“Who delivers the messages to you?” Justin asked. “That seems the logical place to start.”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “They are always left on the doorstep.”
“It would seem the thing to do is to set a trap for your delivery person,” Justin said matter-of-factly.
“Capital idea,” Case interjected. “Justin, you and I can be here before dawn to see who delivers the next message, assuming there is another one delivered tomorrow.”
Justin looked at Case in surprise. “I don’t remember agreeing to anything of the sort.”
“If you didn’t do it, here is your chance to prove it.” Jillian looked very much like she was enjoying his obvious discomfort.
“You know damn well I didn’t do it,” he growled.
“Come now, Justin, I may need help apprehending the culprit,” Case said cajolingly.
Justin looked back and forth between the two, knowing he was well and truly caught. “Bloody hell, how on earth do I get myself into these things?”
###
The next morning found Case and Justin hiding behind a row of shrubbery that lined Jillian’s walkway to her door. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Justin grumbled. “Besides the fact that it is damn cold, I feel utterly ridiculous cavorting about in the bushes. Can you image what would happen if anyone from White’s got wind of this? I would never be able to show my face in there again.Prominent duke found skulking about in the bushes outside of Lady Penroth’s home,” he mimicked.
Case smothered his laughter. “Quit complaining. With any luck, our mystery will be solved today. Here is our culprit now,” he whispered.
A young boy, no more than ten years old, crept surreptitiously up the walkway to Jillian’s door. He laid the letter on the stone step outside her door and rose to knock when Justin and Case pounced on him.
He reacted like a caged animal. A string of obscenities erupted as he kicked and scratched. Justin let out an oath of his own. “He bit me!” he exclaimed, holding his injured hand. They quickly subdued the writhing boy. “Enough!” Justin barked, frightening the boy with the force of his voice.
He stilled against Case, looking fearfully up at the two men. Justin retrieved the paper the boy had placed on the step and broke it open.
You will die
He handed it over to Case, who read the words with a grim face.
“Who are you delivering these messages for?” Case demanded.
“I don’t know, yer lordship,” he stammered out.
Justin narrowed his gaze. “Think again,” he said in a dangerous tone.
“I swear, I ‘ave no idea, the messages are left for me under a rock along with a shilling every morning. This big mean looking bloke came up to me and said ‘e’d pay me if I would deliver a bit of paper to this address.”
“Where is this rock you speak of?” he asked.
“It’s down by the docks. Right outside the Fishhead Tavern. There’s a loose stone in the steps. If you take it out, there’s a place you can slip a bit of paper inside.”
“What’s this fellow look like? The one that hired you,” Justin asked.
“E’s big and e’s mean looking. About as tall as you,” he said studying Justin. “E’s got a scar on ‘is face under ‘is right eye.”
Justin reached into his pocket and pulled out a few pound notes. He handed them over to the boy. “This should be enough to replace any income lost by not delivering any further messages.” The warning was clear in Justin’s voice.
The boy’s eyes lit up. He’d likely never touched that much money in his life. He scampered away, disappearing down the street.
“I hope you aren’t thinking what I think you are,” Justin said, surveying the thoughtful look on Case’s face.
“You know we have to find out who this man is,” Case said. “Why would someone want to frighten Jillian? This makes no sense at all.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that.” Justin sighed. “I certainly won’t let you go about this alone. This man doesn’t appear to be the sort to have a polite conversation with. I’ll bring my pistol along.”
