Take Heart

Truth Will Out

"Mr. Godwin!"

Emelie rushed down the laboratory stairs, shouting the doctor's name as she clutched an open newspaper.

"Mr. Godwin! Mr. God—"

She crashed into him, and he grabbed hold of her shoulders to keep her from toppling over. "Miss Waterbrook, are you all right?"

Rather than reply, Emelie held up the newspaper. Brow furrowed, Mr. Godwin took it and scanned the article it was opened to. Swallowing hard, Emelie waited for his reaction. After a moment, he scoffed and lowered the paper.

"They have no evidence," he said.

"How did they even come to such a hypothesis, though?"

Mr. Godwin set the paper down and walked over to Percy. Emelie picked up the paper and proceeded to read aloud from the article. "'Officer Desmond has suggested that the Organ Harvester may not be the murderer we all suspect he is, but that he may, in fact, be a murderess.'" She lowered the paper. "How can he suspect it's a woman? No one would believe a woman of any station could have the wherewithal to commit such atrocious acts of violence. Which must mean he's seen me. Mr. Godwin, what are we going to do?"

"Nothing."

Emelie clenched her jaw, her eyes set on the doctor as he straightened his back and turned to her. There was a firm determination in his eyes. It was hard and cold and made him appear intimidating. She almost believed he had a solution to their problem.

"We do nothing," he repeated. "This officer has no solid proof. He didn't even go into details on how he came to such a conclusion. He only stated that he believed the Organ Harvester could be a woman, not that they are. It's nothing but wild speculation, an attempt at gaining attention."

"But—"

"We'll continue on as we have. You're very careful and skillful in your work, Miss. Waterbrook. You do not leave behind any sort of traceable clues. We'll be fine."

He spoke with such authority and assuredness. She wanted to believe him. She desperately wanted him to be right. But a niggling doubt in the back of her mind would not allow her to hope.

~

The laboratory door flew open, and a set of hurried steps proceeded down the stairs. Emelie rose to her feet as Mr. Godwin appeared.

"I know where he got the idea," he said.

"Who?"

"Officer Desmond."

Mr. Godwin removed his coat and hat, tossing them onto his desk before turning to face Emelie. Her heart sunk. "So he does have evidence," she said.

"Not evidence. But he does have a lead."

"Who?"

"Hope and Etha."

Emelie inhaled sharply. The two maids who had locked her in the linen closet. After their little prank, Mr. Godwin had swiftly relieved them of their stations. It had been nearly a week since they had left the household, and Emelie had naively believed she had heard the last of them.

"They're telling people we're involved with the murders?" Emelie asked.

"No. They're spreading another sort of rumor." He averted his eyes. "Concerning our relationship."

Heat crept across Emelie's face, and her stomach turned. "Those rumors have been circulating since I started assisting you with Percy, Mr. Godwin. Why would they make a difference now?"