When we visited Philip Peterson’s house, his wife and two children were there. They looked surprised to see the three of us suddenly show up.


    His wife was a middle-aged woman with a mncholic expression, and she seemed to shrink back slightly as if afraid of us. Philip Peterson’s eldest daughter was shielding her mother, clearly wary of us. The son, the younger of the two, appeared clueless. After all, he was only five years old.


    “Has anything unusual happened recently? Any visitors perhaps…?” Liam asked Mrs. Peterson very politely.


    “Please, be honest with us. We want to help you,” he added.


    “No… No one hase,” she replied.


    I fell into quiet contemtion. Was she telling the truth? But there didn’t seem to be a reason for her to lie. Exchanging nces with Liam Moore, I decided to speak.


    “Then, if anyone suspicious does show up, could you contact us immediately at 13 Bailonz Street?”


    “Who woulde? Who could possiblye?” Philip Peterson’s eldest daughter sharply retorted.


    “No one wille for us. Do you think anyone would after our father was hanged?” Oh. How should I put this? I mped my mouth shut. Your husband was hanged, but he seems to havee back to life? I wasn’t sure if Mrs. Peterson could bear this shocking news.


    However, she figured it out on her own. With eyes wide in fear, she kept muttering to herself.


    “No way, no way. No way…”


    “He’s dead!” Julia, Philip Peterson’s eldest daughter, screamed, her voice like a sharp cry.


    “We barely found freedom! There’s no way someone who was hanged coulde back!”


    Her face was pale with terror. Holding her younger brother close, she looked like a girl forced to grow up too quickly. The woman who had to take on the role of the head of the family raised her chin defiantly.


    “Listen to me, all three of you. Especially you, sir. I know you’re stirring up London, obsessed with crime. But you shouldn’t trouble innocent people!”


    “Julia! You mustn’t speak to Mr. Moore like that!” her mother interjected.


    “Thank you for catching him, but why are youing back after five years?”


    I stopped Liam from speaking. He lowered his eyes and obediently listened to Julia Peterson.


    “He’s no rtion to us. Don’t scare our mother with a dead man. We’re struggling just to make ends meet! So, please, don’te here again.”


    Later, after we left their house, I realized why the eldest daughter had reacted so sensitively. They must have had a hard five years due to their father’s notorious crimes. Moreover, she had a younger sibling to care for, so her distress must have been immense.


    However, after much persuasion, they finally promised to contact us if anyone suspicious showed up. Only then could we leave their house with some relief.


    “Mrs. Peterson has had a tough time,” Liam remarked as we walked away from their block.


    “Philip Peterson’s colleagues, those released criminals he helped, kept visiting their house, causing them trouble every day. People would use them of living with a murderer.”


    I sighed at the exnation of how they had to flee from ce to ce even after his execution.


    “The children are innocent.”


    “Indeed,” Liam agreed, briefly reminiscing about five years ago. Suddenly, he looked up as if remembering something.


    “So, Scond Yard secretly relocated them, didn’t they, Inspector?”


    Jefferson nodded.


    “That’s correct, Miss Jane. Mrs. Peterson was both a criminal’s wife and the one who betrayed Philip Peterson.”


    A betrayal. It wasn’t surprising. Even I wouldn’t be able to stand it if my husband was constantly releasing criminals.


    “Do you have any ideas on how he used to get people out?” Liam’s eyes turned to me. His gray eyes seemed to understand my intention.


    “You think he’ll use the same method again.”


    “We never found his hideout when we captured him, right? That’s why we’re here. It’s the only remaining link.”


    Liam shrugged, speaking smoothly. It was an admiration-filled sigh, almost a praise.


    “You are truly…”


    “Brilliant?”


    “Perfect.”


    Iughed softly. Hispliment made me feel a bit giddy, even though I hadn’t intended to fish for praise. Whether he knew the effect of his words or not, Liam Moore was naturally charming. I was sure of it.


    Liam, who had ttered me, extended his elbow. I naturally ced my hand on it and turned to look at Inspector Jefferson. He seemed surprised by our intimate behavior, reminding me that we appeared closer than our official image suggested.


    Jefferson nced around before whispering to us.


    “When did you two be so close?”


    Although I had suspected, his words still shocked me. I asked nkly.


    “Excuse me?”


    “You two. Anyone would think you were married.”


    Liam’s eyes flickered rapidly. I pressed his side firmly and answered.


    “No. We’re just… friends.”


    “…”


    It was an unconvincing excuse. Yes, I knew.


    Jefferson looked between us for a while before bursting intoughter. My ears turned red. For a moment, I felt like a teenage girl caught with her first love letter by her father.


    “Miss Jane. I earnestly hope my concern is unnecessary, but as someone who’s known this friend for a long time, I must tell you.”


    Liam shifted uneasily. I lightly pressed down on his arm and waited for the inspector’s words.


    “Liam Moore is not husband material at all. I stake my 30-year career on it…”


    “Inspector Jefferson.”


    “…You see? This is what he does.”


    What could he have done? I didn’t know because I was looking ahead, but Liam Moore must have made some kind of face. By the time I turned back, his innocent, smiling face was all I saw.


    He looked so silly. Really funny.


    Watching him, Inspector Jefferson clicked his tongue in amusement. Strangely, it made meugh too. Eventually, I burst outughing.


    ＊ ＊ ＊


    Liam Moore knew the geography of London well. Not only the geography but also about the new buildingsing up. For instance, he could predict what a new construction would be.


    For a man who could find spaces deliberately omitted from maps just by looking at blueprints, finding people in London to help him wasn’t difficult.


    “This method, huh.”


    I watched Liam Moore disguised from inside the carriage. With just a bit of disguise, he instantly looked like someone who had lived in this slum for decades.


    Liam was talking to a drunk man. As they conversed, several vagrants approached them. Liam handed them bread wrapped in paper and returned to the carriage.


    Inspector Jefferson asked, looking at Liam Moore.


    “What did you talk about?”


    “London weather, today’s earnings, and… if there’s been anyone suspicious around the slumtely.”


    He drew the curtains. Liam quietly wiped the soot from his cheeks, took off his worn jacket and scarf, revealing only a dark-colored shirt underneath.


    “Need a vest?”


    I dug through the medical bag and handed him a vest. Liam smiled, epting and putting it on. Now he looked like the well-dressed gentleman he was.


    “There are many peopleing and going in the slums. If one dies, another quickly takes their ce, right?”


    “But those who stay for long know who’s where. Even I can’t do that.”


    This genius man!


    “Of course, I paid them for the information. Those friends are my excellent informants. I couldn’t just hand out half-crowns like water, so I gave them bread.”


    Knowing how dangerous the sound of coins is in the slum, he wouldn’t do it lightly. Liam Moore’s informants would now spread throughout the slum, from Whitechapel to East London.


    “And recently, someone saw activity in an abandoned warehouse by the docks… We should check that out. Are you not busy, Inspector?”


    Inspector Jefferson shrugged.


    “Murder cases and missing persons, but this is the most important.”


    “Oh. He might get fired.”


    “You could just curse me instead.”


    “It was a concern.”