Saving the Scientist (The Restitution League #2)(35)

The chief laughed. “Myself as well.”

Edison swallowed around the sharp stone in his throat. “That must be it. I’m generally found at Gently’s. Horchatt’s when he’s got a string of strong fighters.”

The man looked thoughtful. “Could’ve been either place, though Gently hasn’t had much quality of late.” He withdrew, pulling the door shut behind him.

Edison’s bones felt like jelly. He refused to allow himself to slump down in his seat.

Burke slapped a hand down on his desk, startling him. “Owner is a Timothy Haversham, but the cottage has been to let for years. His solicitor handles the business.”

Edison’s eyebrows rose. “You’re thorough.”

Burke shrugged off the compliment. “Local bobbies are sharp. Soon as the flames settled, they were at Mr. Haversham’s door.”

Before Edison could voice his next question, Burke settled his forearms on his desk and aimed his considerable focus on Ada. “Care to explain what’s important enough to kidnap you over?”

Ada’s head snapped back as if she’d been slapped. She turned to Edison, eyes wide with fear.

“It’s all right,” Edison said. “The inspector’s one of us.”

“He’s…?” She stopped and addressed Burke directly. “You’re part of the league?”

Burke raised a hand in protest. “I wouldn’t say that exactly.”

Spencer rolled his eyes. “Only because you won’t cross the line.”

Ada cut him a look. “Line?”

“The inspector won’t do anything illegal,” Edison explained. “Very often.”

Ada’s eyes widened. “And the rest of you?”

“We do what’s necessary. What Burke and his lot can’t do.”

“I see.” She seemed to take her time considering that bit of information.

“About the kidnappers?” Burke prodded gently.

Ada sent Edison a questioning look. He answered her with an emphatic nod.

“I’ve developed an energy device, Detective.”

“A dry cell battery,” Edison elaborated. “A stable, powerful energy source.”

Burke leaned forward. “Seems like something worth a great deal of money.”

“The Navy jumped on it immediately,” Edison pointed out.

“But someone intervened.”

Edison nodded. “Whoever set this up knew her escorts would show up that afternoon. Made certain their imposters arrived hours earlier.” He looked Burke straight in the eye, wanting the detective to take note of his next words. “They were good enough to fool me—for a minute.”

Burke’s eyebrows rose. He tilted back in his chair and propped his hands behind his head. “That’s concerning.”

“I figure we’ve got a day or two before anyone realizes Mrs. Templeton wasn’t in the explosion.”

“I doubt that.” Burke shook his head.

Edison gave him a questioning look.

“That lot,” Burke jabbed a finger in the general direction of the jail cells. “They never went back for the rest of their pay.”

Edison slapped his thigh. How could he have overlooked that? Lucifer’s teeth, his brain had turned to porridge.

What little color was left in Ada’s cheeks drained away. Edison curled his fingers into his palms, trying to focus on the strength in his hands. He needed to be strong. Ada needed it.

This wasn’t her orderly, tidy world.

She needed a warrior, not a simpering child afraid of his own shadow.

Edison exchanged a look with the inspector. Neither, it seemed, could come up with a way to make that new piece of information any less terrifying. He clenched the knot in his tie, wishing he could blame a lack of oxygen for his thick-headedness.

She deserved reassurance.

She deserved to count on him.

He just needed out of this filthy place, then his mind would start working again. “Not sure where we’ll be these next few days,” he told Burke. “You can send a telegram to Crane’s house in Brighton if you learn anything. Crane’ll make sure the information gets to me.” He rose.

He’d only just gotten to his feet when the chief inspector barreled back into the office, a silk hat and handcuffs dangling from one hand.

Edison’s stomach lurched up into his throat. He dropped back into his seat, unsure his legs would hold him.

“Need to run, Burke,” the man ordered. “Constables found a body in the old Farley stables. Knife in the back. Looks to be one of the Quality.”

Burke jumped up. He grabbed his suit coat off the back of his chair and headed for the door. “Apologies,” he said as he ran out.

Edison sat back in his chair and closed his eyes, letting the soothing rush of relief ease the hammering of his heart.

Now he simply needed to make it out onto the street.

“I know where I know you from.” The chief inspector again filled the doorway, making Edison jump. “It wasn’t the fights.”

His heart froze in mid beat. It took everything he had not to gape at the man like a dead fish.

The chief snapped thick fingers. “The Hydraulic Engineers’ Society. You demonstrated that automaton thing.” His thick muttonchops inched upwards as he grinned at Edison. “Fantastic piece of engineering, that. Like to have a closer look sometime.”