Luckily for Godwin, the arrival of Mr. Rudwick prevented James from responding. James introduced himself and gave the story he’d prepared, which adhered to the facts as much as possible. He said that Merrow had robbed his wife and was part of a criminal organization based in London that preyed on unsuspecting country folk. He was looking for clues that might enable the authorities to locate and capture Merrow’s gang.
“I would be glad to be of service, my lord,” Mr. Rudwick said at once. “I never liked the look of that Merrow fellow. He had a shifty way about him and bothered my barmaids. If you don’t mind my saying, it is about time someone took the interests of country folk to heart, and you’ll find me on your side at the hustings.”
James thanked him, and the innkeeper showed them the chamber that Merrow had occupied. Another guest had stayed there the night before, and a search yielded no helpful clues. Then Mr. Rudwick led them to his office, a cramped closet off the taproom. He took a basket off a shelf and set it on his desk.
“These are Mr. Merrow’s belongings,” he announced. “I meant to sell them to settle his account.”
“Allow me to compensate you, sir,” James said.
After Mr. Rudwick left them to their privacy, the group began sorting through the basket. James started with the battered leather satchel, which held a change of clothes, a cracked shaving kit, and a familiar item.
James held up the single glove. “It bears the stamp of Perry & Morris and matches the one I found by the gate. It’s evidence that Merrow collected the pearls.”
“So is this,” Evie said.
Her eyes wide, she showed them what appeared to be half of a pawn ticket. The voucher was smudged from handling and torn along the right edge. Luckily, the red stamp on the corner could be read in its entirety:
Doolittle’s Emporium of Wonders, Whitechapel, London.
A clerk’s neat hand noted the pledged item, and even though half the description was missing, what was there was enough: Necklace, pearls, gold filig?—.
Evie’s bottom lip quivered. “He pawned my mama’s pearls.”
“You will have them back, my love,” James promised. “My guess is that Wilmington was using the necklace as payment. He gave Merrow half the ticket, promising the other half when the job was complete.”
“What other infamy did that bounder have in mind?” Evie clenched her hands. “How much did he think he could bleed from me?”
“You were not the only one paying him.”
This came from Godwin, who was reading a letter he’d sifted from the pile.
“You’re not going to like this,” he said, passing it to James.
James read the message aloud:
Dear Mr. Ryerson,
* * *
I pray the information you purchased has served you well. Give the other half of my fee—five hundred pounds—to my man, Merrow, as you did before. In return, he will furnish you with the rest of the details, and the scandal will destroy your opponent once and for all.
* * *
Yours,
C. Wilcott
Scarlet flared in James’s vision, and he had to restrain himself from crumpling the note.
“Ryerson purchased filth from this C. Wilcott—who must be Wilmington using an alias—to destroy my campaign,” James clipped out. “He didn’t have all the details yet, which was why the gossip was vague. The fact that Merrow was still in possession of the note suggests that he hadn’t delivered the rest of the information to Ryerson.”
Evie placed a hand on his arm. Her eyes were as furious as his.
“Think of it as killing two birds, darling.” His lady scientist spoke coolly. “When we bring down Wilmington, we will also expose Ryerson’s corruption. The world will soon see their true villainous colors.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The next day, Evie and James traveled to London. Their family had insisted on accompanying them and now kept watch as they approached Doolittle’s Emporium of Wonders. Located in bustling Whitechapel, the pawnshop was situated on a narrow street crammed with businesses, which ranged from disreputable to more disreputable. The emporium itself bore a gilt sign that looked freshly painted, and its plate glass window displayed a mishmash of goods, from a stuffed monkey to a fashionable top hat.
