Author's Note: Sorry for the wait on this one! So without further ado...
Chapter 21: Jane Has a Series of Interesting Encounters
Morning came too soon. Jane was deeply asleep when someone began pushing at him. Only partly awake, he tightened his arms around Teresa, only to find that she was the one pushing. "What izzit?" he mumbled.
"Jane, let go," she demanded, her voice sharp with irritation. "It's time to get up."
"Just a few more minutes," he grumbled, pretending to be less awake than he was.
"Grace is here. I need to get dressed," Teresa persisted. "Don't make me hurt you."
Her tone implied she knew exactly how to do that, so Jane gave in, emitting a long, heartfelt groan as he rolled away from her. Blinking, he noticed Grace standing at the foot of the bed with a grin on her face and stifled an impulse to stick his tongue out at her. "Good morning, Grace, and happy birthday. What's the plan?"
"Riding clothes. Cho says you'll leave in the carriage. Rigsby, Wylie, and Vega already left with the horses; they'll meet us along the way and you'll switch to horseback."
Teresa looked unhappy, but since the plan was already in motion, there wasn't much she could do at the moment. Jane silently applauded Cho's courage and initiative. "Breakfast?"
"Downstairs. We want everyone to see you leave."
Jane shook his head. "No we don't. We want to be seen trying to sneak away. Bring up a tray, please. With tea."
"And coffee," Teresa added. "We'll breakfast in the royal suite after we dress."
"Don't speak to anyone if you can help it. Look tense and secretive," Jane advised.
Grace looked dubious as she left. "Okay."
Teresa slipped on her robe and said, "I don't want you to stay in the carriage. We should stay together."
Mindful of his resolution not to annoy her unnecessarily, Jane didn't tease her about her desire for his company. "You'll be safer if I'm visible in the carriage. He won't expect us to separate. Cho will be with me, so I'll be safe, don't worry. Besides, I don't think he means to kill me. You're the one in his way."
Teresa couldn't argue any of his points, but she looked like she wanted to. "Promise you'll be careful."
"It'll be hard to be anything else with Cho and Grace watching me like hawks," he grinned. "But okay, I promise."
They had a quick breakfast after dressing, then packed. Jane dug in his luggage to find his fashionable walking cane, which cleverly concealed a useful sword. Teresa eyed it skeptically as he twirled it, drawing the sword with a flourish.
"You know how to use that?" she asked.
"I'm quite the fencer when I need to be." He didn't remind her that he'd saved her life with a sword; that had taken no skill, only brute force.
"Let's hope you don't need to be," she muttered. Then she paused. "I can get you a gun."
"Horrible things. I never touch 'em," he said cheerfully. "My trusty sword is all I need. An elegant weapon from a more civilized era."
"Oh, very civilized. Women as chattel, people sold as slaves, life expectancy of what, 35 years for men? Less for women, many of whom died in childbirth." Teresa rolled her eyes.
"You have no romance in your soul," Jane sighed dramatically.
"Because I'd rather have gas lamps and railroads and doctors who don't treat me with leeches? If that's romance, it's for fools." Teresa led the way into the hall, Grace and Cho following with the last pieces of their luggage.
She had a point, Jane had to admit. There was something admirable about her relentless practicality.
When they got to the carriage, Father Minelli was waiting for them inside. "Good morning," he greeted them as Jane handed Teresa into the carriage. "I hear you had quite the night."
"Never a dull moment," Jane said as he climbed inside and settled himself beside Teresa. "Fortunately, Teresa was never in danger, since she was in the other room."
Minelli looked surprised and relieved. "Glad to hear it."
The carriage lurched into motion as Grace and Cho mounted their horses, and soon they were crossing the edge of town, heading for the road to the capital. There were only a few people out and about at this hour, but Jane was sure word would get to the duke's people nonetheless. He just hoped they managed to rendezvous with Wylie, Vega, and Rigsby before any ambush could happen.
"Read to me, please, Father," Teresa asked as Minelli picked up a book.
"Gladly, my child."
Horrified, Jane wondered if he was going to be subjected to a tedious Bible reading, but Minelli apparently preferred something more action oriented for traveling. A few lines were all Jane needed to recognize The Iliad, and he smiled, content to listen while closing his eyes and pretending to doze.
