Chapter 15: Escape
A pair of raps of his knuckles to door and Remington swung it open then waited for Laura to precede him into the room and closed it behind them. From her hiding place, Felicia quickly skittered to the library door and pressed her ear against it.
"Harry!" Daniel greeted with a level of effusiveness suspicious enough to make Remington's brow twitch. "Just in time. The good Inspector has stopped 'round with some news."
"Inspector," Laura offered her hand to the man. After greetings were exchanged between the couple and all in the room, she took the lead. "You have some news on Mr. Steele's case, I hope?"
"I'm afraid not," Lombard replied with a shake of his head, "Baker's still holding his silence, although the guards at HMS Brixton have reported hearing him sobbing like a lad missing his Mum on a pair of nights now. With a bit of luck, he'll tell us all we need to know in a matter of days. But that is not what brings me here today. I'm here to speak with you, actually." Laura put on her most innocent of faces, a flipped a graceful hand at the air.
"I'm afraid I've already shared with you all we know," she claimed.
"It is the matter of Mr. Keyes' that is at hand. If you have a few moments to go back over your statement, I would be most appreciative." She didn't hide her surprise.
"I'm always happy to help, but I don't have anything I can add."
"If you'll just humor me," Lombard insisted.
"Alright," she agreed, the words sounding more like a question than a statement.
"Let's have a seat, shall we?" Remington suggested. The tiny hairs on the back of his neck were standing at attention, and he wanted Laura as close to him as possible. When Thomas, Lombard and Daniel took a seat in wing chairs across from the sofa, Remington waited as Laura sat purse and bag at her feet then took a seat on the couch before he sat down next to and slightly in front of her.
"Would you like me to start from the beginning?" she inquired of Lombard.
"I've just a few questions if you don't mind," he answered, settling into his chair and crossing his legs. "Can you describe Mr. Keyes when you found him?"
"He was lying on the floor at the foot of the bed, partially on his side with a broken lamp lying nearby."
"And you were certain he was dead?"
"As certain as I could be," she replied. "I checked his neck for a pulse and when I didn't find one, I checked his wrist."
"Did you attempt CPR?" Laura frowned while lifting and dropping a hand.
"To be honest, your officers arrived so quickly it never even occurred to me." Her head tilted slightly. "How did they arrive so quickly? I certainly hadn't a chance to call."
"The witness I previously mentioned," Lombard supplied. "She was in the room adjoining Mr. Keyes'. Her rendition of the events… differ… slightly from your recollection." Remington stiffened next to her, not liking the direction this conversation seemed to be taking.
"Oh, how so?" Laura wondered. Lombard reached into his pocket and pulled out his memo book.
"If my notes are correct," he offered with an apologetic smile, "You stated you called to Mr. Keyes from outside the room and he never responded. Is that correct?"
"Yes," she drew out the word, her eyes flickering to Remington who held Lombard sharply in his gaze.
"So you and he never had any form of verbal interaction, at all?"
"No, none whatsoever," she answered honestly.
"I'm afraid I was terribly lax in our last meeting and failed to ask if you'd handled the lamp in any manner… Perhaps to move it out of your way?" Laura pursed her lips and shook her head.
"There was no reason to," she offered logically. "I could get to Keyes without disturbing a potentially valuable piece of evidence."
"I'm afraid that evidence and our witness contradicts nearly the entirety of your statement, Miss Holt," Lombard informed her, grimly. Remington edged slightly closer to Laura, while Thomas sat forward in his chair, his glare affixed on Lombard.
"Now just a minute! Surely you're not implying what I think you are," Thomas challenged, angrily. "Miss Holt is no more capable of murdering someone than my own wife." Lombard, unintimidated by His Lordship's affront, kept his eyes upon Laura.
"Our witness reports hearing a very loud argument in which a woman was heard saying she was…" he looked down at his notes "…'ending your interference in our lives, once and for all'…" Lombard regarded Laura again, "Immediately before she heard a man shout 'Holt, what are you doing' and then the sound of glass breaking followed by silence." Laura pressed a hand to her chest.
"None of that happened," she denied, aghast. "The last time I spoke with Keyes was at the convenience store he followed me to."
"Can you explain how it is your fingerprints were found on the lamp?" Lombard pressed.
