Page 17 of Taken to the Grave
Well aware of his own aggressive reputation and booming voice, he laughed and invited her to take a seat. However, she stopped next to Hugh. The light floral scent of camellia and sunshine that he’d come to dream about warmed his blood.
“I’ll stand, thank you,” she replied. “Now, about the bodies at the pleasure gardens?—”
“We’ve already been hounded this morning thanks to that article in thePost, but I cannot discuss it with members of the public, Your Grace. Let us leave it at that.”
Hugh nearly choked on a laugh. The magistrate should simply give in now. Once Audrey had a question, she got an answer, no matter the route, and no matter how perilous.
“Harlan Givens was missing his left ear,” Hugh said, deciding to help her along. “It looked to be a clean stroke of a knife.”
Sir Gabriel glowered, accentuating his double chin as he tucked it. “What of it?”
“The other two were missing their ears as well.”
Sir Gabriel sighed heavily. “Yes, the left ear.”
“And their throats all cut?”
The magistrate nodded.
“So, then that means the same person killed all three victims,” Audrey said.
With his cheeks turning florid, the magistrate had reached his limit. He gripped the edge of the desk and stood again. “Mr. Gye asked for our discretion, and I gave it, not because I give a damn about him losing money, but because announcing something like this would inspire a panic. And now, you can bloody well expect one, even though the general public is not in any danger.”
“What makes you so sure?” Hugh asked.
“Tyne!” Sir Gabriel bellowed without warning, causing Hugh to wince and Audrey to jump.
No more than a moment or two passed before Tyne entered the office. The officer had to have been lingering in the corridor, likely drawn by word of Hugh’s arrival. It was a petty thing to do, listening at doors, as Sir Gabriel had just accused Audrey of doing.
“Lord Neatham and Her Grace would like the particulars about the Vauxhall case, and they have assured me they will speak to no one outside this room of them, especially no reporters.” Sir Gabriel’s stare fired high as he turned it toward Hugh, then Audrey. “Isn’t that correct?”
“Certainly,” Audrey replied sweetly. Too sweet. But Sir Gabriel was not as schooled at her tones of voice yet.
The magistrate started for the door, grumbling, “I’m wanted at court.”
Silence followed his departure as Tyne rocked back onto his heels, his nostrils flaring. Hugh waited for the man to speak. When he did, it was as though the words were struggling to form. “I take it you are joining the investigation.”
Ah. Now he understood Tyne’s bristling. He thought Hugh had come to take over. Stepping on Tyne’s toes was the last thing he wished to do, even though he did take some pleasure in riling him.
“Not officially. My only interest is in Harlan Givens and why he was killed. If it’s connected to these other murders, I’d like to know how and why.”
The explanation did little to allay the officer. “I would think they would be beneath your notice, my lord.” Again, the emphasis on the form of address smacked with scorn.
“They aren’t,” Hugh replied succinctly, leaving no room for more of an argument. Next to him, Audrey watched their exchange with interest.
“Who were the other two victims, Officer Tyne?” she asked.The Morning Posthad not identified them by name, only that it had been a man and a woman.
“Madam Lee, a brothel owner,” Tyne answered. His attention shifted to her, and the twist of his mouth led Hugh to believe he was taking pleasure in thinking he was shocking her. She did not so much as flinch.
“And?” Hugh pressed.
“Lord Stromburg, some Austrian count.”
“In which order were the killings? Lee first?”
Tyne grimaced. “Stromburg first. Two days later, Lee.”
“They were found in the early morning, before the gardens opened to visitors, according to Mr. Gye,” Audrey said. Tyne wrinkled his nose and gave her a look of annoyance. “But were they killed at the pleasure gardens, or were they brought there after the fact?”
