Earnshaw opened his mouth, shut it, and hung his head. “I beg your pardon. I have been remiss. I was able to locate them in Mr. Montgomery’s office at his house, and I will bring them to Bow Street directly. It’s just that with the explosion, and my injury, and poor Mr. Montgomery, and then the solicitors after me to provide all the accounting so they could begin to settle Miss Montgomery’s affairs, I’ve been chasing my own tail lately.” He touched his bruised forehead. “I will get the letters to you as soon as possible. When you read them, you’ll see. The threats were real, and someone acted upon them.”

Hoffman cleared his throat and offered his hand to Daniel. “You have my report. The building is now safe for occupation, and the repairs can begin straightaway. I shall inform Miss Montgomery of the fact, and she can decide what she wishes to do.”

Daniel shook Hoffman’s hand, and the engineer and the accountant took themselves off.

“What do you think?” he asked Ed.

“I think many people have opinions, but the lad made sense. The explosion and the murder are two separate events. Something sparked the flour dust. Someone shot Mr. Montgomery.”

“Do you believe we can rule out anarchists and Luddites?”

Ed shrugged. “A disgruntled worker could have shot him. How much do you know about anarchists? I’ll confess, I don’t believe I’ve ever met one.”

Daniel held his own counsel. He’d met one, sat beside him at a meal and listened to him spout his views. And soon, when Sir Bertrand gave the word, he’d be mingling with a whole lot of them.

Chapter 11

“I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY in getting you this information. We’ve been chasing leads and combing through paperwork since I examined the mill Monday.” Daniel handed Sir Bertrand the engineer’s report and his own notes on the young scientist’s conclusions.

Sir Bertrand skimmed the pages. “It’s only Wednesday. I can forgive your tardiness.” He dropped the folder on the desk in the War Room. “The accountant may be correct in one aspect.”

Lady Juliette came into the room, and Daniel rose. “In what way, sir?” Daniel asked as he pulled out a chair for her. She seated herself, and he caught that whiff of roses that always accompanied her. Sunshine in an English garden. Did she purchase the scent at an apothecary, or did she have it distilled especially for her?

“Anarchists are involved at the mill. The man found dead, from the blow to the head? His name is Pietro Todisco. He’s Italian, and he’s a known associate of a group called La Resistenza. The Resistance. Various sects of the group have caused trouble in Bristol, Leeds, and Manchester. The goal seems to be general mayhem rather than politically motivated, but they are easily influenced by others’ agendas. Like Jasper Finch and his ilk, anyone looking for rabble-rousers and malcontents. La Resistenza seems to churn these men out like butter pats.”