“Yes, for God’s sake, give me some good news.”
Emil’s lips twitched. “There’s a way for you to inherit the paper before we move in to arrest your uncle. If the paper’s still in his name at the time, there could be some legal issues.”
“Not to mention the fallout would destroy the paper’s integrity,” Jude said.
The public would pounce on the scandal like a pack of wolves. Mack rubbed both palms over his face and accepted he needed Emil’s help. “What’s the plan?”
“I’ve collected evidence you can use against Horace. It doesn’t interfere with our investigation, so there’s no issue if I give it to you. Ever heard of Dinah Rose?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“She owns The Prickly Rose brothel,” Jude said.
“Dare I ask how you know that?” Mack asked dryly, but Jude just shrugged.
“Turns out your uncle is a frequent patron, and he has some predilections that may cause him some embarrassment if the public were to find out.”
“We’re not talking about anything illegal,” Mack insisted. “Or something harmful to women or children?”
“Of course not. Let’s just say your uncle likes having his photo taken with certain ladies of the evening.”
Mack shuddered. “I don’t have to actually see the photos, do I?”
Emil picked up his satchel and removed a large envelope. He tapped a finger on it. “It’s all here. If you don’t want to burn your eyes, you can take my word for it.”
Jude snatched it out of his hand. “I’ll risk it, just to be sure it’s as you say.” He slid open the envelope and rifled through a small stack of photos. “Mack, you want to see this.”
Mack took one peek and guffawed. “Oh, he’s ruined. Where did you get these?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time a photographer held onto a copy for leverage. Didn’t take much for him to offer them up.”
Jude slid the photographs back into the envelope and handed them to Mack. “Emil, if we weren’t friends before, we are now. You’ve made my whole week.”
“Happy to be of service. What do you say, Mack?”
Mack cut Jude a look. “Am I a hypocrite if I blackmail my own uncle?”
“Not in my book. The bastard deserves whatever he’s got coming.”
Mack pursed his lips and ran through his options, which were limited. Due to Horace’s actions, his life, family, and newspaper were on the brink of disaster. But the paper was innocent, and so were all those people he wouldn’t be able to help if the paper got caught up in scandal.
“I’m in.”
Jude slapped his hands on his thighs and rose to his feet. “Glad you got that settled. Now get out. I have class in the morning.”
Mack shook hands with Jude and then made his way to the street.
Emil walked at his side in silence for two blocks before clearing his throat. “My one regret about going undercover was losing your respect and friendship in the process.”
“I routinely compared you to a weasel,” Mack admitted. “But I see now you were just trying to do the right thing.”
“I’d like to mend fences.”
“It was recently pointed out to me that part of my anger toward you stemmed from missing my old friend. We always worked well together before. Maybe we can again.”
They paused on the sidewalk to allow a group of young women to pass. Mack spotted a suffrage ribbon pinned to one woman’s coat, just like the one Winnie wore that day in Pioneer Square. An idea flitted against the edge of his hungover brain. He concentrated, willing it into fruition.
“Uh oh, I know that look,” said Emil.
