He doesn’t want the man to hurt the dog, Ben thought, knowing Felton worried about Kitty. He wasn’t sure if the assailant had a pistol or a blade, so he worked his way slowly. If he surprised the man too early, he might panic. A blade might slip or a gun might go off. When he was directly across from them, Terry hyperfocused on his master’s next command, Ben slipped up behind them.
Felton saw him and began talking to his attacker. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have a daughter.”
“You have the dog, so you know where the girl is,” rasped the man. He lifted a hand and pointed the muzzle of a gun at Felton’s head.
To his credit, the older man remained calm. “You must have me confused with someone else.”
“Then I’ll kill the first witness,” said the man, turning the gun toward the dog.
Felton took the opportunity and threw his weight against the man. He fell backward into Ben, who wrapped his arm around the man’s neck. Terry sank his teeth into the man’s leg. “I wouldn’t move if I were you,” said Ben. “I’m a bit giddy with the trigger.”
“I have manacles,” said Felton, patting his long coat and producing the iron wristlets. As he reached for the criminal’s hand, the man threw his head back and cracked Ben’s forehead, then crouched and ran headfirst into the night watchman.
“Bloody Charley,” the assailant yelled as Felton toppled to the ground, running toward the next street.
Terry ran to Felton, and Ben went after the assailant. It wasn’t necessary. Gus appeared at the corner, his big form blocking the exit. With an arm held out, his meaty fist snared the man’s neck and lifted him off the ground.
“Where you off to in such a hurry? My friends ain’t finished speaking with you yet.” Gus seized the back of the man’s collar, then put him in a bear hold, rendering the ruffian harmless.
“You’ll be sorry,” yelled the man, trying to kick at Gus. “You don’t know who I work for.”
Ben could now see the zigzag scar down the man’s cheek. A weight lifted from his shoulders as his brain took in the fact that they had caught the murderer. He stumbled, righted himself, then backtracked to help Felton up.
“I’m fine, son,” said the night watchman. “Let’s get that bugger secured.”
It was another hour before Rowlands was safely locked away in the bowels of the Brown Bear. Harry Walters was summoned, and he and George Ruthven, the main constable for Bow Street, decided to keep Gus watching over the cells. Harry didn’t want to take a chance on another man dying in custody.
“It’s good to see you again, Sir Harry,” Ruthven said, holding out his hand. They had worked together a few years back, uncovering the Cato Conspiracy. Even at this late hour, the man wore his signature yellow waistcoat. “How’s O’Brien?”
“Well, sir,” said Harry. “You should stop in and have a drink with him sometime.”
“I might just do that,” he said. “Now I think I’ll return home and rewarm my bed.”
Once Ruthven left, Harry turned to Ben and Mr. Felton. “Gus and I will finish questioning the prisoner. I’ll contact you if we learn anymore. Go home, both of you, and get some rest.”
“Is it safe to bring my daughter home now?” asked Felton.
Harry nodded. “First thing in the morning.”
Ben and Felton walked out of the public house. Terry was waiting at the door for them, his tail spinning frantically when he saw them. The pup ran and jumped against his owner’s thighs, then leaped again. The night watchman caught him and held him close.
“Good boy,” he said into the dog’s scruffy fur.
“He is, indeed,” agreed Ben. “It was pure luck that I saw you pass by my house. Terry was focused on something in the alley, so I watched for a while. Someone emerged and followed you. I grabbed my pistol and decided to make sure you were fine.”
“Not sure what would have happened if you hadn’t.” Felton set the dog down and gave Ben a side hug. “You saved my life, son. I don’t think he had any intention of letting me live.”
“I’m just relieved Kitty will soon be home. Nothing could make her happier.”
“I don’t know about that,” said Mr. Felton, squeezing Ben’s shoulder.
Ben took a hackney back to his room. As he replayed the events in his mind, he remembered his words to Mr. Felton.
It was pure luck I saw you pass by my house.
Pure luck.
CHAPTER 14
