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“I know everything that happens on the
    streets of London. And you, Mrs. Pyne, have been very active on those streets of late.”

    4

    HE COULD SEE THAT HE HAD DELIVERED A GREAT SHOCK TO her nerves. Her
    control was admirable—she scarcely flinched—but he sensed that she was fighting panic. He had
    overplayed his hand. That was unlike him.

    “My apologies, Mrs. Pyne,” he said. “The last thing I want to do is frighten you.”

    “I cannot believe that Mr. Pierce told you my name,” she said, recovering her outward air of
    composure. “I thought I could trust him.”

    “You can. I have always found Pierce to be a man of his word.” He smiled faintly. “Or should I
    say a woman of her word?”

    “You know Pierce’s secrets as well?” Disbelief echoed in Adelaide’s words.

    “I am aware that Pierce is a woman who chooses to live as a man, yes. We met years ago. She
    was orphaned as a girl and forced out onto the streets. She learned early on in life that she was
    not only safer when she went about dressed as a boy but also more powerful. How did the two of
    you become acquainted?”

    “We met soon after I began my work with the young women of the streets,” Adelaide said.
    “Pierce and his companion, Mr. Harrow, took an interest in my charity house. When I mentioned
    my plans to raid some brothels in order to engage the attention of the press, Mr. Harrow offered
    to assist. He invited two members of the Janus Club to help also. Do you know of the club, sir?”

    “Pierce established it years ago. The members are all women who prefer to live as men. I assume
    that the volunteers from the club are the ones who spirit the girls away after you have emptied
    the house by crying fire?”

    “Yes. But how do you know so much about Mr. Pierce?”

    “Over the years we have found it mutually advantageous to form an alliance.”

    “I suppose I can understand why the two of you would have been obliged to arrive at certain
    arrangements and understandings regarding the control of the various shady businesses that you
    each operate. Open war would hardly benefit either of you.”

    He discovered to his surprise that he did not care for the disdain in her voice. He thought that he
    had long ago ceased to be concerned with the opinions of others, but Adelaide Pyne’s obvious
    disapproval irritated him for some reason.

    “Don’t you find your position somewhat hypocritical, Mrs. Pyne?”

    “I beg your pardon?”

    “You are a lady who forms associations with crime lords when it suits you. What does that make
    you?”

    He heard the quick intake of her breath and knew that he had finally scored a point. What the
    devil was the matter with him? He needed her help. Trading barbs was hardly the most
    intelligent way to go about the task.

    “Let us be clear, sir,” she said. “I have formed an alliance with one particular crime lord, Mr.
    Pierce, not with you or anyone else in that business.”

    “I stand corrected,” he said. “One alliance with one crime lord, it is.”

    “Speaking of Pierce, you claim that he did not tell you my identity. How, then, did you discover
    it?”

    “Your raids have created quite a sensation, not just in the press but on the streets as well. There
    were rumors that some of the young prostitutes who have disappeared in the past few months
    vanished shortly after visiting a certain charity house on Elm Street. I made some inquiries and
    learned that the establishment, which until recently had been struggling financially, was currently
    flourishing under a new, anonymous patron known only as The Widow.”

    “Your investigation led you directly to me?” She was aghast. “Was it really so simple to discover
    my identity?”

    “You have concealed your connection to the charity house well. But while individuals may hide
    their identities easily enough, I regret to inform you that it is relatively simple to track the flow
    of money. That is especially true when it