Page 44 of A Whisper in the Shadows (Raven & Wren #4)

“I said I’d speak with you about it. With any luck, we’ll have solved these investigations and won’t be here.

” She decided now was as good a time as any to ask about helping those cheated by Eaton and Phelps.

“What will happen with the Amicable Society once we leave? I’m not sure anyone besides Ravenhurst—and you too, Maxwell—is committed to reimbursing those who were swindled. ”

“I share the concern that those people will be forgotten,” Maxwell replied with a dark look. “Though I’ve only been here just over a week, I find I feel rather passionately about the society and what it should do. I might have actually wanted to be an administrator.”

Tilda smiled at him, but Maxwell was looking ahead as they walked. “You have a kind heart, Inspector.”

“I do not plan to turn my back on those who were wounded by Phelps’s and Eaton’s malfeasance,” Hadrian said firmly. “I’ve already sent money—anonymously—to Mrs. Cardy, and I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure everyone who was admitted to the society improperly is financially restored.”

Maxwell paused and turned his head toward Hadrian. “That is most generous of you.”

Hadrian shrugged. “I try to help where I can. I would say that the society should take care of reimbursing those people, but we can’t be sure all the money stolen from them can be recovered.

And even if it is, I’m not sure the Amicable Society will remain.

How can it continue if one or more of its leadership are arrested for murder? ”

“That is a very good point,” Maxwell said as he continued walking. “One we cannot discount either, for the remaining administrators—and the doctor—are prime suspects in both murders.”

Tilda knew one thing for certain: Phelps and Nevill were at the top of the list of suspects for Eaton’s murder.

And Hadrian knew why.

H adrian began to accept that he wouldn’t be able to inform Tilda of what he knew until later this evening, probably after Maxwell retired. At least she was aware that he had information to share—that much he’d been able to communicate.

There was no way he was going to participate in a matchmaking endeavor with Mrs. Burley’s niece, unless it would somehow help their inquiries.

He doubted it would be necessary because he agreed with Tilda that their investigations would likely be concluded soon.

That filled him with anticipation, but also with a sense of disappointment, as it would mean he would no longer see Tilda every day.

At least until their next investigation.

Assuming there was one.

Hadrian could not assume, however. Particularly when Tilda believed that assumptions were to be avoided. He’d do his best to manage his expectations accordingly. Which was to say, he oughtn’t have any.

They turned into Little Moorfields, where the Lion’s Heart Pub was located. It was outside the Coleman Street Ward, which meant they were less likely to encounter someone who knew them as the Harwoods and Nigel Beck.

If, by chance, they did see someone, they would say that the reporter had approached them after recognizing them from the inquests and was interviewing them about the Amicable Society.

Furthermore, Hadrian and Maxwell would say they’d welcomed the opportunity to discuss the society’s attributes in an effort to rehabilitate its reputation.

Clement was already there when they arrived. He sat at a table in the corner and waved at them as they entered. Once they were seated, they ordered food and drink. Hadrian was looking forward to the ale in the hope that it would ease his lingering headache.

“It’s been a busy day with Eaton’s inquest,” Clement said. He already had a pint of ale and took a sip.

“Quite,” Tilda agreed. “We’ve been conducting many inquiries. Last night, we were at Phelps’s house under the supervision of Inspector Chisholm, and we found a ledger with a record of the men Eaton recruited to the society.”

“Did that reveal anything new?” Clement asked.

“It confirmed that he charged a higher entrance fee and weekly dues for some people, including Mr. Cardy. Presumably, he was assessing higher amounts to those who were sick.”

“He could explain that away as those members being higher risk, hence they would pay more.” Clement nodded. “Clever.”

“I hadn’t considered that, but you’re correct,” Tilda said. “The ledger was actually the least exciting thing that happened. We encountered Phelps’s wife searching the house for money, which she found under the floorboards in his bedchamber.”

Clement’s jaw dropped. “His wife? She isn’t dead?”

“Definitely not,” Hadrian replied. “Nor is her name Phelps.”

Clement leaned forward over the table, his eyes gleaming. “Tell me everything.”

Tilda and Hadrian detailed all they’d learned about Ida Walters, including the fact that she’d lied about a great many things, such as when she’d arrived in London.

