“Yes, but not only the Thames. London is built on a network of tributaries. Over the years, we’ve built over rivers and streams, forcing them mostly underground or to disappear altogether. Sadly, they’ve become riddled with refuse, little more than sewers—even River Fleet, which is the most famous. That’s the one I think we’re dealing with, given the dominance of London clay in the alluvium.”
Kendra recalled her first visit to Goldsten’s clinic in Blackfriars. She’d seen portions of the River Fleet aboveground where it wouldn’t be in the twenty-first century.
“London clay?” Sam asked.
“’Tis seabed sediment layered above chalk below. Typically, London clay is too dense for proper agriculture. However, it’s easily tunneled and is an excellent source for brickmaking. You see it used in buildings all over the city.”
“Is there any way to pinpoint where the victim may have been in order to be covered with that sediment?” Kendra asked.
“Not specifically, no. But . . .” He dashed over to a leather satchel on the floor near the chair and drew out a rolled parchment, unfurling it on Munroe’s desk to reveal a map of London.
They gathered around as he used his index finger to trace the heart of London. “London clay is found in the soil north of the River Thames. In this section here. As you go south of the River Thames, sediment becomes more sand and gravel.”
Sam tapped the map. “So the chit would’ve had ter been kept in this area.”
“Yes, if she was kept in the city,” said Mr. Engel.
“She was.” Kendra had no doubt about that. “They need a place easily accessible to them to conduct their experiments.”Easily accessible to St. George’s, she thought but didn’t say. “If they were outside the city, in the countryside, the body would never have been found. It’s easier to dispose of a corpse by digging a grave or dumping it where the animals can get to it. In London, space is limited. The Thames is the easiest way to get rid of a body.”
Mr. Engel’s lips parted in shock as he stared at her.
Sam frowned, studying the map. “That’s a lot of ground ter cover.”
“Very true,” Mr. Engle agreed, tearing his gaze away from Kendra. “However, you need to factor in other elements. Your victim was definitely stored belowground, which is how she came into contact with London clay. You ought to look for running water—a river or a stream. Not a pond or lake. And because the woman was kept underground, I’d say you are dealing with one of London’s lost rivers.”
“In this area.” Kendra retraced the section of the map that he’d identified. Sam was right; it was a lot of ground to cover. She looked at Mr. Engel. “Could it be an icehouse of some kind?”
He put his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels as he contemplated the idea. “Ice housesarebuilt near rivers and lakes. It’s possible, I suppose. However, I imagine it would have to be a defunct ice house. Servants would be constantly retrieving ice or whatever is being stored in it.” He gave a laugh. “One hopes they’d notice a corpse.”
“Any other ideas?”
The surveyor pursed his lips. “An older structure that has been built over an underground river, and still has a subterranean chamber.” He sighed. “I wish I could be more help in finding where your body was before she came to you.”
“Cold, underground, near one of London’s underground rivers, north of the Thames. You’ve actually been very helpful, Mr. Engel. Thank you.” Kendra glanced at Sam. “Mr. Kelly, will you walk with us to the carriage?”
Once they left Munroe’s office, Sam grumbled, “North of the Thames is still a lot of ground ter cover.”
“Yes, but now we’ve got a starting point. Pull in Muldoon. He may be a pain in the ass,” she stated, which made Sam grin, “but he knows how to do research. We need to cross-reference our suspects with property they might own or rent—”
“Own,” Alec put in. “They wouldn’t want a nosy landlord stumbling across what they’re doing.”
Kendra nodded. “Right. It needs to be private. Then we narrow it down by looking for property with an underground chamber or an ice house, with one of the lost rivers running through it.”
“I’ll tell Muldoon, but if we find Edwina, we won’t need the location. We’ll have our witness.” Sam glanced at Kendra. “You really think she’s been mudlarking all this time?”
“I can’t say with one hundred percent certainty, but the probability is high.”
Sam scowled when he opened the door, his gaze going to the ominous clouds on the horizon. “It’s gonna rain.”
“Will that stop the mudlarks from showing up?” Kendra asked.
“Don’t worry. They’ll be there,” Alec assured her.
“Aye. Rain ain’t gonna stop them.” Shoving his tricorn hat on his head, Sam sighed. “It’ll just make it miserable for us.”
Chapter 37
Kendra prepared for the miserable. A light rain pinged against the windowpanes as she dressed in her warmest gown and wool coat, her thickest tights, and her sturdiest leather half-boots. Not fashionable, which Molly lamented, but functional. Or as functional as it could be for the era. Neither the gown nor the coat had pockets, so Kendra still had to keep her pistol in the dainty reticule dangling from her wrist.
