“We know the place,” Nathan said.
Nix rarely got straight to the point of anything. He wove a story involving people with odd names like Pig. They knew better than to rush him, so Nathan and Zach stood patiently.
“Said a French girl, called something with an O—”
“Ophelia?” Zach asked. Nix shook his head.
“Odette?” Nathan added.
“Something like the fish,” Nix said.
“Otter?” Nathan offered.
“That’s it.”
“Otters are mammals, Nix. Just in case your children ask.”
Nix looked at Zach like he had an eye in his forehead.
“Back to the name,” Nathan said, smiling.
“Ottilie?” Zach said. “I knew a lady with that name. Lovely woman.” He smiled at the memory of the night they’d spent together.
“That’s it,” Nix said. “She works there, was found dead in the Thames last night. Apparently, her throat was slit on the way home in the early hours of the morning. Pig’s girl, Harriet, said she hadn’t been with them long. A secretive sort. Didn’t always show up when she was meant to either. Lady Louise was fixing to tell her to leave.”
“Did Harriet say where she lived?” Zach asked.
Nix shook his head.
“Any friends at Lady Louise’s or names she used?” Nathan asked.
“Kept to herself. But once she rushed in late looking scared. Harriet asked her what was wrong, and the Frenchie said it weren’t nothing. But she was spooked all night like she was waiting for someone to appear.”
“Did she leave any personal effects at Lady Louise’s?” Nathan asked.
Nix shrugged. “I’ll ask Pig to ask Harriet more questions. But you need to know that there are whispers.”
“It would be a great deal easier if they weren’t whispers but loudly spoken comments,” Zach muttered.
“If you’ll excuse me for saying so, sir. You seem off,” Nix said, surprising a laugh out of Nathan.
“He is off, Nix.”
“A woman,” the informant said. “It’s always a woman.”
“How astute of you,” Nathan said, still laughing.
“Back to the whispers,” Zach said, glaring at his brother.
“There’s a Frenchman in town asking questions and hiring thugs,” Nix said.
“That’s interesting. Do you have a name?”
“I don’t, but I’ll get it,” Nix said. “There’s more, and I’m not sure it’s connected, but I’ll give you the information anyway.”
Zach nodded for him to continue.
“Larry had a fare in his hackney three weeks ago. Right mean Frenchie he was. Had four women with him. He pulled a knife on Larry when they arrived at their destination. Said he wasn’t paying and would gut him if he came after him. Larry said the ladies looked scared.”
