Chapter Twenty-Four
Ten minutes later, after Tobias had assured the Brunhams they would do all they could to find their daughter, he, Jack, and Iain were making their way down the stairs to the outside of the building, Jack brushing past ahead of them to reach the street first.
“You shouldn’t have made promises to them that we can’t keep,” Tobias said as he strode out the door behind her, with Iain following.
The crisp winter air of the evening was a welcome relief after the pain and sorrow that had been radiating from the Brunhams’ tiny flat as they’d vacillated between hope that their daughter was safe and fear that she wasn’t.
They hadn’t really learned any more from the Brunhams, apart from the fact that Mary had been very practical with no interest in magic in any form whatsoever. Another possible victim with apparently no link to magic at all. Frustrating, to say the least.
He glanced over at Jack as she pulled her cloak in closer over her chest and raised her brow as he came to a standstill beside her.
“Though you might lack confidence in your own investigative skills, Inspector,” she said. “I myself don’t suffer from that affliction, given I’ve always been successful in my own investigations.”
Iain started to laugh, and Tobias swung his gaze around to his friend, narrowing his eyes at him.
“This consultant of yours is a cracker,” Iain said, his eyes dancing in mirth. “Must say, though, I’m curious about what she is actually consulting on for this case.”
“She can speak for herself,” Jack replied, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at Iain.
Rather than be offended, Iain’s lips twisted into a wide smile. “Aye, so I see,” he replied, his gaze sizing her up. “So, go on, then. What are you consulting about?”
“Magic, Sergeant.”
A flare of recognition sparked in Iain’s eyes as he glanced over to Tobias.
“Is this the woman who did that trick on y—”
“Yes,” Tobias interrupted him. “She’s the illusionist. And yes, she’s helping on this case.” Quickly, he explained Jack’s involvement in the matter, though he didn’t mention her true identity again, either. As much as he trusted Iain—with his life, in fact—it wasn’t Tobias’s secret to disclose.
Iain rubbed his beard. “So, it seems this Conjurer is wanting you involved in it all, Miss Hart, but I don’t understand why? What’s the motive?”
“My father was James Maguire,” Jack said. “Which I’m guessing is why this Conjurer, whoever he is, wants me involved.”
“Aye, that seems likely.” Iain gave a nod, then cocked his head to the side and stared at Jack. “So, you know magic, then?”
Jack arched her brow. “Yes, Sergeant, I do. Would you like me to demonstrate?”
He hastily held up his hands and took a step back. “No, Miss Hart, I don’t. I might like seeing magic tricks, but I don’t want to be a part of them.”
Now, it was Tobias who laughed. “Too late, my friend.”
“What do you mean?” Iain asked, bafflement in his eyes.
“Jack,” Tobias said, a note of warning in his voice as he stared at her. “Can you return whatever it is you took from the sergeant?”
She narrowed her eyes but reached into her cloak pocket and pulled out a brass pocket watch with a long chain attached. “I believe this is yours, Sergeant.” She extended her hand towards Iain, the watch dangling from her fingers.
“What the Devil…?” Iain patted at his tunic pocket and blinked. “My watch is gone! But… how did you… You never even got close to me. I don’t understand?”
“She brushed past you on the stairs,” Tobias replied. “I’m guessing that’s when you took it?”
Jack nodded. “You’re very observant, Inspector. Did you see me take it this time?”
“No.” Tobias was still trying to catch her in the act, but so far, her movements had been too quick, or else she was far too good at drawing notice elsewhere.
“But I’ve observed that you don’t get close to people.
When you do, it’s obviously for a purpose, and given your specific skills, it’s not difficult to deduce what you’re up to. ”
“Perhaps you’re not too bad of an investigator, after all.” She shrugged, and Iain gawped.
“You really stole my watch?” There was a tone of both skepticism and incredulity in Iain’s voice.
“I didn’t steal anything,” Jack replied. “I never intended to keep your watch. I was just keeping up my skills, and it’s especially nice to know I can still best the police.”
