By the time Mary fetched another key and opened the front door, Jack Sweet—also known as Eddie Hardacre—was gone. Even so, Matt, Willie, Cyclops and Duke ran out of Bright Court after him.

Mary and I carried her carpet bag to the conveyance and the coachman had just finished strapping it to the back when the others returned.

"St. Martin's Lane near Covent Garden," Matt barked at the coachman. "And quickly. Everyone, get in and hold on. Not you, Mary." Matt placed some money in her palm. "Take a hack to number sixteen Park Street, Mayfair. Tell Mrs. Bristow the housekeeper that I sent you. We'll bring your bag with us when we return."

I only had time to squeeze her hand before Matt hoisted me into the carriage without bothering to lower the step.

"I don't goddamned believe it," Willie declared with a shake of her head. She'd joined us inside, along with Duke, while Cyclops rode with the coachman up front. "That low down pig swill."

"I don't know how you worked it out," Duke said to us.

"There were small clues," Matt said, "but it wasn't until Mary mentioned watches and clocks."

"So let me see if I got it right," Duke said slowly. "Eddie Hardacre—Jack—knew that Chronos was your grandfather, India, and that he had a hand in killing his father all them years ago?"

"His father and his uncle," Willie said, incredulous.

"Huh?" It took Duke a moment to digest her meaning. When he reached the right conclusion his face distorted into a grimace. "Goddamn. The Sweets make you Johnsons look normal."

I turned to look out the window and didn't see Willie's reaction.

"So Jack Sweet planned his revenge on Chronos by getting the shop," Duke went on. "But if he thought Chronos was dead, why bother? It ain't like he could rub it in his face."

"Perhaps he knew he wasn't dead," Matt said. "Or perhaps he didn't care if he had an audience, it was enough that he felt he'd got revenge."

"He must be behind the recent attack on Chronos. But how did he know Chronos was alive and back in London, or that he was staying with you, India? How'd he even know what Chronos looked like if he's never met him?"

"All questions we'll ask when we catch him," Matt said darkly. "If I don't kill him first."

My eyes burned with unshed tears. It seemed implausible, fantastical even, that Eddie had planned his revenge over such a long time, particularly when my grandfather might never learn about it. He'd been my father's apprentice for years. He'd taken his time to win my father's trust, to woo me and ingratiate himself with Abercrombie. Why not just kill my father or me and be done with it? Chronos caused the death of his father, why not then kill one of Chronos's family in return?

"I underestimated him badly," I muttered. "I should have guessed. Even Chronos said that Eddie must be clever to dupe Father and convince me to marry him."

"You wanted to believe he loved you and cared for you." Willie's sympathetic tone was almost my undoing.

But it was Matt's arm around my shoulders and his warm lips against my temple that sent the tears trickling down my cheeks. I swiped them away with the back of my gloved hand. I'd stopped crying over Eddie months ago. I refused to start again now.

"Let's hope we get to the shop before he does," I said. "We have to find that diary before he destroys it."

"He doesn't know we want it." Matt didn't sound entirely convinced, however. He fell into silence, perhaps thinking over every recent encounter we'd had with Eddie and his mother.

"We didn't mention it to Nell until today," I said. "He knows we want to find Dr. Millroy's killer, but he can't know why."

"He might have guessed," Duke suggested.

That was entirely possible if Jack Sweet was as smart as I now knew him to be.

The familiar sights and sounds in St. Martin's Lane did nothing to soothe my nerves. Mr. Finlay, the draper, stood outside his shop, hawking a discounted bolt of cotton, while Mr. Macklefield the tailor held a conversation with a gentleman. He saw me and his jaw dropped. He did not wave back when I lifted my hand in greeting.

Jimmy the errand boy appeared from behind the chop house's sign board where he'd probably been lounging in the sun. He trotted over to me upon my signal.

"Miss Steele," he said, tugging on his cap brim. "Been some time since we saw you."

"I'm glad to see you looking well, Jimmy. Can you tell me, have you seen Mr. Hardacre these past few minutes? Is he inside? The shop looks closed."

"Aye, it is. Ain't seen him for an hour, I reckon. He ain't been here much, lately. That sign says closed more than it says open. Mr. Finlay reckons he'll shut it up, soon enough. Real shame that would be, Miss Steele. Real shame."

I gave him a coin from my reticule. "Thank you, Jimmy."

