Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(82)

The spirit pointed at Seth. "When my murderer is caught, I will cross."

I didn't look at Seth. I didn't want him knowing Swinburn remained here because of him. "I have some questions for you, Sir Ignatius, and you will answer them. That is a command."

The ghost shimmered. "Go on. I have nothing to hide now."

"Did you murder those people in the Old Nichol?"

"Yes," he said.

"So you could blame Gawler and have him arrested?"

"Arrested, tried for murder, and hanged." He spoke coolly, dispassionately. It was unthinkable that he didn't care for his fellow shape changer. I doubted he cared for anyone. "To answer your next question, Miss Holloway, I did it to take over his pack."

"Harriet took over his pack, not you."

"She would recognize me as the head of our kind and defer to me on important matters. Much like a lord and his king, or a minister to the prime minister."

So it did come down to power in the end. The descendent of sailors had set his sights high, and he'd almost reached the pinnacle.

"I didn't tell that reporter about Gawler, you know," he said. "Harriet had that wrong."

"I know." I didn't tell him her own husband had been Salter's source. "But you did tell him about Lincoln and the ministry."

"No." The spirit swept up to me and whooshed around my head. I managed to stay still, calm, despite wanting to duck out of the way. "I have never spoken to The Star's reporter or any newspaperman. The information about Fitzroy did not come from me."

I blinked. Blinked again. "Tell me the truth, Sir Ignatius," I commanded. "Did you tell anyone about the Ministry of Curiosities and Lincoln Fitzroy? Anyone at all?"

"No! My name is in your files, for God's sake! Fitzroy made a point of telling me so. I didn't like him or your damned ministry, but I'm not a fool, Miss Holloway. I know when to keep my mouth shut."

My chest tightened. My throat felt dry. If he hadn't told Mr. Yallop or Mr. Salter, who had?

"What is it, Charlie?" Seth asked, a hand on my lower back. "You look faint."

"It's already quite warm," Alice said.

I shook my head. "It's not that. Sir Ignatius," I said to the ghost. "The police informed us that Lady Harcourt was pushed into the path of the omnibus. She did not kill herself. Did you do it?"

"No! Are you mad?" he blurted out. "What if I'd been seen? I wouldn't risk it simply to get rid of her. Anyway, I quite liked her. I didn't want to marry her but I would have settled a sum on her when I broke off the engagement. I'm sure she would have seen the sense in that."

I doubted it but didn't say so. I was much too shocked by his revelations. If he hadn't killed her, who had? Most likely it was the same person who'd told the newspapers about the ministry and mobilized Yallop.

"You may go," I murmured. "I have no more questions for you."

The ghost crouched before his body on the pavement. The blood had begun to dry and an insect buzzed around the head. "I think I'll stay here a little longer. I want justice."

"You there!" someone shouted from up the street. "Halt! All of you." Two constables hurried toward us, truncheons at the ready.

Seth greeted them. The use of his full title blew away their superior air and had them treating him with deference.

"We were told of a commotion here, sir," said one of the men, glancing at the body. "Did you see what happened?"

"In a way," Seth said. "We were strolling along and saw a mass of people gathered. It seemed to be some sort of protest against that man there." He pointed at Swinburn's body. "Next thing we knew, he'd fallen and the crowd dispersed."

Swinburn's ghost swirled round and round. "They won't believe that ridiculous story. Besides, there are witnesses up and down this street."

None of whom were close enough to identify Seth as the one wielding the blade. There'd been an entire army in the vicinity, obscuring their view.

One of the constables inspected the body. Finding the head missing, he scanned the vicinity and pulled a face when he spotted it. "What kind of weapon did that?"

"Good question," Seth said. "You should search for a sword, that would be my guess."

"Damned idiots!" Swinburn shouted in the constable's face.

We gave the constables our names then left them to clean up the mess. Swinburn's spirit followed me for a few feet then found he could not go any further. He was tied to this spot.

We caught a hackney back to Lichfield. By the time we reached the gate, we'd decided we probably should have gone straight to Scotland Yard. For one thing, we ought to notify Detective Inspector Fullbright of Swinburn's death. He would soon find out anyway, but somehow we had to make it sound as if we were innocent. I couldn't quite think clearly enough to make up a better story than the one Seth had given the constables. Perhaps later.

I also wanted to ask Fullbright where to find Lincoln. Hopefully he was still in a Scotland Yard holding cell and not already transferred to a prison.

The sight of the damaged house squeezed my heart. The catapult's boulder had torn off a corner of the top floor, leaving broken, jagged beams jutting into the sky. Bricks and other rubble lay scattered at the building's base, including the twisted remains of the attic desk and chair.