“I’m so sorry, Aunt Belle. What you must think of me, I’m sure I cannot bear it.”
A moment of silence passed and then.
“I do not judge people, my dear, least of all women. Come. Sit down and tell me what’s troubling you.”
For a terrible moment, Grace felt her emotions rise up within her, but then she allowed herself to take a deep breath and followed her aunt’s instructions. She sat on the settee before the fireplace. Hands clasped together, she spoke.
“Dr. Cameron, the chief constable, and myself were in Dr. Hall’s office a few days ago, waiting for James-er, I mean Dr. Hall to arrive. The constable mentioned that he was there regarding another grave robbery and I foolishly mentioned that I saw a Mr. Roberts paying two men dressed in dirty clothes, in Gallowgate while I was attending Dr. Hall. Mr. Roberts is one of Dr. Cameron’s students and when I called out to him, he saw me, but hurried away. I thought it was suspicious, and so I spoke about it. Dr. Cameron became suddenly enraged, saying that I was accusing Mr. Roberts of grave robbing and in turn, accusing Dr. Cameron as well as the entire Andersen University. I argued that I did no such thing and it turned into this whole fiasco.” She shook her head. “James told me that it was rash of me to speak on such things, but IknowMr. Roberts wasn’t in Gallowgate on any sort of charity mission.”
“And why are you so sure of that?”
Grace’s shoulders dropped.
“That’s the crux. I didn’t have any evidence, so I went to Gallowgate to find some. I went to question the factory workers and learned that one of the men that had taken money from Mr. Roberts carved small toy tops and handed them out to the children.”
“Toy tops?”
“Yes, those little toys that spin around and around? Well, there was one found near the last grave that was decimated. That places at least one of them who was being paid by Mr. Roberts at the crime scene.”
Aunt Belle shook her head.
“But how does that connect Mr. Roberts or Dr. Cameron to any of this?”
Grace’s hand lifted to her head, rubbing her temple where a headache was forming.
“It doesn’t, at least, not yet. That’s what I was speaking about with James tonight. He thinks we don’t have enough evidence, and that it would be irresponsible to go to the constable at this point, but I’m positive that we should.”
Aunt Belle’s face twisted as she soaked in everything Grace had said. After a moment, she nodded.
“Grace, you are one of the brightest women I’ve ever known, and I’ve been on this earth a long time. If you believe that you have enough to go to the constable about this, then I support you.”
Grace stared at her.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“But what about James?”
She sighed.
“Dr. Hall may be too familiar with Dr. Cameron to see what’s going on. He isn’t on the outside, like you, able to take in the entire picture.”
“But am I seeing the whole picture?” she asked, standing up. “I’ve gone over it a dozen times and a dozen times more. I can’t be sure anymore. I would be remiss if I accused an innocent man of something.”
“But you have a lead. You must follow it to discover if it’s true, regardless. If anything, you may prove the doctor’s innocence.”
She shook her head.
“I just don’t trust myself anymore.”
“Always have faith in yourself, my dear. Always. There are forces in this world that try to silence our instincts. That would call us hysterical, or foolish for trusting ourselves. Believe in yourself. Most of the time, you’re the only person you can trust to know your feelings.” She tilted her head. “I believe in you, my dear.”
Grace smiled, though she wasn’t sure if she could.
“Then, perhaps I should go to the constable?”
Aunt Belle smiled with a firm nod.