I rejoined Matt and the others and told them Eddie wasn't in. "We can enter from the back," I said.

"You've got a key?" Duke asked.

Willie and Cyclops looked at him like he was a fool.

"Right," Duke said. "We're breaking in."

"Everyone will see." Willie eyed Mr. Finlay and Mr. Macklefield. "They'll put the law onto us."

Matt glanced at the coach, the lane, then back at the coach. "Not if they think we've left." He spoke to the coachman then rejoined us. "India, you'll ride up front. We four will get inside."

"Why?" I hedged.

"Because having one of us leave with the coach will make it look more authentic, and I'd prefer it if you weren't performing a criminal act."

"You're forgetting two things." I held up a finger. "It will look odd for me to be banished to the driver's seat." I held up a second finger. "And I know the best way inside that doesn't involve breaking windows or doors."

Matt turned to Willie.

"Why me?" She threw up her hands. "Duke, you go."

"No!" he snapped.

"Duke, go," Matt ordered.

"But why?" he whined.

"Because if I make Willie, I'll never hear the end of it."

Duke sighed and climbed up beside the coachman. Matt gave his final instructions then stepped into the coach with Cyclops, Willie and me. He closed the curtains and we drove forward ten feet, only to stop at the entrance to the laneway. The coach sank on one side as the driver got down from his perch.

"We'll be off in a minute, sir," he called out, loud enough for Mr. Finlay and Mr. Macklefield on the other side of the road to hear. "One of the horses seems to be limping."

Matt opened the door a fraction, peered out, then opened it fully. He jumped down and assisted me, his hands on my waist. There was no time to enjoy the sensation of his firm hold as we raced off up the lane, shielded from view by the coach. Willie and Cyclops followed close behind.

We didn't see anyone as we unlatched the gate that led to the small courtyard behind the shop. Matt, the last to go through the gate, signaled to Duke, still on the driver's seat. A moment later, the gate closed and I heard the coach drive off.

Little had changed in the yard. There was only one empty delivery crate instead of three, and a pile of soggy newspapers rotting in the corner. In his later years, as my father's eyesight deteriorated, I took over the fine work of repairs inside while he swept the yard each morning. It didn't look like it had been swept since Eddie moved in.

"The latch on that window is loose," I said, pointing. If Eddie neglected the cleaning, perhaps he'd neglected to do repairs too. "If you can reach it, you only need to jiggle it a little to open it."

"I'll try," Willie said with glee. "Been a long time since I climbed through a window. I need the practice."

Cyclops lifted her up, and she had the window open in seconds. She wriggled inside and unlocked the door moments later. She stood there, beaming.

"That weren't much of a challenge, India," she said.

I patted her shoulder as I slipped past. "Then next time you can climb through a window on the second level."

I led the way through to the workshop and drew the smell of metal and polished wood into my lungs. The scent almost undid me. It was the scent of my childhood. It was the scent that enveloped me when my father drew me into his arms. It was the scent of safety and home.

But this was no longer my home. Not this messy workshop with the tools left out and a clock's innards spread over the bench. I scooped the scattered pieces together and went to return a pair of pliers to the toolbox, but caught Willie's narrowed gaze and put it down again.

"You ain't here to tidy up," she hissed. "You and Matt look upstairs. Me and Cyclops will search down here."

"Don't go into the shop unless necessary," Matt ordered. "You might be seen from the street."

I led the way up the stairs to the apartment I'd lived in my entire life. It seemed so small after Matt's house, with its one bedroom, a sitting room that we'd used as a second bedroom, and kitchen. We hadn't felt the need for more space since my father and I spent most of our day downstairs.

Eddie had returned the sitting room to its former use but furnished it with only a faded green leather armchair and a small table. He'd left my framed embroidery sampler on the wall and my mother's two vases stood at either end of the mantel, empty of flowers. I also recognized the rug, but it was somewhat filthy with crumbs scattered over it. A dirty plate and cup occupied the table, but there was no other sign that Eddie had made this a home. Even the clock on the mantel was one that we used to display in the window downstairs. It was the loveliest twin fusee skeleton clock, one of the most expensive pieces in the shop, and he'd brought it up here where no one but him could admire it.

"Are you all right?" Matt asked, touching my elbow.

I nodded. "We need to hurry."

We searched the kitchen quickly then Matt moved on to the bedroom while I looked through the sitting room. I skimmed my hand over the spines of the books in the narrow bookcase and tried not to let the emotions overwhelm me.

