Page 80

Gideon stepped to the first on the left, leaning his head toward the wood, listening. Electra did the same to the door on the other side of the hall. She heard nothing and suspected Gideon didn't either. He looked at her, then proceeded down the hall to the next room.

Electra did the same, and in that room, she could hear the muffled sound of two ladies conversing quietly.

“This one,” she whispered.

Gideon joined her and knocked on the door. There was no response. Gideon pounded harder, this time with the side of his fist. “Miss Mahoney, it’s Detective Pierce of Scotland Yard. I must speak with you. It's most urgent.”

Electra swallowed, licked her lips, and stepped closer. “Miss Mahoney, it’s Electra Poole. When I saw you yesterday, I touched a glass that was sitting on the table and I saw Mrs. Devlin.”

She looked up at Gideon, who nodded for her to continue.

“I know she's your sister and that you're very protective of her. I'm worried about her too, but I believe I can help you.” She laid her hand on the doorknob. “But you have to let me in so I may do so.”

To her shock, the latch twisted and the door opened a crack. Eleanor Mahoney stood on the other side.

“I am willing admit you, Miss Poole, but I do not wish to speak to the inspector.”

Electra couldn’t allow that. “I am afraid we come as a pair, Miss Mahoney.”

“We both need to speak with you,” Gideon said, his hand on the door panel.

Electra suspected he was prepared to push in if required.

Then she saw a flash of movement over Miss Mahoney's shoulder.

“There's someone else in the room,” she murmured.

Gideon forced the door farther open.

“No!” Miss Mahoney screamed. “No, stop.”

But she hadn’t moved quickly enough. Gideon strode past her.

In the corner of the room stood the woman Electra had met days ago. Demeter Devlin huddled in a corner, eyes wide, shivering. Her long auburn hair fell past her shoulders in a tangle. She had the look of a cornered animal. She was pale, gaunt, as if she hadn't eaten or slept much in the days since Electra met her.

“You needn’t say anything to them, Demeter,” Miss Mahoney said as she walked over swiftly and planted herself in front of her sister.

Only then did Electra notice the small blade in Miss Mahoney’s hand. A pocketknife, held down at her side, while she held her other hand out, palm up, as if to stop them from approaching.

“Leave my house,” she told them, eyes wild as she looked at Gideon, then Electra.

“I…need to speak. I must tell someone.” The words were spoken in broken murmur.

Miss Mahoney turned her back on them and braced her hands on her sister’s shoulders. “Please don’t. Trust me, Demmie. We can find a way out of this and keep you safe.”

A pale hand came up to cup Miss Mahoney’s cheek. “I know you're frightened. I am too, but I'm tired of the lies, Nell.”

“Anything you wish to tell me, I wish to hear it,” Gideon said, still employing that soft tone he’d used with the frightened maid.

Miss Mahoney shot him a scalding glare over her shoulder, then turned back to her sister. “I can send them away.”

“No,” Demeter said, her voice stronger now and eerily calm. “I need it off of me. To free myself. It is like an anchor pulling me to the sea bottom.”

Miss Mahoney pivoted to face them again. “Can we at least go downstairs. We may all speak together there.”

Electra did not trust that claim and suspected Gideon did not either.

“No,” he said, “we speak here or I escort you downstairs.”