I might have been embarrassed, however I had shared accommodations with an assortment of people on my travels to remote places where there wasn’t even a word for modesty or embarrassment.
One either slept in their clothes or got on with the task of dressing as quickly and discreetly as possible.
I had not slept in my clothes. Therefore I quickly and discreetly pulled on the trousers and shirt I had worn the night before.
Munro on the other hand, didn’t appear to have dressed quickly or discreetly, wherever it was that he had spent the night.
I thought of my friend Templeton, then dismissed it. Whatever their relationship was or was not, was definitely not for me to question or ponder.
I did briefly consider that it might have been advantageous to have Wills’ insights. I had never had that connection. I would simply have to rely on instinct.
“A man Mac knows may have information on the man yer lookin’ for,” Munro quietly informed Brodie. “It seems there wassomeone—spaideil,”he said in obvious Gaelic. “The sort we’ve encountered on the streets that seems to fit the description.”
He said something more in Gaelic. Brodie glanced over at me and I caught the frown amid that dark beard.
It was still dark beyond the window as I caught the rest of their conversation.
“Where?” Brodie asked.
“Tobacco Dock,” Munro replied. “Mac will let us use his wagon.”
“Aye.”
Some other communication passed between them, one of those things that men shared—a look, a nod, obviously meant to exclude myself. Munro nodded, then left the room.
“What is it?” I asked. “And that word Munro used.” I tried to say it, however failed quite miserably.
“Spaideil,” he repeated.
“What does it mean?”
“A fancy dresser.”
“In the East End?”
“Aye. They’re employed by others to handle...certain things.”
Such as terrifying a young woman? And possibly murder? I thought.
“And the rest of it? I asked.
I gave him a long look, and waited.
“It seems the man wore a round hat with a narrow brim,” he finally replied.
“A bowler hat?”
“Ye need to finish dressing,” he said then. “And put yer hair up. There’s no need to draw attention, even with few about this early in the day.”
“Where are we going?”
“I need to find Morrissey and learn what he knows. Munro will see that ye get back to Sussex Square.”
I ran my hand through my hair, loosening the tangles, then tucked it under the cap.
“I’m going with you.”
I grabbed my jacket and left the room. I found Munro waiting at the bottom of the stairs. I caught his look over my shoulder as Brodie followed. I ignored both of them.
