Esther hissed between her teeth. “Quiet! Paula, take Edward?—”
“I’ve told you, my name is George,” the boy said, somewhat more lucid now. His pupils were larger, too. “I’m not sure about this any longer. You said I was stolen, and I guessed that I wasn’t a Hayes by blood. I look nothing like my parents and sister. But… you didn’t tell me anyone had been killed.”
“Miss Spencer has upset you,” Esther soothed, her tone changing to something more indulgent.
“I’ve merely told him the truth,” Leo cut in. “George, do you wish to go back home to your mother and father?”
Paula made a soft wailing sound. George looked at her, his eyes swamped with doubt and guilt. It was obvious that he didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
“He isn’t going anywhere with you,” Esther barked, her left hand beginning to shake as she visibly restrained herself from raising the gun. “Paula. Do as I say.”
“You don’t want to hurt him,” Leo said swiftly to Paula, who’d hesitated again at her aunt’s order.
“Of course, I don’t,” she said, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Taking the boy away from the only family he has ever known would be cruel,” Leo said. “Your mother betrayed you, Paula. She broke your heart. But what you’re doing isn’t right. This isn’t how you mend what has been done to you.”
Having endured enough, Esther ripped open the office door. “Take the bags and the boy and wait in the alley for me.”
But her niece had not yet complied with that order, and now, as tears rolled freely down her cheeks, Paula shook her head.
“Aunt, this has gone too far. Did you know Felix had traveled to the orphanage? And what he meant to do to Nurse Radcliff?”
Esther made no reply, her lips pursed tight with fury.
“I’m not sorry my mother is dead,” Paula continued. “But an old woman who had nothing to do with Edward being taken away from us? And now you plan to be rid of this lady detective too? No. I cannot do it. This isn’t what I wanted.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Esther’s voice rose. “You cannot take Edward back to that family. He is your son. My grandson!”
“You aren’t thinking about what is best for George, Mrs. Goodwin,” Leo said.
“My only thoughts have been for him!” Esther raised the gun at last, leveling it at her. George staggered forward, out of his mother’s grip, and put himself in front of Leo.
“You cannot shoot her,” he yelled, even as Leo and Paula pushed him back.
“Stay behind me, George,” Leo urged him. “Paula, I will vouch for you with the detective inspector. He will listen to me when I tell him you’ve done what is best for your son. Come, help me bring George to safety.”
Esther still blocked the door. “You are not going anywhere.”
Though her insides quivered, Leo tucked her chin and walked directly toward the older woman. George stood close behind her, his hand clutching the back of her arm. Paula joined them.
“Aunt Esther, move aside,” she said with more assertiveness than she’d yet shown. “You’ve lost control. So has Felix. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I…” Her confidence floundered. “I didn’t think it would be like this.”
Esther bared her teeth at her niece, as if in disgust. “Felix suspected you would be too weak to see this through. He thought you might go to your brother and confess our plan, or even to your heartless mother to warn her. He kept eyes on them both for weeks to make sure you didn’t.”
Paula gaped. “Felix didn’t trust me?”
“No, and now I can see he was right not to!” Her aunt’s hand shook, her throat working hard as she no doubt was panicking.
The distant sound of high-pitched whistling coming from another part of the theatre broke the stalemate.
“It’s Felix,” Paula said, gasping with fear.
Doubt only stilled Leo’s legs for a second. She streamed forward, straight toward Esther. She couldn’t shoot, not without the risk of striking George and Paula too. Leo shoved her aside, and the older woman growled with frustration as she staggered and fell.
“Felix!” she screamed from where she’d landed on the floor.
The whistling stopped, and Leo’s heart lurched. She turned to Paula. “Is he coming from the alley or the front of the theatre?”
