Page 47 of A Whisper and a Curse (Raven & Wren #3)
H adrian extricated himself from a meeting in the Commons regarding the Thames Embankment in order to fetch Tilda and arrived later than he’d planned. She was waiting for him in the parlor. Her grandmother was not present, which Hadrian found surprising.
“Where is your grandmother?” he asked after greeting Tilda. “I hope she is well.”
“She is annoyed with me because I asked her to stay away from the parlor so that you and I may discuss the case.” Tilda gave him a dire look. “I’m afraid there’s been another murder.”
“Hell,” Hadrian murmured. “Mrs. Griswold?”
Tilda shook her head. “Teague called a short while ago. Harmony Smith was found in Leicester Square early this morning. It looks as though she died from prussic acid poisoning.”
Hadrian removed his hat. He was disappointed he’d missed Teague. “Teague is certain her death is connected to the Levitation Killer, though she wasn’t levitating?”
“The prussic acid may indicate she was killed by the same person. I think it’s too coincidental that she was a member of the society and died of prussic acid poisoning, even if where she was found had nothing to do with the society.
” Tilda crossed her arms over her chest. “Teague also said he is planning to release Mallory today. Captain Vale visited Scotland Yard this morning and apparently overheard that there’d been another murder.
He argued that since his son was imprisoned, he could not have committed the latest murder.
Therefore, he reasoned his son also wasn’t guilty of the other crimes. ”
“So Teague will let Mallory go?” Hadrian scowled.
“He only has clear evidence that he sent me a threatening letter,” Tilda said, unfolding her arms. “Teague will see that he is prosecuted for that, but he does not need to be kept in jail. He will also continue to investigate Mallory’s blackmail.”
“That is most unfortunate,” Hadrian said with a deep frown. He turned his thoughts to the new murder. “Why do you think Harmony Smith was killed differently than the others?”
Tilda lifted her shoulder. “I’ve no idea. There could be a variety of reasons, not the least of which was that she left the society. Perhaps the killer didn’t think she deserved to be killed in the same way.”
“That’s an interesting thought,” Hadrian said. “Poor thing. She tried to leave. Do you suppose she was afraid for her life and thought she may be next?”
“That is my fear. I wish we knew more about her.” Tilda moved to a table where her hat and gloves were sitting.
Vaughn’s voice carried from the entrance hall into the parlor. “I’ll be right back.”
The butler walked into the parlor, his focus on Tilda. “You’ve a caller, Miss Wren. Captain Vale is here to see you.”
Tilda’s eyes widened briefly, and she met Hadrian’s gaze. She’d picked up her hat and gloves, but now she set them back down. “Show him in, Vaughn.”
Hadrian turned to face the doorway just as Captain Vale appeared. “Lord Ravenhurst, I’m surprised to see you. But pleased.” The captain bowed to Tilda. “Miss Wren. Thank you for seeing me. I hope it doesn’t trouble you that I’ve sought you out.”
“Not at all,” Tilda replied. “Please sit. How did you find me?”
Tilda perched on a chair, whilst the captain sat opposite her on the settee. Hadrian moved to stand next to Tilda.
“Detective Inspector Teague told me where you lived after I pleaded with him. I had to tell him the reason for my call in order for him to relent.”
“And what is the reason for your call?” Hadrian asked.
The captain glanced at him before returning his focus to Tilda. “I would like to hire you to find the Levitation Killer. My son is not guilty of these murders.”
“I have already been investigating, Captain Vale.”
“I understand, but I want to pay you to prove Thaddeus isn’t the killer.” Captain Vale’s expression was taut, his eyes dark with concern.
Hadrian was reminded of how he’d hired Tilda for their last case to prove he hadn’t killed Louis Chambers. This was not altogether different. Except for the fact that Thaddeus Vale/Lysander Mallory was definitely guilty of other crimes.
Tilda hesitated before responding. “Captain, I can’t promise my investigation won’t lead to finding your son guilty. No amount of money will alter the truth.”
The captain exhaled, but his features were still taut.
“Of course. I would never expect you to do anything other than pursue justice. You are a woman of integrity, Miss Wren, which is why I want to hire you. I know you will find that Thaddeus didn’t do this.
Never mind that he couldn’t have killed Miss Smith, who was just found this morning. ”
“Whilst it’s true he couldn’t have done that personally, it is possible he could have asked or paid someone to do it for him,” Tilda said gently. “I know you want your son to be innocent of these crimes, but you must accept the truth, whatever it is.”
