Edmund stood there, holding the doll, dumbfounded by Annabelle's amazing change in appearance.  Inwardly, he was quite jealous of the girl and her boundless talents.  As good an actor as he was, he reluctantly had to admit she was more a master of the craft than he could ever hope to be.  At times, it drove his ego mad, and at said times he might take out his frustration on her character, his "simple assistant", but the solid truth was that he envied her.  Her brilliance, her cunning, her skills.  And more than that...he found her irresistibly attractive.  That shamed him more than anything, and he felt the hint of a blush touch his cheeks.  It was ridiculous, of course - for one, their partnership would be ruined by anything approaching a relationship.  It was one thing to drag an "assistant" along into dangerous investigations, but a lover?  Socially, he'd be ridiculed, financially, he'd be ruined.  This was his one shot at greatness, her one shot at using her incredible talents at solving crime...he shook the thoughts from his head, and looked down at the doll.<br/><br/>"What the devil am I to do with this?" he muttered softly.  Rising, he went downstairs, and caught one of the constables still on site, a fresh man, by the looks of him.  He didn't remember the man from when he arrived earlier, but he hardly trusted his memory.<br/><br/>"Say there, fellow," Edmund beckoned, drawing the man near, "Have a look at this, would you?  I've a theory, but for the prudence's sake...have you ever seen its like?"<br/><br/>The bobby looked at the photo, and gasped aloud.  Edmund's brow furrowed.<br/><br/>"Out with it, what is it man?" he demanded.<br/><br/>The constable pointed at the doll, then looked at Edmund amazed.<br/><br/>"I just came up from Dockside, sir - shift rotation.  I'm here coverin' Mackenzie's duty, bein' he's ill, sir."<br/><br/>"Jolly good," Edmund spat impatiently, "but what in blazes has that to do with anything?"<br/><br/>"Dintcha hear, sir?" the man asked, betraying a bit of his lower breeding through his words, "There was awful explosion down by the Thames, sir.  All wot was found after was a doll, a doll just like this one, sir.  It's at the station house, sir."<br/><br/>"Fetch me a carriage, then, man!" Edmund cried, waving the photo in the air, "To the constabulary!  The game is most definitely afoot!"