"They've been lovers for at least six months," said Visage flatly. "That's why she's always laughing and smiling. She's found another fool."
"Did Blackstone know?" asked Hawk.
"I don't think so. William could be very good at not seeing things he didn't want to."
Hawk frowned thoughtfully. "How long have you been working for Blackstone?"
"Four, five years. Since his first campaign in the Heights area. I protected him from magical threats. He's always had enemies. Good men always do."
"You gave him the amulet he wore?"
"Yes. As long as he wore it, no magic could harm him."
"You mentioned enemies," said Fisher. "Can you give us any names?"
Visage shook her head firmly. "William wasn't killed by an assassin. The only people in this house are Gaunt, his guests, and you. There is no one else. I'd have known."
"Are you sure?" said Hawk.
"Yes. At least;" Visage frowned slightly. "There is a part of this house that is closed to me. I can't see into it."
"Where?" said Fisher, leaning forward.
Visage looked at the left-hand door. "Gaunt's laboratory. It's surrounded by a very powerful shield. He's always been very jealous of his secrets."
"Could someone be hiding in there?" asked Hawk.
Visage shook her head. "No one could have left that room without my knowing about it."
"Then why mention the room?" said Fisher.
"Because it disturbs me," said Visage.
For a while no one said anything. Visage's words seemed to hang on the air. Hawk cleared his throat.
"Gaunt said this house was warded against teleport spells. Is that true?"
Visage nodded soberly. "Of course. It was one of the first things I checked for when I entered the house. It's not unusual; all sorcerers have such protections. Why are you wasting time with all these questions? Edward Bowman killed William. Isn't it obvious? Bowman wanted Katherine, and they both knew William would never agree to a divorce. It would have destroyed his political career."
"That's an interesting theory," said Hawk, "but we can't arrest a man without some kind of proof. For the time being, everyone is equally suspect."
"Including me?"
"Yes."
"I could never have harmed William," said Visage flatly.
Hawk studied her thoughtfully. "Earlier on, I saw Gaunt bring a chair into this room by magic. He just looked at it, and it moved. Could he have manipulated a knife in the same way?"
"Through a locked door, you mean?" Visage shook her head. "That kind of magic is simple enough, but it needs eye contact with the object to be moved."
"All right," said Hawk, "could he have used that magic to pick the lock?"
"No. There are wards in this house to prevent such tamperings."
"Of course," said Hawk. "There would be. Damn."
"I think that's all, for the moment," said Fisher. "Please wait in the parlor, and ask Bowman to come in next."
Visage sat where she was, and looked hotly at Hawk and Fisher. "You're not going to do anything, are you? Bowman's too important. He has influence. I'm warning you; I won't let him get away with this. I'll kill him first!"
She jumped to her feet and hurried out of the library, slamming the door behind her. Fisher raised an eyebrow.
"If she's prepared to kill one man, she might have killed another.'
"Right," said Hawk. "There's a fire burning under that cool and quiet surface. She was obviously very fond of Blackstone; Maybe she was having an affair with him. It went sour;perhaps she wanted him to divorce his wife and marry her and he refused;so she killed him for revenge. Or maybe she wanted an affair and he didn't, so she killed him out of injured pride."
"That's reaching a bit, isn't it?" said Fisher.
Hawk shrugged. "This early in the game, how can we tell?"
"No," said Fisher. "It still doesn't feel right. If there were hard feelings between Blackstone and Visage, he'd hardly have kept her on as his bodyguard, would he? I mean, that's what her job amounted to. And anyway. Visage is a witch; if she wanted to kill someone, she wouldn't need a knife to do it; Unless she was trying to be misleading;"
"I think we've had this conversation before," said Hawk dryly.
The door opened, and Bowman came in. He smiled briefly, and sat down in the empty chair without waiting to be asked. Hawk frowned slightly. For a man whose friend and employer had just been murdered. Bowman looked very composed. But then, he always did.
"You were Blackstone's right-hand man," said Fisher.
"That's right," said Bowman pleasantly.
"Would you mind telling us where you were at the time of the murder?"
"I was in my room. Changing for dinner."
"Can anyone verify that?" asked Hawk. Bowman looked at him steadily.
"No."
"So you don't really have an alibi?"
Bowman smiled. "Do I need one?"
"How long have you known William Blackstone?" asked Fisher.
"Seven, eight years."
"How long have you known Katherine Blackstone?" asked Hawk.
"About the same," said Bowman.
Hawk and Fisher looked at him silently, but his pleasant smile didn't waver. The silence dragged on.
"Who do you think killed Blackstone?" said Hawk finally.
"He had a great many enemies," said Bowman.
"Are you aware of the penalties for refusing to cooperate with the Guard during an investigation?" asked Fisher.
"Of course," said Bowman. "I am doing my best to cooperate, Captain Fisher. I've answered every question you've asked me."
"All right," said Hawk. "That's all for now. Wait in the parlor with the others, and send in Dorimant."
Bowman nodded briefly to them both, rose unhurriedly to his feet and left the library, closing the door quietly behind him.
"Politicians," said Hawk disgustedly. "Getting answers to questions is like pulling teeth. The trouble is, technically he's in the right. He did answer all our questions; we just didn't know the right questions to ask him. We can't come flat out and accuse him of bedding his employer's wife. Firstly, he'd deny it anyway, and secondly, if by some chance we were wrong, he'd have us thrown out of the Guard."
"Yeah," said Fisher. "But there's no doubt in my mind. You saw them together;the way they were reacting to each other. It's as clear as the nose on his face. I can't believe Blackstone didn't know. Or at least suspect;"
Hawk shrugged. "You heard Visage; perhaps he chose not to know. He couldn't risk a divorce, and Bowman was useful to him;"
"Only as long as Bowman was discreet about it, and in my experience, he's not very subtle when it comes to approaching women."
Hawk looked at her sharply. "Oh, yes? Do I take it he approached you somewhen this evening?"
"Yes. I took care of it. I explained that I wasn't interested, and he went away."
"Just like that?"
"Pretty much. Oh, I explained that you'd kill him slowly and painfully, and I did have my knife pressed against his gut, but;"
"Yeah," said Hawk, grinning. "You've always been; persuasive, Isobel."
"Thank you. To get back to the subject. If Bowman had been indiscreet about his affair with Katherine, and Black-stone got to hear of it;"
"No man likes to believe the woman he loves doesn't love him anymore," said Hawk. "Older man, younger woman; it's an old story. But even if Katherine and Bowman were having an affair, it doesn't mean they committed the murder. It's not proof."
"No, but it is a motive. And Katherine was the one who came and told us that something must have happened to her husband;"
There was a knock on the door, and Dorimant came in. He hesitated in the doorway a moment, as though unsure of his reception, and then stepped quickly into the library and shut the door behind him. Hawk nodded curtly at the empty chair, and Dorimant came forward and sank into it. His face was pale and drawn, and his movements were clumsy, as though some of the strength had gone out of him. But when he finally raised his head to look at Hawk, his mouth was firm and his eyes didn't waver.