"Where are you going?" I asked as Matt walked out of the bedroom.

"The kitchen for a knife to cut open the mattress."

I resumed my search of the bookshelves, reading each of the spines with my head tilted. I recognized every book—except one.

It sat on the lowest shelf, out of place between a volume of poetry and a weighty tome on the history of clocks. I slid it out, my heart racing, and traced the gold initials embossed in the soft black leather cover.

J.M.—James Millroy. Eddie had hidden the book in plain sight.

"Matt! Matt! I found it."

He suddenly appeared at my side. I waved the diary at him and could not stop my smile.

He flipped through the pages, his face lifting in relief. Then he snapped it closed and clutched the book to his chest. "Let's go home."

We returned to the workshop and gathered the others on our way out. No one saw us leave the courtyard or run down the lane in the opposite direction to which we'd entered it. Duke and the coachman waited at the other end.

"Home," Matt ordered, opening the door for me. He showed Duke the diary.

Duke looked like he would cry before sucking in a deep breath and directing his gaze forward.

Once ensconced inside and on our way, Matt opened the diary on his lap. We all leaned closer. "It's mostly medical notes," he said, turning the yellowing pages.

"His thoughts on new treatments and medical breakthroughs," I added, pointing to a detailed diagram of the inner workings of an arm.

"Some of it's not in English," Cyclops said. "Could they be spells?"

Matt shook his head. "They're Latin terms used in the medical profession."

"Go to the last pages," Willie said. "He died soon after the experiment so the spell might be there."

Matt flipped to the final pages. The last several in the diary were blank, but those beforehand were packed with a tight scrawl to make efficient use of the remaining pages.

"Here." Matt's hand flattened out the spine. "He mentions Wilson Sweet."

I leaned closer again, my shoulder against his, and read the text.

"What's it say?" Cyclops asked, turning to read better.

"That Wilson Sweet was ill with no hope of a medical cure," Matt read. "And that he told Dr. Millroy he had a son by his sister. He felt so ashamed of his actions that he left them to do penance."

"Do penance?" Willie echoed.

"He must mean participating in the experiment," I said.

"Wilson Sweet believed he was doing something for the greater good," Matt said. "Something that would absolve him of his sin." Matt pointed to where Dr. Millroy had written those exact words.

"He told Dr. Millroy that he would contact his family again if he lived," I said, reading over Matt's shoulder.

"That it?" Willie asked after a pause. "Does it say Millroy planned to visit Nell after the death?"

"No." Matt turned the previous page, working backward through the diary. He pointed out Chronos's name. It was the first time the two men had met and Millroy wrote in excited terms about the possibilities of collaboration. The word magic was not mentioned, nor that they hoped to extend life through their experiment. It was vague enough so that it could not implicate him if read by the guilds.

Matt turned the page backward again and his finger stabbed on a few lines half way down a page. "This…" His fingers skimmed over the lines. "This isn't in any language I recognize."

Cyclops and Willie both got off their seat and twisted to read the words. Willie let out a whoop. "That must be it! That's the spell, Matt!" She clamped a hand on Cyclops's shoulder. Cyclops hugged her.

The coach turned a corner and they both sat heavily on the seat again, laughing.

"Now all we need is a doctor magician to speak it while you recite your spell, India." There was no elation in Matt's voice. He would not whoop or hug or allow himself to get excited. Nor would I. Not when the job was only half done. Besides, it wasn't just a matter of speaking the spell but speaking it correctly. Dr. Parsons had got the pronunciation right, but Dr. Millroy had not. The difference between living and dying came down to mere syllables.

"What do we do about Nell?" Cyclops asked. "Tell Munro and Brockwell she murdered Millroy?"

"I'm inclined to say no," Matt said. "She poses no threat to the community now, and explaining the motive would only raise questions we're not prepared to answer."

"It would also drag Chronos into it," I said. "At the moment, they don't have evidence that Chronos is alive, or that he's in fact my grandfather, merely accusations from Abercrombie. But confronting Nell and Eddie will bring the truth out."

"Speaking of Hardacre," Willie said with a loaded glance at me.

I sighed. "Go on. Out with it. I know you want to tell me how foolish I've been, how naive. You might as well get it off your chest."

"That ain't what I'm thinking. What I want to know is if Eddie didn't go to the shop, where is he?"

