And so Kane didn’t think. He stared at the door, ice threading along his bones, and cursed each minute that passed.
“I think I hear someone coming,” said Fletcher, who’d lowered himself to slump against the rusted metal bars. He was the only one of their party who had managed to sleep, but even then, Kane was pretty sure it had been short-lived. Now awake, he looked cold and uncomfortable, his face cast in shadow and his arms folded across his chest.
Jules leaned his head back. “It’s probably just another guard making their rounds. We’re never getting out of here.”
“Well, aren’t you a right ray of sunshine,” Kane said.
“Forgive me for being a little peeved, considering I shouldn’t be here in the first place. I don’t even know this inspector fellow.”
Kane moved his jaw from side to side. “I told you, it’s enough that you were involved in the theft of the necklace.”
“Barely.”
“Be sure to emphasize that at your trial.”
“Don’t think I won’t.”
At that moment the door to the wing finally opened, drawing Kane’s attention and spurring Fletcher to leap to his feet. He had been right about someone approaching, but it wasn’t a guard—it was Price. There was a red tinge to the inspector’s cheeks, and water dripped from his hat as he removed it, suggesting it was still raining outside. His mouth was an angry line. Two more coppers followed behind him, keeping a respectable distance.
“Inspector,” Kane said loudly as the trio approached the holding cell, trying to keep the ire out of his voice. “A word?”
Price paused, his nostrils flaring, but he didn’t turn to make eye contact. “You’ve doubtless been concocting some sort of plan, Durante, but I don’t want to hear it. I’ve had a hell of a day.”
He could think of only one thing that would cause Price to look so frazzled. In fact, it was the same way he’d looked the day of their initial meeting, and suddenly Kane knew exactly what to say next. “I take it the fourth device appeared at the Exhibition.”
Price revolved where he stood. His mustache twitched. “I beg your pardon?”
“We both know you heard me just fine.”
Slowly, the inspector approached the holding cell, never droppinghis gaze from Kane’s, who held it calmly. “What do you mean,the fourth device? Did you know this was going to happen?”
Kane shrugged, ignoring Fletcher’s sharp intake of breath behind him. “Let me guess—it showed up near Egypt’s exhibit.”
Price looked as if he wanted to strangle Kane through the bars. “How do you know this, Durante? Tell me plainly, and I assure you it’ll be far more pleasant than a formal interrogation.”
“You asked me to find out who the Curator was. I didn’t manage that, but I did gather quite a lot of information about what their plans are.”
“What kind of information?”
Kane allowed one side of his mouth to quirk up. “If I tell you, and if it leads you to the culprit, will you let us go?”
Price smiled right back, though somehow his face remained devoid of humor. “Once again, I’m struck by how similar you are to Ward. He could never accept when he had the losing hand. Youwilltell me what you know, or I’ll make whatever remains of your life miserable.”
“If you think me so similar to Ward, Inspector, then you ought to know that whatever you do to me won’t be without consequences.” Kane grasped the bars, put his forehead to them so that he was mere inches from Price. “You think I’m just a boy, but you forget I’m also a kingpin. I have many, many men at my disposal. Few of them are pleasant. Who knows what kind of havoc they’ll wreak without me to rein them in?”
Price snorted. “You must take me for a fool. Do you truly expect me to believe that Ward’s former crew already respects their brand-new kingpin so much?”
“Ah, but I’m not brand-new. I’ve been part of that crew for nearly half my life, and I’ve known those men for just as long.” Sure, mostof them had hated Kane, but Price wasn’t aware of that. Besides, they had also feared him. “Do whatever it is you intend to do with me—after all, we had an agreement. But don’t suppose it will be without consequences. It would be unfortunate, wouldn’t it, to present your superiors with an answer to their Exhibition problems only to lose control of Devil’s Acre even more than you already have? I know the slum falls under your authority.”
“You’re not going to be able to coax me into another deal,” Price said, although he looked less certain.
“All right.” Kane shrugged. “Then interrogate me.”
“Or we could simply interrogate one of your companions here.”
If Price thought that would make Kane recoil, he was mistaken. As a con man, Kane knew how to school his expression. How to present a convincing bluff. “You could. They don’t know what I do, however.”
One of the other coppers dared to approach, muttering something low in Price’s ear. The inspector shook his head, snapping an impatient dismissal.
