“You couldn’t be a normal sister and want to go buy ribbons,” Rayne lamented.
“You are thinking of Amelia.” Amelia was the oldest of all the siblings and was in Europe. She was the epitome of a lady. She had gone to Europe to find a dragon husband. She had heard the stories like the rest of them at father’s knee and it was her dream to make a dragon match. Rayne wondered if she would get her dream or find a new one like Lady Ancaster thought and have children.
“She should have stayed. There is a dragon ready to marry right here,” Rayne speculated out loud.
“You mean Victor? He seemed like a good sort. You should marry him.”
Rayne knew they had spoken of the dragon the other night and Katherine certainly hadn’t been surprised by the revelation that a dragon had come a courting. But Rayne hadn’t realised that Katherine had met Victor.
“When did you meet him?” she demanded.
“When he came to speak to daddy. So why aren’t you going to marry him?” So much for avoiding pressure from the family.
“I’m not going to be a slave,” Rayne answered honestly hoping to pre-empt any other attempt to pressure her into a match with the dragon.
“It isn’t really. Slavery, I mean.” Katherine like their father had studied dragons and knew about their culture and their lore. But Rayne wasn’t going to be fooled. Owning someone wasn’t done amongst sentient beings. Ironically the Wyvern Empire was the first country in the world to ban slavery. In the new world there was still slavery.
“What do you call collecting?” Rayne challenged.
“Actually what they are doing is binding themselves at a molecular level in order to transfer matter to this plane. Apparently they are out of sync enough that they can only be fertile if they have more of a link. They can only make things pop in and out when they have that bond. They call it collecting but really it is more a scientific phenomenon where our essence is entangled with theirs. Magical almost, if I actually believed in magic.” Katherine probably knew more but kindly didn’t bore her by going into any details.
Rayne tilted her head and asked, “Are you really fourteen?”
Katherine flashed a grin at the teasing. “The last time I counted, I was. Though I think at my next birthday I’ll try being sixty.”
They hopped out at the bookstore. The patrons eyed them suspiciously as it was not common for a woman to be browsing scientific texts. Katherine though was oblivious and skipped through the shelves muttering to herself the author name as she searched the shelves. Rayne checked out the section on forensics but there were no new texts so she went to stand outside so her sister wouldn’t see her waiting and rush through her own shopping.
Rayne was debating whether to purchase some ices when Lady Beechworth sauntered down the street. “Afternoon Miss Ancaster. Any luck with my blackmailer?” At least Lady Beechworth was transparent and to the point. There was always the issue of the nobility feeling that they could take advantage of their connections with the police. They’d usually sidled up ask and for a small, tiny favour. Of course saying no made her look like a complete jerk so at least this was refreshing.
“No, I have a case. A murder actually.” Lady Beechworth would also appreciate honesty in return.
“Oh, very gruesome. Someone we know?” Her voice a little more eager than was appropriate for a lady of the ton.
Rayne didn’t see any reason not to tease her with some information. It would soon be in the papers. Keeping secrets from the press was impossible. The officers at the Yard didn’t know the meaning of discretion. “The man who killed Victor’s bride, Eleanor.”
The spark of interest was clear in Lady Beechworth’s eyes. “Anything juicy to tell me. I swear I won’t spread it about.”
“Of course you will.” Rayne chuckled as she responded to Lady Beechworth’s ridiculous statement.
The smile grew on Lady Beechworth’s lips. “Of course I will. Well, dish.”
“Nothing to dish.” Rayne wasn’t about to tell any of the gossiping ladies of the ton about Eleanor being a high class thief who had conned a dragon into marrying her. She didn’t think Victor would appreciate his shame being aired amongst the very judgemental high society.
To deflect Lady Beechworth she said, “I’ll visit your blackmailer in the morning.”
“Brilliant. It will ease my mind to have that all sorted.” She patted Rayne’s hand and sauntered off again. Rayne wondered if Lady Beechworth learned her manipulation skills from Rayne’s mother or if it was merely a generational skill.
Katherine said from the store doorway, “She didn’t eat you alive. What is your secret?”
“There isn’t anything wrong with Lady Beechworth. She is one of the few who still goes out of her way to talk with me.”
Katherine shuddered dramatically. “She scares the bejeebus out of me.”
“Just talk about your science stuff. She will appreciate that you have a mind.”
Katherine eyed Rayne suspiciously. “What did she want to talk to you about? Your investigations?”
“In a manner. Come, let’s go for an ice.” There was no way she would talk to her sister about the blackmailer. Rayne understood the need for silence due to someone’s reputation. But she was also aware that her sister was only fourteen and didn’t need to know all the gruesome details of her work. Besides Rayne had a healthy respect for someone’s reputation. Everyone had assumed hers was non-existence because of her physical damage. She knew better than anyone it was impossible to recover a reputation once it was gone.
Chapter Eleven
To give another level of discretion to Lady Beechworth’s problem Rayne went before work to the blackmailer’s, Markim, address. He had done well as he lived in a decent part of town. With a park on the corner, the house was nestled in a quaint neighbourhood.