Several pages later, Jane was pleased to feel Teresa's head on his shoulder. She had to be tired, he thought. The constant stress she'd been under since her brother's death was wearing her down, and having her sleep interrupted wasn't helping.
He waited until her breathing told him she was asleep before opening his eyes and carefully shifting so he could lean against the seat corner, lifting an arm to slide around her as he settled her more comfortably against him. She mumbled something too low to catch, then continued to sleep peacefully.
Minelli kept reading, but when Jane glanced over at him, he was smiling.
Jane was just settling into a nice nap himself when the carriage stopped. Minelli stopped reading and looked out the window, frowning, as Cho called, "Clear the road!"
"Ah, Colonel. Just the man I was hoping to see. And Lady Grace, lovely as always."
Jane recognized Count Volker's voice and sat up, waking Teresa. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Volker's here," Jane replied. "No, don't get out; make him come to you."
Teresa grimaced. "What's he doing here?"
"Three guesses," Jane replied before turning to the window. He was just in time to greet Volker as he rode up on a glossy black horse that Jane judged to be more show than go. "Count," he greeted him coolly, "what a surprise. I assume you have an excellent reason for impeding our progress?"
"As it happens, I find myself needing to return to the capital this morning, and since you are also headed there, why not travel together? A journey is always more pleasant in good company." Volker leaned in, giving Teresa a predatory smile. "And this is the best company imaginable."
Jane said, "As much as we appreciate the offer, we wouldn't want to slow you down. That looks like quite a horse you have there."
"I appreciate the finer things in life," Volker said. "But I'm not in a hurry. And to tell you the truth, I would rather not travel alone. My manservant fell ill suddenly, so I thought I had no choice, but I'm sure your guards are adequate protection against anything lurking in these woods."
Teresa said, "We will gladly extend our protection to you, Count Volker, as we would to any of our subjects. But I'm sure the road is perfectly safe. Do you care for The Iliad? Father Minelli reads it beautifully."
"Ah, the classics," Volker said. "Please continue, Father."
The carriage began moving again, and Volker rode close, depriving the occupants of any privacy. Jane could feel Teresa growing more and more tense as time passed, so he reached over and took her hand, squeezing it.
Rigsby and the others would have the sense to keep away once they saw Volker, he hoped. But meanwhile Teresa was vulnerable to whatever ambush Volker planned to lure them into. Jane had anticipated having her safely away before he had to worry about dealing with Red John's minions, leaving him free to focus on capture and interrogation. Her presence would limit what he could do and split his focus.
Could he get rid of Volker so Teresa could switch places with Vega? It was worth a try if he could think of something. Leaning out the window a bit, he asked, "Much game in these woods, Count?"
Minelli stopped reading, but Teresa didn't protest, willing to let Jane play out his plan. Volker replied, "Not as much as Napa. This area has been overhunted for years."
Teresa said, "My brothers loved to hunt. And this land isn't attached to an estate, so it's not managed to protect the animals."
"All the king's lands could use more management," Volker said. "I hope you'll take an interest, your highness."
"I plan to take an interest in everything in Lisvonia," Jane said. It was true enough; if he stayed, he'd take some of the load off Teresa's shoulders. Just helping her spot the moles in her staff would be a huge help. "Any interesting wildlife in this area, Count?"
"Not to speak of. Bears at certain times of year, but no boars anymore. The only real sport is in Napa."
"Such as?" Jane asked.
"Wild cats are my favorite. So feisty." Volker made it an innuendo with his smile at Teresa, and Jane felt his blood start to boil.
"Imported?" he guessed, keeping his voice calm.
"Mostly, but there's a colony of European wildcats. You have to hunt them at night though."
"Then what's stalking us?"
Everyone stared at him, startled. Jane gestured to the dense forest they were driving through. "Over there. You don't hear that?"
Volker stared at the thick underbrush, slowly drawing his horse to a halt. As he disappeared from the window, Jane whispered to Teresa, "Get your gun ready."
She drew the gun out of its holster beside her on the seat, her breathing quicker but her expression calm. She whispered back, "We can't kill him."
"Don't worry," Jane replied, then tapped on the roof of the carriage with his cane to tell Tork to stop. He opened the door and got out, swinging his cane casually as he walked to the side of the road. "Something small, I think. Not a bear. If not boar, maybe fox?"
"Maybe," Volker replied. He cast a nervous glance the way they'd come, telling Jane that the ambush was approaching from behind, not somewhere ahead.