"Running away?" Cyclops said with a shrug.

Matt suddenly swore then threw down the window sash. "Faster!" he shouted at the driver.

My heart tumbled over itself. I knew where Eddie had gone too.

"You think he's gone to our house to get Chronos," Cyclops said, half statement, half question.

Matt nodded. "It's likely he's behind the attack on Chronos, and he knows he's living with us."

"And he's been bent on revenge for some time," I added weakly. "Now that we know the lengths he has gone to, there's no reason for him to hold back. He'll go after Chronos and…and kill him, this time."

And thanks to our stop at the shop, we would be some way behind.

It wasn't just Chronos at home, however. There was Miss Glass and the servants too.

Matt sandwiched my hand between both of his. "He won't hurt anyone. He wouldn't dare."

I did not agree. Eddie was beyond caring what happened to him. He knew the game was over. Diabolically clever men like Eddie tended to resort to desperate measures when they were backed into a corner. I'd witnessed it too many times to assume otherwise.

Dusk made visibility low, but I recognized the Wellington Arch easily enough through the hazy evening light. I thumped on the ceiling and the coach immediately slowed in response.

"What're you doing?" Willie cried. "We got to get home!"

"Tell the driver to stop," I told Matt. "We can't return unprepared."

He lowered the window and called out to the driver to find a place to pull over. "Willie, is your gun loaded?" he asked.

"Course," she said. "Ain't no use if it ain't."

"Good. It's the only firearm we have."

"I've got knives here," Cyclops tapped his forearm, "and here." He lifted his trouser leg to show us the blade strapped there.

My eyes widened. "You walk around wearing those?"

"I'd be a fool not to."

I looked to Matt. He pulled up his jacket sleeve and showed me the small knife. "There have been too many dangers, of late. I prefer to be armed and ready for any eventuality."

"Hence my Colt." Willie patted the gun strapped to her hip.

If I ever doubted that I associated with Wild West outlaws, those doubts were banished now.

The coach stopped and Duke opened the door. "What's all this then?"

"We think Hardacre might have gone to our house to find Chronos," Matt told him. "We need to approach him carefully and with a plan of attack."

"Jesus," he muttered. "What if Chronos is already dead? What then?"

I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood. No one spoke but I guessed Matt must have glared at him because Duke winced and apologized.

"It's a distinct possibility," I said. "And that's why we need to have a plan for multiple eventualities. I propose that only Matt and I return to the house openly. The rest of you return in secret."

Ten minutes later, we had more than one plan in place. Which one we followed depended on what scenario presented upon our arrival.

Matt and I drove off, leaving the other three to walk. We'd agreed on most points of the plan, but the one thing we'd disagreed on was the possession of Willie's gun. I thought Matt ought to have it, but no one else supported me. Willie's opposition was most vocal of all.

The coach stopped in its usual position at the front steps of the townhouse. I clutched my watch and Matt tucked the diary into his jacket pocket. We both preferred to have our most valued possessions on our person.

"It's not too late to change your mind," Matt said. "You know I'd prefer it if you did."

"I have my watch at hand," I said. "I'll be fine. It's you who are unarmed except for that little knife."

He smirked. "You mean my charming character won't be enough?"

"Not on Eddie."

He got out first and lowered the step for me then assisted me out. The front door to the townhouse remained shut, a telling sign. Usually Bristow or Peter greeted us.

"My guess is he's here," Matt murmured. He signaled for the coachman to drive on then offered me his arm.

We walked up the steps together. My watch chimed once in warning. My heart raced but I didn't pause. Matt pushed open the door and angled his body to shield me before I could squeeze past him. I'd planned to enter ahead of him since the watch was a good weapon. Clearly he decided to ignore that plan. I refrained from digging my elbow into his ribs as a reminder. We could not afford the distraction.

"Bristow?" Matt called out. "Peter?"

"In here, sir," came Bristow's strained voice from the drawing room. "Don't come near! He's got a—" His warning ended with a groan.

A woman screamed.

Matt thrust me behind him and marched to the drawing room door. My watch chimed again, louder. I clutched it tighter and peered past Matt. Miss Glass sat on the sofa, her hands in her lap, her feet together, the pose as prim and proper as always. Except this time she had a gun pointed at her temple.

Eddie cocked the gun. "Come no closer, Glass, or your dear aunt will pay."

