Page 46 of A Dangerous Vision

“I suspect she wishes to employ your abilities.”

“Yes, it seems she does, but you have questions for her too, don’t you?”

“It’s important that I speak with her father, since he seems to be the one who met with Pennington regarding the breach-of-promise suit.”

Electra placed the card in her skirt pocket. “Then you’ve no interest in speaking to her?”

“I didn’t say that.”

A moment later, the jury filed back into the room and, to no one’s surprise, the foreman announced a verdict of “willful murder in the death of Percival Pennington.”

The coroner nodded solemnly. “Gentlemen, you are discharged,” he directed at the jury. Then to those gathered, he said, “That concludes the inquiry. The inquest is closed.”

Those in the gallery immediately stood and began making their way to the exit.

Gordon Callister shot a look at Gideon over his shoulder. He seemed almost fretful that Gideon would wish to speak to him again. Lance Pennington and Miss Faraday crossed in front of Gideon and stopped to address him.

“Has anything been concluded, Inspector?” Miss Faraday asked. “Have you found any answers?”

“I am still seeking them, Miss Faraday, but you have my promise that I will visit you and Mr. Pennington personally once I’ve concluded my investigation.”

Something about the girl’s youthful, tear-streaked face tugged at Gideon.

“Thank you, Inspector.” Miss Faraday turned to Electra, who was gazing at her curiously.

“Miss Lucy Faraday,” she said with a courteous nod of introduction.

“Electra Poole.”

The young lady’s eyes grew large. “I’ve read about you in the papers, Miss Poole. Can you really foresee a person’s death?”

Electra shook her head. “Not always, no. And I rarely attempt to.”

“I wish my uncle had visited you, nonetheless.” Miss Faraday sniffed and seemed to struggle to keep her emotions in check.

“We should go, Lucy,” Lance Pennington said in a cajoling voice.

A reporter from one of the London dailies lingered at the edge of the row of chairs, his interest fixed on Pennington and his niece. As her uncle led Miss Faraday toward the room’s threshold, the bold young reporter stepped forward, but Pennington lifted an arm to keep him from approaching his niece.

“We have no comment to offer you,” Lance Pennington bit out, even as he kept moving with his niece toward the exit.

Undaunted, the reporter pivoted on his heel and strode in Gideon’s direction.

“Nothing I can say at this juncture, Mr. Reid.”

Gideon knew the brash young man was simply doing his job, yet he’d also been one to detail Electra’s involvement in the Becknell case. The Metropolitan Gazette was not the most widely read of London dailies, but Reid was undoubtedly one of the most tenacious journalists he’d ever met.

“No new details at all, Inspector?”

“None that I can share.”

“Has the investigation stalled then?”

“Did I say that, Mr. Reid?”

“Will this killer ever see justice, Inspector, if you cannot find him?”

Gideon did his level best not to rise to the young man’s provocation. “The investigation commenced two days ago and will continue until the culprit is found.”