I pushed open the door. I would see what happened. And if she didn’t come to me…I couldbringher to me.
I helped her down and we walked toward the scene. Dresden’s gaze locked on us immediately. I snapped my fingers and Billy jumped down from his spot with the driver, falling in behind us.
We weaved into the center of the crowd. An outline of blood marked the ground, but no body.
“Cor. Where’s the gal? Anyone know her name?”
I sent a silent thanks to the older woman hovering nearby for asking the questions I wanted answered.
“Moved to Coroner’s Court already. Heard she was broken and unrecognizable.”
“Like the others. They caught the wrong man!”
A murmur went through the crowd, and Marietta wilted in relief at my side.
The inquisitor clapped his hands. “Not entirely true.”
Marietta stiffened and I fought against doing the same.
“Looks like an internal maneuver. We are bringing in the Vein Ripper’s brother for questioning.” Dresden looked directly at Marietta. “The whole family is suspect.”
Dresden was no fool. Cutting off the pleas of innocence and giving the crowd an alternative that would make them feel as if the problem were already under control would stave panic. And if the savage look Dresden had leveled in our direction was anything to go by, now that he had an acknowledgment of who we were, he was taking our actions personally.
I turned and gave Billy swift instructions. The boy darted through the crowd, and I pulled Marietta closer.
“Ferris—”
“We need to get to Coroner’s Court.” I didn’t look away from Dresden. The inquisitor’s dark smile across the crowd boded ill.
“In fact, the sister of the Vein—”
I signaled my driver, and the edges of the crowd screamed as a spell erupted and three carriages careened forward, forcing all attention in that direction. My driver would be receiving an increased wage.
I tugged Marietta through the back of the crowd as people yelled and ran. She remained silent as I pulled her around the corner—her eyes empty and unfocused. I gripped her hand as we rounded another, turning back and moving parallel to the scene we’d just left. My carriage was waiting at the end of the street in response to my clockwise signal.
Lifting her inside, I motioned to the driver. “Coroner’s Court. Quickly. We have less than twenty minutes to keep ahead.”
I was barely seated when the carriage took off.
“Ferris,” Marietta whispered.
“Will be fine. Billy is getting him out of your house. Focus.” I snapped my fingers in front of her glazed eyes. “I am going to run into the court to see what I can find.”
A bit of spirit returned. “I’m coming with you.”
“Fine.” Frankly, I would have been worried if she had simply agreed. “We need to be quick, though. I have a contact inthe building who has already been alerted. We will work from there.”
She stood much taller when we entered—not like a woman who might lose both brothers to mob madness.
People were positioned around a body in the corner of the high-celinged court.
“Sorry, but you aren’t allowed in here,” a guard said.
I flashed a smile. “Assistant to Nathaniel Upholt. Rory Carney.” I shook the bemused guard’s hand. “He sent me ahead to gather the initial information. I see that you are doing a fine job maintaining order.”
The guard puffed up a bit. “We try our best.”
“Do you think we might have a look before the mob appears? It would be very helpful.” The guard looked to be above a bribe, but there was a tattered edge to his trousers. Taking a chance, I palmed a gold piece and shook the man’s hand again. “We will stay out of the way. Five minutes is all.”
