“Of course.But I think it was Mr.Reeves’s deep voice that scared off the attacker.”Her gaze slid to him.“I doubt my umbrella would have been as intimidating.I hope you feel better soon.And perhaps walk with a friend to get home from now on.”
“Thank you both,” Sarah croaked out.
Ms.Harper headed back out to the main area.Matthew followed her, watching the swish of her black crepe skirts as she expertly weaved through the crowded tavern.
“Reeves!What are you doing down here?”
Matthew turned toward the voice.Fitz, his beer distributor, waved from a nearby table.Matthew walked over and shook the man’s hand.“Just handling some business and got distracted by some trouble outside.”
“Saw you bring in that girl.She all right?”
“She will be.Attacked out in the alley.”
Fitz shook his head.“Shouldn’t be walking around these parts alone.Man or woman.”
Matthew’s gaze slid to where Miss Harper was exiting out the front door.“Nice to see you, but I got to run.”
Fitz’s gaze followed his to the disappearing form of Miss Harper.“Oh, sure.See you next week.”
Matthew nodded and hurried across the room.
He exited the street just in time to see Miss Harper head into the mouth of the alley.Damn woman, didn’t she have any sense after seeing that girl attacked?He caught up to her easily, catching her elbow.“What the hell are you doing?”
She blinked up at him as though she was surprised to find him next to her.“I am going to look for clues.”
“In the dark alley where someone was just attacked?”
“I don’t think the culprit is still lurking around.”
“How little you know about crime in the city.If this is his territory, he’ll be working this block all night.”
“Do you really think this was about a robbery?You saw her neck.This was our murderer.”
Matthew frowned.He agreed with her, not that he would admit it out loud.“What are you doing down in this neighborhood, anyway?A bit far from Bloomsbury Square.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You live three doors down from Mrs.Kelley.I remember.”
“Oh, yes.”She scanned the alley.“I came down to meet an informant who said he had information about these murders.But he never showed.Or, more likely, came but left when he realized I was a woman.It happens.”She shrugged and tugged her arm free from his grip.
Then she walked deeper into the alley.He followed her like a damn puppy because the hell if he was going to let her wander straight into trouble.His gut told him the alley was empty, but he kept on high alert as they walked to where he had found the girl.A large stack of wooden crates leaned against the side of the building.One was cracked, the wood splintered, with a slat hanging loose.
“This is where she took the hit to her head.”He pointed to the damaged crate.
Ms.Harper nodded.She looked around, but there was nothing unusual to be found.The packed dirt probably showed some signs of a struggle in the mud, but it was impossible to see in the dark.Her head tipped to one side as she walked further down.Poking at something with her umbrella first, she then bent and picked the object up.
“What is it?”he asked.
“A top hat, I think.”She walked back toward the street, where the light from the tavern illuminated the pavement.“A very expensive top hat.Look, it is definitely silk.”
He examined the hat, an evening hat, covered in black silk.He peered into the crown.“Wells & Co, a very high-end shop in Mayfair.What the hell is this hat doing down in Cheapside?”
“Perhaps it belongs to the killer?”
“What, a toff that comes across town to murder girls on the eastside?”
She shrugged, but a furrow appeared between her eyebrows as though she was considering the possibilities.Then her gaze flicked up.“Well, I must be getting home.Good evening, Mr.Reeves.”She tossed the hat to the ground.
