Page 78 of A Dangerous Vision

“Eleanor Mahoney and Demeter Devlin are sisters.”

Electra recalled the protective shield Miss Mahoney seemed to don whenever Mrs. Devlin was mentioned and now it fit like a key in a lock.

“Then I think we should go to Charlotte Street first.”

Gideon gave her a long, searching look, as if he had questions he was holding back. “I agree. Let us begin there.”

Chapter Sixteen

“We can only hope Miss Mahoney is more honest than she was the last time,” Gideon said as their hired carriage rolled toward Charlotte Street.

“If I can lay my hand on her, or something she’s touched, she may not need to be.” Electra removed her gloves in anticipation of entering the lady’s house again. But worry began to settle in, like a stone in the pit of her stomach. They needed to find Demeter Devlin, but her abilities did not always work as she wished them to.

“There is also another card we might play,” she murmured.

“Oh?” Gideon had been watching her slip her gloves off, his eyes fixed on her hands, but looked up, seemingly intrigued.

“She has heard of me and said she read about me in the papers. I could…” Electra hesitated.

“Yes?” he prompted.

“I know you're the most honest of people, Gideon, and the prospect of telling an untruth is beyond your fathoming.”

He frowned fiercely. “You think me incapable of deception? You do remember the state I was in when your father found me? I was a pickpocket, Electra.”

Electra remembered that boy all too well, and how quickly he’d gone from the urchin her father took in to her dearest ally. “I do not think you are incapable of it, only that you disdain it now.”

He looked only slightly mollified. “It is a well-known technique of detectives.”

“Yes, I am aware, Detective Inspector Pierce. Being the daughter of a detective myself.” She grinned mischievously. “But Father was not like you.” Not as noble, she wished to say, but she suspected Gideon would disagree.

“He was, at times, less than scrupulous.” There were facts Gideon did not know about her father, and she had perceived those secrets as things Gideon would not truly wish to know.

“What do you mean by that?” His tone had softened.

Their carriage had to be nearing Charlotte Street. “I'm not sure this is the time for that conversation,” she told him.

“Perhaps not, but I would very much like to have that conversation with you,” he said earnestly, then added, “If you would trust me with it.”

“Of course, I trust you. The only reason I haven't talked about it previously is that I know you hold him in such high regard.”

“He saved my life, Electra.”

Memories rushed in and she smiled again. “And I will forever be grateful he did.”

Gideon smiled too, then ducked his head a moment before fixing her with a firm stare. “But to return to the matter at hand, I am capable of deceit or of concealing facts and have done so in prior investigations.”

“Very well, then follow my lead when we speak to Miss Mahoney, if I say something you know or believe to be untrue.”

“What do you intend?”

“Well, it seems that you suspect Demeter Devlin murdered Percival Pennington.”

Gideon worked his jaw, pensive. “I did not believe it was a crime a woman capable of committing, but strong emotions can make a person capable of almost anything.”

“If she prevaricates with us, I may tell Miss Mahoney that I know her sister was involved,” Electra admitted. “I may lead her to believe I know more than I do.”

“And if she simply denies it?”