Gory pursed her lips. “What if he did not?”
“Never you worry, m’lady. That Havers is a clever fellow. He will have the man tripped up and admitting something by now.”
“Where was he found?” Julius asked.
“Hiding out in one of the dockside taverns, m’lord. This is what these villains often do, run back to familiar places. But this means others who frequent these shady places will know who he is and can tell us more about him. So, it does not matter very much if he refuses to talk. We have ways of getting the information we need by questioning other tavern regulars. I’ve left two of my men there to question the owner, his serving maids, and patrons. Someone will know who he is and who he’s been keeping company with lately.”
Julius and Gory waited outside the door while the Bow Street runner went in to see how Havers was progressing.
Julius felt particularly protective of Gory right now, perhaps because they were about to confront one of the perpetrators of the crime. “Are you all right, love?”
She nodded. “Just furious with myself.”
He tucked a finger under her chin and raised her gaze to his. “Why?”
“How can you ask this after all we spoke about in the carriage? I pride myself on my cleverness, and yet, I was completely taken in by my aunt. Not to mention Allendale, too. And Mayfield, although I never trusted that oily solicitor. How did I never notice the trouble brewing? Or make the connection between Allendale and Mayfield? How did I not spot Mayfield’s calling card staring back at us from the salver in the Bayswater house?”
“Killers are not in the habit of announcing their intentions. You could not have known any of it. Nor should you ever blame yourself for being unaware. You’ve been through a lot, Gory.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Do you realize how close a call you had that night?”
She nodded. “Yes, I do realize. Had they been professionals, they would have noticed I was not dead yet and finished the job.”
Mr. Barrow popped his head out the door. “Are you certain about confronting this man, Lady Gregoria?”
She did not hesitate in her reply. “Yes, Mr. Barrow. It must be done.”
Julius escorted her into the windowless room that was bare except for a table and several chairs. A lantern hanging on a peg embedded in the wall shone a harsh light upon the captured man and made him appear quite big and ominous. The light also shone upon Havers, revealing his glint of determination to get the murder resolved. Two of his constables were positioned behind their prisoner. They stood half in shadow and appeared just as resolute as Havers.
Julius was glad for the extra protection, and never more so when the man they had been interrogating suddenly leaped to his feet and tried to lunge at Gory. Julius immediately planted himself in front of her, forming a protective wall between the pair while the two constables struggled to subdue this hulk of a fellow.
They finally managed to get him back in his seat, but not before he had pointed his stubby finger at Gory and began shouting, “That’s her! That’s who paid me! She’s the one who told me to go after her uncle! She did!”
Gory was immediately incensed. “Is that so? Did I also tell you to kill me, too? And when you failed the first time, did I insist on your attempting to kill me again today?”
Julius held her back because this man was twice her size and capable of hurting her if she got too close to him.
He nudged Gory behind him and kept her firmly in place while he spoke to the villain. “Try again and this time tell us who really paid you.”
Julius knew he had to remain calm even though he was furious and wanted to pound his fists into the man’s ruddy face.
Havers, appearing completely unaffected, rose and ordered his constables to put the man back in his prison cell.
“Ye can’t hold me! I told ye all I know. Wasn’t that our deal?”
Havers folded his arms across his chest. “Our deal was for you to tell me the truth. Take him away,” he said, repeating his order to the waiting constables.
Once they had carried the protesting man out, Havers offered Gory the vacated seat.
She shook her head, visibly shaken as she said, “I would rather remain standing.”
“As you wish, my lady,” Havers said, studying her intently. “Let me assure you, I did not believe him.”
Gory let out a breath of relief. “Upon my honor, I have never seen him before. Did you find scratches on him?”
Havers nodded. “Yes, he had fading scratches along his cheek and neck. But did you notice his hands? Gnarled and pudgy. There isn’t a chance he laced you into your wedding gown.”
Gory glanced at Julius before returning her attention to Havers. “Then who did?”
Havers rubbed his hands across his face a moment, a sign of his obvious fatigue. The man was dogged, to be sure. Julius wondered whether he had gotten any sleep at all since assigned the murder investigation.
