A wall of tagged treasures from another world, all of them lined with dust, stood behind Elizabeth like an army looking down and waiting to pounce. Elizabeth took a few deep breaths as James waited for the answer to his question.
‘If that’s true, then you probably know why I didn’t mention my meeting with Pippa,’ Elizabeth said as a tear rolled down her cheek. ‘I had a fight with her the day she was murdered. I feel guilty because the last thing I said to her was out of anger. And that detective and your PC friend both think I’m suspect number one.’
She wiped away a tear from her big brown eyes and looked at him from across the desk. ‘I didn’t do it. I didn’t murder Pippa, and I did not sell off the sword.’
James smiled at her sympathetically and crinkled his brow, unsure how to ask the next question and the one after that.
There was definitely a third person present that night.
James continued to stare at the shelves behind her.
‘Some of them are forgeries.’ Elizabeth looked at the shelves behind her, interrupting his train of thought.
‘Why do you keep them here?’
‘I specialise in anthropology. They fascinate me.’
He paused, then tapped the screen of his phone. James sighed. Pippa must have been stealing the sword for someone, and things took an unexpected turn. James looked up at Elizabeth and composed himself for the next questions and the inevitable pushback.
‘I don’t mean to be indelicate, but can we circle back to the infamous Mr Carmichael?’ James politely smiled at Elizabeth.
She shrugged and bit the inside of her lip as a pained expression swept across her face, then disappeared a moment later. ‘I guess,’ she said in a hushed tone.
‘What do you know about Alistair’s company? I’m guessing you must have looked into it before accepting his funds.’ James leaned forward in his chair and knocked his knees on the back wooden panel of her desk.
‘I guess I could bore you with the legal structure and his funding, but I gather that’s not what you’re after,’ Elizabeth said. ‘I’m not entirely aware, but knowing Alistair, he doesn’t take care of the business aspect of it. He doesn’t care for it, nor does he have the aptitude.’
‘Yes, he strikes me as the absentminded professor type.’ James rubbed his right knee. ‘I gather that’s what the six-foot blue-eyed muscle does?’
Elizabeth laughed. ‘Yes, that’s the impression I get as well. He must be the one who secures the corporate sponsors.’
‘Is he an accountant?’ James asked.
‘Have you not heard of Maximilian Nicholls?’ Elizabeth raised her eyebrows at him and tilted her head towards the rows of filing boxes to her right.
James shrugged, rested his elbows on the edge of her desk, and propped up his chin.
‘He’s earned himself quite the reputation in the archaeological world. Maximilian is considered a looter for hire and has a vast network of connections. I think that is why he plays a research-and-business role in Alistair’s company. Or it could be a PR thing.’
‘Wait? You mean like a tomb raider?’
‘Yes. It was challenging to get him access to the dig site. Many of the more respected investors, like the NMA, were a little uneasy and had concerns.’ Elizabeth shook her head.
‘Why go to all the trouble?’ James narrowed his eyes and ran his finger around the edge of her desk lamp.
‘Alistair insisted he needed Maximilian.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, and he came in handy at the end.’
James leaned back in his chair and looked across at the woman in front of him. ‘How?’
Elizabeth sighed. ‘It’s a long story, but there was a bit of sabotage from a rival. He’s a bit of a brute. But everything worked out in the end.’
How was someone able to murder Pippa with no sign of a struggle, steal the sword, and leave completely undetected?
Elizabeth relaxed into her chair. He wanted to believe that Elizabeth was telling the truth, but she had a motive for killing Pippa. So did a few others. All James knew for sure was he needed to keep a close eye on Elizabeth now that she was no longer on edge. James looked across at her and smiled.