Alex nodded. “And we’ve heard that Abberline has brought in another private inquiry firm to look for Mr. Brodie, in addition to the police who are looking for him.”
No stone unturned.
It was obvious that Abberline was determined to find him, no matter where that took the search or what it required.
However, this was Brodie. He had lived on the streets, including the East End of London. I had no doubt that he knew people and places where he could simply disappear. But for how long? And then?
Knowing him, he would be determined to find the murderer in spite of the arrest warrant Abberline had taken out for him. But one man against a substantial number of constables and a private inquiry firm? The odds were not in Brodie’s favor.
“What else were you able to learn?” I asked Lucy.
“According to the person I spoke with at the paper, the landlady where the woman lived heard a horrible disturbance from the woman’s flat. She went to check on her afterward, and that is when she saw Mr. Brodie and the boy.”
“A boy?”
Lucy nodded. “According to the landlady, the boy is about ten years old.”
The woman had a child, now caught up in this dreadful business?
What had he heard, or perhaps seen? Not unlike what Brodie had experienced years before in the death of his mother? It was no surprise that he had taken the boy with him.
But where would they go? Who would Brodie go to for help?
He had not come to Mayfair or gone to Sussex Square to enlist Munro’s help. I was not surprised. Munro had already spoken of it—that the search for Brodie would extend to me. But that didn’t mean that I was going to sit by and wait for the outcome.
“What was the woman’s name?” I inquired.
“Ellie Sutton, apparently not her real name.” Alex frowned, then, “You cannot think to find him yourself. Abberline is most determined. He’ll want to speak with you as well considering…your relationship with Mr. Brodie,” he added. “He will assume that he has been in contact with you.”
I was grateful for his concern, still I refused to be intimidated by the fact that I might receive a visit from the Chief Inspector.
“Then, Mr. Abberline will also be aware that I cannot be forced to provide information about my husband.” Even if I knew where to find him.
“He told Sir Avery that he wouldn’t let anyone stand in his way.”
I did appreciate Alex’s concern. However, I refused to be intimidated by Chief Inspector Abberline, or anyone else.
“I have no intention of ‘standing’ anywhere,” I replied.
“How can I help?”
I did appreciate his offer of assistance.
“If I were to tell you that, it could be useful to Abberline if he merely thought you were helping me.”
“I do see your point,” Alex admitted. “You will call on me if I can be of assistance? I owe Mr. Brodie that and…I could always go to work for the two of you, if Sir Avery gives me the sack.” That boyish smile briefly reappeared.
I promised that I would contact him if needed and thanked them both. Then I walked with them to the door as their driver arrived.
“Do be careful,” Lucy told me.
I assured them both that I would.
I watched as their cab moved off down the street and turn at the corner, the hound beside me at the entrance to the town house.
When I went to close the door, I caught a sudden change in the hound’s manner, ears perked, that usually friendly demeanor suddenly alert, the ruff of fur at his neck standing up. His attention was fixed across the street in that line of town houses across the way.
I saw nothing there, the windows darkened in the residences, as it was quite late of the evening. But then I was not accustomed to roaming the streets of London late at night.
