“And yet she seemed to think you could do it.”
I rubbed my eyes, suddenly more exhausted than I could ever remember being. That wasn’t who I was anymore. I had decided on that years ago, and if I hadn’t exactly been happy since, at least my life had been quiet and peaceful. “Mr. Sutter, I’m very sorry for your loss, but your family disowned Gloria. You think she was a fraud of the worst kind. I’m not certain exactly what you want from me, and, frankly, I don’t even know if I want to help you at all.”
He seemed to think this over. He leaned back, crossed his arms over his chest, and regarded me. “Gloria and I had not spoken in seven years,” he said. “I have a town house here in London, but it is under renovation, so I have been staying at a hotel. The hotel is called the King Richard. It is not the fanciest hotel in London, nor is it the lowest. It’s modest and it’s near where I need to be for work, which is why I chose it.”
I raised my eyebrows and stared at him, waiting for him to continue.
“Gloria knew nothing of this, of course,” he said. “And yet last night, when I arrived at my hotel after supper at my club, I found that note I speak of. It had been left for me at the front desk. Gloria’s note. I’m a careful man, Miss Winter, and I’ve examined the note thoroughly. It is most definitely in her handwriting. The clerk at the front desk described her in every detail—Gloria was rather unforgettable, as you know. There is no chance of fraud in this case. Gloria knew where I was. She could have left a note for you directly, but she didn’t. She left it for me, communicating with me for the first time in seven years. And six hours after she left that note, she was dead.”
“And what of the people who were with her last night?” I said. “What of the police?”
“Scotland Yard is involved, yes. They have interviewed the people who were with her—low characters, all of them. A murder weapon has not been found, and an arrest has not been made. They claim they have no cause for an arrest as of yet.”
“Then you should let them do their jobs.”
“Gloria wanted you involved.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. Everything was closing in on me. “No.”
“I believe you’ll find me a very persistent man, Miss Winter. And I have some connections in law and government that you may find unpleasant to deal with.”
“What does that mean? What connections?”
“My meaning is clear enough, I think.” He regarded me impassively. I wondered who he worked for, where he’d collected such power. I’d never broken a law in my life, but a pulse of unease went down my back. I didn’t want complications; I wanted simplicity. Something told me that no matter what I did, I wasn’t going to get my wish.
“Why did you come here?” I was almost trembling with a sudden spurt of anger. “Why did you pretend to be Mr. Baker? What did you think you would accomplish?”
He uncrossed his arms, frowning. “I had never heard of you before I received the note, of course.” The “of course” was dismissive, as if it were ridiculous to think a man so important could have heard of me. “I checked into who you were and discovered that you are some kind of psychic. I assumed you were a fraud, as most psychics are. Before I involved you in my sister’s case, I wanted to meet you for myself.”
“And I just had to go and prove myself to you, didn’t I?” I said bitterly. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Sutter, but I will not help you. I do not find people on the other side. I do not speak to the dead. I won’t do it for you, or for Gloria, or for anyone.” I pushed back my chair and stood. “It’s late. Please leave.”
He sighed, as if my continued denial was a wearisome chore. “Miss Winter—”
“You may not have a reputation to protect, but I do,” I said. “I can’t have a man in my home this late. The neighbors only barely tolerate me as it is.”
He looked surprised. “I have a wife and children, Miss Winter. You have nothing to fear from me.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Despite my agitation, I tried to picture this man, so perfectly contained, siring children on any woman. I failed. “I only keep what reputation I have with great care. And so I am again asking you to leave.”
He remained in his chair, looking up at me. “I have no wish to compromise you. I will leave on one condition.”
“And what is that?”
“That you meet me tomorrow, after you’ve had the night to rest and think. I’ll be in Trafalgar Square at ten o’clock. Surely there can be no impropriety in public at that hour.”
I should have said no. I should have stayed firm. But I wavered. Perhaps it was because I wanted him to leave. Perhaps it wasn’t.
“Miss Winter?” he said again, as inexorable as a schoolteacher.
I swallowed and nodded. His expression relaxed, almost imperceptibly, and he nodded in return.
“Good night, then.”
I closed my eyes as the garden door shut behind him. Under my eyelids, black circles overlapped black circles again. It was a vortex, pulling, pulling. Gloria’s vortex.
Tell Ellie Winter to find me.
Alone in my kitchen, I put my head in my hands.
CHAPTER THREE