Free English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack

each addition, then placed all the other little accessories on top of the stack, and more accessories on top of those. The result was a well-engineered pyramid that fit perfectly on the desk. Once finished with his creation, he moved his briefcase to the cleared area of wood and opened it, removing a couple of folders, a box of paper clips, a small stapler, and a collection of his own pens, placing them all on the desk in such a way as to make the desk look as though it was his very own. Sadie half-expected him to produce a family picture as well, but he didn’t. Probably because he wasn’t old enough to date, let alone have a family of his own. Was he really an inspector?
    When he finally sat down, the huge desk came nearly to his chest—he didn’t seem to notice. He smiled at them and asked, “Who shall I speak with first?”
    Breanna and Sadie shared a look, but the inspector didn’t give them a chance to answer his question.
    “Miss Hoffmiller,” he said, smiling at Breanna. “Let’s start with you.” He turned his eyes to Sadie. “If you’ll be so good as to wait in the hall, then.”
    “Sure,” Sadie said, still trying to process that this little man was the inspector assigned to the case. If his presence was any indication of the regard his entire department was giving to their report . . . well, then, Sadie wasn’t holding out much hope. She followed Austin out of the library while reviewing the promise she’d made to Breanna about keeping out of the investigation. There had to be a loophole in their agreement to take into account the fact that someone had sent their son to take notes.
    The staff was lined up in the hallway when she came out of the library—indoor staff on the right and outdoor staff on the left. They all looked various shades of glum, irritable, and downright nervous—the nervousness award going to Mrs. Land who still wouldn’t meet Sadie’s eyes. Liam wasn’t there. Neither was Grant.
    Austin took his place against the wall across from the library door, apart from the staff. He crossed his arms over his chest and he watched her like he had when they’d first met. The only way Sadie could think to describe his gaze was piercing. It was difficult not to straighten her shirt or tuck her hair behind her ear under his scrutiny.
    “Liam’s with the earl,” he said, tempting Sadie to tell him that she knew that already. “I had your bags taken back to your room. Liam didn’t feel it wise to head for London tonight.”
    Sadie probably should have thanked Austin for the information, but she had too much pride, especially where he was concerned. Besides, she felt he still owed her an apology for saying what he’d said about Breanna. Unfortunately, she also had questions that needed answers and he was the only one she thought would talk to her right now. After a few seconds, he pulled his phone out of his pocket, frowned, and then typed out a text message before returning it to his pocket and looking at Sadie again.
    “Where’s Grant?” Sadie questioned, finding a blank space next to the library doors where she could lean against the wall like everyone else.
    “The inspector gave him an assignment,” Austin said simply.
    He didn’t offer anything else and Sadie scanned the faces of the staff, hoping to glean whether they had found anything during their search. She hated directing all her questions to Austin, feeling that he took great satisfaction in her ignorance each time she showed it, but finally had no choice. Even though she was pretty sure she knew the answer, someone had to say it out loud. “Did anyone find John Henry?” she asked.
    “If we did, he’d be standing here,” Austin answered, as patronizing as ever. “Or I suppose lying here with a poker in his chest for all of us to see. However, you’ll notice there is no body on the rug.”
    The man was insufferable.
    “Are there more inspectors looking through the house now?” Sadie asked. The body had to be