Kendra wasn’t there. But Burnell was at a table with two young men, all three wearing aprons splattered with blood.
“Burnell, I’m looking for my wife,” Alec announced.
Burnell raised an amused eyebrow. “You lost her?”
“She came here to speak to you,” Alec said coldly.
“I haven’t seen her ladyship today. Mr. Beane and I were amputating a leg earlier.” He flicked a glance at the apprentice sitting next to him. “Maybe she grew tired of waiting for me and left.”
“Lord Sutcliffe.”
Alec turned and saw Sam Kelly walk through the door. The Bow Street Runner gave Fish a speculative glance as he said, “Your butler told me that you’d set off after her ladyship. Where is she?”
“I am trying to find that out myself. Mr. Burnell said he never saw her.”
Burnell frowned. “I haven’t. And I can’t imagine why she wanted to speak to me.”
Sam’s eyes were cool as he surveyed the sawbones. “She wanted ter ask you about your alibis. You said you were home when both Lady Westford and Dr. Thornton and his maid died, Mr. Burnell, but your neighbors say otherwise.”
Burnell’s mouth tightened. “You went to Highgate?”
“Aye. Do you want ter revise your previous statements?”
“No. Iwasat home—my home in Blackheath. And I find this interrogation damn insulting.”
“Blackheath?” Sam’s eyebrows popped up. “How many homes do you own, Mr. Burnell?”
The surgeon drew in a breath. “Two—for now. Earlier this year, my maiden aunt passed away and left me the Blackheath house, if you must know. I’ve been spending most of my free time there as I sort through my aunt’s possessions. I didn’t feel the need to inform my Highgate neighbors about my inheritance or my activities. It is none of their business.”
Sam’s eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you tell Lady Sutcliffe this when she asked for your whereabouts for the murders?
“I told her that I was home alone—and I was. You have my permission to quiz the neighbors in Blackheath. I also suggest going to the local tavern, the Pig and Swan, as I’ve taken many of my meals there.”
Alec shifted impatiently. “I’m less concerned about Mr. Burnell’s alibi, Mr. Kelly, than my wife’s whereabouts. If she didn’t come here, where in blazes did she go?”
“She was here,” an old man sitting at the next table spoke up.
“You saw my wife?”
“Yes. She ran off in a most peculiar fashion.”
Alec scowled at him. “What do you mean, she ran off? Where did she run offto?”
“Well, I don’t knowthat,” the old man huffed. “I’m only saying that her behavior was strange. We were having a perfectly cordial discussion about Vivaldi. I once saw him perform when I was a young lad—”
Burnell signed heavily. “Dr. Carter—”
“What did she say?” Alec interrupted. He had to curl his fingers into tight fists to prevent himself from dragging the blasted man out of his chair and shaking him.
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you!” Dr. Carter snapped. “She behaved oddly when I mentioned that Vivaldi was known as the Red Priest. She said that Vivaldi was Mr. Dawes. I’m telling you that the woman—”
“My God!” Alec turned abruptly to Sam. “Dawes.”
“Where is Mr. Dawes now?” Sam demanded of the assembled men.
Burnell was the one who answered. “He’s working at Mr. Goldsten’s surgery—”
Alec didn’t wait. He ran for the door, with Sam and Fish sprinting behind him.
