Page 101 of A Whisper and a Curse

“No. They were all very close-mouthed. I only managed to persuade Miss Smith and the Henrys to speak with me because they were not at the headquarters.”

“Where did you speak with them?”

“I’ve been lingering around the houses where the murders occurred,” Clement replied. “I encountered Miss Smith as she left Willow Street the evening before last, and I spoke to the Henrys on Saturday after they departed Rathbone Place.” His brows gathered. “I will say that the Henrys were divided on speaking with me at all. Ellen seemed eager to answer my questions, but her brother didn’t want her to. The society frowns on their employees speaking to people about the workings of the society.”

“What did they tell you?” Tilda asked, wondering if she too sounded breathless.

Clement sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll share that after you reveal whatever you learned at Scotland Yard.”

Tilda found that reasonable. “There has been another murder.”

Clement’s nostrils flared as he unfolded his arms and lightly slapped his palm against the table. “I knew it. Which medium was found dangling now?”

Tilda curled her lip at the crudeness of his question. “First, tell me what the Henrys told you.”

Without hesitation, Clement said, “Ellen said they accepted employment at the society in order to train as mediums. They were told they would move up in the household and become full-fledged mediums. As such, they’d earn a robust living—or so they believed. Since the murders, Ellen has decided she wants to leave, but her brother does not share her desire. Jacob ended the interview after that.”

“Did they not tell you about the pearl earring that was found?” Hadrian asked.

Clement glanced away and seemed to have grown uncomfortable. “I gleaned that morsel from the police.”

Tilda could not imagine Teague saying anything. “Did you bribe someone?”

Eyes flashing with guilt, Clement pursed his lips. “Sometimes it’s necessary.”

“Who did you bribe?” Tilda asked. “Tell me and I’ll tell you which medium was killed—and how. Otherwise, you can wait to find out until the inquest.”

“It wasn’t someone currently with the police. His name is Padgett.”

Tilda kept herself from reacting. Padgett had been the inspector who’d investigated the attack on Hadrian, as well as a similar attack on another gentlemen that had left the man dead. Padgett had been bribed to bury his reports, but he’d escaped punishment by retiring from the police.

Hadrian scoffed. “Of course it was Padgett.”

Clement appeared intrigued. “You know him?”

“Regrettably.”

Tilda looked over at Hadrian. “Padgett must receive information from someone still working for the police. How disappointing.” She pinned Clement with a hard stare. “I would caution you not to trust Padgett.”

“He does seem slightly … sordid,” Clement said with a faint shrug.

Hadrian settled back in his chair and gave Clement a dismissive look. “Yet that didn’t stop you from bribing him for information.”

Clement turned his attention to Tilda. “Who was murdered?”

“The very medium you interviewed for your article: Harmony Smith.”

Clement paled. “That can’t be. She was going home to her sister in Brixton.”

Tilda didn’t doubt the man’s distress. “I’m afraid it’s true. Though she was not killed in the same manner. She was found in Leicester Square, likely poisoned.” She gave him a pointed look. “You mustn’t print that until after the inquest determines her cause of death.”

“I can hardly believe it. She did not deserve that end.” Clement bowed his head a moment. “This is terrible.”

“It is,” Tilda said gently. “I am committed to finding the killer before anyone else dies.”

The reporter snapped his head up. Color returned to his face. “Mallory has been arrested.” He pressed his lips together. “He could not have killed Harmony.”

Tilda told him the same thing she’d said to Hadrian. “He could be responsible even if he didn’t do the actual deed. I will discover the truth. I’ve something else to share, but I want you to tell me about Harmony Smith first. Agreed?”