“And of course they aren’t going to take your advice over Madame Ophelia’s,” Elizabeth said in disgust. “We need to find out who she has employed to fulfill her prophecies.”

“Do you think it’s someone you know?” Mother Bates asked. “Could you convince them to stop?”

“Con men don’t usually operate in their home city, although I still might know them, but even if I did, they’d hardly give up such an easy con just because I asked them to.”

“And going to the police is a waste of time,” Gideon recalled.

“Yes, so the only solution is to cut the head off the snake,” Elizabeth said.

“What a horrible expression, my dear,” Mother Bates scolded her.

“I know, but it fits, doesn’t it?”

—

Freddie wants to help,” Anna informed Elizabeth the next morning. She had no classes on Wednesday morning and had stopped by to give Elizabeth this amazing information while her mother was attending another séance. They were sitting in the library so they wouldn’t disturb Mother Bates, who was discussing constitutional amendments with some friends in the parlor.

“Who is Freddie?”

“Frederica,” Anna said impatiently. When Elizabeth still did not respond, she added, “Miss Quincy.”

“Oh. Did you tell her about all this?” Elizabeth asked in surprise.

“It’s not a secret, is it? I mean, the part about Mother wasting all our money on a medium. She knew there was something wrong. Freddie did, I mean. She saw how worried I was, so I told her about Mother’s obsession, and . . . well, I had to tell her you were going to help so she wouldn’t be concerned.”

Elizabeth nodded. “I see.” And she did. Freddie was indeed more than a friend.

“So of course, she wants to help.”

“Is Freddie an experienced con artist?”

“Don’t be silly. You know she isn’t.”

“Then how can she help?”

“I wasn’t an experienced con artist when you asked me to help the first time.”

“Yes, but—”

“And don’t tell me it’s dangerous because I know you’ve sworn to Gideon that it’s not.”

Elizabeth sighed. “It’s not dangerous, but we can’t have inexperienced people making mistakes and giving the game away.”

“Freddie won’t give anything away.”

“Perhaps the best thing she can do is provide moral support for you, since you won’t be participating in this much, either.”

“I don’t need moral support, and I don’t expect you to give her anything important to do. She’s still very innocent.”

And so was Anna, although Elizabeth knew better than to suggest it. “Then I wouldn’t want to be the one to corrupt her.”

“I’m being serious here, Elizabeth. I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”

“Neither do I. Perhaps you could bring her to luncheon someday soon, so I can get to know her.”