“She’s a prime suspect in her husband’s murder then,” Clement said.

“I should think so,” Maxwell replied. “But it’s not my investigation.”

Clement studied him a moment. “And yet you seem to be investigating Phelps’s murder.”

“As it pertains to my investigation regarding the fraud against the society,” Maxwell said a bit stiffly, as if he didn’t like Clement questioning him.

“Since we now know Phelps started other friendly societies and stole money from them, we can deduce he was behind the swindle at the Coleman Street Ward Amicable Society.”

“I wonder if he and Eaton worked together or had their own separate schemes going,” Clement mused.

“That is a question we’re still investigating,” Tilda said. “Though it may be one that we don’t find the answer to.” She regarded Clement expectantly. “What have you to report?”

Last time they worked with Clement, Tilda and the reporter had traded pieces of information one at a time.

Clement would share something, then Tilda would do the same.

It was an equitable exchange to prove they were both trustworthy.

Hadrian expected she was doing the same now.

She was waiting for Clement to share something before she told him about their leads into Eaton’s murder.

Clement met her gaze briefly before glancing at Hadrian and Maxwell.

“I confirmed that Timothy Eaton does indeed have a sister in an orphanage in Whitechapel. She’s eleven years old, and without Eaton contributing money to her upkeep, they are going to turn her over to a workhouse soon.

” Clement exhaled. “It seems Eaton had a somewhat good reason for his crimes.”

Hadrian felt a rush of empathy for the young man. Though Eaton had gone about things the wrong way, he may have felt he hadn’t any other choice to help his sister. “It’s too bad Eaton didn’t have her move into Mrs. Vickers’s lodging house with him.”

“It may not have been that simple,” Maxwell said, sounding a trifle cross. “How is a young working man like Eaton to take care of his younger sister, particularly if he has no experience with that? It isn’t our place to judge.”

“I wasn’t judging,” Hadrian retorted. “It’s just too bad families can’t always stay together.”

Maxwell’s gaze was cool. “I realize that is foreign to you, my lord, but here, it’s all too commonplace.”

Hadrian clenched his jaw. He wasn’t going to debate Maxwell, particularly when the man certainly knew better than Hadrian on this issue.

“I wish I had more to share about Eaton to help find his murderer,” Clement said.

“As it happens, we’ve made progress on that front.

” Tilda told him about the naval dirk that Jarret had mentioned, as well as Nevill being a possible suspect.

She did not tell him about the night soil men or the suspicion—which was more than that given Hadrian’s vision—that Nevill and Phelps may have worked together to kill Eaton.

She concluded by simply saying that they were making further inquiries.

Clement inclined his head. “It sounds as though you have good leads. I want to look into these other friendly societies that Phelps—rather, Walters—started. A story about a man who serially swindled people using friendly societies will be of great interest to my readers.”

“You’ll travel to Reading?” Maxwell asked, appearing surprised.

Clement nodded. “And Maidstone and Guildford, but perhaps I will start by visiting the police station first thing tomorrow to see if I may interview Mrs. Walters.”

“She isn’t very forthcoming,” Maxwell said flatly. “Most of what she says is a half-truth or an outright lie. I think your time is better spent going to Reading.”

“Why do you suppose Phelps came to London alone?” Clement asked.

“My best guess is that he perhaps wanted to move on without her,” Maxwell replied. “But that’s only my intuition.”

Clement looked at Tilda. “Do you agree?”

She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. He was carrying on some sort of affair with Mrs. Atkins, though that could have entirely been for the benefit of the society—or, perhaps more accurately—the benefit of his purse as he sought to gain her financial support.

Hopefully, we will soon learn more about Phelps.

Nevill and Furnier have just hired Ravenhurst as the Amicable Society’s new canvasser, and Maxwell is going to serve as a third administrator, at least temporarily, whilst they decide if they want him to stay permanently. ”

Clement looked at Hadrian first and then Maxwell. “Are you now? That will give you excellent access to the society’s records and doings. You should be able to determine whether Nevill and Furnier were part of the swindle or not.”

“I can’t imagine they are,” Hadrian said.

