“He is not here, sir.” The butler’s eyes widened as he took in the three fierce-looking men at Gabe’s back.
“I will speak with Lady Lithgow then.”
“Also not here.”
“Then I wish for you to step aside and let me enter. Lord Lithgow has important documents for me in his study which I must read with some expediency.”
The butler hesitated.
“Our king’s safety is at stake,” Gabe said in a pompous voice. “If you wish me to go to him and say you have obstructed our duty, I shall.”
The butler turned and walked away. They followed, their boots loud on the tiled floor. Forrest took in very little as they walked up the stairs. Lithgow’s office was large, with books, elegant furniture. It was the desk they made for.
“Thank you, that will be all. I shall call if I need you.” Gabe dismissed the butler.
They searched, opening drawers and forcing the ones that were locked. Nathan dropped to the floor and looked beneath.
“There is a secret panel of some sort under here.”
“What do you need?” Michael asked, looking around him.
“It has some kind of lock on it.”
“Let me see,” Forrest said.
Nathan backed out, and Forrest climbed under. He studied the drawer. It wasn’t made of sturdy wood. Inching his body out, he kicked it hard and was rewarded with a cracking sound.
“Now why did I not think of that?” Nathan said.
He looked under the desk again. Pulling aside the splintered wood, Forrest found papers. Lots of papers. He handed them to Nathan. He then saw the edge of a brown leather-bound book. Easing it out he stood.
Silence followed as they read through everything.
“There are accountings here of monies earned. Large sums of money,” Forrest said, reading the book. “Opium, and another name. Twixley is all it says.”
“This is a purchase note for a property in Billericay,” Nathan said.
“Twixley was the property owned by the late Sir Neville Parton,” Gabe said. “I know this because I thought about purchasing it.”
“Why?”
Gabe shrugged. “Always nice to have a place to hide.”
“Where is it?” Forrest demanded.
“Billericay.”
“That could be where the brothel is,” Forrest said. “And where they’ve taken Ruby.”
“Why would they take her there?” Michael asked.
“Because it’s a secure remote location.” Just the thought of how scared she must be had his back tightening.
“My gut tells me Lithgow is working with the Merchant.”
He looked back down at the columns before him. One had the initialsTMat the top. The other,me. He turned the page and his eyes saw the name.
“Christ!”
