Peter pondered this as he led Wentworth into his office and invited him to sit.Jackson and Lewis, who followed them inside, remained near the door.A precaution in case Wentworth tried anything.
The surgeon didn’t yet know what Peter had found in his desk drawer after instructing the Runners to escort him to an awaiting carriage.With the law at his back, supported by a permit signed by Chief Magistrate Hastings, Peter had conducted a thorough search that concluded with the discovery of the notebook Croft had mentioned.
A brief look through it had indeed suggested Wentworth might be up to something illicit.Especially when viewed together with the rest of the evidence that had been gathered thus far.Specifically the herbs found in the victims’s stomachs.
In all likelihood, the conversation that was about to take place would lead to Wentworth’s arrest.Until then, however, Peter preferred to let the man think there was no need to worry – that he would soon be heading back to work.In his opinion, Wentworth was more likely to talk and let something slip if he wasn’t aware of the case being built against him.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”Peter asked as he went to claim his own seat.“Or tea?”
“No thank you.I’d rather get on with our discussion so I can return to my patients.A twelve-year-old boy was brought in last night.Ruptured appendix.I assisted with the operation and while I’m confident he’ll make a full recovery without issue, I did assure his parents I’d check on him periodically.”
Yet another indication this man was not the ruthless villain Peter hunted.Again, however, the consideration he showed toward his patient could be part of the mask he wore.After all, he’d offered the information himself without Peter requesting it.Perhaps as a means by which to establish a positive image?
Only time would tell.
“I understand,” Peter said, deliberately choosing a non-committal response.
He pulled his silver cheroot case from his jacket pocket and was about to light a perfectly rolled length of tobacco when Miss Hastings swept into the room, flushed and slightly out of breath.Her skirts swished around her ankles as she pushed her way past Jackson and Lewis.
Peter stood with a weary sigh, acutely aware of where this would lead.Perceptive as she was, Miss Hastings had realized progress might be about to occur with regard to the murder investigation and no doubt meant to be part of it.Not that he minded her listening in.She’d proven her usefulness more than once since joining his team.But her open aversion to the one pleasure Peter allowed himself was starting to grate.
“Miss Hastings,” Peter said, “This is Doctor Wentworth.Doctor Wentworth, Miss Hastings here is a recent recruit.She’s assisting me on a number of cases.”
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”Miss Hastings lowered herself to the last remaining seat and adjusted her spectacles.
The expectant look on her face encouraged Peter to get on with the interview.
He dropped his unlit cheroot back in its case, folded his arms over his chest, then turned his full attention to Wentworth.“We’ve asked you to come in today and talk to us because we’ve reason to believe there’s a murderer within the medical community.It could be a physician who’s trying to prove himself in some twisted way, though I’m more inclined to believe it’s a surgeon.”
“What?”Dismay and horror pulled at Wentworth’s features.
“Whoever he is, it would seem he has at least one accomplice.”There was still a chance the villain was either Preordian or Islington, perhaps even both.For now, however, Peter chose to relay the theory he’d put together with Miss Hastings’s help.“Physicians linked to the victims have since gone missing.It’s my belief they curated these people on behalf of the killer.”
“But that’s diabolical,” Wentworth muttered, his eyes still wide with shock.“It would mean that you’re not just looking for one villain but several, which I refuse to believe.I mean, it’s one thing for insanity to manifest in a singular person, but it’s unlikely for it to do so in several others at the same time.Especially within the same profession.And for them to collaborate with each other seems even more implausible.”
Peter had considered this himself.Miss Hastings had also pointed it out.Neither could find an explanation capable of providing a link or a motive.Wanting to catch Wentworth off guard he said, “I was hoping you would have some idea of whom we ought to focus our investigation on.Have any of your colleagues mentioned an interest in developing a complete anesthesia?”
Wentworth’s gaze sharpened.He straightened in his seat.“Why do you ask?”
“Because of the evidence we’ve gathered thus far.”Peter deliberately chose to drag out his delivery of information while keeping a trained eye on Wentworth.The Physician no longer looked as relaxed as when he’d arrived.“According to Doctor Fellowes, the coroner who—”
“I know who he is,” Wentworth said, his voice tight.
“Of course.He’s a colleague of yours.”Peter allowed himself a moment to clear his throat, to casually retrieve a piece of paper from one of the files he kept in his desk drawer.He glanced at it even though he already knew every word it contained, having penned them himself.“According to him, traces of wolfsbane, cannabis, and various herbs were found in each of the victim’s stomachs.“Along with laudanum.When I questioned him about it, he suggested this combination might have been used as a means by which to render these people unconscious.Is this an opinion you would agree with?”
“What you describe is a toxic combination.”Wentworth extended his hand while frowning.“May I see that?”
“Certainly.”Peter handed him the paper and gave him as much time as he needed to scan the notes it contained.Meanwhile, he paid careful attention to Wentworth’s expression, which seemed to switch from interest to anger and possibly disbelief.
“I’ve no idea what these findings prove.”He handed the page back to Peter.
“Are you certain of that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Peter withdrew Wentworth’s notebook from his pocket and held it up for him to see.“The notes made in here mention most of the things the victims consumed, along with attempts made to reproduce an ancient Chinese method of rendering patients unconscious while they undergo operations.According to your own entries, your experiments have killed several animals already.”
“Which is why I would never dare give the tincture to humans.It’s too dangerous.”
