Sebastian frowned and looked up. “What did he say?”
“He said he wants to speak with you as soon as possible. He said it had something to do with the lock.”
Excitement surged through Sebastian, and he stood and put the coat he’d just taken off back on. “Excellent news, Pond! We might just catch that bastard yet!”
Pond nodded, flushing as he backed out the door. “Of course, sir! I never doubted it.”
* * *
HALF AN HOUR LATER, Sebastian was seated in O’Brien’s study, making polite chit-chat with his friend and Allison while inwardly chafing at the bit for O’Brien to dispense with the pleasantries and get to the damned point. He hadn’t rushed over here to talk about their charity work, though he was glad that O’Brien was finding things to occupy his time since his injury.
“Should we tell him?” Allison asked, drawing Sebastian’s attention as she turned her shining gaze on her husband, nearly vibrating with excitement.
“Tell me what?” Sebastian asked cautiously, a little taken aback by Allison’s intensity.
O’Brien cleared his throat, his own eyes suspiciously bright. “We’ve just found out that we’ll be parents come summertime.”
Relief washed through Sebastian. He didn’t know what he’d expected, but this truly was wonderful news. Though once again, he felt a bit of a pang at the thought that his own hopes of starting a family were getting further and further away. Especially if he continued his affair with Jocelyn. After their conversation this morning, he’d have to be more careful than ever that their time spent together did not result in a child. She’d made her opinion on the matter quite clear.
Jocelyn did not want his child.
He blinked the thoughts away and smiled at his friends. “That’s wonderful news! Thank you for telling me.”
Allison grinned and stood, then leaned down and gave her husband a kiss on the forehead. “Well, I’ll leave you two to discuss whatever’s got Sebastian all in a froth. I just wanted to tell you our good news.”
O’Brien watched her leave, his once-taciturn face now glowing with happiness.
“She’s good for you,” Sebastian observed.
“I’m a lucky man,” O’Brien agreed. Then he became all business as he opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a lock that looked identical to the broken one they’d found at the murder scene. “I had some free time yesterday, so I went looking for places that sold this sort of lock. Luckily for us, I could only find one.”
Sebastian picked up the lock and turned it around and around in his hand. “Did the proprietor remember who’d bought one recently?”
O’Brien’s face fell a bit. “Unfortunately, although he said he’d only sold one in the past few weeks, he didn’t have a clear memory of who bought it, other than that it was a toff with dark hair. Of course, that description could fit any number of people, but when I described Viscount Danbury to him, he agreed that it sounded like the right man.”
Deflated, Sebastian sank back in his chair. “Well, I don’t suppose it’s reasonable to expect that the shopkeeper would remember every person who’s come in to their establishment in the last few weeks, nor require their name before they purchase something.”
“It’s him,” O’Brien said, his features hardening. “That bastard murdered those girls, caused my accident, and now, he’s bloody laughing at us.”
“I think so, too,” Sebastian agreed. “But we have no proof.”
O’Brien sighed, turning in his chair to look at all the photographs and scribblings pinned on the wall behind him. “There has to be something we’re missing. Something that will prove that he’s The Viper.”
Sebastian stood and walked closer himself, shaking his head. “There’s nothing, is there? He’s going to just keep killing these girls, and there is nothing we can do about it.”
“You could put a man on him, have him watched constantly. If he really is The Viper, he’ll try and strike again, and then maybe we can catch him in the act.”
“I could put Pond on it,” Sebastian said, nodding. “He’s so nondescript no one would ever notice him lurking around.”
“That’s a good idea,” O’Brien agreed. “It’s time you gave the lad a little more to do than fetch coffee and answer the phone.”
“Perhaps you’re right.” Sebastian drew his gaze away from the wall and met his friend’s gaze. “Do you think there’s any chance he’ll go after Joc—” He cleared his throat. “Lady Aston?”
O’Brien smiled grimly. “You’re on a first-name basis with the countess now?”
Sebastian thought about denying it, but what was the point? O’Brien was far too astute to lie to about something like that.
“We’ve grown... close,” Sebastian admitted, afraid he was blushing as much as fair-skinned Jocelyn always did. “I’ve been trying to offer her comfort for her sister’s death. I want to solve this thing for her. But I’m worried that she could be in danger, too.”