Page 55 of A Dangerous Vision

Her mouth trembled, and her cup rattled a bit as she lifted it from the saucer.

“How many days?” Gideon asked.

“A few, Inspector. But Demeter knows her own mind, and I suspect she had her reasons for departing. I trust she is well and will be in touch soon.” The forced smile that came after those words wasn’t believable in the least.

Electra sensed her fear, like a new note laid over the resounding one of protectiveness. She felt it for Demeter Devlin too. Electra wondered if she took a keen interest in all the ladies who went to the Rosebud Club or if she had some special relationship, even a kinship, with Mrs. Devlin.

Gideon reached into his coat pocket and pulled out one of his calling cards, handing it over to Miss Mahoney. “I’d like to speak to Mrs. Devlin. When she contacts you, please send a message to me at Vine Street station. Day or night. I’ll come straight away.”

She took the card and offered a single dip of her head. “I don’t think Demeter will have any light to shed on Percival’s murder.”

“She is acquainted with him. That you’ve admitted, so I would like to speak with her,” Gideon insisted, then he tilted his head. “Do you know of anyone who might have wished him ill?”

“He only spoke of conflict with Mr. Beecham, the father of the girl he jilted. I know of no one else who menaced him.”

“Aside from the rivalry, as you said, with Mr. Callister.”

Miss Mahoney shook her head. “Did you not note my disdain when I spoke of it, Inspector? There was no true rivalry, but the two of them could argue over the weather. Men do sometimes behave like boys.”

Gideon watched her a moment, and Miss Mahoney held his gaze in an almost defiant manner.

“Thank you, Miss Mahoney. We’ve taken up enough of your time, I think.” With that, he stood and glanced at Electra, who got to her feet too, setting aside her cup of tea.

Miss Mahoney looked surprised by his sudden eagerness to depart. “I will send word if I hear from Mrs. Devlin, Inspector.”

Gideon nodded, then strode toward the front door, where the maid was waiting with their overcoats. They said nothing to each other as they donned them and then strode out into the overcast afternoon.

“Why did—” Electra started.

“Let’s speak once we’ve secured a cab.”

Chapter Twelve

Once they were seated inside a hired cab, this one a hackney that allowed them to sit on opposite benches and converse face to face, Gideon took a moment to collect his thoughts.

He’d called up Regent Square to the cabbie, and Electra had eyed him with interest, clearly comprehending his intention to visit the establishment.

She didn’t wait long to speak. He could all but see there was something she wanted to confide.

“Why did we hie it out of Miss Mahoney’s so quickly?” she asked.

“The lady was lying to us, Electra, and I doubted we’d learn much more.”

She nodded. “I agree that she was not entirely forthright.”

“And I thought it would behoove us to visit her establishment before whatever goes on there at night commences, and before Miss Mahoney has a chance to warn anyone of our arrival.” The last thing he wanted was to escort Electra into a house of ill repute, though he suspected she’d chastise him for such delicacy and protectiveness.

“Most cunning of you,” Electra said with a half-smile.

He returned a smile of his own. Then he felt silent, pondering what they'd learned from Miss Mahoney. Speaking to the lady had felt like being maneuvered with invisible strings. And he left feeling he’d learned nothing substantive. Electra hadn’t even achieved what she’d come to either.

“I’m sorry we didn’t find your Mrs. Wilson.”

“I learned more than I expected to,” she confessed.

“Oh?” Realization struck him. “Ah, you saw something, didn’t you? When you touched the glass. I wasn’t certain. It was so brief.”

She gave him an almost mischievous look. “I wanted to tell you immediately, of course. I believe Jane Wilson held that cup. I saw a ring on her finger that was the same one she was wearing when she visited me at Cordelia’s.”