“What’s that?”
“A cloak and some other clothing, if you’re going to continue this scouting on the docks,” she said. “You might as well be warm.”
“Thank you, Lily,” Ada said with a smile. “And thank you, Minnie, for hosting us.”
“Of course,” Minnie said.
“What’s next?” Rhys asked, crossing his arms as he stared them down.
“Next, we gather all of the information we can,” Jonny said. “Will plans to do what he can to take evidence himself, and I’ll break in one night and try to steal records.”
“What happens if you’re caught?” Rhys asked, leaning forward. “You need us there to back you up.”
Jonny was already shaking his head. “We can’t all go.” He lifted a hand to stifle Rhys’s objections before they began. “It is not because I don’t want to ask for help. It’s because these kinds of things need to be done stealthily. If there are too many of us there, it will be noticeable. I know how to get in and out quickly, especially with Will’s insight.”
“Last time you needed extra help,” Ada said, looking at him with a raised brow.
He sighed. “I did.”
“I’ll be there,” she said. “I have the skills you need.”
“Let us know when you’re going,” Rhys said in a voice that told them all there should be no argument. “We won’t all come, but you need one or two of us.”
“Fine,” Jonny said, before looking around at all of them. “I do appreciate all of you. I know this isn’t what you would all like to be involved in, so I want you to know that… this means a lot.”
“Of course,” Colin said, as Ada squeezed Jonny’s hand again under the table, telling him, unspoken but sure, that they were in this together.
He looked to her, their eyes meeting and sharing the same message — they were grateful and determined, even if they were worried about what would come next, for more reasons than they wanted to say aloud. Their entire future rested on what would happen in the coming days. Ada could only hope he felt the same, even if he was reluctant to say anything.
She supposed she would find out soon.
A couple of hours later, they were nearing Jonny’s house, having denied a ride in the carriage from Lily and Colin, despite the chill, when Jonny suddenly put his arms around Ada, stopping her before she could take another step.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, instantly alert.
“There’s someone waiting outside,” he said, “in the shadows.” He pointed ahead of them, and Ada realized that while she had learned some things over the years, there was still so much that Jonny’s experience had on her.
“Mr. Tate?”
Ada’s shoulders fell in relief. It was just a boy.
“Yes?” Jonny said, hesitation in his tone.
“A note for you.”
The boy handed it to him, running away after Jonny laid a coin in his palm.
“What is it?” Ada asked, looking over his shoulder, but Jonny shook his head.
“Inside.”
When they had made it within, Jonny walked around to ensure all was well, finally lighting one of the gas lamps. They sat before it, Ada next to him, her chin just over his shoulder, while they read the note together.
“It’s from Will,” Jonny said. “He’s telling us when and where a shipment will be taking place. It’s got to be one of Sharpe’s illegal shipments.”
“What are we to do about it?” Ada asked, looking up at him with a frown.
“It will give us some information to use against him,” Jonny said. “We watch the shipment, and we learn what they are doing with it. And,” he said, his brows lifting, “perhaps that would be the best time for us to steal from him. Will notes that all hands will be helping unload the shipments. Which means?—”
