Page 66 of A Whisper in the Shadows

Hadrian noted that her hands were empty. “Except you have no cleaning supplies.”

Before she could respond, he rushed to assist her, grabbing her hand. He was immediately rewarded with a vision.

He saw Phelps, but he was younger. The woman whose memory he saw held Phelps’s hand as they stood beside a bed. In it was a man, perhaps in his early twenties. His eyes were closed, his features ashen. Hadrian had a horrible feeling the man was dead. The woman felt sad, which could support his belief, but she was also oddly hopeful. It was most unsettling.

Hadrian looked down at the woman’s hand in the vision and saw that she wore a wedding ring. Before he could detect anything else, the vision faded as the woman released his hand.

Blinking, Hadrian looked at her left hand and saw the same wedding ring. “Where do you and your husband live? Are you residents of the Coleman Street Ward?”

“No.” The fake housekeeper glanced toward the door.

Hadrian sensed her desire to flee.

Tilda narrowed her eyes at the woman. “You should know there is a police inspector downstairs. Why don’t you tell us what you were looking for under the bed?”

The woman’s eyes rounded briefly, and she suddenly dashed around Tilda toward the door. Tilda turned and raced after her.

Hadrian followed. He saw Tilda grab the woman’s arm at the top of the stairs. Something fell from the woman and hit the floor. She tried to wrench her arm away from Tilda’s grip, then turned and pushed Tilda’s chest.

Tilda gasped. Time froze as she flailed.

Hadrian’s heart stopped, and his vision tunneled. He lunged forward, praying he could grasp her before it was too late. Except it was.

Tilda tumbled backward down the stairs.

CHAPTER 15

Tilda windmilled her arms as she sought to grab something to save herself from falling. But there was nothing, save the air around her, as she fell backward down the staircase.

She’d seen movement below her on the stairs, just before the woman had pushed her. She could only hope it was one of the inspectors.

Suddenly, a solid form clasped her, stopping her fall, and making her grunt softly at the contact. Her breath came in ragged pants as her heart hammered. The arms around her were strong and safe.

“I’ve got you,” Maxwell said, holding her close. “Are you all right?”

She managed to nod but couldn’t quite form words yet. Looking toward the top of the stairs, she saw Hadrian grasping the woman, holding her by both arms. He appeared furious, his face red and his lip curled so that his teeth were partially bared.

“I’m fine,” Tilda managed. “She pushed me.”

“I saw,” Maxwell replied.

Chisholm pushed past them and climbed to the top of the stairs. He set the lantern he carried on the newel.

Tilda turned her head and met Maxwell's concerned gaze. “Truly, I’m fine. We caught her looking for something under Phelps’s bed. She said she was his new housekeeper.”

Both of those things had to be a lie. Tilda was eager to learn what Hadrian had seen when he’d touched the woman. There was no doubt he’d had a vision, for his gaze had taken on that odd look he had when he was transported into someone’s memory.

“You can let me go now,” she said to Maxwell.

He loosened his grip, but he made sure she was standing steady on the stair above him before he released her. “You’re sure you’re all right?”

She nodded. “Thank you. I’m very glad you were there to catch me.”

“I am too,” he said with warm sincerity, his eyes dark with concern.

Chisholm took custody of the woman, whilst Hadrian bent to retrieve what she’d dropped.

Tilda had heard it hit the floor. “What is it?” she asked as she ascended the stairs. Maxwell followed her.