Peter set his cheroot to his lips and pulled the smoky flavor into his lungs.He nodded toward the entrance while exhaling through his nose.“That bad?”
“Worst I’ve ever seen, sir.”
Peter considered Lewis.He’d been off duty when Miss Fairchild had been murdered in June, and again when Lady Camille’s body was found last month.Judging from his queasy expression, Lewis was sorry he’d not been off duty this morning as well.
“Right,” Peter told him.“Best get on with it then, hadn’t we?”
“Aye, sir.”
Peter brushed past him and started walking.It wouldn’t take long to know if the murder committed last night was connected to the previous ones.
Lewis followed, directing him toward the right and onto a graveled path.A hushed atmosphere enveloped the garden, adding an eeriness made more pronounced by the mist dispersing across the ground.
“A gardener made the discovery,” Lewis began.“He was getting ready to trim the tree branches growing too close to the wall when he happened upon the young woman’s body.”
“Any idea who she is?”Peter asked.
“None.She’s still wearing her mask from last night’s masquerade.However, a Mr.and Mrs.Irvine did file a missing person’s report.Their daughter, Miss Alice Irvine, went missing at Vauxhall yesterday evening.”
“How the hell does that even happen?”
“No idea, sir.She must have wandered off.”
Peter sent Lewis a sideways glance.“Cause of death?”
Lewis clenched his jaw as he met Peter’s gaze.“Her throat was slit and…”
The young Runner drew to a halt and bent over, hands clasped on his shins.His breaths came heavy and fast, as though he were fighting the urge to vomit.When he finally straightened, he looked a touch paler.“No one should die as she did.It’s morbid beyond compare.”
Peter reckoned Lewis was right.And although he’d suspected he knew what he’d find, he was still shocked by the sight that greeted him when he stepped between the trees moments later and caught his first glimpse of the victim.
Her body, dressed in a light-blue shepherdess costume, was not only still and lifeless, but stained by the blood that had spilled from her throat.It was a ghastly sight, not just a thin slash, but a deep and damaging wound.Her glassy blue eyes stared at the sky from behind her white satin mask, and her faded pink lips were parted as if in a whisper.
Pinned to the front of her bodice, was a square piece of paper containing one word, written in thick black ink.WHORE.
Peter drew a sharp breath as he surveyed the scene.Although this wound was deeper than the ones on Miss Fairchild and Lady Camille, the cause of death was as identical as the note left behind.
Despite having twenty-seven years of experience dealing with the darker side of humanity, Peter still shuddered.The air was thick with the sickly-sweet smell of death, and the sight of the corpse, her skin pale and cold, made his stomach churn.He couldn’t help but imagine her final moments.Thankfully, her dress was intact and her positioning gave no indication of any sexual violation.
He closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath, deliberately cutting off all his emotions so he could be objective.When he was ready, he bent to remove the victim’s mask, gently peeling it back to reveal her face.
A quiet rage built inside him as he beheld her youthful beauty.It wasn’t fair.What kind of monster had done this?
He glanced at the Runners positioned nearby before fixing his gaze on Lewis.The poor man kept his attention well off the ground.Peter didn’t blame him.“Lewis, I’ll need to speak with the Irvines – see if this is their missing daughter.You have their address?”
“Yes, sir.”
Peter huffed a breath.This was the kind of news every parent dreaded.“Call on them.Take Anderson with you and have the Irvines accompany you to the Bow Street office.I’ll meet them there.”
Peter watched the two men stride off.Anderson, an older more seasoned member of the force, would lend the support Lewis needed.
Lowering into a crouch, Peter scanned the area for evidence, his gaze fierce and focused.The ground had been disturbed to suggest the frenzied movement of feet.Most likely the victim’s as she’d fought to free herself from the killer’s grasp.A larger set of footprints were imbedded in the dirt, and Peter quickly ordered measurements to be taken.
There were several broken twigs and branches as well, indicating that whoever had done this had fled the scene quickly.Leaning forward, he examined the body, looking for any additional clues, but none stood out.Hopefully the coroner would have greater success.If they were lucky, they’d find something meaningful under her nails, like a piece of fabric or some hair.
If not…
He sighed and stood, hating the fact that another woman might die before he managed to track down the killer.
