A neatly folded copy of the morning’s largest newspaper sat in the door compartment, and she opened it, hoping to find something that would distract Hester. Regrettably, the headline was not one inclined to aid Emme’s cause.
Three Bodies Discovered in Edinburgh Alleyway Indicate Deliberate Attack
She scanned the article, but before she could refold the paper and set it aside, Hester grabbed it. Her lips thinned, small lines forming around her mouth, and Emme braced for another blast.
“That makes twelve murders over the last three Full Moon Phases, Emmeline, and all bear signs of a predatory shifter attack!” Hester glared at Emme as though she were the responsible party.
“Mama, they cannot possibly say for certain.”
Hester rattled the paper in Emme’s direction and read, “‘Most certainly the work of human shifters, given clues left at the scene and autopsy findings.’”
Emme winced. The recent attacks on innocents over the last few months seemed to be the result of increased mayhem propagated by both predatory shifters and vampires. Emme thought it was all too coincidental and said as much. “Mother, do you not find it odd that we are witnessing an uptick in attacks just before the Summit meetings? It flies in the face of logic to assume a human shifter would oppose friendlier legislation. Why, if he were a murdering fiend, a broader acceptance of his kind might increase his opportunities.”
“I know you are an advocate for the innocent, Emmeline, but perhaps we are putting ourselves in danger by—”
“Oh, Mother, not you too! We cannot deny people their rights simply because there may be a few bad members of their group who abuse them. We may as well lock ourselves up, then. Heaven knows there are plenty of bad humans—humans who do not Shift into animals but simply harbor an evil we might all potentially possess.”
Hester’s eyes were glossy with tears, and Emme realized she’d unleashed the whole of her emotion into the carriage with her appeal. The air felt thick with it, and Emme had no desire to make her mother cry. She gently took Hester’s hand into her own. “We mustn’t be ruled by fear. Much of this is hysteria concocted by the few who wish to control the many.”
“Emmeline.”
“Mama?”
“Do not attempt to control my emotions when I am simply looking after your safety.”
“I wasn’t trying to control anything, I—”
The Traveler lurched to a stop by the tall building alongside the Thames, and before Emme could draw a decent breath, Hester yanked her from the vehicle and marched her up the wide steps and inside the building.
“We require an immediate audience with Chief-Inspector Conley,” Hester told the young officer at a desk.
The constable looked at her in surprise. He was young, and his uniform looked new and crisp. The name on his badge read “Brinley.”
You poor, poor boy, Emme wanted to say.
“I regret the Chief-Inspector is occupied at the moment.” Brinley’s open face showed regret. “May I take your name, madam? Perhaps later—”
“We will see him now. Either you interrupt him, or I shall.”
“But . . . but, madam—”
“You may tell him Lady Ronald O’Shea requires an immediate audience. He will recognize my name, as Castles’ recently donated a generous sum of money to the Metropolitan Police’s uniform fund.”
Emme closed her eyes and quietly exhaled. “Mother.”
“Emmeline.”
Emme smiled tightly at the young man. “We shall schedule an appointment for next week.” That might buy her enough time to insure her mother forgot the matter entirely.
It was not to be. “We shall meet with the Chief-Inspector now.”
Brinley cleared his throat, his cheeks red, and hurried to the door behind his desk. He knocked quietly, keeping one eye on Emme’s mother. A muffled command came from within, and he opened the door and murmured something inside.
Almost immediately, two gentlemen in suits left the Chief-Inspector’s office looking befuddled, followed by a taller man impeccably dressed in dark attire that matched his black hair and dark eyes.
Emme sucked in a breath. Nigel Crowe? If she had a nemesis other than Detective-Inspector Reed, it was Mr. Crowe, former member of the Predatory Shifter Regulations Committee. She had come up against him and his cold disregard for the shifter community time and again during her crusade, though she’d not seen him for months, not since he’d returned from Port Lucy with Isla and Daniel. He’d been in London for a short time and now, regrettably, appeared to be back.
Isla insisted Nigel was a changed man, but when he saw Emme now, he blinked in surprise before his face settled into its customary judgmental perusal. He stopped before Emme and her mother and offered a short bow.
“Lady O’Shea, Miss O’Shea, a delight.” His tone indicated otherwise.
“Likewise, Mr. . . .” Hester searched for his name.
“Crowe,” Emme supplied. “You’ve returned. A short visit, I hope?” She caught her mother’s glance from her peripheral vision. “I presume,” she amended.
Mr. Crowe’s lips twitched so slightly she might have missed it had she blinked, but it was the closest thing she’d ever seen to humor in the man. “I plan to remain for a time. I have work to finish here.”
“What sort of work is that, Mr. Crowe?” Hester asked.
He flicked his attention to Emme’s mother. “I am resuming my former position on a government committee.”
Emme felt heat rise from her middle and feared it would explode out of her ears. He was returning to the PSRC? So much for Isla’s claims about his change of heart. “Your timing is impeccable, Mr. Crowe. You’re just in time for the Summit in Edinburgh.”
“Indeed. It promises to be extraordinary. Might I assume you will be in attendance for the activities?”
“Yes, the entire week,” Emme snapped, just as her mother answered, “Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Emme stared at Hester. “Mother, enough.” She grasped her elbow. “Let us please return home where we can discuss the matter privately. This visit is rash and unnecessary.”
Hester planted her feet and refused to move.
Chief-Inspector Conley appeared in the doorway of his office. He
