Prior stepped to a desk, flipped through a large ledger, stopped on a specific page, squinted his wide-set eyes, and then extended it toward Gabriel. “There’s one ship scheduled to depart tomorrow—theAugusta Maria. Embarking for New York.”
Gabriel angled it toward the light from the meager candle lamp and searched down the names.
“The next passenger ship headed to America is scheduled to leave Wednesday at dawn,” Prior continued. “TheObsidian. That one’s bound for Philadelphia.”
Gabriel was not surprised that he couldn’t locate Gutt’s or Grenshaw’s names. He pointed to the bottom section of the list. “Are these the most recently purchased passages?”
Prior looked over his shoulder and pointed to an entry. “Yes. The names below this name have been purchased in the lastweek—and those below this entry have been purchased in the last two days.”
Gabriel studied the ledger more closely. It listed not only the purchaser’s name but how many tickets were purchased. Only one group of three tickets was purchased in the last week. “What do you know about this name? A William Warner?”
Prior shook his head. “It’s difficult to remember. All these folks look the same. One blends into the next. If you’re not finding what you need, you can always check the cargo ships. If you want, I’m friendly with one of the clerks, so I’ll accompany you. They’ll expect a fee, though. They don’t have my giving nature.”
Gabriel accepted the offer and started toward the other offices, but as they passed where he’d left Clancy’s carriage, Gabriel slowed.
The carriage was gone.
“What is it?” Prior asked, slowing his own pace to match Gabriel’s.
Gabriel shook his head, confused. “The carriage I arrived in, and the people I was with, have gone.”
He attempted to rationalize it. Perhaps Ella needed to leave this area for some reason and Clancy escorted her. He could understand her being ill at ease here, for it was an unsavory area, but she was not one to admit discomfiture.
Gabriel jogged to where the carriage had been and up and down the dark cobblestone street. There was no sign of them.
Surely something happened and Clancy thought it best to move to a safer location. The thought temporarily eased him. Still, it didn’t make sense. Ella was far too loyal. She would not leave him here without an extremely compelling reason.
He considered his options for a bit before he turned back to join Prior. “Something’s not quite right.”
“Do you want me to call for the watchman?” Prior offered.
Gabriel looked across the street toward The Lark & the Gull, a public house well known for providing rooms for passengers who intended to sail. It was also known for its tavern—a dubitable gathering place for the merchants and sailors who were docked here.
As he took notice of the sailors, tradesmen, and East India guardsmen milling about, a flash of red fabric under the gas lamp across the way caught his eye.
The same red of Gutt’s neckcloth.
This was Gutt.
And he was walking with Grenshaw.
“There!” Gabriel grabbed Prior by the shoulder and turned him. “Those are the men I’m inquiring after.”
Prior squinted in the darkness from their safe distance. “The tall one in the beaver hat bought passage for the New York ship. Two days ago, as I recall.”
Suddenly, the bits of information began to form a picture.
Gabriel had been right—Gutt had been lying about the location, undoubtedly to throw him off their scent.
Clancy had been doggedly insistent that Gutt was believable—Clancy hadwantedGabriel to leave for Liverpool.
And now he was alone with Ella.
But it was more than that. Grenshaw was here.
And Clancy knew.
The pieces, while not completely together, were lining up quickly. If he followed Gutt and Bauer, would they lead him to Ella and Clancy?
