“After that business in London with them snooping around, and us having to move premises, I don’t like it.”
“We’ll get this shipment off and lie low for a while,” Landon said. “If we need to move, then we’ll find somewhere else. I’m not giving this up, and I know he won’t either.”
“The villagers won’t turn against us. They have too much to lose. If we must kill someone else, we have to. But it’s getting messy,” the other man said. “I don’t want to spend my days in Newgate.”
“This shipment will leave the night after the fair,” Landon said. “Michael and I will discuss the issue of what to do about those bloody nobles poking their noses into our business tonight.”
“I’m going into the village to get some food. It’s good for them to see me,” the man said, and then laughed. “I like to keep them scared.”
Toby rose until he could see over the barrels and found Landon and a large hulk of a man. He didn’t see anyone else. Waving toAnthony as the men started moving to the door, they hurried back outside.
Grabbing Jamie, they then ran around the side away from the entrance. Minutes later, they heard a door closing. They gave it a further five minutes before moving back to the entrance.
“He mentioned Michael’s name, but it is not enough proof,” Anthony said. “We have to search that building.”
“There is a lock on the door now,” Toby said.
“Then we go in through the window,” Jamie said.
They found a rock and smashed the glass, clearing it away. Toby went in first, with the others following.
“There have to be fifty barrels here,” Jamie said, looking around them. “That is a lot of opium.”
They found an office and went through a cabinet, taking out several ledgers. It was Toby who found a document with Michael’s signature on it detailing that a shipment of opium was to arrive in London, and the date.
“Got him,” he said holding it out for his friends to read.
They gathered up everything that would incriminate both Landon and Michael, and left, making their way back to the horses. It was as Toby mounted he remembered something Landon said.
“Liberty said Michael has been showing an interest in her lately. He told her I was a man of questionable character.”
“Which is true,” Anthony added.
“Landon said Michael is on his way here. You don’t think he’d call at the Talbots’ first, do you?”
“Did you tell Liberty she needed to be careful of him?” Jamie demanded.
“I told her not to leave her house, or let Michael enter it. Her parents and Edward are not home, however, which means she’s alone.” Fear gripped him.
“Why would Michael suddenly be a threat to Liberty?” Jamie asked.
“He wouldn’t,” Anthony said. “Unless he thought she knew something, which she doesn’t.”
“She knows I suspect him,” Toby said. “I’m going to the Talbots’.”
“I don’t know why Michael would suddenly decide to call on Liberty here. It makes no sense, Toby,” Jamie said.
He was right, of course, but something told him to check on her.
“I can see you will not rest until you have,” Jamie said. “I will come with you.”
“No need. You two go back to Evie and Florence, and I will be there soon. I know you are right, but until I am sure she is safe, I cannot stop worrying.”
“Love,” Jamie sighed.
“We have no problem accompanying you,” Anthony said.
“No. Tell Florence I shall return shortly.”
