“I thought you might, Mr. Brodie. I’ve already sent word to the physician’s office that you would be calling on him in the matter.”
Brodie nodded. “How was the young woman originally identified?”
“There was a post with her name on it in the lady’s bag she carried. With that information, the family was notified.”
“Was there anything else found in the young woman’s handbag?” I asked.
“There were several coins along with a comb. She was wearing a watch pin on her jacket as well, but no other jewelry.”
Several coins and a watch pin, none of it taken by whoever had attacked and killed Margaret Cameron. It appeared that robbery was not the motive.
“Any indication of an assault of an intimate nature?” Brodie asked.
Color appeared on Mr. Dooley’s face. “There was no mention of it by the police surgeon on his examination of the body.”
Brodie looked over at me. “We will want to see the body as well.”
“What can I do to assist?” Mr. Dooley inquired.
“Best see what you can learn about the wine merchant, Mr. Peabody. His reputation, any other encounters with the police, the reason he was making that late delivery, and if he saw anyone else about before the constables arrived.”
“There might be something to learn about the location he made that delivery,” Mr. Dooley added. “I’ll see to that as well.”
“I ask that ye not discuss anything with anyone at this time. Not even the chief inspector.”
“He’s a good man,” Mr. Dooley replied.
Brodie nodded. “However, two young women have been murdered. One is the daughter of a Judge of the Court, the other is the daughter of a prominent barrister. For now, we keep everything we learn private until we know more.”
“You have my word, sir. I’ll be off then. I will let you know as soon as I have information.”
Brodie stopped him at the door. “We dinna know wot this is about. However, with two murders involving two prominent families, best watch yer back.”
Mr. Dooley nodded and then left.
“Wot are ye thinkin’?” Brodie asked after he had gone.
“It would seem that robbery was not the motive. Then there is the rose that was found on the body. And now a second murder once again with a rose left behind. I assume it is not a coincidence?”
“Aye, verry likely not a coincidence. We should call on the Mallory family’s physician this afternoon, before the young woman is buried.”
“Might Mr. Brimley be able to assist?” I asked.
“I’ll put through a call for him to meet us there.”
In spite of the late time of the afternoon and the usual London traffic on the street that often made navigating the city that time of day quite difficult, we made the trip to Westminster in good time. Mr. Brimley had arrived just prior, and met us on the street.
“Another murder?” He looked at the brass nameplate beside the door in the main entrance. Discreet, tasteful, with the name Alan Cameron, Physician. Otherwise, the brownstone building, with tall street-side windows and that dark green door with abrass bell beside, might have been any fashionable residence found in Westminster, or Mayfair for that matter.
Brodie and I looked at each other. Cameron—not an uncommon name. Still, was it possible the physician was a member of the young woman’s family?
That would explain the reason her body had been released from the Yard so quickly and brought here rather than a mortuary.
“I know the man,” Mr. Brimley explained. “I studied with him at King’s College. Seems to have done well for himself.”
A woman in a starched black dress met us at the door. Brodie gave her our names. She showed us into what was a waiting room that could have been someone’s formal parlor.
“I will let the doctor know that you are here.”
