Burke hurried out of the hut, and when they were a few feet away, he turned to Storm. “I think I should go speak with this Earl of Balford.”
“That would be a foolish thing to do.”
“Why?” he demanded. “Perhaps I could buy my brother’s freedom.”
“There is always that possibility.”
“See, you agree,” he said anxiously.
“But not now,” Storm insisted. “Not before we know for certain if this man is your brother—”
“All things point to it.”
“But we are not certain. Until we know without a doubt, you will sit tight and wait.”
“If I don’t want to?” he challenged.
“Then you will jeopardize not only your life, but your brother’s as well.”
“I hate it when you make sense,” he said, knowing she was right, though it didn’t help his concern for his brother.
She placed her hand on his arm. “I know how anxious you are, but if we move too fast we could do more harm than good. We will find your brother, but you must be patient.”
He agreed with a nod, and tucked the idea of contacting the Earl of Balford in the back of his mind in case it should prove necessary.
Chapter 17
“Idon’t understand it,” Storm said, walking alongside Tanin through the camp. “It’s been a week or more and we haven’t gotten any closer to finding out where the prisoner was sent after leaving Mewers.”
“It is strange,” Tanin agreed. “First he’s moved around and then he can’t be found. You know what that can mean when a prisoner simply vanishes.”
Storm hadn’t wanted to voice her concerns, but with no news of the prisoner’s whereabouts, it was growing more likely that he had been disposed of, his body never to be found.
“We should have heard something by now,” Tanin said. “Philip and William have talked with people who have consistently provided us with accurate information and yet none of them know anything.”
“Either that or they’re not talking.”
“What are you thinking?” Tanin asked.
“That people might be afraid to speak of the matter. But why would the imprisonment of a man accused of theft cause such fear? I believe there’s more to this than we know.”
“What do we do?” Tanin asked. “The American grows more impatient by the day. He looks about ready to take matters into his own hands.”
“Which will not help us or him in the least.”
“We also need to consider who will take Burke to St. Andrew Harbor where he claims his ship with the money should have arrived by now,” Tannin said. “He insists that you go with him. I don’t think he realizes just how infamous an outlaw you are and how dangerous such an excursion can be for you.”
“The trip at least would distract him from the matter of his brother and provide us more time to hunt down his whereabouts.”
Tanin scrunched his brow. “You’re not thinking of going with Burke, are you?”
“Going where with me and why not?” Burke asked, stepping from behind a tree Tanin and Storm passed by.
Storm halted and shook her head. “You must stop lurking.”
“I’m not lurking. Now what about going where with me?” Burke asked.
Tanin answered him. “To the harbor to get your money.”