"No, because they couldn't possibly be. I never touched it," she vowed.
"I assure you, they are," he countered.
"Then recheck them!" she protested, bolting to her feet and throwing out her arms. Leaping to his feet a split second after her, one of those arms caught Remington in the side. He grunted. Bugger that hurt like a…
"I assure you, I did." Lombard slowly rose to his feet and seemed to sincerely regret what he was about to do. "Miss Holt, I'll need you to accompany me back to the Yard at which time you will be charged with the murder of Norman—"
"Cecil!" Thomas lunged to his feet and barked at Lombard, "You'll do no such thing!"
"Out of deference to our association," Lombard informed the Earl, "I have postponed arrest while looking for anything that might vindicate Miss Holt. My superiors have given me my orders, and I must obey." He held out his hands palms up. "I'm afraid it's out of my hands." Remington's eyes met Daniel's, who'd remained silent throughout the exchange. At Daniel's minute nod, Remington's jaw hardened.
"May we at least have a moment alone?" he requested of Lombard, while wrapping an arm around Laura's waist. "As you can see," he indicated the room with a swing of his head, "There's no means of escape."
"Miss Holt—"
"I give you my word," she held up a hand to Lombard in answer. "Just allow us to have a few words together. There are arrangements that will have to be made for the Agency." He considered the request for several long ticks of the second hand, then gave a sharp nod of agreement.
"Five minutes," he decreed definitively. Outside the doorway, with a cat who ate the cream smile plastered on her face, Felicia skittered away from the door and back to her hiding place. Little Lisa arrested for murder and poor Michael left desolate and in need of a woman's comfort. She tucked herself behind the corner just before the door to the library swung open and Daniel, the Earl and Lombard stepped out.
"I want the names of those who ordered you to arrest Miss Holt," the Earl demanded. "I'll neither have her good name dragged through the mud nor allow Remington's health to take a possible setback." The Earl's raised voice drew Milton into the room from the kitchen.
"I must say, Miss Holt and I may see eye-to-eye on very few matters," Daniel offered, "But the woman would hang herself from a cross before she'd commit murder." Milton had heard enough and disappeared.
"I don't believe it myself," Lombard shared, "But again, my hands are tied gentleman. Mr. Keyes's niece was the woman in the adjoining room whom overheard the alleged altercation and has made it her personal crusade to see to it Miss Holt is held responsible."
Inside the library, a stunned Laura began reciting a checklist of things that would need to be done.
"I'll obviously need an attorney. Have Mildred reach out to Murphy at my request. If there is any way possible to keep some income flowing to cover the bills, we'll need his help. See what we have available towards bail—"
"We're getting out of here," Remington interrupted tersely, while dragging a hand through his hair.
"I'm not running from this!" she shot back. "Once I'm out on bail—"
"There won't be any bail, Lau-ra!" he countered. "You're a foreigner accused of murder! You'll be held over until trial and as much as I'd like to believe I can get you out of this, I like our odds together much better." Her lips had parted to argue, then clamped shut recalling the conversation regarding Baker's incarceration at HMS Brixton. Sitting behind bars while Remington had a target on his back and Keyes' actual murderer was out there running around simply was not an option. Then there was whatever it was Daniel was up to…
"Well, how do you propose we get away?" she hissed in an undertone.
"I told you, this is a house of many secrets," he replied mysteriously while rubbing at the back of his neck. He knew where they'd go, for now, but Daniel had better come up with a plan to get them out of there. He abruptly stepped to her and with an arm around her waist, tugged her close, lowering his head then capturing her lips with his. The idea of her sitting behind bars was unfathomable and he needed a bit of reassurance that she was here now… and would remain free, if he had any say in the matter. Abruptly ending the kiss, he looked down at her. "Don't forget your purse and bag," he reminded, pointedly, giving her a pat on her hip then releasing her, his mind already locked in on what lay ahead.
"Let's get this show on the road, then," she suggested, when she returned to his side after retrieving her bags.
"Let's," he agreed with a nod, reaching to open the door, then followed her out into mayhem.
