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“Four days before I reported him missing.”

The housekeeper returned with their drinks.Lady Whitley waited until she’d served them and left before continuing.

“Walter came home late the previous night.He was in a state of considerable agitation.He spent the entire evening in his study with the door locked.”Delicate lines marked Lady Whitley’s brow.“I could hear him moving about and there was a distinct smell of burning paper.”

Evander exchanged a significant glance with Rufus.“Did he explain what was troubling him?”

Lady Whitley’s fingers whitened on her cup.“He told me his research had taken an unexpected turn and that certain parties might be interested in applying his findings in ways he could not condone.”

Her words chilled Evander as much as they did Rufus.

Lady Whitley’s testimony confirmed what Chevalier had written in his letter to Professor Whitley.

“Did he mention who these parties might be?”Evander pressed quietly.

“No.”She hesitated.“But he did tell me that he and the French professor he was working with had made a disturbing discovery regarding their research sponsor.”

“Did he name this sponsor?”Rufus asked tensely, his magic quill poised over his notebook.

Lady Whitley shook her head.“Walter was always discreet about such matters.But I gathered it was someone of considerable influence.Possibly someone outside the Institute.”

Renwick’s mysterious master immediately came to Evander’s mind.Though there was no definite proof of any connection between the eponymous“I”and their current case, the probability was high that there was.

Evander leaned forward.“Mrs.Whitley, did your husband ever discuss his work with you?”

Her expression clouded over.“Not in detail.He had become increasingly secretive in recent weeks.When I asked him about it, he said it was safer for me not to know the particulars.”Lady Whitley’s composure briefly cracked, revealing the fear beneath.“The morning he left, he embraced me as though”—she stopped and swallowed—“as though he might never return.”

Evander maintained a diplomatic silence while their host regained her poise.

“Is there any news of Walter?”Lady Whitley asked in a low voice, her eyes gleaming with hope.

“Not yet, but I believe we are getting close to finding out what happened to him,” Evander replied.“Can we take a look at his study?”

Lady Whitley blinked.“Of course.”

She led them through the house to Whitley’s office.Unlike the messy rooms at the Institute and the chaotic chamber hidden under Whitley’s lab, the study was tidy and well organised.

“The forensic mages Officer Shaw sent have already been over this room,” Lady Whitley said uncertainly, hovering near the doorway.

“We know.”Evander flashed her a reassuring smile.“Still, it doesn’t hurt to take a second look.”

He released a faint pulse of magic as he crossed the room and didn’t pick up on anything unusual.He made his way to the fireplace while Rufus moved to examine Whitley’s desk.

The grate was clean.

Evander frowned.“Did your servants clean this?”

“Yes.”Lady Whitley clasped her hands tightly.“To be honest, he doesn’t normally like anyone in here unless he’s present on the premises.But I asked our servants to tidy things up the morning I last saw him.Should I not have?”Guilt darkened her eyes.

“There was no way you could have known what would come to pass,” Evander said gently.He frowned at the fireplace.“Besides, if all that was left was ash, then it would not have been helpful to our investigation.”

“Oh.”

Evander looked over at Lady Whitley.

She had gone pale and was pressing a hand to her mouth.

Evander tensed.“What is it?”