'Have you always lived around this area?' I ask.
He nods. 'Aye. Me father and mother, and theirs before them. Might have to venture further now—look for greener pastures, I suppose.'
'Did you work in the village?'
He shakes his head. 'Nah. There’s a place up the road, few miles on. Used to be the Lord’s estate back before they lost their fortunes. Me mam and me granny used to be housemaids for them before the war. Long gone now.'
'So, what is it now? A hotel?'
He grimaces. 'Nah, mate. Loony bin. Not allowed to call it that anymore though…politically incorrect.Psychiatric facility.'
'Crazies?' I ask.
He shakes his head. 'Nah. Just a bit different.'
'Oh. Right. Sorry you were let go. My name’s Blake,' I say, offering my hand.
'Douglas,' he murmurs, taking my hand in an overly tight and manly handshake and then taking a long drink from his glass.
'So, you and your mates here for something specific?'
Fuck it.
I lean forward.
'Actually, we’re here to break someone out of the loony bin,' I say quietly.
I take a long drink of my own and watch him over the glass.
He looks a little surprised, then huffs a laugh. 'Which one?'
I let him see my surprise. 'You know them all by name?'
He nods. 'Not that many there…twenty at most. Poor sods.'
'Her name is Daisy.'
He looks at me blankly. 'Don’t know that one.'
'How about Marguerite?'
He frowns. 'She’s gone, lad. Months ago. Her dad had her taken back to the States, I heard.'
I shake my head. 'She was brought back a couple weeks ago, and not willingly. And we’re here to get her out.'
'Well, good on ya, lad,' he says, raising his glass. 'I always liked that one. Quiet. Good company. Good luck to ya.'
I sit back, my eyes flicking to the two men in the corner. They’re deep in conversation, not listening to us.
'Sounds to me like they did you dirty,' I say.
He cants his head and lets out a dry chuckle. 'You could say that.'
'Want revenge?'
One corner of his mouth turns up, curling like a pirate captain’s sneer. 'Aye. A bit o’ revenge might be just the ticket.'
Chapter Four
