a secretary. I believe it might suit you, despite your lack of experience.”

  “I first have to find out who killed my aunt.”

  “Well, you have to eat while you do,” he countered. “And as I’ve already stated, I intend to solve the case, so we might as well work together.”

  Victor’s head turned to an angle. “Is this position as your secretary?”

  “Who else would hire you? You have no work experience, no useful skills, in fact, no qualifications whatsoever. However, you have impressed me a few times today, so I am willing to give you a chance.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but…”

  “But what? Do you have expectations of acquiring a superior position?” Xavier demanded. “Damnation, boy! I would like to know where else are you going to be paid a hundred pounds a month?”

  Xavier had to force himself not to smile with triumph. The extraordinary sum certainly took the winds out of the young man’s sails. The sum was ridiculous. He chose it because it was the monthly payout of Maddy’s investments.

  Victor paused. “I would prefer payment weekly and in advance.”

  “The devil, you say!” Xavier exclaimed in outrage. “I offer you a princely sum and you make counter demands?”

  “Yes. I must assume you offered such a sum knowing you’ll never have to pay it, for even I know none of your secretaries have lasted longer than a week.”

  “They were imbeciles. But you have proven you are not a complete dolt, and I believe we’ll get along passably well as long as you promptly do everything I ask the first time, do it correctly, and never question my orders.”

  “You might as well fire me now,” Victor muttered.

  “I give you my word you will not be fired for any reason for…” Xavier was about to say a year, but lost his courage at the last moment, “three months.”

  “And you will pay me at the end of each month?”

  “I will pay you at the first of each month if you insist. I may fire secretaries, but I have never once shortchanged them, even if they were completely useless.”

  “Allow me to accept your generous offer. You were indeed a great friend of my aunt. Only the best of friends would offer to pay me such a ridiculously high salary. I should warn you, however, I have no notion as to what a secretary does.”

  “Thank God. I shall be saved from hearing ‘That’s not my job’ all the time. Your responsibilities are simple. You are to do whatever I tell you to do. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  “I will try,” Victor promised.

  “I detest people who ‘will try’. They have accepted failure before they have even begun.” He sighed and stared at the boy with disappointment. “Have you finished with the drawer?”

  “No.”

  “You have five minutes to finish it,” he snapped.

  The boy stared at him in outrage, as if the request unreasonable.

  “This is your first assignment, Victor. Do you intend to begin with failure?”

  “The contents of the drawer aren’t about your work. They concern my aunt.”

  “Which is the case we are presently working. My God! Are you always going to be so difficult?”

  Victor made no reply, but returned to sorting the contents. When Xavier yelled time, Victor moved two more pieces before stepping back.

  Xavier decided to ignore the small cheat. He walked behind the young man and placed his hands on his shoulders. He liked Victor a great deal. The fellow was much like Maddy.

  “What is missing?” Xavier asked.

  “Nothing that I can see.”

  “Which means Mr. Gewgaw did not find what he searched for. We need to locate Maddy’
s calendar and relive her every moment over the last week.”

  “I have it in my room.” Victor faced Xavier. “Will you tell me how you knew my aunt was murdered?”

  Xavier sighed. “Before your aunt died, I was not aware of any danger to her. The whispers came only afterwards.”

  “Whispers?”

  “She did not trip and fall in front of the carriage. Someone pushed her.”

  The boy gave no sign of breaking from the truth, so Xavier continued. “A reliable witness saw the man who shoved her before the horses. His description matched a scoundrel named Sonny Skaggs. I used every resource I had to find the man. My search ended at the morgue. Someone had shot him in the chest the same day he killed Maddy.”

  “He may have been the man who pushed Aunt Maddy, but he is not the true murderer.” Running his hand through his hair, the boy sighed. “I am sorry he’s not alive so he could be made to talk, but clearly, the murderer wished to prevent such an eventuality, which makes me think it’s not the first time Mr. Gewgaw has hired an assassin to do his black deeds. Still, his attempted burglary here seems amateurish, as if he were in a panic.”

  Victor’s insightful mind delighted and surprised Xavier. “Excellent observation, Victor. The man is off his stride. He’s desperate to find something he thinks your aunt possessed, an item that has value to him, but not necessarily to her, something Maddy might set aside without thought. Since he hasn’t found it, he will need to continue his search. Have you an extra room where I might rest? We have a long night ahead of us.”

  “You think he will return to search Aunt Maddy’s bedroom,” Victor said with certainty.

  “I do.”

  “Should we search her room first?”

  Xavier shook his head. “It will do no good. We will catch a few hours of sleep now, and hopefully he will come and find whatever he seeks.”

  Chapter 2

  Vic went to her room and locked the door. After further consideration she unlocked it. Given her fatigue, she feared Gregory would not be able to wake her at ten with only a knock. Then Xavier Thorn would take it upon himself to pick the lock and enter. There he would discover more about his new secretary than either of them wished, and he would withdraw his extraordinary job offer.