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and sit down,’ Juliana called through to us, her voice merry. ‘The food will be getting cold.’
    I was pleased that although she was charmed by Edward Kane, it was my hand she touched occasionally throughout the meal, squeezing my fingers affectionately as she told Edward about our times hunting, and spoke of her father, and our experiences working on the infamous ‘Jack the Ripper’ case.
    ‘The police call on Thomas often, you know,’ she said proudly, ‘and not just for his medical skills. He has an eye for analysing the minds of men from their terrible deeds. He’s worked on many celebrated cases, not just that awful one.’
    ‘Oh, Juliana,’ I said, attempting modesty while feeling inordinately pleased that she felt the need to press my importance on this handsome, wealthy younger man. ‘I am not that different to others.’
    ‘Yes, you are – even Father says so. He says you have a gift.’
    The word almost made me shudder – it was so close to what the priest had said of me and my abilities. He had been talking of more supernatural leanings, however, and I was a little embarrassed to remember it.
    ‘It must have been a terrible time,’ Edward said. ‘Even in New York the newspapers were full of it.’
    A terrible time
. Edward Kane would never know the half of it.
    ‘I just wish the police had caught him. The killings may have stopped, but there are good men who still feel frustrated that he got away.’ I was thinking of course of Andrews, for the case was etched in every line of his face. ‘I share in Henry Moore’s hope that he is dead or incarcerated – perhaps in one of your own cities.’
    ‘There’s a thought,’ Edward said, sipping his wine. ‘The world is certainly growing smaller.’
    ‘Enough of this gloomy talk,’ I said after a moment. ‘The past is done – the present is where we should reside. Tell me more about your business in the railways, and life in New York. I travelled as a young man, but mainly in Europe. I am ashamed to say I have yet to visit America.’
    The evening passed more pleasantly after that, and although I felt a little reserve towards Edward Kane – probably, if I am honest, as much only jealousy of a charming and handsome man in his prime whom Juliana obviously found engaging company – I could see that he was a clever and thoughtful individual who had no doubt contributed considerably to the success of his late father’s business. He was confident but not arrogant, and there was more than a little grit at his core.
    When it was time for us to leave, we said our farewells to Juliana, who insisted Kane call on her and little James again, and at Kane’s invitation we shared a carriage back into town. At first I thought he was simply being sociable, but once we were away from Barnes he leaned forward in his seat, resting his forearms on his knees, and said, ‘I’m glad we have some time together, for there is something I wish to share with you – something that I had originally planned to show to Juliana, but I can see she is still recovering from her grief and I fearthis will not help her. But I have to share this with
someone
, and you care for Juliana – and you also knew Harrington. And you are obviously an intelligent and respectable man. I trust you to deal with them as you wish.’
    My curiosity was only slightly larger than my trepidation. The iron wheels beneath us rang out against the cobbles as my heart pounded against my ribs. Harrington was intent on haunting me still.
    ‘What is it that concerns you?’ I was glad to hear my voice sounded calm.
Whatever it is
, I reminded myself,
there is no way it can point to my own involvement in Harrington’s death
. The only men living who could do that were the priest and Kosminksi, and neither of them could speak without admitting their own guilt. We had formed an unholy alliance in our drug madness; even without their company I still felt its grip on me – especially now.
    Kane pulled a