The Arrangements
I gaped at Detective Briscola, stunned. Monsieur — a giant bear of a man who terrorized most of the kitchen staff — was Madame’s husband? She’d described him as “stodgy” and I’d pictured a small, meek, timid sort, not this. “I’m astonished. I had no idea.”
husband“Well, I go next to speak with him. Hopefully he can shed some light on matters.”
After he left, I sat pondering all this. Did Madame Biltcliffe know that her husband was in Bridges? Did that influence her decision to leave Spadros quadrant? Had she feared him?
Monsieur was big, loud, and petulant. But I couldn’t see him killing anyone.
* * *
Once the police detective left, Mr. Eight Howell came to call. When I told him of the six girls in my back room and how they got there, he shook his head. “The men runn
