Page 78

“Mr.Hargrove!”Mrs.Sinclair choked from the doorway.

Hargrove looked at her with a pained expression.“It’s uncanny how you always happen to be nearby whenever I say something salacious, Mrs.S.”

Evander left them to their bickering and had a maid ask Graham to bring his carriage around.

The Metropolitan Police Headquarters loomed out of the swirling mist when they pulled up in front of it sometime later.The fog had made travel slow and it was already after nine.He hurried inside and nodded briskly to the officers who acknowledged him with respectful salutes as he made his way to the Arcane Division.

Sergeant Griffiths was manning the reception.

“Inspector Grayson and Miss Shaw are waiting for you in your office, your Grace,” he informed Evander.

“Thank you.”

Evander found Rufus and Shaw discussing the case when he entered his office.

Shaw stopped and brightened at his sight.“Ah, your Grace.I’m pleased to see you.I just received a report from our handwriting expert on those lettersNightshadebrought around yesterday.He confirmed they were indeed forgeries.”

Evander straightened, his pulse quickening.“We should let Viggo know.”

Shaw grinned.“Already taken care of, sir.I just dispatched a messenger.”

“I’ve updated Shaw about what happened yesterday,” Rufus explained.He looked curiously past Evander.“Where’s Leon?”

“He went to the Institute this morning,” Evander replied.He hesitated a beat.“We should join him.”

Rufus and Shaw’s expressions grew instantly alert.

“Is something wrong?”Rufus asked guardedly.

“I hope not.”Evander tried to keep his tone light.“Are our two guests safely lodged?”he asked as the inspector joined him, Shaw trailing in his footsteps.

“Yes.Sergeant Griffiths and his team are guarding the safe house.”

Evander’s gaze switched to Shaw as they headed into the corridor.“How did it go yesterday?”

“We’ve catalogued and moved all the contents of the chamber beneath Whitley’s laboratory to the Met, your Grace,” the forensic mage reported.She made a face.“I did come upon something strange I was going to ask you about.”

Evander’s scalp prickled.“Strange?Strange how?”

“Some kind of magical signature,” Shaw explained with a vague wave of a hand.“I asked Mrs.Scarborough for some of that potion she’d made.You know, the neutralising agent?Apparently, it can detect traces of other types of magic, not just hidden wards and spells.”

Evander stared at her as they reached the stairs.“That would never have crossed my mind.Well done for thinking outside the box, Shaw.”

“Of course, your Grace.”Shaw sniffed and rubbed her nose proudly with a knuckle.“I’m the best forensic mage the Met has, after all.”

Rufus rolled his eyes.“How about you tell us what you found?”

Shaw’s expression turned shrewd.“Remember the compartment where that device was hidden?”

Evander stiffened.“The one with the strange metallic scent?”

Shaw blinked, her smile fading.“You could smell it?!”

Tension hummed through Evander.“Yes.”He frowned.“But it didn’t feel like magic of any kind I’ve ever felt before, so I didn’t think much of it.Whitley’s lab and that room contained all kinds of chemicals, after all.”

“Cor,” Shaw mumbled, impressed.“So that pretty nose of yours isn’t just for show, huh?”

“Shaw,” Rufus warned with a scowl.