“Both of them are longtime residents of the ward. Nevill has a business there, and Furnier has a job and a wife. That would be rather audacious to cheat their neighbors, and if they had, I don’t know how they could expect to continue with the society.

Wouldn’t they cut their losses? It seems to me Phelps started another friendly society with the intention of stealing its coffers and likely hired Eaton, who’d already cheated at the Prudential Assurance Company, to assist him. ”

Clement’s face creased into a faint grimace.

“What you say has merit. I did learn something else that may be important. Furnier and his wife have lost four children, which is why they were keen to be a part of the Amicable Society. I would be surprised if Furnier had planned to commit fraud through the society.”

“How sad,” Tilda said. “I have found Furnier to be disagreeable, and it seems he has good reason to be.”

Hadrian met her gaze and nodded gently, feeling sorry for Furnier. He slid a glance toward Maxwell, who’d also lost family members. But then so had Hadrian and Tilda.

Whilst that was true, losing children was a terrible pain. Hadrian need only look at his mother to see the grief she still carried over losing Hadrian’s younger brother, Gabriel. Only recently, in fact, she’d tried to communicate with him in the afterlife.

“I think Dr. Giles is a likelier candidate for participating in the swindle,” Maxwell said. “He had motive, due to his desire to establish himself as a physician. Money would allow him to elevate his position and perhaps find his fortune in his chosen career.”

“I agree,” Hadrian said. “Dr. Giles has been very disappointed and angry about what’s happened with the society. He believes it’s cost him professional advancement, which is what he was hoping for when he agreed to work with them.”

Hadrian recalled the visions he’d had of the administrators arguing and he wished, not for the first time, that he could hear what was being said when he saw a memory.

“Perhaps tomorrow night, when we attend our first administrative meeting, Maxwell and I will find out more about the inner workings of the society. Hopefully, we’ll have a better sense of whether the three men have a strong enough motive. ”

Clement tapped his fingers on the table briefly. “It could be Dr. Giles. You did mention that he’d worked as a surgeon and has blades that could match Eaton’s wound. Has anyone spoken to Thetford about whether a surgeon’s tool might have been used?”

Tilda blinked. “No, but we should.” She looked over at Maxwell, and he nodded.

“I’ll send Thetford a note,” Maxwell said.

Their food and ale were delivered, and they all tucked in for a few minutes.

“You’ll be traveling for a few days then?” Tilda asked Clement.

“Likely tomorrow and the next day,” he replied. “If I learn anything important, I’ll send a telegram. I think I’ll delay trying to interview Mrs. Walters until after I return. Then I will be armed with the truth of what happened in those places when I question her.”

Maxwell regarded him with surprise. “You speak like an investigator, Mr. Clement. That would all be most helpful, thank you.”

Clement inclined his head. “Of course. I suppose I am an investigator of sorts. I ferret out the truth so that I may reveal it to the public.” He gave Maxwell a sly smile. “I want to see you catch the murderer as much as you want to catch him—or her.”

“Well, I appreciate the help,” Maxwell said.

They finished dinner and parted ways with a plan to meet again on Monday. As they made their way back into the Coleman Street Ward, Maxwell glanced over at Tilda and Hadrian. “We shared far more information with him than he did with us.”

“We did,” Tilda agreed. “But the inquiries he’ll conduct outside London could be of great use to us, particularly in determining Mrs. Walters’s involvement. I imagine the police will want to prosecute her for her crimes relative to the friendly societies, whether she killed her husband or not.”

“Most definitely,” Hadrian replied.

“I regret telling the mercantile house I’d work through the end of the week,” Maxwell said with a slight frown. “I would much rather call on the night soil man with you tomorrow.”

Tilda sent him an encouraging smile. “We’ll report every detail. Very soon, you’ll be able to focus completely on the investigation.”

Which meant he’d be spending more time with Hadrian and Tilda. Whilst Hadrian didn’t dislike the man, he found him frustrating at times. He seemed to find ways to emphasize the differences between himself and Hadrian. And Hadrian wasn’t entirely sure how to take that.

There was likely nothing to it. Hadrian was merely being defensive because he was jealous of the man. He needed to move past that. He had no claim on Tilda, and the sooner he accepted that and rid his mind of romantic thoughts of her, the better.