It was only a matter of a few hours. But every minute counted now that Hawthorne had attacked Berry and Lord Berwick.
Bonham arrived as he was discussing the situation with Dr. Farthingale. Gideon quickly filled his friend in on all that had happened.
“Blessed saints! I’ll kill that vile Hawthorne with my bare hands.”
Gideon nodded. “You may have whatever remains of him after I am through.”
Since the doctor agreed to stay on and watch Berry for a few more hours, Gideon left Bonham in charge of the club and wasted no time in seeking out Barrow. It was still the middle of the night, but he thought it was possible someone might be in the Bow Street office, since much of their investigative work entailed night surveillance.
Besides, he had no idea where Barrow resided. If the office was closed, Gideon would have no choice but to wait until morning to meet with him.
He had Brent bring him over in his carriage. If there was searching to be done, they might as well tear around London inhis conveyance. Both he and Brent were handy with weapons, and he hoped the villains and scoundrels they encountered in the more dangerous areas would recognize his carriage and not cause trouble as he rode through their territory.
Gideon breathed a sigh of relief upon noticing a light burning in Barrow’s window. As it turned out, Barrow himself was there with the two men he had mentioned would be put to the task of guarding Berry.
All of them turned in surprise as Gideon walked in. Barrow rose to greet him. “What has happened to bring you here at this hour, Mr. Knight?”
Gideon quickly told them what had occurred. “And now my men have vanished and I don’t know how to track them.”
“Well, it’s Hawthorne we need to find, and that’s where we’ll come upon the others. Any idea in which direction he might have fled?”
“No, not a clue.”
“Well, let’s see.” Barrow started thinking aloud. “Hawthorne is a leech, and has no place of his own. He relied on his family, but they’ve now thrown him out and would certainly never condone his actions tonight. He dares not go to them, for they’ll turn him straight over to the magistrate and wish him good riddance.”
“He travels with a group of unsavory friends,” Gideon mentioned. “Although Lady Berry could not make out their faces, she recognized Hawthorne’s voice and was certain there were three other men with him. Possibly the three wastrels he is known to keep company with.”
Barrow nodded. “Oh, I am quite familiar with that lot. Lord Pullingham is one of those little rats. The man has money, the only one of Hawthorne’s friends who does. It is his wife’s money, of course. Pullingham has never worked a day in his life and hadto marry a rich tradesman’s daughter to maintain his style of living. Her father purchased a townhouse for them in Belgravia.”
Gideon arched an eyebrow. “That’s serious money.”
“As I said, all the wife’s. And her father keeps tight rein on it, all bound up in trusts and such. Pullingham might be aiding Hawthorne, but he would never allow the man to hide Lord Berwick at his residence. Besides, his wife happens to be in London now. She would be screaming bloody murder and every constable in London would have been called to her home by now. She will never allow that sneaky rat of a husband and his friends to embroil her in this nefarious nonsense.”
“Then where? Somewhere outside of London?” Gideon asked.
“No, Hawthorne does not have the resources for that. I’m sure he meant to grab Lady Berry and carry her off to a prelate who could be bribed to overlook her protests and marry them fast right here in London. It is common knowledge that the prelate at St. Simeon’s Church of the Revelations in Southwark is on the take.”
“But I have Lady Berry safely at my club, so why would he bother to go there now?”
“In the hope that crooked prelate might hide Lord Berwick for him.”
“Truly? Would a man of the cloth be that stupid?”
Barrow rolled his eyes. “You, of all people, should know how stupidandvenal people can be. Has your upbringing not taught you as much?”
Gideon grunted in acknowledgment.
“If he were willing to lie about Lady Berry’s consent to marry Lord Hawthorne, is it a stretch to think this prelate would lie about hiding Lord Berwick and holding him hostage? This assumes there will be a ransom demand for his return. That man is going to grab a share of whatever is paid over forLord Berwick’s return.” Barrow paused and shook his head in dismay, his prominent jowls wobbling. “Let’s hope they choose to ransom him. We are now dealing with frightened men. It is also possible they will decide to kill him and toss his body into the Thames.”
“And thetonconsiders me low and unworthy,” Gideon muttered, grunting in disgust.
“Well, Pullingham’s home and St. Simeon’s Church are the two places I will start asking questions. Keep in mind, Hawthorne probably has not planned for any alternatives and could still be driving around London in a panic while he decides what to do next. Your men are hopefully following him and this is why they have not returned to your club yet.”
Gideon admitted that this was likely.
“If I were a betting man, I would place wagers on Hawthorne ultimately deciding to make for St. Simeon’s once he manages to lose your friends. It is familiar ground, and he thinks no one will figure out the connection between him and that prelate.”
“Makes sense. I’ll come with you.”
