“Oh come now, Chief Inspector,” Darcy said. “My father is not a stupid man. If you were going to kill somebody, would you leave the weapon, with your fingerprints on it, lying beside the body? You’d take it and burn it or bury it.”

“Unless he was surprised by someone or something and had to drop it and flee,” the inspector said smugly.

“It’s my belief that my father was set up for this crime. It was planned to make him look like the murderer,” Darcy said. “And I’m also beginning to suspect that Mickey Riley either knew about it or was part of it. The American embassy is investigating him too, so it will be interesting to hear what they discover.”

“Mr. Riley already told us he found this job through an employment agency,” Inspector Callahan said.

“Have you confirmed that with the agency?” Darcy asked.

A frown crossed the inspector’s face. “I would appreciate it if you left the investigation to those who are trained to do it. I can understand your desire to help your father, but frankly you’re not doing so by poking your nose where it’s not wanted. So go home and leave us to get on with our work.”

“I’ll be happy to go home if I’m allowed to pass by your constable,” Darcy said sweetly.

“Of course. Tell him you have my permission.”

Darcy started to walk away, then turned back. “I don’t suppose you’d like me to take a look around the castle to see if I notice anything suspicious? Or anywhere Roach might have hidden documents? I used to have several secret hiding places here when I was a child.”

I could see that Chief Inspector Callahan was in an agony of indecision. Then to my surprise he finally nodded. “That might not be a bad idea, given the circumstances. Do you want to come in right now?”

Darcy looked back at us. “I have my two friends in the motorcar,” he said. “I can hardly leave them outside on a day like this.”

“Then I suppose they can wait inside the castle. It shouldn’t take long.”

“Shouldn’t take long?” I muttered to Zou Zou. “Darcy told me the castle had forty-seven bedrooms.”

Darcy came down the steps and opened the doors for us. “The inspector will let me take a look around,” he said. “He suggests you wait inside rather than in the Rolls.”