“Please put it on my account and send word when the next one is ready.” Amelia smiled as best she could at the young lady. “Thank you so much for mentioning the news. You have helped more than you know.”
Then she raced out the door, Yvette on her heels, hoping she wouldn’t be too late to warn Henry.
Thirty-Four
“Andshe’snotathome either, eh?” Reynolds scowled, arms folded across his chest as Henry gave him the bad news.
“She must have realized the scheme was at an end when two of her employees didn’t report for work this morning.” Henry paced the small confines of the Director’s office, frustrated to accept that Dr. Thorne had slipped through their fingers.
It had taken some sorting through the half-panicked, half-starved patients to learn that Miss Louisa Elmcroft, Amelia’s friend, hadn’t been at the sanatorium either. He hoped she’d already departed in good health.
“Mr. Collins said he wasn’t scheduled to work today,” Fletcher said slowly. “And I can’t believe the unexpected absence of one nurse was enough to alert her. People catch colds, don’t they? We didn’t talk to any other staff members last evening, so they couldn’t have told her.”
“Regardless of how she found out, it seems clear she did.” Henry paused to rub a hand over the back of his neck. “The question is, where did she go?”
He’d already left a constable to watch her house and two more to monitor the train stations near her home, but he had to wonder if she’d already departed hours ago. But to where?
Sergeant Johnson appeared in the doorway. “Someone to see you, Field. She says it’s urgent.”
She? Henry followed Johnson out the Director’s door to find Amelia walking toward him. His heart pounded at the concern darkening her eyes.
“Henry!” She hurried toward him, one gloved hand outstretched. “She’s boarding a ship to America—to New York City, today. Unfortunately I don’t know any further details.”
He blinked, hardly able to believe Amelia could have discovered the doctor’s plans.
“Another trip to the modiste.” She offered a one-shouldered shrug with the explanation, amusement gleaming in her eyes. “Apparently she brought a trunk to the modiste’s shop in a terrible rush and took everything, whether the gowns were finished or not.”
“Thank you.” He gently gripped her arms, wishing he could properly thank her, but that would have to wait. “This might be the break we need. Do you need an escort home?”
“No, Yvette is with me and the cab is waiting.” She glanced over her shoulder to where the maid stood near the door, staring with wide curious eyes at the bustling interior of the Yard.
“Good.” He released her as Fletcher and Reynolds joined them. “Dr. Thorne plans to board a ship to America—to New York.”
“Not if we have anything to do with it,” Fletcher countered with a determined smile.
“I’ll leave you to it. Good luck.” Amelia nodded at the men and quickly departed with her maid.
Henry’s thoughts raced as he considered their next steps. A ship to New York. “The most likely option is the Royal Albert Dock. Most passenger steamships leave from there.”
“Agreed.” Fletcher headed toward the door.
“Take Dannon and Stephens with you,” Reynolds called out.
The two constables joined Henry, who paused to grab his hat and coat, and they were out the door in a trice.
Henry glanced about, pleased to note Amelia and her maid had already gone. Hopefully, he could update her with good news this evening. Fletcher hailed one of the larger hansom cabs drawn by two horses, but they still had to squeeze inside. The sergeant quickly explained their hurry to the driver then joined them.
“We have reason to believe Dr. Thorne is boarding a ship bound for New York City,” Henry began as the vehicle jerked forward, sending Fletcher rocking back in the seat.
“Could be she’d take a smaller one to Liverpool and leave from there,” Fletcher offered with a worried look.
“We’ll have to hope that’s not the case,” Henry suggested. “That she’s too anxious to put England behind her.”
“Right.” Fletcher nodded, glancing at the two constables. “You remember her description?”
“Yes, sir,” the two men who’d joined them for the search of the sanatorium replied.
“Good.” Henry nodded, his gaze on the passing scenery, wishing they could go faster. “We’ll split up once we getthere—find any ship going to America today, particularly to New York City. Then blow your whistle to alert the others.”