There was no evidence from the impatiens growing in the window that a villainous blackmailer lived there but Rayne trusted Lady Beechworth wasn’t sending her on a wild goose chase. That the address matched the one for Markim had been the deciding factor for Rayne about the validity of the blackmailing claims.
Rayne knocked on the door. It swung open with a soft whine. She poked her head into the house. There was a sense to the place that it was empty. That complete stillness that only an abandoned dwelling could have.
Even then Rayne hesitated on the threshold. “Anyone here?” No reply had Rayne entering.
She searched the rooms for signs of life. The house had sturdy furniture and though it was clear blackmailing was able to pay the bills the owner of the house wasn’t a collector of possessions. The front room was a male sanctuary with a set of leather seats. Cigar smoke permeated the wood. There wouldn’t be any lady’s tea served in that room.
She found the blackmailer’s body in the parlour. There had been a struggle as chairs had been tipped over and the blackmailer’s knuckles were bloody from fighting back.
The killer had used a convenient poker from the fireplace to cave in the side of the blackmailer’s head and then had discarded poker in a hurry. Rayne crouched down by the body. There was a pool of blood by his head. She peeled off her glove and pressed her hand to his neck. The skin was a little warmer than the room. This man had been dead a while but not days.
She picked up a wrist and dropped the hand. Rigor mortis had not set in so the deadly blow hadn’t been too long ago. Her guess would be early hours of the morning or this side of midnight at the very latest.
Rayne turned away from his body and searched the room. Her first assumption was that an enemy of Markim had confronted him. Possibly one of his blackmail victims. There was no evidence of a search though. Just of the fight. So the killer either had the incriminating evidence or had panicked and left without it.
Rayne searched the drawers and shelves. She was looking for hidden compartments in the mantel when she saw something in the fireplace.
The grate was clean, ready for a fire to be laid. On the grate was ash and the single
curl of a blackened piece of paper. Rayne tugged out a handkerchief with her metal hand and laid it out on her knee. She reached with her other hand and delicately placed the burned paper on the handkerchief. She couldn’t make out the words on the blackened paper but she had heard that dragons had abilities others didn’t. She would see if Victor could help.
She found a small glass that she covered the paper with and wrapped the lot with the handkerchief. Keeping it all safe in her mechanical hand which she locked into position so nothing could jostle free. Travelling across town with her mechanical hand clamped shut was difficult as she kept forgetting and reached for things with her prosthetic only to pull herself up short so she didn’t disturb the evidence.
Victor answered the door as usual when she knocked. He didn’t make assumptions this time and frowned at her on his doorstep. “Miss Ancaster?” He also had gone back to calling her by her more formal name. At least he kept to his word and her wishes.
“Are you able to read something off a piece paper that has been burned?”
He frowned at her in confusion but answered, “Yes.”
She pushed past him into his house.
He asked, “Is this to do with Sebastian?”
“Not everything has to do with you, dragon. This is a new case.”
“A murder?” It wasn’t supposed to be. It was supposed to be a simple case of blackmail. At least now she didn’t have to worry about aggravating some of the others at work by arresting Markim for blackmail. She might even get some credit from the peelers if she managed to solve his murder.
“Yes. So instead of interrogating me can you help me with this?” She offered the glass clamped in her mechanical hand.
“Of course.” He led her through the house to a lab.
Rayne whistled when she saw it. “Is this something all dragons have in their homes?” There were tables covered in different machines. Glass tubes in trays and jars of mystery liquids bubbled away. He must have been working in here for things to still be on the go.
“No. We have our own specialities. I like chemicals. They are simple compared to the other sciences dragons enjoy.”
“Simple?” She couldn’t fathom a species that considered chemicals a hobby craft.
Rayne waved her hand at the equipment in the lab. “Can we proceed?” She offered him the handkerchief with the glass inside. The paper had shed some carbon, turning the handkerchief grey. He pinched the paper with the care of a surgeon and placed it on a glass sheet. He then placed the glass over a tripod stand.
Victor spoke as he worked, “I didn’t expect to see you back here after the way you left.”
He meant the kiss and she was pleased he didn’t actually say kiss as her cheeks were heating up just thinking of it. She answered honestly, “I don’t know any other dragons.”
Victor found that amusing rather than being offended. “We aren’t all into science. Some of us can be downright moronic. You could have risked going to a dragon who wouldn’t have been able to help you at all.”
“Then consider this a compliment then, as I knew you would be able to help.” She watched him as he worked. His hand sure of his craft as he moved.
He flashed her a smile. “I will. Though I’d rather have you compliment my kissing abilities.” So much for him not mentioning the kiss directly. Her cheeks bloomed like a summer rose with heat.
Rayne steeled some determination into her voice as she stated, “You can stop fishing for compliments as that isn’t going to happen in this life time.” She hoped he believed her as she didn’t even believe herself and if he pushed she just might give in.
