Price’s face was equally inscrutable as he gestured vaguely overhead. “Care to explain what the hell this was?”
Kane hesitated. Price didn’t know Zaria was an alchemologist, he realized. Had no idea that she had the primateria source, or what she’d been able to do with it.
“No idea,” he lied. “It must have been something Aurora did. Accidentally, I suspect.”
Price stared down his nose at Kane. “Do you take me for a fool, Durante?”
“Not remotely, sir. Surely, though, when you make your report to the crown, such an explanation will suffice.”
“I’m going to have quite a lot of explaining to do as it is,” Price said. His nostrils flared above his mustache. “And I expect to get a rather interesting story from Miss Vaughan herself, should she be convinced to talk.”
That was a variable Kane hadn’t considered. What the hell would Aurora say, if indeed she decided to play nicely with the coppers? “We had a deal,” he reminded Price, leaning closer. “I delivered the Curator to you. I’ll testify against her. Hell, I’ll say whatever you want. In return, though, I’m free to go.”
Price’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Yes, well, we struck that agreement before I realized what I’d have to contend with. Do you truly think everyone will believe awomanwas capable of all this?”
“We had adeal,” Kane repeated, this time on a growl. “I don’t care what your superiors believe. A womandiddo it all. You saw it with your own eyes.”
“Yes, yes. But it will be difficult to convince people of that, you understand.”
Foreboding rose within Kane, sharp and sudden. His insides twisted. “You’re going to take me in, too, aren’t you?” he said, the words edged with sardonic humor. “It’s far easier to position me as the culprit—I look like the criminal everyone expects.”
Price gave an apologetic shrug, spreading his hands wide. “You understand the place I’m in.”
“I understand that you’re a fucking traitor,” Kane shot back. At the same time, however, he was relieved to be here alone. Fletcher had made it safely away, his long-lost sister with him. Zaria could leave London with Jules as they’d always planned. Only Kane had to suffer. And wasn’t it better that way?
It took him a moment to realize that Price was waiting for him to turn around. He did so, biting down hard on his tongue as he exposed his wrists, still sore from the shackles he’d worn earlier. Before he felt cool metal touch his skin, however, he heard a voice from behind them.
“Let him go.”
Kane felt Price turn. He did the same, casting his gaze down the corridor to see Zaria standing there. Her stance was wide, her brows drawn together. She held the Colt revolver in both hands.
And she was pointing it directly at Price.
Having reholstered his own firearm in preparation to cuff Kane, the inspector wasn’t holding a weapon. His eyes flicked toward his belt as Zaria took another step forward.
“Don’t you dare move,” she threatened. “If a single finger so much as twitches toward that gun, I’ll shoot.”
Kane was frozen, horror lodged in the back of his throat. After what Zaria had done to the revolver, he wasn’t sure itcouldshoot. Not bullets, anyway. What did she think she was doing?
Price’s gray brows ascended his forehead before his shock was replaced by vague amusement. “Ah. Miss Vaughan’s daughter, correct? I’m surprised you elected to stick around. Tell me, what did you do to so thoroughly command Mister Durante’s affections? Between us, I wasn’t sure he had the capacity to care about other people.”
“Then I’m not sure you know much about Mister Durante at all.” Zaria didn’t move, relaxing her expression so that it mirrored the inspector’s. “In any case, you’d best let him go. As I understand it, the two of you had a deal.”
“Indeed,” Price said placidly. “And yet terms of a deal can change. I don’t expect a girl like you to understand the intricacies of such things.”
Zaria’s scoff was delicate. “A girl like me understands the art of a deal far better than you’d think, Inspector. As a matter of fact, what do you say we strike one?”
Kane’s insides seemed to seize. He didn’t know what Zaria’s intentions were, but he wasn’t about to let her get involved with someone like Price. The man was as corrupt as they came and had far too much power in this city. “Zaria,no,” he said, but she didn’t so much as glance in his direction.
“I can give you an address,” she told Price. “Head there with your men, and you’ll find more than enough evidence to convince people of Aurora Vaughan’s guilt, woman or not. However, should youneeda man to share the blame, look no further than the crown’s very own Royal Commission. Evan Pritchard has worked very closely with her. And I suspect he can provide you with the names of their other associates, coward that he is.” Zaria paused. Kane couldn’t tell whether her moment of consideration was real or feigned. “You know what?” she added. “When you find Pritchard, ask him about Louisa Hoffman, too. You’ve no doubt received reports of her death.”
Price’s look of amusement had faded. “I’ll thank you not to tell me how to do my job.”
“She’s telling the truth,” Kane put in smoothly. “Hunt down Evan Pritchard. He may lie at first, but he’ll crack. Men like him always do.”
A long beat of silence stretched between them. Kane could tell Price was mulling over the information, trying to decide what to do. It was clear the inspector was uncomfortable with—and unaccustomed to—not having reinforcements at his beck and call. That was what the man got for trying to take him in alone, Kane thought with a twinge of smug satisfaction.
“Come now, Inspector,” said Zaria, who evidently wasn’t finished yet. Her lips curled up. “There are benefits to having a relationshipwith the dark market kingpin, are there not? I understand you worked well with Alexander Ward over the years. And he didn’t even have a primateria source.”