Grace drew her horse close to the carriage's other side to protect Teresa, while Cho rode a few feet ahead, then wheeled his mount and rode back to Jane with a significant look. Reinforcements were at hand, Jane thought with relief, making a mental note to teach Rigsby what a real bird call sounded like.
Volker said, "There's nothing there."
"Are you sure? You don't hear that rustling?" Jane pretended to be perplexed as he went a little way into the brush, poking carefully at it with his cane. Then he leapt back with a yelp and pointed with the cane, making his eyes wide and fearful. "It snarled at me!"
Cho kept a straight face, but there was a twinkle in his eye as he said urgently, "Please get back in the carriage, your highness."
Teresa leaned out the carriage door. "What is it? We don't have all day."
Jane looked at them indignantly. "I refuse to be stalked like unsuspecting prey." Which was why he was acting like an idiot, stalling in hopes the would-be ambushers would themselves stumble into an ambush.
Teresa rolled her eyes and got out of the carriage, to Jane's dismay. Though he supposed it wouldn't be believable for her to wait patiently in safety, he didn't want her out here. At least he could tell she had the gun ready because she kept her right hand hidden.
Volker was masking stress with annoyance. "Whatever it is poses no threat, surely. Except to people unwary enough to stand by the road and poke at it."
"Do I hear a hint of disapproval, Count?" Jane narrowed his eyes at him.
"No, your highness, of course not." Volker barely managed not to sound sarcastic. "I apologize for my clumsy way of expressing my concern for her majesty's safety and yours."
"Apology accepted," Teresa said crisply as Jane opened his mouth. "Let's be on our way, shall we?"
Jane reluctantly went over to hand her into the carriage, gratified to hear hoofbeats in the distance. No more than two riders, he thought, a little surprised there weren't more. But then even in Lisvonia it must be hard to recruit men to kidnap the sovereign. He murmured, "Stay in the carriage."
Teresa didn't reply, which he took to mean she'd do whatever she felt necessary. Well, he expected nothing less.
Volker took advantage of the distraction to say, "Someone's coming. I'll go see who it is."
"Stop right there," Cho ordered, urging his horse behind the carriage to cut off Volker's escape.
Volker drew a revolver and pointed it at Cho. "Move aside."
"You move aside," Cho replied, seemingly unconcerned with the gun.
Teresa emerged from the carriage again, aiming at the count. "Put it down, Volker!"
Everyone froze for a moment, taking in the standoff, except for Grace. She joined Cho, pointing her gun at Volker.
"It seems you're outnumbered, Count," Jane remarked pleasantly.
Volker sneered, "Not for long. Milk! Clyde!"
The hoofbeats became faster and louder, and Volker turned his aim from Cho to Teresa. "My friends will help me escort you to an urgent meeting, your majesty."
Teresa gave him a cool look. "I'm afraid I have other plans and must decline your kind invitation."
Two men galloped around the bend, guns at the ready. Jane watched Volker, picking the moment when he looked over at them and his aim wavered to swing his cane up, knocking the gun out of Volker's grasp. It went off, but the bullet sailed harmlessly over the carriage as the gun landed on the road.
Volker kicked at Jane, but he was ready for it and grabbed his boot, pulling him off his horse. Cho jumped from his horse to tackle Volker before he could get up, and Jane drew his sword and held it against Volker's neck. "Give it up, Count," he advised.
"Freeze!" Grace shouted at the approaching riders, and Jane noted that Tork was aiming a rifle at them. They slowed down, hesitating.
Volker took in the situation as best he could while flat on his back with a sword against his neck. Then he shouted, "Come on, you cowards! Are you going to let a bunch of women and fools stop you? Do what you're being paid for!"
One of them spurred his horse forward, and Cho got up, drew his weapon, and calmly shot him through the heart. The other rider turned to flee, only to find his way blocked a few seconds later as Rigsby, Wylie, and Vega emerged from the woods onto the road.
Rigsby said, "You're coming with us. We have a lot to talk about."
The man put his gun to his head and pulled the trigger, leaving everyone staring in horror or disgust as his corpse slid to the road.
Jane swallowed his nausea and looked down at Volker. "Well, Count? Anything you want to tell us before you join your friends?"
"You won't kill me," he smirked. "My family has owned a chunk of Lisvonia since before there was a Lisvonia."
