Page 1 of Boy of Chaotic Making

Chapter 1

February 16, 1847, Near Waynesville, Ohio

A normal person would probably be completely aghast, and perhaps faint, at the sight of the man who’d tried to murder her, suspended in a tank of ... Hulda didn’t want to know. But in truth, she’d expected much, much worse, so in a strange way, seeing Silas Hogwood’s onlypartiallydecayed corpse in a cylindrical glass coffin was almost a relief.

The dolls he’d kept around in life, shriveled monstrosities that looked like starved cacti or fungal legumes, had been far more repugnant. Though those, at least, hadn’t had discernible features. Silas Hogwood ... he almost looked like himself.

Hulda drew in a deep breath, inhaling until it passed her navel and hit her hips, then let it out all in one gust. “This will see all of us in jail.”

Us, referring to all four persons present. As far as Hulda was aware, they were four of only five people who knew about the hidden, unnamed laboratory Myra Haigh had siphoned funds to for years.

Speak of the devil.

“I know I’ve left it to you”—Myra stepped up beside her, an index finger crooked just under her bottom lip—“but it would be a great waste to destroy it. Mr. Hogwood aside, a lot of research has been done here.Isbeing done. I beg you to take all of that into consideration before you make a decision.”

Hulda bit the inside of her cheek. At least the facility, while macabre,waswell run. She shouldn’t have expected anything less where Myra was concerned. The woman had caused her a great deal of trouble over the last six months, but she was nothing if not competent. And aggravatingly difficult to get a hold of.

Hulda glanced over her shoulder at the two employees, both in long coats, working at tables full of glass vials and other sundry objects. Or pretending to work. Likely eavesdropping, and Hulda couldn’t blame them. Myra had sworn they were trustworthy. Hulda believed her.

Glancing back at the ... tube ... she asked, “What is he in?”

“Formaldehyde.” Myra leaned closer to the glass. “Salt. Water. Magic. If you want the exact potion, I can call over Lisbeth.”

Lisbeth, one of the workers behind her. Hulda had forgone introductions, though every iota of politeness and finishing school censured her for it. She’d only just assumed her new duties as the director of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms a few months prior, and she didn’t want to be any more tangled up in this mess than she already was.

Magic had been slowly but steadily leaving the world for centuries. The idea of synthesizing itwasfascinating. World changing. But to do it like this? It made nausea brew.

“How did you get him in here without informing outsiders?” she asked.

Shrugging one shoulder, Myra said, “I have my ways.” She hesitated. “I suppose you’ll want to know—”

“I really don’t.”

Interrupting. Another faux pas her manners teacher would deplore. Merritt Fernsby was rubbing off on her a little too much. Drawing another steeling breath, Hulda added, “The best situation any of us can hope for is to make this operation aslegalas humanly possible. Paperwork can be fudged. I’ll speak to a lobbyist and—”

“It’s too risky,” Myra broke in, her voice low enough that the other two in the room would not hear her. “There’s too much at—”

Hulda wheeled on the older woman. “I will not take the fallout for your choices, Myra.” Her voice rang harsher than intended. Myra reeled back, sealing her lips. Pushing forward, Hulda added, “The cadaver law first.” Just being inpossessionof a corpse, even that of a mass murderer, broke United States law. Only hospitals and medical researchers could skirt it. As far as she knew, this was the firstbodybrought into the lab, but she didn’t ask. The more ignorant she was, the better. “If we can portray this work asresearchinto the field of medical knowledge, it will go much easier on us. I’ll be as anonymous as possible. Magic is a dying art, yet it’s something everybody wants. Why else would institutes like the Genealogical Society for the Advancement of Magic be federally funded?” She glanced at Mr. Hogwood’s floating corpse, then turned her back to it. “I’ll place my petitions carefully. Unless this becomes sanctioned, not a single stroke of a pen will breathe of this place.” Myra looked like she wanted to speak, but Hulda pushed on. “It will take some time, yes, but I will do this right.Wewill do this right, and then we’ll have a new, documented start. If we cannot achieve that, then this place shuts down.”

Myra’s mouth twisted. Hulda sensed a great many words building up in her throat, most of them ungenerous. But Myra swallowed them. She’d given up her power when she’d abdicated her position as director of BIKER. The very fact that Hulda was even considering aiding this grisly effort ... well, Myra could only be grateful for it.

“I understand,” she managed.

Hulda nodded. “I will make it clear, again”—she glanced at the two employees, who paused to meet her eye—“that this institute is no longer associated with BIKER. I did not create it, and I cannot support it. As far as any of you are concerned, I’ve washed my hands of this place. But”—she turned to Myra—“Miss Haigh is likewise no longer affiliated with BIKER. If she wishes to keep it running, that’s her prerogative.But absolutely no funding will come from BIKER unless the proper ratifications are secured. Until they are, you will be on your own.”

After receiving silent nods of approval, Hulda started for the exit. Myra quickly fell into step beside her, heels clacking against the hard floor.

“Do you really think you’ll get government accommodation for this?” Myra sounded incredulous.

“I intend to look into options. Perhaps, if handled gently, we could even get a grant.”

Myra snorted. “I highly doubt it.”

“Doubt all you want”—Hulda stopped and met her gaze—“but do not doubtme.” She straightened her glasses. “Besides, I’m marrying a man who is very good with words. I’m sure he’ll be able to draft up a wonderful proposal.”

Myra frowned, clearly displeased that Hulda had brought Merritt into her confidence. Fine. Hulda was impenitent. Myra’s actions had nearly gotten HuldaandMerritt murdered by the man in that tank, and then incarcerated for crimes they didn’t commit. She really didn’t have a leg to stand on.

Hulda tipped her head slightly. “I envy you your gift. I wish I knew what you were thinking.”

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