* * *
It was almost nine by the time Peter entered the Bow Street Magistrate’s Court.Interviewing the gardener who’d discovered the victim had taken some time.The elderly man had been so shaken he’d barely been able to speak.
Peter swallowed the last of the bread roll he’d managed to buy from a bakery on his way over and wiped the crumbs from his fingers.He then greeted a couple of Runners and started toward his office, only to halt when Lewis came striding toward him.
“The Irvines are here,” he said, his expression grim.“I showed them into your office.”
“What did you tell them?”
“That you might have some news about their daughter.”Lewis held up a file with some papers inside.“The missing person’s report, in case you’d like to go over it first.”
“Thank you.”Peter took the papers and scanned the description the Irvine’s had provided.He then glanced toward his office door.For now, those people had hope.Unfortunately, he was about to crush that.“I’ll need some coffee first.”
“There’s a fresh pot in the back room.I can fetch you a cup if you like?”
“Thanks, but I’ll manage.”Peter began turning away, then thought of something and said, “See if you can get hold of the rest of Vauxhall’s employees and have them come in for an interview.It’s possible one of them witnessed something.”
Stepping back to let another Runner past, Lewis said, “I can also put an announcement in the paper asking anyone who was there last night to come forward with information.”
“Let’s wait on that.I’d rather keep the investigation as private as possible for now, though I do appreciate your line of thinking.What you may want to do is locate the files on Miss Fairchild and Lady Camille.Their cases have the same modus operandi.”
Lewis nodded and Peter went to pour himself a cup of coffee.He took a sip and savored the heat as it slid down his throat.Right.Time to meet with the Irvines.
He told himself it was part of the job and that someone had to do it.Might as well be him.But delivering bad news never got easier, no matter how many times he did it.Lady Camille’s mother, the Countess of Hightower, had flung herself at him when he’d spoken to her, beating him with her fists while shouting that it wasn’t true – that he must have made a mistake.Miss Fairchild’s parents had been more stoic, but their pain had been palpable nonetheless.
Despite his feet being heavy, Peter forced himself to walk down the hallway.He had to get past this so he could move on with his investigation and try to find justice for these three women.
On that thought, he opened the door to his office and greeted the Irvines.
They rushed to their feet and stood before him, hope brimming in their watery eyes, like sunshine dancing on dewdrops.The husband stepped forward first and stuck out his hand.
Peter shook it and wished the murdered woman was someone else’s daughter – that the awful heartbreak waiting around the corner could be delayed just a little bit longer.
“A couple of Runners came by our house this morning,” said Mr.Irvine as soon as the introductions were out of the way.“He told us there was news about Alice.”
“Possibly.”Peter glanced between the couple.“Would either of you like something to drink?”
Mr.Irvine sent his wife a questioning look, in response to which she shook her head.
“Very well then.”Peter gestured toward the chairs they’d been using before his arrival.“Please have a seat.As I understand it, your daughter went missing last night while the three of you were enjoying an evening out together at Vauxhall.Correct?”
“That’s right.”Mr.Irvine glanced toward the piece of paper Peter had placed on top of his desk.“We gave the clerk a description of her.”
Peter kept his expression carefully schooled.“If you don’t mind, I’d like you to tell me about your evening, up until the point where Alice disappeared.”
He needed to understand what had happened –howit had happened.It was vital he got as many details out of the Irvine’s before he delivered the damning news.After that, they’d likely be incapable of any coherent thought.
Mr.Irvine leaned forward, propping his forearm on his thigh.He frowned at Peter.“I was led to believe that you’d be the one giving us information.Not the other way around.”
“They haven’t found her,” Mrs.Irvine muttered.“Have you?”
“Please,” Peter said, his eyes on the husband.“What time did you arrive at the gardens?”
Mr.Irvine flattened his mouth and leaned back.For a moment, Peter didn’t believe he’d answer.But then a distant look entered his eyes and he finally said, “Our carriage dropped us off around eight o’ clock.There were six of us, including our sons and youngest daughter.We were all dressed in costume, because of the event.”
Peter didn’t bother asking him to elaborate on that.The shepherdess costume was already mentioned in the missing person report.“Did you have supper upon your arrival, or did you stroll about?”
“We had supper, after which we went to watch the cascade.There was a ballet performance after that.It was scheduled to last fifteen minutes and I…” Mr.Irvine drew a shaky breath.“It was a very good show.Absorbing.I never noticed Alice’s disappearance until it was over and I turned to ask her opinion.Only she wasn’t there.”
