“This boy is a member of society, and his mother and aunt are distraught. Neither woman will rest until he and the nanny are safe,” Stephen added.
“I have heard nothing,” Bailey said, looking anywhere now but at them.
Patrick saw the fear in his eyes as Jack Spode’s name was mentioned. He’d seen that same fear in Sophie’s too. Spode must indeed be a powerful man if Bailey feared him. “Tell me what you know, Bailey.” Patrick’s tone was steady.
“He will kill me. Slit my throat and throw me into the Thames,” Bailey said, his eyes going from left to right.
“And I will have you imprisoned, which you know I have the power to do,” Patrick added. Bailey had a fear of imprisonment.
“I can’t, my lord,” Bailey said, looking cornered.
“You can, and it will go no farther than us,” Stephen said.
He leaned across the table, his eyes still moving to see who was nearby.
“’E is a bad ’un, this Spode,” Bailey said.
“How so?” Patrick asked.
“Been in London two months and is already causing trouble. Leaves a trail of wounded and dead in his path. Don’t have any morals.”
Stephen coughed loudly, and Bailey looked at him, his expression hurt. “I may have done some bad stuff, but I ain’t never hurt anyone.”
“We’ve established you are a pillar of society. Now, tell me something useful,” Patrick said. He needed information before Sophie got restless and came looking for them, which he was fairly sure she’d do in a heartbeat.
“Wait here.” Bailey slid from the booth and returned minutes later with three men. “These lads were part of the Bramble gang. They worked from here, east,” he said. “Thieves who big Baldy Bramble gathered together. They were the best on the streets. Never harming anyone, you understand,” Bailey put in as he caught Patrick’s eye. “But they stole plenty and usually sold it to gullible nobs for a pretty penny.”
“Us being the gullible nobs, as I understand it?”
“Never labeled you like that, my lords,” Bailey said in answer to Stephen’s question. “Just the ones dumb enough to know no better with plenty of pennies to fleece.”
“Excellent, my mind is relieved. Please continue,” Stephen added.
Nodding to one of the men, Bailey said, “Fred will continue from here, my lords.”
Fred, however, had other ideas. He just stood there silent as a statue, looking at his feet.
“I am not a patient man, Fred.” Patrick felt his temper simmer. Sophie’s little brother was out there somewhere with only his nanny to keep him safe, and he was no closer to finding him. “The woman I care for is suffering because her child is missing, believed kidnapped. If you do not start talking, I will start extracting the information I need in whatever manner it takes. Is that understood?”
“Talk, idiot!” Bailey said, kicking Fred in the ankle. “He’ll follow through. I’ve seen him hand out a few beatings,” he said, nodding to Patrick.
“Jack Spode told Baldy he was taking over his business. Said how there was no room for the both of them,” Fred said, hiseyes now darting between Stephen and Patrick. “Baldy told him to go to hell, and Spode, he just pulled out a knife and plunged it straight into his heart.” Fred swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously. “He said he’d kill us if we tried to escape and that we now worked for him.”
Stephen and Patrick sat there for a further ten minutes listening to stories from the men, some worse, and some so horrific that even Patrick winced. They left minutes later with the location of the area Jack Spode frequented and the knowledge that they were dealing with a man who would do whatever it took to build his empire—including harming a child.
CHAPTER 25
Sophie had known and endured both fear and pain in her life, but this waiting was torture. Helpless, she was forced to sit in this small space and worry about the people she cared for most in this world. She needed her brother, who was so small and vulnerable, home safe in her arms, and Patrick… the thought of never seeing him again was devastating. Mary, too, was now living in fear because of her.
“Please keep them safe,” Sophie whispered as again she peered out of the window.
“Close that curtain, woman!”
Sophie pulled back at the words and closed the curtain once more as Patrick’s voice reached her. Seconds later, it opened, and he and Stephen climbed inside.
“Timmy?”
“We have a location where Jack Spode is most often found, Sophie. We are hopeful that we will find Timmy there,” Patrick said, taking the seat beside her. His hand took one of hers and threaded their fingers together.
