“Hmmm.” He nodded. “And you were coming to tell me what, Inspector?” He directed the question behind her.
Caroline turned to see Val standing in a corner of the office that she had not seen before. His arms were crossed over his chest but he uncrossed them as he moved toward them both.
“I came to tell you the same thing Sir. I was told about the item in the magazine and wanted to assure you that this is untrue,” he met Caroline’s eyes briefly and then returned his gaze to the superintendent.
Superintendent Osgood nodded to both people. “This isn’t the first time this has happened. People love to gossip. I don’t usually pay this sort of trash any mind, but I appreciate you coming forward Miss Derry for the sake of Inspector Pierce.”
Caroline avoided looking at Val and nodded. “It was the least I could do. I’m sorry to have come unannounced but I felt it was important,”
She shook his hand and when she left, she avoided Val’s eyes again.
Osgood looked after Caroline’s retreating figure and smiled. “Not many women would come to the station and try to make sure your name is cleared.”
Val steeled himself to not turn around to stare after her. “No. Not many.”
“Do you know how this started?” He gestured to the magazine she had left behind.
“No, I don’t. I have spent time and questioned the families and friends of the five victims,” Val said.
“Perhaps none of them as beautiful as Miss Derry?” Superintendent Osgood asked.
Val did not answer.
“That will be all, Pierce.” He said as a dismissal.
???
Arabella kissed Val on the cheek as he entered the parlor. He had been invited to a family dinner and though he wasn’t looking forward to it, he attended it nonetheless.
In the sitting room, his father was smoking a cigarette and engrossed in The Times while Rowland was pouring drinks for them.
“I must say Valentine, that spectacle of you in Punch did you no favors,” his mother began as he sat down with a whiskey in hand.
“What is it all about Valentine?” His father asked as well.
“Nothing. Nonsense to sell papers,” Val told them.
“You must be more careful,” Arabella reminded him. “If this woman is a family member of one of the victims it’s not seemly for you to—“
“It’s nothing,” he told them abruptly.
“She’s quite lovely, Mother,” Rowland told her as handed each person a drink and sat next to his mother. “I made her acquaintance recently. At least my brother has had the good sense to pick a woman with beauty.”
“Is that so?” Arabella said. “Tell us more of her. What is her breeding? Her family?”
“Mother she isn’t a horse and there’s nothing to tell. She’s a lovely young woman and she happens to be related to one of the victims in the case I’m working on,” he explained.
Arabella shook her head at her youngest son. “Rowland you’ve met her. Tell us since Valentine seems reluctant to talk of his paramour,” Arabella told her eldest son.
Rowland smiled. “She does good works in London. Apparently, she’s trying to help the poor out of the slums.”
“Singular.” Arabella sniffed.
“Her father is a physician. But in all fairness to Valentine, I don’t think she’s set her cap on him.”
“Well of course why would she?” Arabella smiled and touched her eldest son’s hair on his head in a loving gesture. “Any woman within her right mind would want you, dearest.”
Rowland smiled and Abram folded his newspaper. “What news of your famous case Valentine? You aren’t making much progress I understand. There’s been another killing.”