Page 96 of Arcane Entanglement

McAndrew’s face turned chagrined. “That I do not yet know.”

Frustration gnawed at Evander. He thanked the artificer and the alchemist and left the lab with Rufus, his mind spinning with a dozen thoughts. He didn’t notice Rufus was talking to him until the inspector laid a hand on his arm.

“Evander? Did you hear me?”

Evander startled distractedly. “Sorry, what?”

Rufus’s brow furrowed with concern. “I said we should tell Winterbourne. We can’t just sit on this information.”

Evander hesitated. “Alright.”

The idea taking root inside him solidified as they made their way through the west wing of Scotland Yard. Of all the options he was weighing up, it was their quickest alternative to drawing out their enemy. Evander waited until they reached Winterbourne’s office before putting his plan forward.

Rufus gaped at him as if he’d proposed they parade naked in front of the Queen.

“You can’t be serious!” he spluttered.

“I agree with Inspector Grayson,” Winterbourne said grimly. “Spreading the rumour that you possess the vial on your person is too dangerous.”

“It’s time we stopped reacting and started acting,” Evander argued. “Doing this means we draw them out on our terms.”

“It’s too risky,” Rufus protested. “You’ll be painting a target on your back!”

“The target’s already there, Rufus,” Evander snapped “They’ve been after me ever since we found Millbrook’s body. At least this way, we get to choose the battlefield.” He fisted his hands. “I won’t have them endanger more innocent officers just to get to me.”

They were still arguing when a commotion rose outside the commander’s office. The door burst open, revealing Winterbourne’s flustered secretary scurrying behind a determined Viggo.

Chapter39

“I’m sorry, sir,”the secretary stammered. “He insisted on?—”

“It’s alright,” Winterbourne said gruffly. “Mr. Stonewall is working with us on this case.”

The secretary nodded jerkily and left.

Evander couldn’t help the butterflies that swarmed his stomach at the sight of the Brute.

Heat flashed in Viggo’s eyes before he schooled his face in a neutral expression.

“I apologise for the interruption. I have information about Millbrook’s family.”

Evander’s pulse accelerated. “You do?”

Viggo nodded curtly. “One of our agents talked to someone yesterday who’d spotted a woman and a young man fitting Martha and William Millbrook’s description at a train station in Hertfordshire, about a week ago.” Lines wrinkled his brow. “But it was Lady Hartley’s information that guided us to their hiding place.”

Rufus frowned in confusion. “Lady Hartley?”

Evander blinked. “Ginny helped you out?!”

“Yes. She contacted us this morning. She said she’d thought the name Millbrook sounded familiar. She had her staff scour her various business ledgers and found that someone by the name of Martha Millbrook had ordered several household items and furniture from one of her shops. Except the address given for the purchases made under that name wasn’t for the property in Finsbury.”

Gratitude loosened Evander’s chest.

I must thank Ginny when I see her next!

The Brute related the rest of whatNightshadehad uncovered, which coincided with Ginny’s tip. Millbrook’s wife and son had fled London shortly before his death and taken refuge close to the village of Harpenden.

A heavy silence fell over the room in the wake of this news.