“Could she describe this woman in more detail?”
“I can ask her.”
“It’s possible that Jin’s traveling companion is the dead girl we found this morning. I’m afraid she will have to identify the body.”
“Is that necessary, Inspector? Jin didn’t know her.”
“I must insist. Jin is a living witness, a link to this girl and those who held her captive. Perhaps you or your sister might accompany her?”
Lloyd considered. “I’ll speak to them this evening.”
“Tomorrow afternoon, then. At the police station on Tower Street.”
* * *
The following morning, Chief Inspector Clark waylaid Tennant in the Yard’s vestibule and ordered the inspector to follow him upstairs. After an unsatisfactory interview, Tennant arrived late at his office.
O’Malley met him outside his door. “The chief is hunting for you. Looking like thunder, he was.”
“An apt description. He found me.”
“Doctor Lewis and Mister Lloyd are waiting in your office.”
Julia and the clergyman sat in the chairs by Tennant’s desk. “The clinic is off Whitechapel Road on Fieldgate Street,” she said. “Past the bell foundry. It’s number twenty-three.”
Lloyd scribbled the address in his agenda and stood when Tennant entered. “Ah, Inspector.” He slipped a note from his coat pocket. “Jin provided this description if it’s any help to you.” He handed it to Tennant.
“And the identification of the body?”
“My sister will accompany her to Tower Street this afternoon at two o’clock.”
“Thank you, sir. That’s most helpful.”
Lloyd turned to Julia. His face, weathered from years in the sun, wrinkled into an attractive smile. “Alas, I’m late, but I look forward to hearing more about your work in Whitechapel.”
“And I about yours in Hong Kong, Mister Lloyd.”
He offered his hand. “Is tomorrow a good day to visit your clinic?”
“Of course.”
Lloyd nodded to O’Malley, who closed the door behind him. ‘So, what does the handsome parson have for us?”
The inspector held up the note. “A possible witness—a Chinese girl named Jin-Bou who lives with Mister Lloyd and his sister.”
“She knew the victim?” Julia asked.
“Perhaps. Jin escaped. Unlike the poor girl you examined yesterday.”
Tennant read through the note. “Well, well. The girl says the ‘tall sailorman with yellow hair’ who brought her food gave her to . . .” He passed the letter to Julia. “Who does this sound like to you?”
She read, “The beautiful peacock lady had hair the color ofpomegranate seeds and dressed in green silk.” Julia looked up. “Margot Miller.” She handed the note to the sergeant.
“Miller to the life,” O’Malley said.
Julia nodded. “I saw her outside Annie’s flat in an emerald frock. So, Margot was enmeshed in this terrible business, too.”
“Likely,” Tennant said. “Do you have the medical results for us?”
