“Miss Downing, this may be an odd question, but do you wear a bracelet with a silver dog attached?”
Ellen was now standing beside Eliza, her words spoken softly, but he knew Gray and Bram had heard, as had he.
The color drained from her face. “Wh-why would you ask me that?”
“Do you?” Ellen persisted.
Eliza held out her arm and pulled back the cuff of her sensible gray dress. On her delicate wrist was a silver chain, and hanging from it was a small dog.
“I don’t understand how you knew that.”
Mungo watched Eliza’s gloved hand curl into a fist as she lowered it to her side once more.
Why did she always have gloves on? Theo had commented on it a few days ago, but he’d not thought about that again until now.
“I’m unsure why I was holding Fenella’s note when I had that vision, but it was of a man seated in a room. He was speaking to another who wore handcuffs,” Ellen said. “Then the vision changed quickly, and it was of you with that man—a younger you, but I’m quite sure it was you, Miss Downing, as the child had your eyes, and I’ve confirmed that now, as she wore that bracelet.”
“You saw nothing of my daughter?” Calder demanded.
“It is a process, and what we see is not always direct, but it does usually in some way involve the person we need to find,” Ellen said, which made no sense to anyone but a Nightingale.
Mungo knew better than to question the process. He’d been awed for years by this family and what they could do and had done for others with their talents.
His eyes connected briefly with Calder’s.His brother was here in this room.The thought left him with a mix of emotions he would deal with later, alone, with Eliza Downing sleeping above him.
“My father was in law enforcement,” she said. “Could you have seen him?”
“He had your coloring,” Ellen added. “Tall with a moustache.”
The governess nodded.
“It’s possible your father could have been interviewing someone connected to Fenella and Polly Watt’s disappearance,” Gray said, coming to his wife’s side.
Mungo also stepped closer to Eliza until he could see her face. It was stark white now, but she stood tall, shoulders back, eyes locked on Gray.
“My father was a district superintendent.”
“Jonathan Downing?” Gray asked, surprise clear on his face.
Eliza nodded, looking like she wanted to cast up the contents of her stomach. Mungo just wasn’t sure why yet.
“How is it you know his name, Gray?” Ellen asked.
“Jonathan Downing solved a murder case that no one else could. A couple were found murdered in their homes, but there appeared to be no motive. It was he who found it and the killers. They imprisoned the culprits for life.”
“What was the motive?” Ellen asked.
“The victims had refused to pay the large sum of money to a gang for supposed protection for their four businesses, which they said were under their area of control. The deaths were meant to send a warning to others who refused to pay.”
“Dear lord,” Ellen whispered.
Eliza took a step back. It seemed instinctive, like she hadn’t even realized she had done it.
“Easy,” Mungo said, moving closer. His hand settled briefly on her stiff spine. “No one here means you harm.”
She didn’t speak or look at him. Instead, her eyes remained fixed on Gray and Ellen.
“I’m sorry, Miss Downing,” Gray said gently. “Clearly my words have upset you. Please allow me to offer my condolences for the loss of your family.”