"And how long do you think you'll live once Duke John finds out you're in our custody?" Jane asked.
"I'm confident my good friend the Duke will assist me in my difficulties."
"Oh, I'm sure he will," Jane said. "But I don't think you'll like the results. What do you think, Cho? Truss him up and toss him in the carriage, or throw him over his horse?"
"Horse," Cho said.
"Carriage," Teresa intervened. "I'll ride, now that my horse is here. Thank you, Miss Vega." She put her gun in its holster and began fastening it to her horse's saddle.
Vega dismounted and grabbed one of Volker's henchmen's mounts. "It was my pleasure, ma'am."
Wylie dismounted and led Midnight over to Jane, then helped Cho haul Volker to his feet and tie his hands behind his back. Minelli stepped out of the carriage to confer with them once Volker was secured inside.
"Do we take him to the castle?" Rigsby wondered.
"He'll be free or dead by nightfall," Cho pointed out. "One of the duke's spies will get to him."
Jane nodded. "We need someplace secure. Wylie, you took Renfrew to your sister's?"
"Well, she's really my half sister," Wylie said. "And it's a small place. I'm not sure she'd have room for both of them and Abbott."
Jane looked forward to meeting Wylie's black sheep of the family, which his sister obviously was, from his posture and expression. "Cho, Rigsby, surely you know some out of the way place we can use. An old girlfriend's basement? A buddy's barn?"
Teresa folded her arms. "We can't keep stashing people in makeshift prisons. It's illegal, for one thing. We are not above the law."
Jane reluctantly conceded she had a point, though not as good a one as she believed. "After I question Renfrew, we'll let him go."
"The duke will kill him," Grace said.
Rigsby frowned. "Do we care about that?"
"I don't," Cho said.
"Depends on what he's done," Jane said.
"Yes!" Teresa said in exasperation. "He's my subject, same as any of you."
"Well, not me," Jane reminded her.
"Fine. I won't care if you get killed, then. But even guilty Lisvonians deserve a trial, not to be butchered in the woods somewhere." She gestured to the corpses of Milk and Clyde. "Even these deserved better than this. We should bury them."
"Absolutely," Jane said. "You and Father Minelli can take charge of that. Meanwhile, Wylie will take me to his sister's. I'll meet you back at the castle for dinner."
Cho said, "We could stash Volker in the town jail. No one would expect to find him there, and Captain Rupert is loyal."
Jane tapped his lips. "It might work. A misdirect would help. You could take one of these bodies and put it in the dungeon, spread the word that you have a top secret prisoner."
Minelli said, "I can't be party to abusing a corpse."
"Using a corpse," Jane corrected him. "There's no 'ab.'"
"We will neither be using nor abusing corpses, only burying them," Teresa said firmly. "And Father Minelli will try to identify them and locate their families so they can be moved to an appropriate cemetery."
"Not the suicide," Minelli noted.
"An appropriate place, then," Teresa corrected herself. "Rigsby, you, Grace, and Vega stay with him and help, then escort him and the Count to the capital. Cho and I will go with Wylie and Jane."
"There's no need," Jane protested.
"There's every need," she retorted. "Rigs, you know Captain Rupert, right?"
"Sure. I'll take care of it, Boss."
"Good." Teresa mounted Athena, while Vega handed the horse she'd captured over to Wylie with a scowl.
Finding no place to secure the cane to his saddle, Jane handed it to Vega. "Look after that for me, would you?" Then he swung onto Midnight, patting the horse's neck affectionately. "Rigsby, be sure you gag Volker before throwing him in a jail cell. We don't want him chatting with any other crooks."
"Okay. Be careful," Rigsby replied.
"You too," Jane said. "Lead on, young Wylie."
They went down the road a little way, then off onto a trail that went steeply downhill. Jane was glad of Midnight's surefootedness as he leaned backward in the saddle, gripping hard with his knees to keep from sliding off. The cross-country trek was arduous riding, but it was a direct route, and a little more than an hour later they emerged into a field above a small village a couple of miles outside the capital city. Wylie led them around the village, though, to a small house in the forest on the other side.
They left the horses in the yard, Jane stretching his aching arms as they walked up to the porch. Cho paused a few steps from the door, and Jane looked to see what had made him stop. "Look, a goat," Cho said, nodding at the door knocker. "Goats are signs of Satan."
