Collin gave her a sarcastic expression but answered her question. “While I was searching for our criminal, I found a curious shop and, upon further inspection, discovered workers loading crates.”
Elizabeth blinked slowly, then frowned. “You do realize that there is nothing remarkable about a shop loading crates, right? Certainly they do that in London as well…?” She eyed him skeptically.
He sighed impatiently. “Yes, I’m aware, but it’s that combined with the shop not selling what it said it sold, and… Never mind. The crux of the story is that after following the wagon with the crates, I saw our bandit helping unload them.”
Her eyes widened as she nodded in understanding. “Now that makes more sense.”
“And last night Mr. Finch spoke with a man who had found a broken crate filled with tea not too far from Cambridge.”
“Therefore, when you put the puzzle pieces together, it all makes sense. And they are using your name to hide their involvement.”
“But it begs the question… Why me?” Collin mused.
“Why you, indeed,” Elizabeth echoed.
Molly waved a hand subtly, and Collin shared a glance with Elizabeth before stepping ahead quickly.
“If you peek over there…” Molly pointeddiscreetly. “There’s a lad, and he’s lingering by the alleyway there and a cart near a small shop.”
Collin turned and saw, his mind spinning with options. “Molly, would you purchase tea from them for me?” He handed her a few shillings.
She nodded, gave a nod to her mistress, and then ambled through the crowd. Collin took Elizabeth’s arm once more and slowly meandered after Molly to keep an eye on her and the transaction.
“When you turn away, I’ll watch,” Elizabeth murmured, meeting his eye for a fleeting moment before regarding a flower salesman.
Collin watched as Molly spoke to the lad, and he nodded. Collin looked down, studying a lily before hazarding a glance up. He noted that Elizabeth glanced away from Molly when he did so.
It was an odd feeling of teamwork. He didn’t study the emotion too deeply; his attention was focused on the transaction twenty yards away. Molly was given a little box, and she ambled away, taking a serpentine route toward them.
“We should walk away and avoid suspicion. She’ll follow us,” Elizabeth said, then tugged him toward the end of the street.
Collin followed, appreciating her understanding of the situation, and started up the other side of the street.
“It appears as if she was successful,” Collin said after a moment.
“Yes, but I’m wondering what information you can glean from it,” Elizabeth said as she turned to study him.
“I’m not sure, maybe nothing, but at least that will close that door of possible information,” he answered.
“I see.” She nodded. “Eliminating prospective information sources. That’s quite fascinating. I hadn’t considered it that way, hmmm.” She knit her forehead in deep thought.
“What is that mind of your concocting?” he asked, bemused.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she quipped. “Nothing, honestly. Just considering how that concept can be applied to other areas of life.”
“You remind me of your father when you do that,” he said.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It was certainly meant that way,” he replied.
They had rounded a corner, and Collin paused to wait for Molly to catch up.
In a moment, she reached them and held out the box. “Here you go.”
Collin accepted it gratefully. “Can you tell me what was said?”
Molly nodded, stepping closer to a building and further out of the street. “I merely asked if they had any of the quality stuff available.”
