The detective looked at me. “Anything to add?”

I shook my head.

“All right.” Detective Stewart put his hands on his hips. “I don’t know who you two think you are, but this is a formal police inquiry. You have insinuated yourselves into my case, jeopardizing our investigation, and I won’t have it. The metropolitan police in London might invite you in, but here in Sussex, we do not. Am I clear?”

Harry opened his mouth to protest but I grabbed his hand and gave it a quick squeeze. As a people pleaser, I was the one who made certain all of our hat shop customers were satisfied, just as I used to do with my hotel guests during my hospitality career. There was no need to antagonize Detective Stewart. It would get us nowhere fast.

“Yes, sir,” I said. “Absolutely. We meant no disrespect. We’ve just had an awful lot of time on our hands.”

“Might I suggest you take up knitting,” the detective growled. With that, he turned on his heel and strode out the door.

“Well,” I said.

“Indeed,” Viv added.

Harry’s phone chimed and he glanced at it. He frowned. “It’s work. I have to take it.”

“Go ahead,” I said. “You can use our room and I’ll stay here with Viv and Andre.”

“Thanks.” He kissed me quick and then said to Viv, “Keep an eye on her.”

“Of course,” Viv said.

Harry left, closing the door behind him.

“I’m going to call Nick. I need him to talk me down,” Andre said. “I swear my nerves are shot.”

He went into his room and shut the door. Viv and I exchanged a glance. I was about to suggest we go for a walk in the garden, when there was another knock on our door.

“You don’t think it’s Detective Stewart coming back to yell at me some more, do you?” I asked.

“He was having a bit of a wobble,” she said, which made me smile. “I’m sure he won’t yell again.”

Since I was closer, I crossed the room and opened the door. Standing outside was Dominick Falco.

“Hi, Dominick,” I said. “Come in. Viv, look who’s here.”

“Dominick, what brings you by?” Viv rose from her seat and crossed the room. She held out her hand and tugged him gently inside. He pulled a large leather suitcase on wheels behind him.

“I heard in the village that you still weren’t allowed to leave, and I thought to myself that by now, you must be bored beyond reason.”

“I am,” she cried. “I have nothing to do other than sketch ideas and I feel restless and mean.”

He laughed. “I understand completely, which is why I brought some materials for you to play with.”