“You haven’t taken anything else, have you?” Iain asked, patting the rest of his pants pockets and jacket pockets too.
“No, I haven’t, Sergeant,” Jack said, extending her hand out to Iain, the watch dangling from her fingers towards him.
“Now, perhaps, you have an inkling of how she was able to cuff me to my drawer?” Tobias said as Iain cautiously took the watch before inspecting it as if to make sure it really was his.
“I didn’t feel a thing…” Iain said almost to himself. “How’s that possible?”
Jack winked at the man, and Tobias felt an odd stirring of jealousy in his gut. He didn’t like it at all.
“A magician never reveals their secrets.” She grinned. “Besides, I wouldn’t be very good at my job if you’d felt anything, now, would I?
“What exactly is your job, Miss Hart?” Iain asked, glancing up at her in awe. “Surely, I would have heard of you if you were a master thief.”
“I’m not a master thief.” She sounded entirely unimpressed with the suggestions as she raised her chin in the air. “I’m a respectable business owner, thank you very much. I own the Hart Agency.”
“Bloody oath, you’re that Jack Hart?” Iain exclaimed. “You and your agents are known as troublemakers willing to break the law to solve their cases.”
“A falsehood, Sergeant,” Jack replied. “We never break the law, though there are times where we must bend it.”
“A fine line if I ever heard it,” Iain grumbled, staring at Jack with far more suspicion than before.
“In any event, Iain,” Tobias said, his own thoughts mirroring his friend’s, certain that Jack’s ideas of bending and breaking the law were very different from his and Iain’s views on the subject. “As you can see, Miss Hart’s skills and experience, though questionable—”
“‘Questionable’?” Jack exclaimed.
“—are exactly what I think we might need,” Tobias continued, ignoring her outburst. “Her knowledge of magic and her father will hopefully help us gain some insights on this case.” And as much as he didn’t like the thought, he was beginning to think they might need someone who could bend the law too…
“So, what next?” Jack asked, tapping her boot on the cobblestones.
“There’s not much more we can do tonight,” Tobias replied. “I’ll send a note off to Dr. Patterson about visiting the Broadmoor Asylum as soon as possible, and then tomorrow morning, I’ll attend the Manaheim warehouse and make some enquiries regarding Miss Brunham.”
“What time shall I meet you there?” Jack asked, her tone brooking no argument. “Because I will be joining you, Tobias, despite your thoughts to the contrary. And we’ll also need to go visit those three card supply stores after.”
He didn’t know why, but he smiled. Very few women dared to question him, let alone stand up to him, his mother probably one of the few in London who did so, yet here this slip of a woman was, not only standing up to him, but dictating terms too.
It was… refreshing. “Very well, Jack, I shall collect you at eight—and yes, I’m collecting you, and no, I’m not arguing about it,” he said to forestall her. “Understood?”
She narrowed her eyes at him, obviously not used to being told what to do, but after a moment, she nodded. “Very well.”
“Good.” Tobias turned to Iain, who was looking at him oddly, his friend having rarely seen Tobias budge on anything.
He was going to have a bit of explaining to do when they were alone; he could see it in Iain’s eyes.
Quickly, though, he caught Iain up on what Jack and he had discovered speaking with Caleb Dodd and Dr. Morton.
“Have you or your men had any luck with your inquiries or interviews?”
Iain pursed his lips. “I sent some men to canvass around Mr. Black’s townhouse, but his neighbors didn’t see or hear anything. So that seems a bit of a dead end.”
“Whoever is behind these murders is certainly taking every precaution not to be seen.” Tobias dragged a hand through his hair. “Surely, someone has got to have seen something.”
“Perhaps they don’t want to speak to the police?” Jack offered. “I know it might surprise you both, but generally, people don’t like speaking to men who have the power to take away a person’s liberty and then often abuse that power.”
“You have a poor opinion of us bobbies, don’t you, Miss Hart?” Iain said, though he didn’t sound surprised.