"Darling," Felicia purred as she wrapped her arms around Remington's neck, "What a terrible flap for Lisa to find herself in." Her eyes slanted towards Laura, a predatory gleam in them. "Don't worry, darling, I'll be here to comfort you… however, I can." Laura lifted her eyes heavenward and turned her head from the woman. Remington didn't bother hiding his irritation, shaking Felicia off.
"Not now, Felicia," he growled, his attention set on the trio of men before him.
"Daniel, if I may use your library, I'll ring up Parker and see what I can do," Thomas offered, referring to one of the superiors Lombard had named.
"It'll do no good, Your Lordship," Lombard warned. "Parker and Baron are more concerned about stopping the harassment by this woman than—"
A loud crash resounded from the area of the kitchen followed by Tilly's frantic scream.
"Milton!"
Instinctively, Laura and Remington dashed toward the kitchen, Daniel close behind. It took a split second for Lombard to realize his arrestee had taken off. He gave pursuit, Felicia and the Earl bringing up the rear.
In the kitchen, Remington quickly knelt on the side opposite Tilly at the elderly servant's unconscious form.
"What happened?" he inquired urgently of the sobbing housekeeper as he pressed a pair of fingers to Milton's neck.
"He came in here all upset having heard the Inspector planned to cart the Miss off," Tilly related frantically through her tears. "I'd just picked up the tray of tea Master Daniel had requested and was so shocked by the news I dropped the whole lot of it. I must have scared him, because he stepped towards me as though to steady me, then the next thing I knew he's falling backwards and hit his head on the hutch there." Daniel grasped Remington's shoulders and gave them a soft tug.
"Harry, if you don't mind?" Remington rose and backed away.
"Of course, sorry, sorry," he apologized as Daniel exchanged places with him at Milton's side, his concern apparent. His eyes met Tilly's and what he saw there alleviated his worries and he had to squelch the urge smile his approval. Carefully he maneuvered a hand under Milton's head. "He's quite a nasty bump forming. Thomas, if you'd be so kind as to get us some ice? Felicia, second drawer from the sink, a dishtowel to wrap it in? Inspector, the drawer right behind you in the hutch holds a First Aid Kids. An ammonia capsule should be just what we need to wake him."
The room went into motion, each person attending to their task. Remington grasped Laura by the hand, slowly backing up as the Inspector's back was to them.
"Go-go-go-go-go," he urged in a whisper as they cleared the room. Grabbing her hand, he made a dash for the back door.
Lombard turned to hand Daniel the First Aid kit and realized the room was suddenly less a pair of people. Dropping it, he turned to give chase and ran straight into Thomas. They danced together for a pair of seconds, before he shoved past the Earl to give pursuit, catching a glimpse of the couple as they turned towards the room they'd just left.
"Where are we going? The cars are out front last I checked!" she demanded in an undertone as they raced towards the sunroom.
"The maze, it'll buy us enough time," he panted, thanking the stars above for the burst of adrenaline anesthetizing ribs that would surely make him pay dearly later. Shoving open the French door to the terrace, he pulled her through while glancing back over his shoulder. "Steady pace, now. We want the good Inspector to see us go in."
He'd always been impressed at her ability to roll her eyes even when running. He was fairly certain he'd land flat on his face should he attempt it himself. Another look back over his shoulder showed Lombard had reached the garden as Daniel and Thomas spilled outside. He navigated a quick left, she following.
"Stop!" Lombard shouted with a breathy air.
Nothing doing. A quick left took them in the direction of the opening of the maze. They were mere steps away when Lombard yelled again…
"Stop, I say!" Remington's head swiveled then he stopped in his tracks, jerking Laura to a halt only a pair of steps away from disappearing into the hedges.
"Hey! What's the deal?" she barked, as she spun around in tandem with him to see what had caught his attention. Her eyes widened when she saw Lombard come to a stop and leveled his pistol.
"Miss Holt, I took you as a woman of your word," he called to her.
"And I kept it," she returned. "I made no attempt to escape from the library."
"I'll need you to come with me now," he informed her with resolve.
"I can't clear my good name from behind bars, Inspector," she returned. Her and Remington's eyes barely flickered when Thomas and Daniel came to halt steps behind Lombard. Their very looks of shock and horror would have drawn laughter had it not been a very real gun pointed in the direction of the couple.
