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daughter. I know your income. And
you will have even less of it after this outrage.”
    “Father—“
    “Do not interrupt me, Lizzy.” Ainsworth snarled at his daughter, and
Ian could no longer stand by idle.
    “Sir, I can provide for Lizzy. I have been saving for years, and
you know I am not afraid of hard work or long hours. I have hopes of promotion,
sir.”
    The man laughed, leaning back in his chair and resting his hands on
his not insignificant girth.
    “You think I intend to promote you? After finding you alone,
locked in a room, with my daughter?”
    “I locked the door, Father.”
    Lizzy’s words seemed to light a fire under Ainsworth. He shot up
from his desk. “We’ll have no more of this now.”
    Lizzy opened her mouth to protest, but Ainsworth lifted a finger
and pointed at her.
    “And you, girl. Your time in Whitechapel is done. I do not even
wish you to visit me here at headquarters. It is long past time you should
begin considering your future. You will make a fine wife, Lizzy. To a proper
suitor.” He spoke the final words as he shifted his gaze to Ian.
    Ian wasn’t certain if he should revel in the acknowledgment that
he was a suitor for Lizzy’s hand or focus on Ainsworth’s dismissal of him as
improper.
    “On one point, sir, we are in agreement. Lizzy should no longer
come into Whitechapel, at least until we’ve caught him.”
    Ainsworth actually shot him a look of gratitude. Their work
together on the women’s murders, the common goal to solve the crimes, had
created camaraderie between all the men of H Division, no matter their status.
Ian did not wish to be at odds with his superior. The man had favored and
mentored him, and, if he was lucky, he might one day be his father-in-law. Most
of all, he shared the man’s desire to keep Lizzy safe.
    Lizzy apparently had other ideas. The moment he expressed
agreement with her father, Ian felt her tug her hand from his.
    “So this is how it would be. Both of you
agreeing on what is best for me without consulting my feelings at all. I
am not a fool. I am more careful and observant than you give me credit for. I
am a detective chief inspector’s daughter, after all!”
    Lizzy’s raised voice echoed against the walls of Ainsworth’s
office. Even she seemed taken aback by her outburst. Ian watched her bow her
head and bite her lower lip. He almost expected her to apologize to her father,
who stood staring at her apprehensively, as if fearing she might start shouting
again. Then Lizzy lifted her head and shot a long stare at both men in turn.
“You cannot keep me from my work. Either of you.”
    Ian felt her gaze on him as she spoke the last two words, and he’d
never seen such a look her face. Frustration was clear, but he also read
disappointment. The same gold-brown eyes that had looked at him with passion
just moments before now gazed at him with pain.
    He wanted to go to her, comfort her, to make her see sense.
    But after gazing at him for a moment, she turned on her heel and
strode out of the room. She did not stop outside Ainsworth’s door to wait as he
instructed but turned in the hallway toward the building’s exit.
    Her determined stride left Ian wondering if she’d ever wish to see
him again.

Chapter
Six
     
    Ian took a few steps, intending to leave Ainsworth’s office. He
wanted to follow Lizzy yet knew it was impossible. He had work to do, a
murderer to find, and keeping busy was far preferable to dwelling on the end of
what had only just begun between him and his superior’s daughter.
    “We’re not finished here, Reed.”
    It was only Ainsworth’s gruff voice that recalled Ian to the
official reprimand he had been receiving before Lizzy interrupted. He waited
while Ainsworth resettled himself behind his desk. The man seemed drained after
the confrontation with his daughter.
    “Yes, sir. As I said before Li...before Miss Ainsworth’s arrival, it won’t happen again. I should have sent word to you
immediately.”
    “See