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11. White knight to rescue

"I wish I knew what you are talking about," Leone said with a bored air and lighted a cigarette. The tall Inspector fixed him with a stony glare.

"I think you know it all too well," he countered coolly. "It would be in your own best interest if you handed it over now. Your cooperation might even be rewarded at some point."

"Handed - it - over?" Leone drawled, carefully stressing each word. "Judging from our earlier exchanges, I gather you are referring to that diamond-and-ruby necklace that has, I hear, gone missing after the ball the other night? And, again judging from the hints you have dropped earlier, I also gather that you are suggesting it might be in my - eh - possession? Well let me tell you, Inspector, that you are very welcome to inspect all my earthly belongings -"

"That is, I believe, being done at this very moment," the Inspector interrupted. Leone managed to keep his eyes from widening in shock and instead just gave him a freezing smirk. Blast it, the man was being a little too efficient! Torell had his instructions all right, but Leone could only hope the man had had time to carry them through. Cold hatred flared inside him at the indolent policeman who had reduced him, Leone, into just sitting there and praying to all his good fortunes!

"Well, you certainly waste no time, sir!" he almost snarled, and bit his lip at the smugly satisfied expression on the other side of the table. It was infuriatingly obvious that the Inspector was convinced he'd managed to nail Leone good and proper.

"There's no need to," the Inspector replied with a sickening smile. "And in the meantime you could begin the story of how it... came... into your possession."

Oh, if the man thought he'd make Leone slip so easily, he was fooling himself! Leone shrugged and allowed himself to look displeased.

"I still maintain that I haven't got that missing piece of jewelry, so I can hardly tell you how I am supposed to have come by it." Leone smiled sweetly and forced himself to relax in the chair. "And since you are being so impressively efficient as to have a gentleman's apartment searched in his absence without a shred of evidence, maybe you could also illuminate me as to what has allegedly happened. No doubt you know everything about it?"

The Inspector looked like he had only been waiting for this moment. "With pleasure, sir! And maybe you'd be so kind as to correct me in some details?"

While listening to the Inspector's account of his supposed activities during the previous night, Leone felt a surge of relief. The sequence of events itself was plausible enough, actually following closely one alternative line of action he had contemplated before deciding against it, but it was nowhere near what had really happened. That meant his precautions had held true. He had not been seen, he had not left anything incriminating behind. But what to do about those four hours, and especially that crucial hour and a half, for which he had no alibi? Stall, Leone told himself, give yourself time.

"I'm sorry but I cannot answer that."

The Inspector blinked and his eyes took a predatory gleam.

"I was in my apartment but I'm afraid I can't produce any witnesses to that - as, presumably, my manservant does not count."

The Inspector had barely enough time to utter the negative before they both stopped to listen. Somebody stomped with determined steps straight to the door of the room and, without further ceremony, threw it open. In barged a flustered and angry-looking Merdos, expensive cream-colored jacket open and quite a few of the usually sleek dark hairs in disarray. The Inspector stood up and opened his mouth but Merdos was quicker.

"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded. "What the hell do you mean, hauling my friend here to be interrogated? Surely you can't be seriously thinking he'd have anything to do with that necklace?"

"You, sir, are disturbing police investigations!" The Inspector was bristling. "And how do you know what he's here for, mister..."

"Merdos Alayssian." The young man raised a haughty black eyebrow and drew himself up. "I heard about it from his servant just a moment ago, as I went to meet my friend and instead found your men there ransacking a gentleman's apartment like a bunch of pirates."

"Very well." The Inspector made a tremendous effort to calm down. Very obviously the name of the famed lawyer had had some impact. Leone could only hold his breath, totally nonplussed. What the hell was Merdos up to? "But I must ask you to leave, sir. I am not yet finished with mister Leone."

"And what could you possibly want to know?" Merdos pushed his hands into his pockets and looked at Leone.

"Oh, the Inspector just wants to know what I did roughly between midnight and four a.m. last night." Leone decided it would do no harm to at least appear cooperative for a moment. Merdos cocked his head at him.

"Well, what did you say to that?"

"I was at home, alone."

"That's a bloody lie."

Both Leone and the Inspector nearly choked.

"So you have other information?"

The Inspector sounded somehow strangled. Leone had turned into stone. He could only stare at Merdos who turned his heavy-lidded gaze to the Inspector.

"Yeah. He's just trying to be decent. I was there with him."

"Being decent? What did you do?" The Inspector sounded more than a little suspicious.

The corner of Merdos' large mouth curled upwards.

"Well, I suppose you need to know," he drawled at length. "He was fucking me. And damn well, too."

The Inspector's face turned a fabulous shade of crimson and his eyes began to bulge. Leone raised a shaking hand over his eyes in a desperate attempt not to howl with laughter. A wave of relief rolled over him pushing any and all other emotions out of its way. Why was Merdos doing this? What was this all about? He could not make himself care.

Merdos eyed the policeman appraisingly for a few moments and then gave him an affable smile.

"Maybe I put it a bit too bluntly," he said. "Pardon me my ungentlemanly choice of words. Would it be more appropriate to say that we 'indulged in carnal pleasures'? Or simply 'had sex'?"

"Merdos," Leone said weakly. "You really shouldn't..."

"You are just too considerate," Merdos admonished. "You idiot wouldn't tell him I was there! Really, how -"

"I know your father isn't going to be exactly leaping with joy at this piece of news." Leone managed to suppress the insane giggle that threatened to creep into his voice.

"Ahh, the old man. Well let me tell you something: he's going to have to know one of these days, anyway." Merdos smiled to Leone who could not help smiling back. "No fancy heiresses for me. No way. And I'm going to tell him why."

"But... but..." The Inspector at last managed to get at least one word out again. "But, I mean, four hours is a long time -"

"Oh Inspector, you ought to try it sometimes with Leone." Merdos didn't merely look condescending but sounded it, too. "Time flies, let me assure you. And afterwards, you do need your beauty sleep."

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