Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(35)

"Pardon?" Yallop looked as if he were annoyed at the interruption.

"I am the most experienced detective inspector at Scotland Yard. Sir."

"What's a select committee?" Gus asked.

"I'm glad you asked," Mr. Yallop said. "It is a group made up of MPs who investigate matters of national importance then report their findings and recommendations back to their respective department so that relevant policy can be formed. In our case, we are under the Home Office."

"So they're going to make a policy about us?" Gus looked to Lincoln. "Can they do that?"

"They can," Lincoln said.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Seth said. "My name is Lord Vickers," he said to Mr. Yallop. "You have my word as a gentleman that the claims made by Mr. Salter are false. The ministry is not corrupt or biased. We exist to protect the public from—"

"Forgive me, sir, but your word means nothing to me as I do not know you," Mr. Yallop said. "I've never heard of Lord Vickers. Are you a sitting member in the House of Lords? Not all of them are familiar to me."

"I am not."

"Are you in fact the leader of this so-called Ministry of Curiosities? Is my source mistaken?"

"They are not." Seth didn't seem at all perturbed to be put in his place. "That honor belongs to Mr. Fitzroy, a more amiable gentleman you will never meet. I'm sure he'll be most obliging and answer your questions in full."

Lincoln gave Seth a sideways glance. "Who is your source?" Lincoln asked the politician.

"I cannot say," Yallop said.

"Then can you say why parliament responds to sensationalist reporting now?"

"We cannot afford another Ripper situation. News of these latest murders and The Star's accusations has spread very quickly. The city is still on edge and fears have resurfaced. The Ripper crimes were not so long ago. Something must be done, and done quickly, to prevent another murder."

"Agreed. We are on the same side, Mr. Yallop."

"That remains to be seen."

"You have my attention," Lincoln said. "I'll answer whatever questions you have. There's no need for such a heavy police presence in my home. You're frightening my fiancée."

As much as I wanted to deny it, he was correct. I was anxious. There were too many constables for a mere interrogation.

"The constables are needed," Mr. Yallop went on. "The police failed to apprehend the Ripper monster and are eager to make amends for that disappointing outcome. Isn't that right, Inspector?"

Detective Inspector Fullbright's whiskers shook. "There are some who would agree with you."

"The ministry is not the vehicle for a political statement," Lincoln said. "Or for the police force to 'make amends.' It transcends politics and exists solely to maintain control over the supernatural, as it has done for centuries. Salter's claims of corruption are false, made simply to sell more papers. Kindly get on with your questions as I have an investigation to undertake."

I placed my hand on Lincoln's arm. It would do no good for him to get angry now. He needed to be at his most diplomatic, if there were such a thing.

"Then let's begin." Fullbright turned to his constables, but Yallop interrupted him.

"Even if Salter's claims come to nothing, I should warn you that things will change." Mr. Yallop jutted out his jaw, making his chins wobble again. "Your group is far too secretive. It needs to be more open, more accountable, or it's ripe for corruption."

"Not while I am its leader," Lincoln said.

"And how long with that be? Hmmm? No, Mr. Fitzroy. You have had it your own way for too long. Such an organization cannot be allowed to possess as much power as your anonymity gives you."

"You're proposing that we answer to parliament?" Seth scoffed. "And be weighed down by factional politics? It will tie our hands. It's an absurd idea."

"I am yet to give my recommendations on how to run the organization," Mr. Yallop said stiffly. "Or whether it should exist at all. Perhaps abolition is a better alternative. We have a police force, after all."

Lincoln's arm tensed beneath my hand. I squeezed it hard, partly to hold him in check and partly because I needed to cling to him. I felt all at sea suddenly, as if my boat had been cast adrift with me in it.

"Get on with it, Fullbright," Mr. Yallop said. "I haven't got all day."

"Search the house," Inspector Fullbright said to his constables.

"Search the house!" I cried. Seth and Gus echoed my surprise.

"There's no need for a search," Lincoln said, sounding far calmer than I expected. His rigidity told another story, however. "I will answer your questions and cooperate fully."

"As I would hope," Mr. Yallop said with a sniff. "But Inspector Fullbright has a job to do." He nodded at the detective who in turn nodded at his men. They filed out of the drawing room.

The records! We hadn't completely finished making a copy of them all. Letters V to Z were still sitting on the desk for anyone to see. Once the constables found those, they would realize what we were doing and demand to see the other files.

I swallowed heavily and gripped Lincoln's arm harder. "Charlie?" he said. "Are you unwell?"