“I suppose that’s possible,” Lucy admitted. “But I went back over every entry for the family, right up to the most recentrecorded for the past year. There is no record for Stephen Matthews.”
Another coincidence?
It was late in the afternoon when we received word that Brodie had been released from Scotland Yard and was being brought to the Tower, under guard, on orders from Sir Avery after he received that note from His Royal Highness.
Sir Avery assured me that his injuries—courtesy of Chief Inspector Abberline—had been provided for, but all I could think of was the sight of him, bloodied and beaten in that cell at Scotland Yard.
It was very near seven o’clock in the evening when one of Sir Avery’s people announced that a police van had arrived at the High Street entrance. I started down the hallway that led to that serpentine of passages. Munro stopped me with a hand at my arm.
“I’ll go.”
“I want to see him!” I protested.
He shook his head. “I know that well enough, but I also know the man. With what he’s been through, what Abberline has done to him, its best ye wait for a while.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to take a flying leap, or worse. I was worried and angry at what had been done to Brodie.
There was that little voice inside that warned me that Munro was undoubtedly right. The truth was that Brodie had sacrificed himself to make certain that I was safe, when we went to speak with Mr. Iverson.
He had then been viciously attacked and beaten by someone who wanted revenge against him for that murder case ten years ago. And his words when I went to Scotland Yard were still there.
He didn’t want my help, and had told me to stay away, something in his voice that I had never heard before. It couldhave been the pain from his injuries that made him say it. But there had been something in that dark gaze, something cold and bleak...
“Yes, of course.”
The problem was that I didn’t understand. I only knew that something had changed.
I refused to give up on the case. A young woman had been brutally murdered and a boy orphaned. With or without Brodie I was going to find who had killed Ellie Sutton.
I could have returned to Sussex Square, but I didn’t.
Lucy and I had made our notes on the board in Alex’s office, listing everything we knew about the recent murder, and the one ten years earlier.
There was something there, something more that connected the two cases, and I was going to find it.
I spent long hours into the night in Alex’s office, even after he and Lucy had left for the day.
The hound had returned with a contented expression and curled up under the desk. I probably didn’t need to know what that meant or where the remains of a bloody carcass might be found.
Before leaving for the day, Alex had one of Sir Avery’s people bring a cot to his office along with a pillow and blanket. It seemed that it was not unusual for those who worked for the Agency to stay over when a situation warranted it.
There was coffee and food, if stale biscuits could be considered food, left from a small kitchen down the hall.
Alex informed me that Brodie had been taken to what was called the infirmary when he arrived. There, his wounds would be checked and attended if necessary. He described it more as an office that contained only two beds.
It explained the ease and quick response of the‘physician’Sir Avery had called upon. However, I didn’t consider it a positive sign that the Agency had its owninfirmary, as it was called.
I thought about going there, even after Munro’s warning, if only to assure myself that Brodie was in fact there, then decided against it.
Sir Avery had worked late. He stopped by Alex’s office before leaving.
“You are planning on staying the night?” he inquired with a look at the cot.
“Alex was good enough to make arrangements for me.”
I had visions of needing something in writing, a royal decree or possibly a document signed by two witnesses. A little sarcasm there, but I supposed it was to be expected with everything that had happened.
Rupert had roused from under the desk and positioned himself between me and Sir Avery.
