Free Castle Murders by John Dechancie

Rilma inclined her head to one side, then the other. "In a strange way. How else can it be put? He had a strange look on his face."  
    "How strange? Slightly strange? Very strange?"
    Lady Rilma glanced heavenward. "Gods! Yes, slightly strange, if you will."
    "I beg your indulgence, my lady. He gave you this strange look, then he said that he had to leave?"
    "Yes."
    "At that point he got up and left?"
    "Yes, he got up and left."
    "He said nothing else?"
    "Nothing."
    Tyrene looked off for a moment, halting a motion to scratch himself again. "Yes, I see. I see. And nothing untoward happened up to that point."  
    "No, nothing."
    "No one came up to your husband, no one approached?"
    "Well, yes, someone did, but that was well before he left."
    "Who talked with him?"
    "Count Damik."
    "And what did the count say?"
    "I didn't listen. I was busy watching the hedge players."
    "The count and your husband exchanged words. How long did they talk?"
    "A very short time, as I recall."
    "And you did not hear what was said."
    "I think I said that."
    "Sorry, milady, simply repeating for the sake of emphasis. Did anyone else talk to the viscount while you dined?"
    "No. I don't recall anyone else."
    "Are you quite sure, my lady?"
    "I think so. Wait a moment. Yes. Someone did approach before Count Damik. Lord Arl."
    "He spoke with the viscount?"
    "No. He simply passed by and touched my husband's back, as if he wanted to get his attention. I thought it strange, since the viscount and his brother weren't on speaking terms. Perhaps his touching him was simply accidental."  
    Tyrene slumped a little. "Well, I shall trouble you no more, my lady. Thank you very much for your kind cooperation in this very difficult moment."  
    Lady Rilma sniffed again. "Only too happy to oblige."
    Tyrene bowed and began to walk away.
    "There was one other thing."
    Tyrene halted. "Yes, my lady?"
    "He grunted. Just before he left."
    "He . . .?"
    "Made a sound. I thought . . ." She gave a tiny giggle. "I thought he belched. But it was a funny sound."
    "What . . . pardon, milady, but what sort of funny sound? You say it was a grunt?"
    "Yes, he just made this funny grunting sound and sat up straight suddenly."
    "Ah. Did you look at him when he made this sound?"
    "No. As I said, I thought he belched. He does that. Did that. I've often complained." She shook her head sadly. "No matter."
    "And you didn't look at him."
    "No, not immediately. I continued watching the players, then I turned to look at him and he was sitting up straight. He usually slouches when he eats. And he was sitting up. He put down his fork, and that was when he gave me the strange look."  
    "Then he told you he was leaving?"
    "Yes. And he left. Got up and walked away. That was the last time I saw him."
    "When you heard this grunt, Lady Rilma —" Tyrene said. "Please think carefully now. Could there have been someone near your husband at that time?"  
    "I was looking in the other direction."
    "Yes, but did you hear someone?"
    "No . . . wait."
    Tyrene looked at Thaxton and Dalton with raised eyebrows.
    "Yes," Lady Rilma went on. "I remember now. Someone was passing by at the moment. When I looked, he was walking between our table and the banquet table."  
    "How close would you say he was the moment you first saw him?"
    "Oh, about as far away as these two gentlemen here," she said, pointing to the two beknickered golfers.
    "And he was walking away from your husband?"
    "Well, it's hard to say. I thought he was just passing by."
    "Could he have been near your husband when you heard the viscount grunt?"
    "Yes, I suppose he could have been."
    Tyrene drew a long breath. "And who was this person?"
    "The king's brother. Prince Trent."
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    The Pelican Club
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    In an office on the second floor of a big nightclub, a huge vanadium steel vault door opened and a man stepped out. He wore a black dinner jacket with black bow tie, boiled shirt with onyx studs, cummerbund, striped