Jane was delighted to find evidence of an irrational side to the seemingly unflappable Cho. Teresa apparently confined her belief in myths to those approved by the church, Jane saw from her expression. "So petting zoos are like gateways to hell?" she scoffed.
"Pretty much," Cho replied. He rapped on the door, avoiding the knocker.
Jane caught Teresa's eye and pointed down. She dimpled a bit as she said, "Oh look, another bad sign."
Jane flipped the loosely woven doormat up to reveal a pentagram burned into the wood of the porch. There was also a key.
Cho peered through the window, his shoulders tense. Jane couldn't resist leaning over and saying, "Boo!"
"Hey," Cho said, looking over his shoulder in annoyance. "You shouldn't joke around about this kind of stuff."
Jane grinned, catching Teresa's amused expression out of the corner of his eye. She'd been silent and broody during the ride, so if Jane could take her mind off Volker by teasing Cho, he'd do it, no matter how dangerous a pastime that might be.
"It doesn't look like anybody's home," Teresa said.
"Not much security for a servant of the devil," Jane remarked, holding up the key.
Wylie, having seen to the horses, joined them. "Oh good, you found the key. She never answers the door, so it's okay to go in."
"She doesn't? Why not?" Cho asked.
"Something about having the upper hand. She's a little, um, quirky," Wylie said with an embarrassed shrug.
Teresa grabbed the door knocker and rapped it smartly. There was no answer, so she stepped back and gestured for Jane to go ahead and unlock the door. He did, then stepped through, eager to see Renfrew. Teresa paused behind him, looking back at Cho. "What's wrong?"
He said, "I'll wait out here."
"Why?" she demanded.
"All right," he said reluctantly. "But you first."
Teresa rolled her eyes as she joined Jane, and Wylie grinned a little anxiously as he followed Cho.
Jane moved aside a beaded curtain and stepped into a dining room, traditionally decorated and, to his pleasant surprise, featuring a pot of tea and several cups on the table. At its head sat a slight blonde woman a little older than Wylie, her fingers steepled. "Hello," she said calmly.
"Hello," Jane replied, stepping aside so Teresa could enter.
"Ah," their hostess said. "Welcome, your majesty. Your highness. Colonel Cho, I presume."
Wylie said, "Stop fooling around, Sarah."
"My name," she said in annoyance, "is Tamsin Dove. Please sit down."
"Thank you," Teresa said. "You were expecting us?"
"Yes. I knew you would arrive today. You see, I'm a witch."
Wylie muttered something as he sat down, too low for Jane to catch, but he thought it involved Tamsin's mother. Teresa took the declaration in stride, seating herself. Cho remained standing as Jane claimed the chair next to her.
"Tea?" Tamsin offered, passing a plate of cookies.
"Yes, thank you," Jane replied with a smile. "Is Mr. Abbott about?"
"He prefers to spend most of his time in my cellar with Mr. Renfrew. I think I make him uncomfortable." Tamsin smiled. "Mr. Abbott has a solid aura about him. But Mr. Renfrew...he is a different story. I performed a binding spell on him, for my own safety while he is in my house."
"What kind of spell?" Jane asked curiously.
"I can show it to you, if you wish," she smiled.
"No thank you," Teresa said. "We're here to speak to Mr. Renfrew. And then we'll relieve you of your guests, with our gratitude for your help."
"I am happy to do my part against the darkness cast over this land," Tamsin said. "And happy to meet your majesty. If you wanted to thank me, perhaps you could write a letter to the village mayor telling him I am under your protection and not to be persecuted for my beliefs."
"I'll do that," Teresa assured her. "Could you ask Mr. Abbott to bring Mr. Renfrew up? You don't need to stay if he makes you uncomfortable."
"Oh, he is no threat to me, now that I've bound him to my power," Tamsin said, glancing at a glass jar that appeared to contain ashes. She turned to Wylie. "Jason, make yourself useful and fetch them."
Wylie rolled his eyes, but he got up and left the room. Jane barely had time to finish his cookie before Abbott came in. "Your majesty," he greeted Teresa with a bow. "I am very pleased to meet you."
"And I you, Mr. Abbott. Welcome to Lisvonia. I appreciate your help in this matter, and I look forward to discussing your business in my kingdom."
Abbott smiled. "As do I. Mr. Renfrew asks that we join him in the cellar. He says he fears for his life in Miss Dove's presence."