Miss Glass made no sound, not even a whimper. She stared straight ahead, her eyes unfocused and distant. Her mind had folded in the face of danger. It was something of a relief that she was not fully aware of the situation.

Bristow touched his cheek where a bruise bloomed. He stood near Eddie, close enough to be struck by the gun handle. Eddie now ordered him and the rest of the servants back, out of reach.

"All of you, back, back, back! No one comes near me or Miss Glass."

The servants obliged. They were all there, Peter the footman, Mr. and Mrs. Bristow, their daughter, Mrs. Potter the cook, Polly Picket, and even Mary, who must have arrived moments before Eddie. Mrs. Bristow drew the young maids with her, and Mrs. Potter blocked them from Eddie's view with her ample frame. I silently willed Mrs. Bristow to grab a heavy object while she could do so without being seen, but she did not. Perhaps it was for the best. If she attempted to throw something at Eddie but missed, she would become a target. At the moment, he had not killed anyone, but I wasn't convinced he would refrain if he felt threatened.

The only person missing from the scene was Chronos himself. Perhaps he was in hiding.

The presence of the rest of the household rendered our plans inadequate. Matt couldn't overpower Eddie with so many people present. If the gun accidentally went off, the chances of someone getting shot were high. Willie couldn't shoot at Eddie through an open window for the same reason. And using my watch in full view of so many artless would reveal the strength of my magic. Still, it was a risk I would take if necessary.

"You're a coward, Hardacre," Matt growled. "Let the women go and we'll discuss this man to man."

"Where are your friends?" Eddie asked.

"Informing the police that your mother killed Dr. Millroy."

"What!" Eddie exploded. "She's an old woman! Leave her be."

"My aunt is an old woman too." Matt nodded at Miss Glass. "Release her—release everyone—and I'll see what I can do to keep the police away from your mother."

Eddie adjusted his grip on the gun. He shook his head. "I can't set anyone free. Not until I have Chronos."

"She's your mother!" I said. "You have a chance to save her—"

"Be quiet, India. It's too late for my mother. You've seen to that."

Yet another part of our plan shriveled and died. We could not use Nell's safety as leverage. He cared for no one and nothing, only his revenge.

"I won't release anyone until I have Chronos." Eddie pointed his chin at Matt. "Where is he?"

"I told you," Bristow said. "He's gone."

"Glass?" Eddie snapped.

"If Bristow says he's gone, then he's gone," Matt said. "He's not going to lie to you when lives are at stake."

Eddie looked to me. I stared back, not really seeing him as I tried to think. Would Bristow lie in the hope Eddie would merely give up and walk away? Or had Chronos indeed left? If so, where had he gone?

"Where is he, India?" he ground out between gritted teeth.

"I don't know," I said. "I've been out all day."

"You're his granddaughter. He would have told you his plans."

"He did not. He is only my grandfather in the literal sense. It's a mistake to think that a man who walked out on me as a baby would care enough to remain now when his enemies are closing in."

"Enemies." He snorted. "You make it sound as if he is the victim. I am the victim. My mother, my father…both victims. Not Chronos. He killed my father as surely as Millroy did."

"Your father volunteered to participate in their experiment. He knew the risks."

He swung the gun toward me. "He did not know the risks!"

My watch chimed loudly but did not jump out of my hand in an attempt to strangle or shock him. Matt shoved me behind him and I could no longer see Eddie.

"Your family had their revenge for the crime committed against your father," Matt said. "Your mother killed Millroy and you've humiliated Chronos's granddaughter. You took India's shop, her livelihood, and you destroyed her trust. What more do you want?"

"I want Chronos dead now that I know he's not."

"If Bristow says he's gone then he's gone. You have to settle for the revenge you've already wreaked on India."

"It's not enough!" Eddie screeched. "I thought it would be, I thought I wanted the shop, but when I learned Chronos still lived… I have to punish him directly. I can't think, can't sleep or work knowing he's out there, free."

"Let the police catch him," Matt said. "I know for a fact they're searching for him."

Eddie snorted, a wet, slimy sound. "The police won't bother. They're in your pocket."

"Let Chronos go then, and your mother will not be arrested. That's fair."