“Is that a challenge?” She glared at him and he chuckled as he went back to his work.
He set a gas flame under the glass and said, “Come close as this will be quick.” He turned up the flame so it touched the glass. The words flared to life above the heat.
The note read, “Meet at the Maiden’s Hare.” The rest was unreadable.
She swore softly under her breath and Victor tutted mockingly, “Not very ladylike.”
“Hunting killers isn’t ladylike.” Rayne had heard that tune from too many people that her answer was automatic. Her brain was going over the coincidence of two murders connected to the Maiden’s Hare.
He couldn’t be offended by the sharpness of her tone as he answered philosophically, “You should care about what you say as what we say had to first come from our minds.”
Rayne took out a notebook and wrote down what had been visible on the note. “Don’t lecture me, dragon. I have to find out who this blackmailer was blackmailing as that is who killed Sebastian.” Snapping her notebook shut she spun on her heels and said over her shoulder, “Thank you, Victor.”
“A pleasure.” His voice a sensuous purr.
Chapter Twelve
Larkin laid a package on the desk. Rayne frowned, “What is this?”
“Rosie says every woman needs decent handkerchiefs. I did try to tell her that you were a duke’s daughter and had plenty.” Rayne unwrapped the package. The handkerchiefs had her initials embroidered in the corner. Elegant, they were better than the set ordered by her mother from their own seamstress. Rosie had true talent.
“Tell her thank you. You can tell her I’ll keep an eye on you to make sure you make it home every night.” He snorted. As the muscle in their duo it was him who usually made sure Rayne came home. She put away the handkerchiefs. It was a thoughtful gesture.
Rayne went back to her notes. They were frustrating her. Rayne tapped a pencil on a pile of papers. She was supposed to be putting her notes on the case down on those pages but she was stuck with everything going through her head. Things pointed at the dragon except that he was too smart to leave too many clues leading to him. He was the only person who would want Sebastian dead.
Instead, it was someone that was pointing the evidence towards the dragon on purpose. A smart killer. Which was at odds at the brutal way that Sebastian was killed. The panicked murder and lack of planning in Markim’s murder again didn’t speak for any intelligence. Passion was more likely the motive in this violent act. Victor might feel honour bound to kill the person who had killed his wife but there was more feeling towards her betrayal than to the person who had killed her.
The mug of tea plonked onto her desk brought her out of her thoughts. Larkin flopped down in his chair and put his own mug up to his lips before he breathed over the hot liquid, “You are in a loop.”
It wasn’t a question but she answered anyway. “Yes. I can’t get my head around it all.”
“Well, talk it out with me. Tell me what you think happened?” Larkin leaned back ready to listen to all the convoluted thoughts in her head.
They sometimes did this with difficult cases. As a sounding board he was trustworthy and always asked questions that untangled her thoughts like a greased chain. “If I had to do that I’d have to go back to the first crime.”
“The murder of Eleanor?” He took a contemplative sip of his tea. Larkin might be the muscle in their partnership but he was also a very good detective.
“No, the confidence fraud. They went after the dragon. That takes some guts. I don’t think they came up with it themselves. I went to the Maiden’s Hare today and spoke to some of Sebastian’s old friends. Eleanor and Sebastian weren’t known for taking on big fish. They were small time crooks. They usually pulled their con on business men and low ranking noblemen. Sebastian would work for them and find out what they were like and then Eleanor would arrive as their dream girl. She would sweep them off their feet and she would drain them of as much as possible. They were cautious and always finished the game long before the business men even knew they were being conned.”
Rayne had to admire their skill. They had never over reached. Rayne picked up the cup. Larkin was a single man without a housekeeper so he knew how to make a decent cup of tea. He usually went a little sweeter than she liked. Sugar at least was more pleasant than honey in the subtle cup of tea.
“Yes. Sebastian didn’t work for Victor. The dragon always take servants in as part of their collection. He would have made sure Sebastian was worth collecting before making him a servant but when he told me about meeting Eleanor he said Sebastian was her servant not his. If Victor didn’t know Sebastian then where did Eleanor get her information in order to play the role Victor wanted? Someone had to have told the two the information they needed to work the scam.”
“So a player we haven’t met yet.” He smiled, amused by the way she thought or by the idea of someone setting up the conmen.
“Or uncovered. The dragon had an enemy four years ago who is still around now. They are the one who is tying up loose ends.” Rayne picked up the pencil and wrote down a question mark above Eleanor and Sebastian’s names. She wrote down Victor’s name as well with lines between all of them towards him. She then drew an x through the line to Eleanor.
“I don’t think Sebastian killed her. I don’t think Victor did either. Sebastian was used to this game and he couldn’t play it without Eleanor. It would have been against his own well-being to kill her. It doesn’t seem like he found another to play her part either. Instead, he ran off with his tail between his legs. But he also left with enough money to live well in the last four years. He was still wearing good clothes and he could afford to travel easily.”
Lady Golden Hand Page 7
