“Is that why you killed him?”
“As you saw, he had become a liability. He was too weak, and prone to panic.” A frown momentarily pinched between Julianna’s brows. “And he nearly ruined things by being too loose-lipped around one of his friends.”
“You mean Westmorly?” Charlotte sought to fit in another piece of the puzzle. “Was he, too, part of your secret cabal?”
“That sneak and cheat? No, I knew from the start he could never be trusted. But Sir Kelvin was careless and let slip some comments that gave his friend the opportunity for blackmail.”
“So you killed him, too?”
“Like most men, Westmorly was susceptible to feminine wiles. I sent a note asking for a late-night meeting, saying I would do anything to ensure his silence. He was more than happy to agree.”
“But you didn’t take a body part because that would have given away that it wasn’t self-murder.” Charlotte took grim satisfaction in adding, “Bow Street knows it wasn’t. You weren’t as clever as you thought.”
Julianna looked unconcerned. “It hardly matters now. And as for body parts, I didn’t need any more. Through trial and error, I came to realize that your cousins must hold the ultimate solution. But, alas, Sir Kelvin became too squeamish when confronted with the need to sacrifice Cedric for the Higher Good. So I had to do it myself.”
Charlotte fisted her hands to quell the urge to throttle the sickening smile from Julianna’s face.
“Dear me, I see I’ve upset you. Like dear Cedric, you appear to possess a too-tender conscience.” Julianna brushed a lock of loosened hair from her cheek. “I expect that from females, but he disappointed me. His passion for science should have allowed him to see beyond the silly strictures of conventional morality. But, no, he balked at taking a few lives for the good of humanity.” A shadow seemed to darken her gaze, but it passed in an instant. “In life, he refused to cross over to a higher plane of intelligence. In death, however, he’ll have the chance to be part of mankind’s greatest miracle.”
Much as Charlotte dreaded hearing the answer, she made herself ask the question. She must gather all the facts, in order to make sure Nicholas was exonerated of his brother’s murder.
For I will survive,she vowed.And see that justice prevails.
“So it was you who killed Cedric. But . . .” Charlotte drew a shaky breath. “But why the terrible mutilation?”
“Oh, come—surely, the answer is obvious. The body part I chose contains the very essence of life. Added to the new electrolyte I’ve formulated, it will create a supremely powerful conductor.” Julianna punctuated her words with a tiny wave of the pistol.
Charlotte caught the note of rising excitement in her voice.
“But the transcendent moment in all this came when I realized that usingblood relativeswould supply the last missing piece to the puzzle. And with Cedric and Nicholas, I had the special gift of twins!” her captor went on. “With all due modesty, my plan for how to arrange it all was quite ingenious. Sir Kelvin planted the evidence to make sure Nicholas was arrested for the crime. A death sentence would have been certain, and steps were already being taken to bribe the executioner to turn over the still-warm body.”
“Ghoul,” rasped Charlotte, unable to contain her disgust.
“Call me names now, but the world will soon recognize my brilliance. I regret that Cedric had to die, but sacrifices must be made to achieve greatness.” Julianna’s expression looked very faraway, as if she were in a trance. “When Wrexford and you started asking unwelcome questions, I feared you might ruin my plans. But then, I realized thatyouwere the ultimate gift from the cosmos. A woman relative was even better than a fraternal twin. Think on it—an electrical current carrying the male essence of life to a fecund female . . .”
Charlotte saw her captor dart a glance at the padded table and the full force of what Julianna intended struck home.
“This time, itcannotfail.”
Oh, yes, it can. And will.
A smile once again curled on her captor’s lips. “Did you not decipher the puzzle I created for you? In it, I revealed that the cards had predicted this was your destiny.”
“I didn’t bother reading past the first few pages of your habble-gabble book and scribbled numbers,” she answered. “I don’t believe we’re in thrall to some mystical force. I think we have the power to create our own destiny.”
“Enough talking.” Eyes narrowing in irritation, Julianna gestured with the pistol. “Move to the other side of the room and let us begin.”
Though her heart was thumping against her ribs, Charlotte felt a strange calm come over her.
Love.Love for those she held dear was more than a match for madness, she told herself.
“I assure you, I’ll make the process of death painless,” continued her captor. “I’ve prepared a potion that will simply put you to sleep. But don’t worry, you’ll soon come back to life.”
And pigs will sprout spun-sugar wings and fly to the moon.
Allowing her shoulders to slump, Charlotte turned and slowly crossed the tiles. She needed to get a little closer . . .
“Stop here.”