“It’s been well earned, Sergeant, from my own personal experience,” Jack replied, but then her eyes flicked to Tobias and there was an expression of uncertainty in their depths. “Though, perhaps, my opinion is changing somewhat.”
Tobias gave her a half smile. “As perhaps mine is too.”
“An odd profession to be in, Inspector, if you have a poor opinion of other police too?” Jack raised her brow.
He couldn’t help it, but he laughed. Her tongue matched her sharp wit. “You know I meant you and your agents.”
They stood there staring at each other for several moments before the sound of Iain clearing his throat broke through the silence and had both of them hastily glancing back to the sergeant.
“Perhaps Miss Hart is right,” Iain said. “It’s not the best of neighborhoods where Mr. Black lived over in Bethnal Green, so perhaps, I hate to say it, but perhaps her agents might have better luck?”
“I shall send some over tomorrow to make some inquiries,” Jack replied.
“Was there anything else you’ve found, Iain?” Tobias asked, not liking how Iain’s gaze was lingering on Jack. Not that he could blame his friend; the woman was too damned attractive for her own good, and with a confidence that was captivating.
“Possibly,” Iain said cautiously. “It’s a bit of a long shot, but when I spoke to the first victim’s father, Mr. Cartwright, he mentioned that Miss Cartwright had been looking for work.”
“Just as Mary Brunham was. You might be onto something.” Though Tobias didn’t want to get his hopes up, given the high rate of unemployment in London at the moment, but it was something nonetheless. “She didn’t also happen to have an interview at the Manaheim factory?”
Iain shook his head. “No. Her father said when he left for work last Wednesday morning, the first of November, Miss Cartwright was at their kitchen table going through the Daily Chronicle searching the job advertisements, looking for a position that used her artistic talents, but not having much luck. Then when he came home later that afternoon, she’d left a note saying she’d seen a job that might be perfect for her down near the docks and was going to find out more information, but she’d be back by dinner time. She never returned.”
“We need to get a copy of that paper,” Tobias said. “See if there are any job advertisements that fit that description.”
“I have a copy of it back at my office,” Jack said, then raised a brow, obviously noting his and Iain’s questioning looks.
“Papers are excellent sources of information, and I get all four of the major ones delivered each day. I generally flick through them, and then they get stored in case we need them down the track.”
Tobias shook his head. “It’s a long shot, but perhaps we’ll get lucky.” At this point, anything would be better than nothing. “I can walk you home, and we can take a look.”
She smiled wryly. “Though I appreciate your gallantry, Inspector, as I mentioned before, I’ve been on my own for a very long time and have managed to navigate the streets quite well by myself.
I really don’t need you to walk me the five minutes it will take me to get home.
I can look at the paper myself and let you know of anything of interest.”
“I’m sure we’ve had this conversation before about your safety in getting you home.
” He’d walk her home regardless of her thoughts on the subject.
“While I walk Miss Hart home,” he said to Iain, “arrange for some constables to canvass along the docks near here tomorrow morning and see if anyone saw anything suspicious or anyone remembers a woman matching Miss Cartwright’s description.
I’ll meet you back at the station and we can talk to those constables who dismissed Mr. Brunham’s report. ”
“Will do,” Iain said, tipping his hat at Jack. “Miss Hart, a, um… pleasure meeting you, I think. Just don’t take anything else of mine, all right?”
“I won’t, Sergeant.” Jack grinned at Iain. “At least not tonight.”
“God help us,” Iain muttered before nodding at Tobias and striding down the street towards the station.
Jack turned her grin onto him, and Tobias felt his chest constricting.
Damn, she was beautiful when she smiled, her blue eyes sparkling and lighting up her whole face.
Dangerous thoughts to be having, especially in relation to a woman who had an obvious disdain for the police and liked to skirt the law.
But for some reason, even that thought didn’t seem to tamper his ardor. He was in trouble, and he knew it.