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“So the dead ballet dancer is the brother of a known revolutionary,” Rayley mused. “No one in<br />
the tsar’s guard was aware of that fact before he was allowed inside the gates of the Winter Palace?”<br />
“From what I gather from Ella’s letters, the guards are shockingly inept,” the Queen said, with a<br />
slight quaver in her voice. “They seem to arrive just after a crime has occurred but never before.<br />
And the Russian authorities do not keep the sort of records that are kept by the London police.”<br />
Trevor nodded. “This is part of the problem we shall face in St. Petersburg. Your Majesty,<br />
everyone at this table knows the frustration I felt during our time in Paris last April, when our efforts<br />
to apprehend an escaped British criminal were thwarted by the lack of continuity between Scotland<br />
Yard and the French police. Shared intelligence and records among all nations is absolutely essential<br />
to the future of investigative police work.”<br />
“Truly, Welles? I’ve never heard you mention such,” Tom said drily. Laughter went around the<br />
group and even Victoria smiled. Trevor’s obsession with the idea of an international police<br />
intelligence agency rivaled the Queen’s obsession with assassinations.<br />
“Very well,” Trevor said, holding up his hands. “I shall save the sermon for Sunday. But the<br />
point is that the situation in Russia is even worse. The police forces in various cities do not<br />
communicate with each other and even the districts of a single large city like St. Petersburg act each<br />
as an independent unit. Which means that if a criminal escapes capture in one district he could simply<br />
walk a few blocks and begin his nefarious activities anew. I’m surprised the entire country isn’t in<br />
chaos.”<br />
The Queen slightly lifted one eyebrow but remained silent.<br />
Rayley leaned in. “May I ask, Ma’am, if the tsar’s own guard was unaware of this young ballet<br />
dancer’s suspicious family background, how a lady-in-waiting would come to gain this information?”<br />
She nodded. “As you have undoubtedly guessed, Mrs. Kirby is more than simply a lady-inwaiting.<br />
Because of our concerns for our granddaughter’s safety there are a certain number of people<br />
in St. Petersburg who have been sent by the crown to guarantee –“ Here she broke off, as if suddenly<br />
struggling with emotion. “No one can guarantee the safety of anyone else,” she said, correcting<br />
herself. “But we have taken steps to lessen the degree of risk.”<br />
“And may I ask if your granddaughter is aware of the true purpose of Mrs. Kirby’s presence?”<br />
Trevor said.<br />
‘She is not,” said the Queen, her composure swiftly restored. “Ella believes Mrs. Kirby to be
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