Page 35 of Molly Boys

Ev didn’t trust his answer so he simply inclined his head, leaving his response unspoken. Seeming to take this as a gracious acceptance, Reverend Edwin smiled warmly before turning and hurrying down the corridor.

The crowds had mostly filtered through and out of the building, leaving a strange hush as Ev faced the inspector.

Only slightly taller than Ev, the man stood with wide shoulders and a more muscled build than Ev’s waifish, elegant figure. And Inspector Franklin’s face would never be described as pretty either. It was too strong a face, very manly and, much to Ev’s dismay, very attractive. He could feel the low hum of desire coiling in his belly.

Ruthlessly crushing the unwelcome feeling, Ev unconsciously straightened his spine as if to brace himself. The inspector’s dark eyes watched him, filled with something like … curiosity, maybe?

“How is the investigation proceeding?” Ev asked with what he hoped was vague interest. He had no desire to give himself away, but the opportunity for more insight was too fortuitous to ignore. “It was terrible what happened to that poor young man.”

The inspector nodded. “It was.”

“Do you have any suspects?” Ev pressed.

“Not as yet.”

Good lord, the man was a locked box, Ev thought to himself. “You said there was a witness?” he asked carefully. “Did he see where the young man was abducted from?”

The inspector’s eyes narrowed a fraction and for a moment Ev was afraid he’d pushed too far. “No,” he finally said. “The witness saw the body placed at the scene, that is all.”

“And you have no idea where the young man was taken from?”

“Not yet,” the inspector replied, his expression unreadable.

Ev felt the tightness in his belly begin to unfurl as he relaxed a fraction. If they still didn’t know where Charlie had been abducted from, the trail probably wouldn’t lead back to the Islington house.

Several long seconds stretched out between the two men, the air heavy with something Ev couldn’t put a name to. All he knew was it made him nervous. He watched as Inspector Franklin’s lips parted but before he could utter a word, their attention was drawn by a uniformed constable hurrying down the corridor toward them.

“Inspector.” The harried young man attempted to calm his breathing with the word.

“Constable Kips.”

The constable threw a wary look at Ev before leaning in to whisper in the ear of his superior.

A whisper not quite quiet enough for Ev not to hear.

“There’s been another body discovered, sir.”

The inspector’s eyes shifted to the young constable, sharp and assessing. He gave him a gesture of acknowledgement and placed his bowler hat back on his head, his dark eyes sliding back to Everett.

“If you’ll excuse me, Lord Stanley.”

Ev nodded and stepped aside, watching as the intriguing inspector strode confidently down the corridor with the young constable scurrying to keep up, but at the last moment, the inspector glanced over his shoulder and gave Ev one last look.

* * *

“Psst.” Ev blinked, torn from his perusal of the inspector’s retreating form by a strange hissing noise. “Psst.”

Ev turned slowly to find Francis peering around the corner at the opposite end of the corridor and beckoning him closer. Amused at his friend, Ev sauntered down the corridor leisurely.

“Francis, what on earth are you doing?” Ev stopped in front of him. “Where have you been?”

“Never mind that now.” He peered around Ev to check that the inspector and the constable were well out of sight before grasping Ev’s arm and tugging him around the corner.

Well used to Francis’ antics, Ev followed along until they reached a door which Francis, with one more surreptitious glance around to make sure they were not seen, shoved Ev unceremoniously through.

“Francis, what the devil?” Ev stumbled slightly before he caught himself and straightened up. It was then he saw they weren’t alone in the small room. “Louie?”

The name came out as a startled exclamation. Louie rarely ventured far from Liverpool Street and certainly never visited Whitechapel. Gone were his golden laurels and makeshift toga, or any of the other elaborate costumes Ev had seen him in before. Now he wore a well-tailored and buttoned-up suit, his starched collar reaching almost to his chin.