“Ah, you here to join the fun, Finch?” Olsen’s voice stopped Collin cold.
Collin paused and regarded Michael with a frown.
“What, you didn’t think we noticed you were working with Finch here?” Olsen’s voice grew closer, but Collin didn’t move. Regret and defiance flickered across Michael’s features.
“Michael?” Collin asked.
Olsen’s voice was right behind him. “He didn’t tell you that he’s our eyes and ears in the shire house and with the local magistrate? Keeps us informed when the law comes sniffing too close.”
Collin turned back to Olsen. “He failed to mention that.”
“Must have slipped my mind.” Michael’s voice was dry and full of sarcasm as he addressed Collin.“Sorry, friend, but I was being honest when I said your plan was bloody awful. I just didn’t tell you why.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Olsen, take him out back and let’s get him somewhere where the blood won’t stain the floors.” He jerked his head to the open door.
Collin glared at Michael as Olsen’s beefy hands wrapped around his shoulders, shoving him forward. Michael was outside in the street when Olsen pushed him through the door.
The unmistakable click of a pistol filled the street, echoing in its lethal threat. Collin’s shoulders were abruptly released, and he stepped forward.
“McKensie is in his office. He’s the contact for this area. If you search his desk, you’ll find all the information you need for this locale,” Collin said to the officers all lined against the wall of the building, holding their position. One had a pistol against Olsen’s back.
“Yes, sir.” One of them nodded at Collin, and then carefully they filed into the hall. There was a scuffle and swearing as McKensie was drawn out next. Collin stepped aside as a carriage with bars came around the corner toward them. Both Olsen and McKensie were loaded up inside, then sent off.
“Well, that went much better than I expected.” Michael clapped Collin on the shoulder.
Collin released a tight breath. “You, my friend, are a terrible actor.”
Michael chuckled. “I’m excellent. You’re just jealous of my clear talent. I’ve been working with these guys for the local magistrate for months, and they didn’t suspect me once.”
“Because they aren’t that intelligent.”
“Yeah, well, neither are you.”
“I orchestrated all the additional men needed for this scenario.”
“Yes, and I made sure you didn’t die,” Michael replied.
“Fair.”
“It was a cooperative effort,” Michael stated, then offered Collin his hand.
“Agreed.”
An officer from the War Office stepped out from the building, his expression direct. “Thank you. Turns out there’s plenty of information in the office that will lead to several more arrests. You did good work, my lord, Mr. Finch.”
“Thank you,” Collin replied at the same time as Michael.
The officer nodded to both and then directed several others to come with him to begin the removal process of all the information for later study.
“Well, what is the plan now? You’ve done what you’ve set out to do.”
Collin shrugged. “In a way, yes. They will have to change the names of the smuggling areas, so myname will no longer be linked. That’s good. It will take some time; it won’t be immediate. However, I’m no longer concerned that it will affect my family poorly in the future.”
“Bloody hell, they forgot to take the bribe from McKensie, or did he leave it in his desk?” Michael turned to glance toward the hall.
“Oh, don’t fret. It wasn’t all real.” Collin shrugged.
Michael frowned. “It was fake?”
“I put several high-value notes on the front and back, then used discarded parchments in the right size to fill in the rest. If he’d inspected more closely, he’d have noticed, but greed tends to blind people, so I took my chances. I’ll retrieve those larger notes later, but even if I don’t, it’s not a deep loss.”
