“I don’t think that’s any of your concern. The point I’m trying to make is that it smacks of impropriety for you to be investigating the woman who filed the complaint about your behavior. You also brought Sergeant Gibson’s conduct into question by asking him to do something that he felt was unwise.”

“It wasn’t my conduct,” Rutledge said tightly. “She wanted me off the case. And she was right. The new man sent to Eastfield has found the murderer in a very short time, and this German, Hopkins, has nothing to do with Mrs. Farrell-Smith. Or her late husband.”

“Are you impugning Inspector Mickelson’s ability to conduct this inquiry?” There was anger in Chief Inspector Hubbard’s blue eyes and his tone was decidedly cold now. “Perhaps if you’d kept your objectivity, none of this would have happened.”

Rutledge regarded him for a moment. And then he said quietly, “We are getting nowhere. What do you intend to do?”

Chief Inspector Hubbard realized that he’d made a mistake. He grimly got his temper in check, then said, “You should take that day or two of leave coming to you. While this is sorted out.”

Rutledge said nothing.

“Ian. You asked for it yourself. This is for your own good. I quite take your point that you weren’t aware of Mrs. Farrell-Smith’s complaint when you telephoned Sergeant Gibson and asked to know more about her background. It’s the perception of impropriety here.”

But Hamish was reminding him that Gibson had warned him about the complaint, and he hadn’t listened. He had not, in fact, expected the Yard to take it seriously.

Then who had? And why?

“If you take a short leave of your own accord, there will be nothing on your record. After all, this inquiry has come to a successful conclusion, there was simply an unfortunate coincidence in timing in regard to the situation with Mrs. Farrell-Smith, no harm intended nor done by your request. She has been satisfied that you were withdrawn from the case and is unlikely to pursue the matter further.”

Suddenly he knew.

It was as clear as if the words had been spoken aloud. But he thought Hubbard did not know, and that explained why he was dressing Rutledge down, not Chief Superintendent Bowles. Hubbard had been chosen because he could be trusted to handle the matter with circumspection and convince Rutledge to put the matter to rest, nothing on his record, just whispers that would never go away. And it would not be seen as Superintendent Bowles playing favorites. But it would clear the way for Inspector Mickelson to be promoted to fill Chief Inspector Cummins’s shoes.