Page 14 of Cloaked in Deception (Spencer & Reid Mysteries #4)

“Mrs. Seabright’s identity hasn’t yet been printed in any newspapers. There is no chance this man would have known how to track down her son this morning unless,” Jasper said, his mind assembling a patent certainty, “they already knew each other.”

After speaking to Sir Eamon and learning about Gavin Seabright’s questionable character while at the orphanage, Jasper wouldn’t have put it past him to have known about the robbery at the benefit dinner. It might even be why he decided not to attend.

“Which means Mrs. Seabright may not have been a random victim,” Leo said, her expression lighting with familiar curiosity. “It was the very thing I was considering this morning. The leader of the masked men took several strides toward her when he could have selected anyone closer. Including me.”

The comment touched off a smoldering wick inside Jasper’s chest. He didn’t need to hear a reminder of how close she’d been to death yet again, or how he would not have been able to prevent it.

“Could the leader have been Gavin Seabright then?” Warnock asked.

“If so, he certainly wasn’t wearing that scent last night,” Leo replied, indicating the bottle Jasper had placed on a shelf.

“Gavin was here, according to Mrs. Beardsley,” he said. “She locks the door promptly at eleven, whether her lodgers are in or not. Gavin ate with the others and retired to his room afterward.”

His alibi for last night was secure; however, that didn’t mean he hadn’t been aware of the planned robbery.

He very well may have been waiting for word of how the break-in went, and when he heard of his mother’s murder, he could have gone to the morgue to be certain it was true.

Had the landlady heard a brawl after Gavin’s return to his lodgings at a quarter past ten, Jasper would assume he flew into a rage and killed this unidentified man.

But as she reported not hearing anything amiss, Jasper was more apt to believe his death occurred while both Mrs. Beardsley and Gavin were out.

Someone else had come to this house during that time.

Jasper explained his thinking to Leo and Warnock.

“Another one of the masked men? Perhaps their leader?” Leo supposed.

“Warnock, speak to the neighbors. Ask if they saw anyone arriving or leaving between eight and ten o’clock this morning,” Jasper said, then also instructed him to arrange for a cart to transport the body to the morgue.

The detective sergeant left with more enthusiasm than the tasks warranted, likely relieved to get away from the dead body.

Jasper crossed his arms, peering down at it. “This man will lead us to the others. We just need to find out who he is.”

“Gavin Seabright may also be able to do that,” Leo said, then called for Mrs. Beardsley. Again, the landlady appeared in a blink.

“I got things to be gettin’ on with,” she complained. “What now?”

“Has Mr. Seabright had any visitors lately? Anyone you would see regularly?”

Jasper held his tongue against reminding Leo whose investigation this was and who should be asking the questions. It was already too late. Once she had that gleam of determination in her eyes, there was no going back. It was as frustrating as it was endearing.

“He kept to himself mostly,” Mrs. Beardsley answered. “Though, he did step out with some bird not too long ago.”

“A woman?” Jasper asked. “Do you know who she was?”

The landlady shook her head. “But it were backward. She fetched him in a hired hansom and dropped him off again a short while later.”

“Did you see her?” Leo asked.

Mrs. Beardsley lifted her shoulder. “I were at the window when she dropped him off. Seen her then, sittin’ in the cab. Pretty and young. Dark hair. Dressed too fine for the likes of him. Now, right, I got rooms need doin’. Is that all?”

“Thank you, Mrs. Beardsley,” Leo said, and the woman departed with haste. Leo then turned to Jasper, her chin raised, her hands clasped behind her back.

“You’re about to ask for something,” he said.

She affected a look of injury. “I was merely going to offer my time looking through prisoner albums, searching for our John Doe here.”

“Out of the question,” he replied.

“But you summoned me?—”

“To give a positive identification,” he cut in. “I need to move swiftly, and I don’t dispute that you can assist, but not at the Yard.”

“Detective Chief Inspector Coughlan’s orders, I take it.” Her lips pursed with indignation. Jasper’s attention lingered on them an extra moment before confirming with a nod.

“Very well.” Leo pushed down her shoulders and started for the exit. “I’ll return to the morgue to await the body.”

She was unhappy, certainly, though for once, her displeasure didn’t feel directed toward him. Letting her go was for the best. She should return to Spring Street and to Connor Quinn, where they would work together just as efficiently and as affably as she used to work with Claude.

Christ, he loathed the idea of it.

“Esther Goodwin.”

The name was off his tongue before he knew what he was doing. Regret instantly followed. Leo paused at the threshold, her dark sable brows pinching together.

“Who is Esther Goodwin?” she asked.

He fell mute for a moment. What the bloody hell was he thinking? He’d only known he wanted to stop her. Keep her from going back to Quinn.

It was too late to reverse course now.

“Martha Seabright’s sister. Gavin’s aunt, though from what Sir Eamon said, he and Martha hadn’t been on speaking terms with Esther for some time. She lives on Gray’s Inn Road, at Gunnerson’s Rest Home.”

Leo squinted at him. “Why are you telling me about her?”

The truth was humiliating, so he reached for another reason—one that wasn’t entirely a lie.

“I think it would be safe and helpful for you to pay her a visit. She, along with Gavin and Martha’s daughter, Paula Blickson, were invited to the dinner, but none of them attended.

Initially, Gavin accepted but then changed his mind. I’d like to know why.”

It was a rare thing to see Leo truly startled. A softness stole over her brow and released the tension in her jaw. For several seconds, the vulnerability she kept well-hidden shone through. It made him want to reach for her as she gazed at him, circumspect.

“And I’m to inform her that her sister is dead?” she asked.

“You may.” The task wouldn’t bother Leo. She was more experienced than even he was in telling families the worst of news. “Find out what you can about Martha and her children, and their experience with the orphanage. You should know that one of the children died there. An infant.”

Leo’s wonderment snapped off, her lashes fluttering as she blinked.

“How awful.” She then cocked her head. “I don’t know if it has anything to do with the death, but I found a letter in Mrs. Seabright’s handbag.

A letter dated from 1871, giving Mrs. Seabright an agreed-upon sum of money and saying she’d done the right thing. It was only signed N. C. R.”

“Nothing more was written?” he asked.

She shook her head. Jasper would see the letter when it arrived at the Yard with Mrs. Seabright’s other personal possessions, which would all be logged as evidence. How it could relate to the death of her baby, however, wasn’t clear.

“I’ll see what Esther Goodwin knows,” Leo said and then disappeared into the hall.

He followed. “Remember, Leo, you are going in an unofficial capacity. I don’t want anyone at the Yard to learn of it.”

He would be skewered, not just by Coughlan but by the superintendent and the police commissioner, should word of it get out.

She’d already reached the stairs and started down. “Right. Good. I’ll report back later today.”

As she disappeared, Jasper scrubbed a hand through his hair. He’d opened a door that could lead straight to trouble, and he was already sorry for it.