“A strong enough jolt of electrical current would generate sufficient heat to soften the metal.”
“How—”
“From a scientific apparatus called a voltaic pile,” answered Tyler. “I’ll explain it later, but it creates a current.”
Raven’s face screwed up in thought. He plucked at his sleeve. “But if the wire was stuck in the toff’s flesh, and it was hot enough to melt metal, wouldn’t that hurt?”
“Yes,” said the earl brusquely.
The boy took heed of the warning note and bit back any further questions.
“Shift the reflector to the right,” ordered Wrexford. The shadow over the wire disappeared, allowing the copper fragment to snap into sharp focus. “Hmmph.”
Shifting his position on the eyepiece, he studied the metal for a few moments longer before chuffing another grunt and looking up at Tyler. “Have a look for yourself. You’ve more experience with voltaic piles than I do, but it looks to me as if a strong current has been run through the wire.”
The valet took his place and recalibrated the dials. “I agree.” Another oiled whisper of brass turning brass. “Heat has flattened the oval shape. My guess is, it was indeed a strong current.”
That would explain the ugly, half-healed burns on Chittenden’s body. Wrexford had thought as much, but the evidence now confirmed his suspicion. As to what led a titled lord to practice self-torture and mutilation raised a whole new set of questions.
None of which, he suspected, were going to have pleasant answers.
Raven was holding himself very still and watching them intently. His dark eyes were guarded—far too guarded for a boy his age. No doubt he had seen and heard far worse horrors inhis short, savage life. But that didn’t dispel the niggling of guilt Wrexford felt at exposing the boy to such depravity.
Ye gods, I must be getting soft in my old age.A conscience was a cursed encumbrance. He couldn’t recall having one until he had begun to butt heads with Charlotte.
Tyler, on the other hand, seemed to have no compunction over involving Raven in the investigation. “Here, would you like to have a look, lad?”
Raven jumped at the offer, and as the valet began to explain the fine points of metallurgy and electricity, the earl paced back to his desk.
“By the by, don’t forget about the snuff that Mrs. Sloane found at the scene of the crime,” he muttered.
Tyler nodded. “I’ll get to that. But to be honest, milord, I wouldn’t be too sanguine about it yielding any useful information.”
Answers—they needed some answers.Wrexford frowned. In death, Chittenden had told him as much as he could. To learn more about the late baron’s secrets, he would have to find a way to make Hollister and Westmorly talk.
* * *
Charlotte’s nose told her she had found her quarry, though there were still a half dozen steps left before the narrow passage opened onto the street.
“Eel pasties!” bellowed the beanstalk-thin girl tending the barrow on the corner.
It was hard to believe such a skinny mite could emit such a prodigiously loud sound.
“Hot ’n’ tasty as a lightskirt’s kiss. C’mon’n’ gettum!”
“Halloo, Alice.” Charlotte dug out a few coins from her breeches. “I’ll take one for me, and one for you. Selling your wares is hard work.”
Raven and Hawk’s friend—known to their little band as Alice-the-Eel-Girl—gave a grateful grin. “Oiy, but ’s been a gud day. Been so busy I ain’t had time te fill me breadbox.” Shehanded Charlotte her pasty, and then hurriedly gobbled down a big bite from her own.
“Mmmm . . .” Juice dribbled down her pointy little chin as the girl let out a blissful sound. “Thank’ee kindly, Magpie.”
“Come, let’s sit for a minute and enjoy them.” Charlotte indicated the low wall flanking the well-worn steps leading down to one of the many landings that dotted this part of the river. In a lower voice, she added, “I have a few questions to ask you.”
The more she had thought about it, the more it seemed her comment about women seeing things differently was important. Grasping at straws, perhaps. But right now, she had naught but a fistful of thin air.
Alice’s gaze sharpened. She was a clever, observant girl, and had proved very helpful during their previous investigations. There was little that happened around her that went unnoticed.
And she knew that Charlotte paid generously for accurate information.
