“What do you mean you don’t know? It is your responsibility to know.”
Justin flipped over the tray, sending the contents crashing to the stone floor. A tiny bit of me mourned the destruction of all that pretty china. “Get off your ass, get dressed, and help find my child,” he demanded.
She didn’t look strong enough to stand, much less search for anyone. I didn’t interfere. This wasn’t my fight, and I wouldn’t help Minerva Grace even if she were on fire.
“I didn’t do anything to the baby, I swear, Your Grace. I swear,” she babbled.
I couldn’t blame her. If Justin had looked at me with such hatred, I would probably say anything to make that expression go away too. He did enraged well. I might have gotten a little hard from his dominating behavior. I planned to take that secret to the grave.
“Who has been in the nursery?” he asked. “Did the guards take him?”
“I-I’m not sure. I was sleeping,” she sobbed.
I put a hand on Justin’s shoulder. “Whoever took the baby is responsible, not her.” My brief spurt of compassion was met with a cold look from the thankless bitch. “Why don’t we go talk to the other members of the household.”
“All right.” He gave her one more glare, then followed me out.
“I might have been wrong about her innocence,” I said once we were clear of the bedroom.
“What do you mean?”
“She was giving me a cold look when you weren’t looking. I don’t know if it is because she’s jealous or something more. Either way, it wouldn’t hurt to examine her connections to see if any of them have a grudge against you. This kidnapping plot could’ve been planned no matter how your child turned out. The question now is if they got rid of the baby because they figured you wouldn’t want damaged goods or if they kept the baby in the hope you would pay ransom to get your heir back.”
Justin scratched his jaw. “Let’s talk to the others. Maybe someone saw something. I’m going to call the magistrate.”
I ignored the cautious look he gave me.
“Go ahead. I hear he’s more helpful to those who can bribe him.” I didn’t hide my disdain over that bastard still being in power. “I’ll check with the street kids and see if anyone heard anything. I’ll be at my workshop when you want to find me.” Our reunion was even shorter than I had anticipated.
Justin lunged and wrapped me in his arms, hugging me tight. “Stay with me.”
“Justin, the detectives would suspect me right away. I don’t want to be interrogated and dragged through the mud for a baby I ‘ve never met and for something I haven’t done. Instead of standing around here looking guilty, I can make myself useful and check with my contacts and have Oss check with his. I can’t do anything here except pull resources from the investigation. If you want to come stay at my place while they are searching for your son, you are more than welcome.”
“Really?” Sunshine was dim compared to Justin’s smile.
“Yes.”
“Great. I’ll see you later then.”
“If the magistrate decides to talk to me anyway, I want you there.” The idea of being in the magistrate’s control gave me shivers. That man doesn’t have boundaries and rumor was that his brother wasn’t the only one who preferred his sex partners unwilling.
“I’ll come get you if he throws you in jail,” Justin promised.
The kiss was smoldering and most welcome. I left Justin’s estate with a smile and an erection, which faded fast enough once I thought of my task. Somewhere a baby had been kidnapped and was at the mercy of unknown people. We were only guessing that they would want ransom. Justin would be crushed if it was something more nefarious.
After finally leaving Justin’s property, I stopped the first street kid I found and asked after Affie. A coin and promise of no harm got me his location. It never failed to surprise me how many people watched out for my friend. If only I could get him to a safer locale, but he was too damaged to handle regular society and his madness prevented him from steady employment.
It took three more street kids and five wrong turns before I located Affie perched on the back of a bench, his unfocused gaze on the park across from him.
“Marbrey, the mist has been kind to you,” he said in his whispery voice.
“Um, thanks.” I never knew how to interpret his statements. Oss could decipher Affie better. I deeply wished I had brought him along.
“What can I do for you?” Affie asked.
A twinge of guilt went through me at his correct assumption that I needed help. I really should seek him out more. “Duke Lear’s son went missing.”
Affie’s expression didn’t change, but his gaze sharpened. “Why do you care about the affairs of dukes?”
