“It is normal.And you have a doting spouse who will watch out for you.That is a blessing.”Hart might be gruff, but he would do absolutely anything for his wife.
Elizabeth remembered in stark detail those months following Robert’s death.Finding out she was pregnant had been a blessing in disguise.Knowing that she would have a piece of Robert had helped to pull her from dark thoughts, thoughts of dying and joining Robert in the afterlife.The child growing in her belly had given her purpose here, in her reality.
Her father had been kind, but distant.As always, running the paper had taken precedence.She couldn’t complain; she’d had a roof over her head and the care she and her baby had needed.But, as she glanced at Lucy, she couldn’t quite suppress a pinch of jealousy.What would it be like to have someone worry over you?To fuss?To have someone to share your fears and excitement with?
“He will be impossible.He has already hidden my quarterstaff.Hidden it!What does he imagine?That I am likely to fall and impale myself on it?”
Elizabeth chuckled.
Lucy sighed.“Tell me, what is happening with you?Did you receive your new printing press from Germany?”
“Yes, it came, and it is marvelous.It took some getting used to, but it can print triple the number of pages the old one could print in the same time.”
“And what has your top story been this week?I haven’t heard any news in ages.”
While Elizabeth explained about the murders she was investigating, Mrs.Todd brought in the tea cart and poured them both steaming cups.
“And you think they are all connected?”Lucy bit into a teacake and chewed as she contemplated the case.“Or do you suppose the garrote has become a new fashionable weapon among criminals?”
Elizabeth shook her head.“No, none of these women had anything to steal.I think it is one man who is committing the crimes.Someone who is not in his right state of mind.A real killer.”She had been thinking about the silk hat they’d found.“We found a top hat lying next to the latest victim in the alley by the Green Door Tavern.It was very expensive looking, silk.It made me think that if you were the killer, someone rich but demented, you would want a weapon that wouldn’t get blood on your fine clothes.A weapon that could easily be stowed in a pocket.You could walk away from the scene of the crime without any notice.”
Lucy snuck another teacake.“We?”
“Pardon?”
“You said ‘we’ found a top hat.Who is we?”Lucy took a bite of her cake.
“Oh, yes.Mr.Reeves.One of the victims worked at his club.Murdered right outside in the alley.He has been a thorn in my side.We keep bumping into each other.”She frowned.
“Mr.Matthew Reeves?At the Blue Angel?”Lucy asked.
“Yes.Do you know him?”
“No, but I met him once.The Knot of Isis symbol is on the building that houses his club.I went to follow the clue and spoke with him about the building.His business partner is Mr.Seaton.”
“Truly?What a strange coincidence.Why am I not surprised that Mr.Seaton owns a gaming hell?”
“Well, I believe the phrase ‘silent partner’ was used.It is my understanding that Hart’s father left all the property along that block to Mr.Seaton in his will.”She raised an eyebrow.“What were you doing at the Blue Angel?”
“My neighbor asked me to fetch her daughter home.The girl had left home after a row with her parents.And her mother was worried she was working as a prostitute at the club.But in fact, she was working there as a dancer.She was murdered that night in the alley behind the club.”
“How terrible.”
“Mr.Reeves has taken her death as a personal affront to his business.He seems quite protective of his employees.”Elizabeth scrunched her nose.“He and I both ended up by the Green Door Tavern two nights ago.I am not sure what he was doing there.He just appeared behind me as I started into the alley to help the girl who screamed.”
“Elizabeth!You did what?”
“You sound just like him.”
“Well, he sounds like he has good sense.You must be careful.You can’t be going down dark alleys at night.For goodness’ sake, think of your son.”
Thoroughly chastised, Elizabeth lowered her gaze.She hadn’t appreciated Reeves’s similar comments, but looking over at her friend’s concerned expression, she could admit that she had been foolish to think she could have intervened without getting hurt.There could have been more than one assailant down that alley.
“Promise me you will be more careful,” Lucy demanded.
“I promise.”She nodded and then lifted her teacup to take a sip.What had Reeves been doing down on River Street?He seemed to be nearby every time she turned around this past week.
Lucy’s lips quirked into a small smile.“Mr.Reeves is quite handsome, don’t you think?”