"It is not fair! My father's death sent her mad, then after Millroy… She went even madder. She was never the same. She couldn't get work, and with no one to protect her…men took advantage. I spent most of my childhood hungry and in fear, hiding from her latest so-called protector. She thought they'd save her, but she only ended up beaten half to death. Tell me how it's fair that Chronos's granddaughter lived in comfort while his victim's son lived in poverty. Well? Tell me that!"

"How do you know your father's death sent her mad?" Matt asked. "You were too young when it happened. Perhaps she was already mad." He lifted one shoulder. "Considering she had no remorse in committing incest with her brother, she must have already been a little crazed at least."

One of the servants gasped.

"Matt," I whispered. "Don't provoke him."

"Listen to India." I heard the smile in Eddie's voice, even though I couldn't see him past Matt. "She knows me well enough to know I'm capable of taking revenge for a slight against my family."

I tried to muscle my way through to the room, but Matt was having none of it. He continued to block me. "I don't know you very well at all, Eddie." I said. "I never did. But I do know this. You care about your mother enough to send her money and sweets. You still visit her. You don't want her arrested for murdering Dr. Millroy. So end this now or the police will be informed."

"Nicely put, India, but I won't leave here until Chronos gives himself up to me. Do you hear that?" he shouted. "Come out, Chronos! I can stay here all night!"

"Please, sir," Mrs. Bristow begged. "Let the girls go. They're frightened."

"Let them all go," Matt said. "I'll stay as long as you like."

"No one leaves," Eddie growled.

I slipped in beside Matt, still standing in the doorway. Eddie focused on the servant women, backed into a corner behind Mrs. Potter. Miss Glass hadn't moved and didn't so much as blink. Bristow and Peter could do nothing, kept at a distance as they were.

"It appears we're at a stalemate," Matt said. "Shall we settle in for the evening?" He put his hands in the air and walked slowly into the room.

Eddie let him take a few steps then ordered him to stop. "Keep your hands where I can see them."

"Do you really think you can outlast all of us? Do you think the police won't storm in here?"

"I can kill a number of you before they get me, or before I tire. India first, of course." He turned the gun on me and my heart plunged. "If I can't have Chronos, then I'll kill his one remaining family member."

I barked out a laugh. "You think he cares about me? A man who has been absent my entire life? A man who let me think he was dead? Hardly."

He frowned. "You truly thought he was dead?"

"Yes. Did you?"

"I recently heard rumors of sightings from other watchmakers. An old fellow swore black and blue he'd seen Gideon Steele. So I began a little investigation and you can probably guess what I discovered. Or rather, what I didn't discover. There was no death recorded for Gideon Steele. I wondered how much you knew and if he'd contacted you, so I watched this house. I saw an old man fitting Chronos's description leave here one day. I called out his name and he didn't turn around but he picked up his pace. It was as good a signal as any that he was, in fact, your grandfather."

Chronos hadn't mentioned that someone recognized him that day. What else hadn't he told us?

"Did you attack him the second time he left?" Matt asked.

Eddie simply smiled, all wet lips and gleaming eyes.

"You were looking for him that day you called on me here," I said. "What would you have done if you'd seen him? Chased him and killed him right here in the house?"

Eddie's smile turned hard. "You accuse me of entering your house with false intentions, yet that's precisely what you did to my mother!"

"She was not harmed," I snapped. "Nor was it anyone's intention to hurt her."

"You terrified her. You searched through her belongings and upset her."

"She told you about her American caller, didn't she?" I said. "After we first visited her, she described us to you and you realized Matt and I were investigating Dr. Millroy's death. That's how you knew what we were doing. That's why you came here, to encourage us to stop. No wonder you had an odd look on your face when I mentioned the vagrant's name was Mr. Wilson. You hoped we'd never learn Wilson was his first name and that he was connected to Nell and you."

"Congratulations for finally working it out. It's not surprising that it took you so long—you are something of a dim wit."

I caught Matt's arm but he had not taken a step forward, as I expected him to. He stood rigid, the muscles in his jaw working. I hoped he was forming a plan because I didn't know how we would get out, short of simply waiting until Eddie fell asleep. Of course, there was a good chance that Eddie would grow tired of waiting for Chronos and shoot me anyway.

I swallowed the bile burning my throat.

"May we open the window for air?" Matt asked. "It's warm in here."

"So one of your gunmen can take a shot at me? Ha! I only played the fool, Glass. No windows will be opened, but curtains will be shut. The housekeeper may light one lamp first and the rest after she closes the curtains."