The captain bowed his head. “I know,” he whispered. “Just as I know that Thaddeus is guilty of defrauding people with his spiritualism trickery. He admitted as much to me yesterday evening when I visited Scotland Yard after arriving in London.”
“Did he also confess to blackmail?” Hadrian asked. “Miss Wren and I have found at least three people the society has extorted or attempted to extort by using information he’d learned from their memories.”
Captain Vale blanched. “He did not.” He bowed his head for a moment.
When he looked up, his eyes were dark with resolve.
“I still know he didn’t kill anyone. He wouldn’t.
Not ever.” He scooted forward on the settee.
“Please, Miss Wren. I’ll pay whatever fee you require.
Detective Inspector Teague said you would do an excellent job. ”
Hadrian was torn. Tilda was trying to establish herself as a private investigator. Any client, especially one such as Captain Vale, would be a boon for her, not to mention the financial benefit. Still, he didn’t like Mallory and wasn’t convinced the man wasn’t guilty.
But Hadrian ought to consider he was not seeing things without bias.
Tilda glanced at Hadrian, and he detected a slight hesitation. He didn’t want her to refuse. He gave her a subtle nod.
She clasped her hands in her lap and addressed Captain Vale. “I will accept your offer.”
The captain’s shoulders dipped as he let out a breath. “Thank you, Miss Wren.”
“Thank you, Captain.” Tilda stood. “You must excuse us as we’ve leads to follow in the investigation.”
The captain rose. “Of course. I’m staying at a house in Woodbridge Street in Clerkenwell. It’s associated with Thaddeus’s club.”
“We attended a séance there the other night,” Tilda said, her expression flickering with surprise. “It was the home of one of the mediums who was killed.”
“Thaddeus told me that, but he said it was the best place he could offer me to stay that would keep me away from the club, as I prefer that.” Captain Vale gave Tilda a grateful smile. “Can I expect to hear from you later?”
“Yes, I’ll call with a report on my progress. I appreciate your faith in me.”
The captain took his leave, and Tilda eyed Hadrian with a bit of wariness. “Are you upset that I accepted his offer?”
“Not at all,” Hadrian said firmly. “I am glad you did. I am trying to see past my dislike of the man’s son to reasonably determine if he is guilty of these crimes. You are correct that more evidence is needed.”
“Precisely.” Tilda set her hat atop her red-blonde hair and picked up her gloves. “Rather than start with Bedfordbury, I should like to visit Fleet Street and speak with Mr. Clement about Harmony Smith.”
“After you.” Hadrian gestured for her to precede him. “I confess I did not expect to have to look to that reporter to assist with our investigation.”
“Neither did I,” Tilda said. “But we must take any help where we can.”
T hey arrived at the offices of the Daily Mail in Fleet Street to discover that Clement was not present. He was, however, in a nearby coffee shop.
Tilda easily spotted Mr. Clement seated at a table next to the wall. He wasn’t wearing a hat, but he was garbed in his typical outrageously hued plaid pants, and today he sported a bright-blue stock as well.
“Over there,” Tilda said, using her head to gesture toward Clement.
“I see him,” Hadrian replied. “The trousers give him away.”
They walked to his table. Clement’s head was bent as he read a newspaper—not the Daily Mail —but he looked up as they approached. Surprise flickered briefly in his gaze before he settled an expectant stare on them. “Ravenhurst, Miss Wren. What brings you to this part of London?”
“You do, Mr. Clement,” Tilda said. “May we sit?”
Clement gestured to the chairs on the other side of the table. “Please.”
Hadrian held Tilda’s chair whilst she sat, then lowered himself beside her.
“You published an interesting article yesterday,” Tilda began.
“Now you want to exchange information?” Clement asked with a smug expression.
“Perhaps,” Tilda said benignly. “Let us see if you know anything of interest.”
Clement leaned forward. “You must suspect I do if you’ve come to find me.”
“I would like to know more about Harmony Smith, as well as who else you spoke with from the London Spiritualism Society. Perhaps we could start with the latter.”
“And what would you offer me?” Clement asked dubiously.
“We’ve just come from Scotland Yard. There has been a new development in the case this morning.”
“Has there?” Clement’s tone was breathless. “Of what nature?”
Tilda gave him a pert look. “I’d like to know who else you spoke with from the society.”
Clement exhaled. “They asked that I not identify them publicly, but I suppose I could share their names with you. It was a pair of siblings—Jacob and Ellen Henry.”
“Thank you. Anyone else?” Tilda asked.
“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?”