“My friend’s got a temper,” Doolittle warned. “Look what ’appened to your associate.”
Looking over at his dead comrade, the man visibly swallowed.
Doolittle flicked him on the shoulder. “I’d spill the beans, if I was you.”
Sweat trickled down the brute’s forehead. “If I say anything, he’ll kill me.”
“Who ishe?” For effect, Harry pressed the barrel of the gun to the ruffian’s temple.
“If I tell you, you didn’t ’ear it from me.”
Harry cocked the weapon.
“O’Toole,” the brute blurted. “’E was the one wot ’ired us. ’E’s working wiv a nob named De Witt. De Witt is the brains behind the ’ellfire, showed us ’ow to make the bloody stuff.”
“Where did your leader go?” Harry bit out. “Where’s he taking the hellfire?”
The ruffian swallowed. “To the Seven Dials. A place called Nightingale’s.”
31
Harry arrived in hell.
Smoke everywhere, fingers of flame reaching into the night sky. Shouts and screams as people dug through the rubble that had been Nightingale’s.
“Holy Mother of God,” Doolittle breathed beside him.
Could I have prevented this? If I had acted faster, caught De Witt sooner…
No time to think now, only to act. Harry ran toward the building, intending to help when he heard his name being shouted. He turned, and relief pounded through him to see Tessa’s grandfather looking unharmed. Behind him, Malcolm Todd was barking out orders to men hauling buckets of water toward the fire.
Accompanied by Ming and a coterie of guards, Black approached Harry. The soldiers formed a protective rank around the two of them.
“Sir—” Harry began.
“Aven’t got time.” Black had lost his wig, his eyes glittering in his soot-streaked face. “You remember your promise to me?”
To take Tessa away if necessary. To keep her safe.
“Yes,” Harry said tersely.
“Do it. Go now.”
He couldn’t. Not without telling Black the truth. “Sir, O’Toole is behind this. The hellfire. He has a scientist working for him—”
“De Witt. I know,” Black spat out to Harry’s surprise. “’Ave the bastard in my custody—or ’ad, rather. ’E’s buried ’neath that rubble, God rot ’is soul. Nabbed ’im today: ’e was going to be my surprise for O’Toole tonight, but that blighter didn’t show up, and now I know why. O’Toole set a goddamned trap for us.”
“How did you know—”
“I know everything…Harry Kent.”
Harry froze, his insides turning to ice.
“Known all along who you’ve been working for. But I also know your family. Know that honor, loyalty, and a need for justice run in the Kent blood.”
Stunned, Harry couldn’t form a response.
“That’s ’ow I know you’ll keep your promise to me,” Black said in a low growl. “Now if Tessie gives you any trouble, you give ’er this.” He removed his signet ring, shoved it at Harry. “She’ll know what it means. Take it.”
