Where these people might come and go and not cause any suspicion? That seemed obvious.
I tucked the envelope into my bag.
“What will you do now?” I asked.
“I cannot return to the inn. There was a man who came and asked for me—he is German.
Was it Steiner?
I thought of the man who was seen at the Old Bell the night Burke was killed, and then again when Brodie was attacked.
“I had seen the man before,” Adele continued. “At the house at St. John’s Wood. I did not care for him. He was very...dangerous.
“The owner at the inn told him that I had left,” she continued. One of the customers spoke of an attack at the pub.
“I had gone to purchase a newspaper, hoping to learn something, as I had not heard from Mr. Burke. When I learned that the one with the thick German accent had asked about me, I knew that I had to leave.”
She had entertained these men, perhaps including Steiner, and in the process had learned something that terrified her. Something revealed in that thick package.
I reached across the aisle of the coach and squeezed her hand.
“You went to Mr. Burke.”
She nodded. “He could be very difficult, but I knew his reputation. That he had exposed certain things.”
Difficultdidn’t begin to describe him.
“He said that he had worked with you. That you knew people you could tell this to, and that if anything happened...”
He had arranged for her to stay at the George and had paid for it, another surprise.
Then, when she heard the rumors that he had been attacked, she was afraid that it was only a matter of time until the same people found her, and she left.
“Where will you go now?”
“There are rooms near the Adelphi where those in the plays stay. I will stay there until I can find a way to leave.”
I was familiar with the apartments and flats near the Adelphi Theatre from a previous inquiry.
If Steiner had managed to find her at the George, it would be easy enough to find her in a flat near the theatre—a new face, the French accent, and then...
“You cannot go there,” I replied, certain of it. “You will stay here for the night and then we will figure out what is to be done next.”
“I cannot! They will find me! Steiner...!”
There was one thing I could assure her.
“You will be safe for the night,” I repeated. “Mr. Brodie was once with the Metropolitan Police and has lived on the street. He will be returning soon, and he is the one person I would trust with my own life.” And had, more than once.
“There is also the hound. His name is Rupert. He doesn’t like strangers and can be quite fierce.” He was also quite fond of sponge cake, but I did not go into that either.
“You will be far safer here than in a room near the theatre.” Where her location would undoubtedly be revealed by anyone for a bit of small change.
At least there was someone here to protect her.
I was eventually able to persuade her, and we stepped down from the coach. I paid the driver and sent him on his way.
The traffic was thin on the Strand. The hound bounded across toward the alcove on the opposite side. I slipped that bound package into my bag and retrieved the revolver.
