“No, but he’s certain she must be or else she’d have sent word to her family.”
“With this in mind, I’m inclined to believe these cases must be connected,” Adrian said.“When did this woman vanish?”
“Her name is Miss Jones,” Kendrick told them, “and she went missing over a year ago.”
“Good lord” The horror of how long this villain had been allowed to roam free dug its talons into Samantha’s flesh.
Kendrick nodded and set his cheroot to his lips once more.The paper wrapped around the tobacco crackled as he took a deep breath.“I believe there may have been additional victims too, based on a few more reports I’ve reviewed.At least two.”
“Making the total number of casualties thus far seven, possibly more?”Adrian sounded as appalled as Samantha felt.
No.It was worse than appalled.This was a kind of fury mixed with despair.If they didn’t stop this monster, he would without doubt strike again.And what of the poor souls who’d already perished?
Samantha reached for Adrian’s hand and gave it a squeeze.They would hunt down this individual with the same methodical reasoning that had helped them catch Clive Newton and Benjamin Lawrence.And once they did…
“There’s a predatory gleam in yours eyes,” Kendrick said with a frown.“If I may offer you both a piece of advice, divest yourselves of any notion you may have of acting out your own kind of justice.Luck was on your side once.There’s no guarantee it will be next time.So have a care and spare a thought for those of us who stuck our necks out for you.”
“Of course,” Adrian murmured.“We’ll be sure to keep you informed of any additional clues we discover so you can catch your man.”
“Or woman,” Miss Hastings said.
Everyone glanced at her but it was Samantha who pressed the issue.“Woman?”
Miss Hastings showed no discomfort whatsoever over being asked to explain.Utterly calm, she said, “I see no reason why our villain must be a man.Indeed, women are too often underestimated, but that does not prevent us from being capable of the same things as men.”
“Ordinarily I would agree,” Kendrick said, surprising Samantha.And everyone else judging from the number of raised eyebrows.“However, it seems unlikely when bearing in mind the connection to the medical field.”
“He’s not wrong,” Samantha said.It was indeed an area of expertise from which women were barred.Their only chance of involvement was through nursing or midwifery.To advise on how to cure ailments, prescribe tinctures, or participate in surgeries was impossible for the fairer sex.
“Even so,” Miss Hastings said, “I’d like to keep an open mind.”Her nose twitched when Kendrick expelled additional smoke before putting out his cheroot.
Samantha dipped her chin, suppressing a chuckle, and stood when Adrian prepared to leave only to pause when Kendrick asked them to wait.He crossed to his desk and opened a drawer from which he retrieved a folded piece of paper.
“Since you do seem to have a sense about gathering information, I’ve prepared this document for you to make things easier” Extending his hand, he offered the paper to Adrian.“It authorizes you to question people in the name of Bow Street.Don’t make me regret signing it.”
Adrian took the paper and held Kendrick’s gaze for a moment, then nodded.“Thank you.I’ll be sure to keep you apprised of any progress we make with regard to this case and trust you to do the same.”
Kendrick agreed, upon which Adrian and Samantha bid both him and Miss Hastings farewell before heading back to their carriage.
“You didn’t show him the scrap of burnt paper you found at Islington’s place of residence,” Samantha observed when they were finally homeward bound.
Adrian wound his arm around her and drew her against his side.“What can I say?I like having an ace up my sleeve.Besides, I’m sure the chief constable has his own advantage.”
“There’s Miss Hastings for one,” Samantha muttered.“I’d not be surprised if she’s the one who discovered the similarity between those unsolved cases and the one we’re currently working on.”
“Could be though I would warn you against underestimating Kendrick.Personally, I’m starting to think he had a bit of bad luck where Newton and Lawrence were concerned and that he might not be as bad at his job as we think.”
“His helping you avoid your execution is certainly a point in his favor.”
“Only one?”Adrian’s hold on her tightened.
She chuckled and angled her head toward his, so she met his dark gaze from beneath the brim of her bonnet.“I suppose he also made sure your name was cleared so you could return home.”
“With you,” Adrian said before pressing a tender kiss to her lips.
“Very well.I’ll grant the man one more point.Two in total, but not a fraction more.”Not that she meant it.In all honesty, she owed Kendrick a debt so enormous she worried she’d never be able to pay it.
“I’ll be sure to reflect on the strictness with which you hand out rewards later.Just to be sure I make enough of an effort.”
