Capturing the Devil (Stalking Jack the Ripper #4)(69)
As he got closer, Thomas practically dropped my arm to rush to him.
Catching himself at the last moment, he made sure I was all right before greeting our friend. “Noah!”
“Thomas!” The two young men embraced, a clap of hands on backs and gripped elbows. I rolled my eyes skyward. Men always seemed to have a secret ritual instead of simply hugging each other. Once they’d completed their greeting, Noah beamed in my direction. “What a surprise! It’s good to see you both. Moldoveanu didn’t admit it, but I think he missed you. The academy wasn’t the same after you left.”
“I’m fairly certain our old headmaster only misses taking out his hostility on me,” I said, grinning back at him. Moldoveanu had despised almost everyone in our forensic course, though he’d taken greater exception to me and Thomas for the unforgivable sin of solving the murders taking place in his school. “Speaking of him, why aren’t you at the academy?”
Not that I wasn’t pleased to see him. Mr. Noah Hale was one of my favorite peers. I marveled at our good fortune of crossing paths with him here.
Noah’s expression fell. I watched the gleam leave his dark eyes, replaced by something much sadder. “Momma got sick. I had to come back and help with the family. My dad works from sunup ’til sundown and the little ones needed me.”
I gripped his hand in mine. “I’m sorry. How is your mother feeling now?”
One of the qualities I admired about Noah was how nothing ever seemed to keep him down for long. A smile lit up his face again. “Better, thank you. Don’t feel too bad that I’m not suffering under Moldoveanu.” He opened a flap of his overcoat, pointing to an insignia sewn onto his vest. It was an eye with WE NEVER
SLEEP stitched around it. It was unfamiliar to me, but Thomas seemed impressed as he offered a low whistle. “I’ve been invited to apprentice with the Pinkertons.
They gave me a filler case for now, but it’s interesting.”
“The Pinkertons, as in the famed detective agency?” Thomas asked, perking up further. “The ones who stopped the assassination plot against Lincoln?”
“How do you know that?” I stared incredulously. “That was before you were born!”
“As were the Romans, but we learn that history, too,” Thomas said matter-of-factly. He turned his attention back on Noah, running all sorts of Cresswell deductions. “They haven’t given you any problems, have they?”
“Mr. Pinkerton had a cabin about fifty miles north of here that used to be a
stop on the Underground Railroad. Only thing he cares about is taking on the best people for the job.” Noah buttoned his coat back up, breathing into his gloves. Snow started falling, twirling every which way as it tumbled to the ground. New York had been cold, but Chicago seemed born of ice. “You two here for the fair?”
Thomas glanced at me, perhaps searching for permission he didn’t require.
We had no rules or restrictions between us. “My uncle was called to New York for a case,” I said. “Through a few strange twists, it brought us here.”
“Oh? It wouldn’t be the murder of that woman in New York, would it? The one they’re claiming was done by Jack the Ripper?” he asked. Noah was always particularly astute, especially when it came to collecting details of things left unsaid. “I thought a man was found guilty of that.”
“Yes, well, it’s unfortunate but I don’t believe it’s the first time a man’s been wrongfully convicted of a crime,” I said. “You mentioned a case you’re working on? Does it involve forensics?”
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t. No body, no crime scene or evidence of any acts of malice in her home. I’m not even sure a crime was committed.” Noah stepped out of the way of a harried-looking businessman. “It’s as if she simply vanished.”
“Her family is nearby?” Thomas’s gaze traveled over our friend, no doubt deducing details of the case before Noah offered them. “Which is why you’re here. How long has she been missing?” Noah didn’t have time to open his mouth before Thomas nodded. It was impressive, even for him. “Ah. Not long. A week?”
“It’s a bit unnerving when you do that, you know.” Noah scratched the side of his neck, shaking his head slightly. “Miss Emeline Cigrande went to work five days ago. Left to have luncheon, then never returned. Her father expected her home for supper—she was his caregiver. When she didn’t return…” I followed Noah’s gaze as it settled on the man ringing the bell and spouting about demons.
“Poor Mr. Cigrande. He’s been out of his mind, hasn’t slept since she left. He keeps ringing that bell like it’ll bring her back home safely.”
I softened at the hell that must be waging war inside of Mr. Cigrande’s mind.
His daughter was gone; he was unwell. No wonder he believed the devil was to blame.
“Anyway, enough about that. Have you been to the fair yet?” Noah asked, changing the subject rather abruptly. I shook my head, pulling my attention back to the present. “You’ve gotta see it at sunset. The water in the Grand Basin looks
like lava!”
“We won’t have much time to see the sights once our investigation is underway.” Thomas seemed intrigued. “We’ll need to ask the professor’s permission first, but why not go this evening?”