"Lombard, stand down," Thomas bellowed the directive.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Your Lordship," Lombard refused, his eyes slanting to the side as though able to see those behind him. Remington saw the opportunity the instant it presented itself.
"A right, two lefts, then another right," he whispered to her, then waved his hand behind back. "Go-go-go…" Her deft mind quickly assessed her situation and concluding Lombard would not shoot an unarmed, unaccused person, Remington would find a way out safely. She bolted into the hedged corridor and disappeared as Thomas threw himself at Lombard's back, taking him to the ground. In a blink, Remington vanished into the maze.
"You dare train a gun on people under my protection?" the Earl shouted, and Lombard freed himself.
"No more interference, Your Lordship, or I shall have to place you under arrest!" Lombard yelled the forewarning as he shoved himself to his feet and sprinted for the maze.
Remington pressed a finger to his lips when he reached Laura as he listened keenly for movement with in the hedges. Rustling indicated Lombard was currently headed down the wrong path.
"Come on, quietly," he whispered, grabbing her by the hand again and leading her stealthily through the myriad of turns. When the hedges opened up at the pond, Laura looked at him incredulously.
"What are we doing here?" she half-whispered, half-hissed. "You said there's only one way out… back the way we came!"
"Laura, when have you known me not to know where the shortcuts are?" She snorted her appreciation of that truth as he eased himself off the concrete slab and onto the grass facing the pond then assisted her down.
"Where are we going?" she inquired as they ran, tucked over, along the hedges.
"We're almost there," was his vague reply. She clamped her lips back to prevent herself from asking almost where.
Then, near the corner of the hedgerow, he bent over and lifted a trap door. Her lips parted in shock
"The entrance to the old root cellar which also happens to be where the pump is for the pond was installed," he explained. "Watch your step," he advised, as she found purchase on the ladder. He climbed down behind her, lowering the door as he descended. The cool room was pitched into blackness. He gave his eyes several seconds to adjust, then took her hand again.
"This way." This time she held her questions. At the top of a stairway he carefully opened the door. With no shouts of 'freeze,' 'stop or I'll shoot' or anything similar following he peaked he head out. "Coast is clear." She emerged behind him to find they were standing in the butler's pantry.
"Now what?" She whispered.
"Now, we go to the kitchen," he answered, as though directing her to breakfast.
"Sudden need for tea?" she deadpanned, thoroughly annoyed now.
"Actually, now that you mention it, I am a bit parched after our jaunt through the maze." She threw up her hands and spun on her heel, then marched towards the kitchen.
"I give up. Let's have tea!" He grinned at her back as he followed.
Laura was greeted by the disapproving tick of a tongue, far too reminiscent of her mother. But the coy smile on Felicia's face announced her glee at Laura's predicament.
"I have to say, I didn't think you had it in you, Lisa," she provoked.
Laura's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Now don't you go trying to stir up trouble," Tilly snapped from where she still sat on the floor next to Milton, not hiding her dislike of the other woman. "Master Daniel told you what to do when Harry and the Miss arrived. I'd suggest you get on with it." Felicia scowled at the woman but with a huff left the room. She enjoyed Daniel's company and the access it allowed her to Michael – no need to risk either just to tweak little Lisa.
"You didn't need to do that, Tilly," Laura told her. "I can handle myself with Felicia and I don't want Daniel taking you to task for insulting his guest." Tilly snorted at the suggestion.
"Master Daniel will do no such thing," she dismissed. As they heard the front door to the house close, she began to rise, Remington automatically offering his hand in assistance first to her then to Milton. "Now, we haven't much time," she announced.
Laura watched in astonishment as Milton and Tilly moved the position of six antique canning jars on the third shelf. The hutch swung away from the wall silently. Her eyes flickered to Remington who raised her brows at her.
"A house of many secrets," he reminded her.
"You'll be needing this," Tilly informed him in a no-nonsense tone, opening a drawer and slapping a flashlight into his hand. "Go on, now. We'll need time to get back in place before the Inspector arrives."
"Thank you, Tilly," Laura said, then made a flush spread over the woman's face when she hugged her.
With a look back over her shoulder at Remington, Laura stepped onto the landing of a stairway and waited for him to join her. The door slowly closed behind them enveloping them in inky darkness…