Damnation. What would Willie, Duke and Cyclops do now? What could they do except wait, like us? The drawing room didn't have a hidden passage to the service area, so even if they got into the house via the servants' door, they would not be able to make their way in here and catch Eddie unawares.

Waiting was our only option.

I glanced at Miss Glass and thanked God she was still unaware of our predicament. "May I sit with her?" I asked Eddie.

"No. You may sit where you are, on the floor."

"India will not sit on the floor," Matt growled.

"I prefer to remain standing for now," I said.

Eddie snorted. "You always were stubborn."

I bit my tongue. Throwing out retorts would not help our situation. I watched as Mrs. Bristow closed the curtains and lit two more lamps. She then returned to the girls, clutching them to her in matronly support. I was glad to see she had already accepted Mary into the fold. It was a bright moment in the otherwise dark situation.

"What's in your hand?" Eddie's voice cut rudely through my thoughts.

I uncurled my fingers to show him. "Just my watch. I find it a comfort to hold."

"A watch? A comfort? God, India, I knew you were sentimental, but that's absurd. It's just metal parts even if you have put your magic into it."

One of the servants drew in a sharp breath. I felt several gazes fall on me.

"Speaking of watches." A slow smile crept across Eddie's lips. "Glass, your watch please."

Matt pulled out his regular timepiece, not the magical one. He tossed it to Eddie. Eddie dropped it onto the rug and ground it beneath his heel.

"That cost me a pretty fortune," Matt said.

"I know how much it's worth. I sell others just like it in my shop." Eddie shot me a slick smile.

Biting my tongue almost wasn't enough to hold me back from reminding him that the shop belonged to my grandfather. I swallowed the drop of blood that filled my mouth and managed to keep my silence.

Eddie waved his hand at Matt. "Your other watch, please, Mr. Glass. Your magic one." He laughed. "You ought to see the looks on both your faces. Yes, I know about the second watch. Hand it to me."

"There is no other watch," I said quickly. Perhaps too quickly, too vehemently.

"Don't try to talk your way out of this one. I know you have a second watch and that it's special to you. Your friend, a particular sheriff, called upon me one day, asking questions about the two of you. He told me all about it."

"So you know it brings me luck?" Matt said. "At cards, the horses…"

"Don't lie to me. I know it keeps you alive, Glass. I also know it must be slowing down. Why else are you looking for Dr. Millroy's killer? I admit it took us both a little time and much discussion, but we worked it out. I see you found the doctor's diary." He nodded at the book protruding from Matt's jacket pocket. "All the trouble you went to yet it won't help you. That spell doesn't work, remember? It killed my father. Whatever spell Millroy, or some other doctor magician used on your watch, is lost. Yes, I've read the pertinent parts of the diary and know what he and Chronos tried to achieve. It doesn't say it in so many words, but it wasn't too hard to guess once you put the pieces I knew together with the pieces Payne had witnessed with his own eyes. What makes you think you can succeed with that spell where it failed for Millroy? And anyway, you don't know a doctor magician. It could take years to find one."

So he did not know about Millroy's son or that the spell in the diary was correct; it just needed to be spoken with the proper accent and inflection to make it work. Thank God or he would have destroyed the diary, or hidden it better.

"Hand the watch over," Eddie said. "I want to see it."

Matt stretched his arms wide. "Come and take it."

"Nice try, Glass. Throw the watch to me or I shoot India."

"You're going to shoot her anyway, because Chronos isn't here. If he was, he would have shown himself by now. You shoot India and I'll kill you."

"Not before I turn the gun on you. You're not fast enough."

"Oh, I'm fast enough." That calmly angry tone that was never far from Matt's voice lately was back, darker than ever. "The question is, are you?"

Eddie's smile vanished. "Throw me the bloody watch."

Matt slowly opened his jacket then his waistcoat and unbuttoned the secret pocket where he hid his magic watch. Surely he wouldn't let Eddie have it. He would crush it too!

"Don't, Matt," I said.

He responded by throwing the watch. It sailed through the air in an arc and Eddie took his eyes off us long enough to catch it. The instant of his distraction wasn't enough for Matt or anyone else to tackle him. He was simply too far away.

"Thank you." Eddie dropped the watch onto the carpet with a triumphant smirk. "Say goodbye to your loved ones, Glass. Then let's see how long it takes for you to die."

He lifted his foot over the watch and brought his heel down.