Page 10 of Dead Serious Case 5 Madame Vivienne

“Money?” I reply in surprise. Being a natural-born hustler, Viv never gave the impression she had much.

“Vivienne’s legacy was substantial. Between the property which includes the Whitechapel bookshop and the adjacent building and the rest of her estate, it runs into seven figures at least. The Crawshanks family was extremely wealthy.”

“But I thought the original Crawshanks, what’s his name… Cornelius’ father–”

“Elmer,” Mr Hadley supplies helpfully.

“Elmer…sounds like a Sesame Street character,” I mutter under my breath. “Elmer, I thought he was a gambler and that he almost bankrupted the family.”

Mr Hadley raises his brows in surprise. “You seem to have some background knowledge of the family.”

“We had to do some research recently,” I reply vaguely.

“I see,” he hums. “Well, you are right, of course. Elmer was a drunk and a gambler, but his daughter Constance wasvery astute. She began rebuilding the family fortune, then her daughter Evangeline and her granddaughter Genevieve added to it, as did each successive generation thereafter. If we can find Vivienne’s son, he stands to inherit a lot of money.”

“Sounds like motive,” Danny mutters. “Especially if you add in being given up by his birth mother. It’s the perfect breeding ground for anger and resentment.”

“Perhaps,” Mr Hadley answers. “But you’re assuming he knew about Vivienne and his birth family. If someone went to that much trouble to hide him, it’s possible the truth was kept from him too.”

“What happens if you can’t find him, or he’s dead?” I ask. “I’m not asking about the money, I’m more concerned about the bookshop. Between the portal and now what you’re telling me are more secrets buried there? In the wrong hands, that place would be a ticking timebomb.”

Mr Hadley leans back in his chair and I see a small but genuine smile grace his thin lips. “And that I believe is why Vivienne was so determined it pass to you. You understand the responsibility.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want it,” I tell him emphatically. “At this point I’m heavily invested in you finding Viv’s son alive and hopefully him not turning out to be a murderer. I’ve got enough going on in my life without having to take care of a haunted bookshop, but I do feel a certain sense of obligation to make sure it ends up in the right hands.”

“Uh-huh,” Mr Hadley replies.

“Not my hands,” I clarify once again. “But someone else.” I mumble. “Who’s… qualified.”

“So noted,” Mr Hadley replies with amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Okay.” I blow out a breath. “So where does this all leave us?”

“We are trying to track down her son but in the meantime, the property must not be left unattended and as you were Vivienne’s choice, you have been appointed its temporary custodian.”

“I’mwhat?” My eyes flick to Danny and I must look as panicked as I feel because he reaches for my hand.

“What if he doesn’t want to?” Danny asks.

“Then you are perfectly at liberty to say no, of course. There is still such a thing as free will.”

“But I can’t say no, can I?” I say rather miserably, the weight of responsibility pressing down on me as Mr Hadley watches in silence.

3

After dropping that particular bombshell on us, Mr Hadley at least had the decency to have us shown into a waiting room, allowing us time to absorb everything. The room is dated and slightly musty smelling. It looks so much like a Victorian parlour I’m surprised there aren’t lacy doilies on the polished mahogany side tables and carriage clocks ticking everywhere.

“So, what do you think?” I ask Danny as I grip my cup of tea, which Mrs Middleton served in fine bone china.

“I think the question is, what do you think?” Danny counters.

“Are you using reverse psychology on me?” I narrow my eyes and set my nearly cold tea down on the table.

“No,” he says with a chuckle, “but it’s not my decision. I’ll support whatever you decide, you know I will, but you’re the one Viv named.”

I rub my eyes tiredly. “When did this all get so complicated? I was just getting my head around being able to see ghosts and now I have to accept that witchcraft and magic, and probably a load of supernatural stuff I don’t even want to think about, are real. It’s… a lot.”

“I know, love.” Danny nods slowly. “It’s been a huge leap for me too, and I can’t see half the things you do.”