Tamsin smiled proudly as Jane got up. "All right. No need for you to come down, my dear. Why don't you and Cho enjoy your tea instead?"
Cho said, "I'm coming with you."
Teresa stood. "I'll come too."
Tamsin shook her head. "You'll never all fit in my little cellar. I will go gather some herbs for an hour or so. Please make yourselves at home." She got up, picked up a basket, and went outside.
Abbott shook his head. "I've met such interesting people in Lisvonia."
Teresa smiled wryly. "It's said that we're such a small kingdom, we're more like a very large family. With more than our fair share of quirky cousins, I think."
Abbott chuckled. "Please sit, your majesty. I'll bring Jared up. He needs some fresh air anyway."
Jane sat back down too. "Are you sure you want to be here for this? It would be better if you could say you knew nothing about it."
"It's too late for that. I want to talk to him. I also want to make sure nothing happens to him. He's my subject, who as far as I know never did any harm."
Jane sighed a little, but Abbott, Wylie, and Renfrew were coming up the stairs into the next room, so he didn't protest.
"You've got to get me out of here," Renfrew said desperately as Abbott pushed him gently into a chair. "That woman's a witch!"
Wylie rolled his eyes. "She thinks she's a witch. She's really more of an herbalist, but she always was dramatic."
"She put a spell on me! She bound me to her power! I'll never be free again!" Renfrew said in despair.
Not one of the Duke's more intelligent followers, Jane concluded. "Answer a few questions for us, and we'll have her unbind you."
"What questions?" Renfrew's eyes narrowed with a kind of animal cunning.
"We know you're good friends with some of the duke's men."
"Yes. And with the duke himself, too," Renfrew boasted. "You want to know about him, yes? I know plenty. And I'll tell you. For the right price."
"You're not setting the terms here," Jane said.
"Why not?" Renfrew grew bolder as he perceived a way he might turn the situation to his advantage. "I'm an innocent man. These men here kidnapped me, held me against my will, and turned me over to a witch. I'm sure you wouldn't like me to tell that story, now would you, your highness? Surely her majesty wouldn't care for a story like that about her husband to get around."
Abbott said, "If you're such an innocent man, why were you breaking into a house of defenseless women?"
"I wasn't breaking in. I was merely paying a call."
"At midnight, through the window," Abbott scoffed. "Very innocent."
"Maybe not innocent," Renfrew smirked. "But I was expected. Ask Undine."
Teresa said, "No gentleman would slander a woman to protect himself."
"Then I'm no gentleman. But it's the truth."
"Yes, it is, isn't it? But tell me, Jared, why the need for secrecy? Surely a wealthy young man like yourself could court any woman openly. Her mother must know you'd provide for her, one way or another."
"Don't know and don't care," Renfrew said. "Her mother doesn't like me. Never did. But she and my mother don't like each other either."
"The wife and mistress rarely do."
Everyone stared at Jane. "What?" Renfrew said.
"Isn't it obvious? Think back. Your late father had a way of looking at the housekeeper, didn't he? Bought gifts for her and her little girl? You always felt a connection with Undine, so when puberty hit, you thought it must be love, or at least lust. It never occurred to you she was your sister."
Renfrew stared at him in slack-jawed horror. "No. It can't be."
"It makes perfect sense." Jane had taken a shot in the dark hoping to throw Renfrew off his game, but he'd apparently guessed something close to the truth. "So unless you want to be known as the man sleeping with his sister, I suggest you cooperate."
"And then," Teresa said, her expression one of distaste, "we will take you to a priest so you can begin atoning for this stain on your immortal soul."
"Look," Renfrew said, "I'll tell you everything I know, I promise. Just not here, okay? This place is evil. Can't you feel it?"
"Not at all," Jane said. "Miss Dove makes an admirable cup of tea. And very tasty ginger snaps. I could stay all day. I wonder what's for dinner? Batwing soup? Spiderweb soufflé?"
"What do you want to know?"
Jane leaned forward. "Have you ever seen the duke kill someone?"
Renfrew looked around at everyone. "Yes."
Jane's heart beat faster. "Are you willing to swear to that?"
"Yes."
"He killed women? In the woods?"
"Many. Not always in the woods, but sometimes."
Jane swallowed hard, then asked the crucial question. "Did you ever see him kill a child?"
Renfrew held his gaze for several seconds. Then he said, "Yes."