A Golden Cage by Shelley Freydont Page A

joke?”
    â€œNo. The maid went in to dust this morning, and a man was lying on the floor, evidently bludgeoned to death, though I won’t know for sure until I see for myself and the medical examiner has examined the body. I thought you might want to come.”
    â€œOf course,” Joe said, already removing his leather work apron. “You said a man. Is it anyone we know?”
    â€œI don’t believe so. But Carlisle called as soon as they found the body. We’ll know more once we get there.”
    Joe, realizing he’d stopped to listen to Will’s answer, yanked the apron over his head, threw it on a peg, and went to the back room to let Orrin know where he was going. Also to reassure his apprentice that all was well, since his sister, Elspeth, was Deanna’s maid.
    Joe didn’t bother to wash, just unrolled his sleeves, grabbed a tie, and slipped into his jacket as he walked Will to the door.
    â€œI’m on my bicycle. I thought it would be faster than waiting for the police van. They’ll meet us there.”
    Joe nodded and rolled his own bicycle out to the street.
    A minute later they were bouncing down the cobblestone street. After a teeth-rattling few minutes they hit the smoother macadam of Bellevue Avenue. Leaning into the shore breeze, the two men sped toward Bonheur at the tip of the island.
    Joe had worked up a sweat by the time they turned into the drive to Bonheur. No official vehicles had arrived, so they drove around to the servants’ entrance, parked their bicycles, and went inside.
    They could have gone through the front door. Will would always be welcomed at the front door of any Ballard house, but it was easier and faster to swing through the kitchen.
    They stopped in the hallway long enough to collect themselves, Will knocking the dust off his hat and Joe pushing his hair back with his fingers. Then they made a dignified entrance into the main hall.
    It was empty, but Joe could see two footmen posted on either side of the double doors to the conservatory. They nodded simultaneously and stepped aside for Will and Joe to pass.
    Joe’s father and Carlisle were standing over the body.
    Carlisle bowed. “I’m afraid you had to let yourself in, sir. The bell for some reason didn’t sound.”
    â€œWe came in through the kitchen,” Joe said, and walked past him to where Will had knelt over the body. “Who is it?”
    Lionel Ballard moved closer to Joe. “Evidently it’s one of the actors from last night’s play.”
    â€œWhat’s he doing here?”
    â€œWell, we weren’t expecting him, if that’s what you’re asking,” his father said in his driest manner.
    â€œNo, of course not.” It had been a reflexive question.
    Will stood. “Excuse me, sir, but if you could both step away from the deceased.”
    â€œOf course, Sergeant.” Lionel moved Joe back. “We haven’t let anyone touch the body.”
    â€œThank you, sir. And the other members of the household?”
    â€œThey have already been here, identified the poor soul as an actor named Charlie, and are off searching the house for our houseguest.”
    â€œHouseguest, sir?”
    â€œThat Deeks girl who ran away from home, Amabelle. She showed up here in the middle of the night. Looking, I might add, like a frightened fox. I believe your mother invited her.”
    Joe hoped it had been his mother’s invitation and not his that had brought her here.
    â€œNot that we expected her to arrive unannounced and close to dawn. She wouldn’t talk, at least not while I was around. Deanna took her off to her room to find night things, so if you want to know more, I’m afraid you’ll have to ask Dee.” He looked quickly over his shoulder, almost as if he expected Deanna’s mother to be there to thwart him.
    Joe knew just how he felt. The woman was a stickler and ruled Deanna and her sister, Adelaide,