Runcorn made a noise of disgust in the back of his throat, wordless and eloquent of his fury and contempt.

“Where was he last night?” Monk asked, knowing Runcorn would have found out.

Runcorn’s face split into a sudden smile. “Alone in his rooms,” he said with profound satisfaction. “Or so he claims. But he can’t prove it. Manservant out, no porter, no callers.”

“So he could have been in Cuthbert Street?” Monk was surprised at the mixture of emotions that awoke in him. Had Dalgarno been able to account for his time it would mean he could not be guilty, at least not in person, and that would have thrown the whole question wide open. Monk knew of no one else with any reason to harm Katrina. But it also caused him more distress than he would have imagined, because he thought of her facing the man she had loved so deeply, and seeing in his eyes that he meant to kill her. Had she known it immediately? Or had she waited, standing in the room, or out on the balcony, even until the last moment unable to believe he would, and then she had felt his hands on her and his strength, and knew she was pitching backward, falling?

“Monk!” Runcorn’s voice broke into his thoughts.

“Yes . . .” he said sharply. “What else did he say? How did he react?”

“To her death?” Runcorn’s loathing was quite open. “With affected surprise—and indifference. He’s the coldest swine I’ve ever dealt with. One would have judged from his manner that the whole thing was a tragedy that barely touched on his life, a matter of regret for decency’s sake, but in reality of complete indifference. He’s got his eye on being part of the Baltimore company, and that’s all he cares about. I’ll get him, Monk, I swear it!”

“We’ve got to prove his motive,” Monk said, concentrating his mind on the issue. Fury, outrage, and pity were all understandable emotions, but they accomplished nothing now.

“Greed,” Runcorn said simply, as if the one word were damnation in itself. He picked up his tea and sipped it gingerly, afraid of burning himself.

“That doesn’t prove he killed her,” Monk pointed out with controlled patience. “Lots of people are greedy. He wouldn’t be the first man to have broken his promise to a woman of little means in favor of an heiress, once he realized he had the chance. It’s despicable, but it’s not a crime.”