Terror clutched at Rose’s throat like an itchy scarf tied too tightly, and her fear was heightened by the extreme calmness of her captor.
The man had both hands in his pockets and leaned against the door as if this were the most casual and normal of circumstances.
“Soyouare Rose Malloy?” he said, looking her up and down almost insolently.
She swallowed and tried to hear properly past the loud beating of her heart that resounded in her ears.
“You have me at a disadvantage, for I know not who you are.”
“I’m not sure I shall tell you” he said. “I’m not sure it will matter.”
Her blood seemed to freeze in her veins. Rose couldn’t imagine what his intent was, but then, she also couldn’t believe how utterly stupid she had been to ensnare herself in this dreadful situation. Yet another dreadful situation!
She glanced around. There was little to see except highly polished hotel furnishings, a couple well-tufted chairs, and a bed. It had no sitting room though a door, no doubt, led to anen suitebathing room, as the hotel was known for its luxury and comforts.
Women had few defenses, and Rose knew them all. First, bluffing.
“Apparently, you have no manners, and as such, I am leaving.” She took a step toward the door and the man. Unfortunately, he didn’t move. Instead, he smiled a scary little grin and crossed his arms.
She halted and backed up, walking toward the two spacious windows. She looked down, so very far down, to the busy street below. Scollay Square and her brother’s offices were a mere few blocks down. So close, but Reed may as well have been in France for all the good it did her.
Escape was her next option although ...
“I don’t believe you’d survive the fall,” the man said. “Maybe we’ll find out shortly.”
She shuddered.Bastard. Toying with her.
Breathing deeply, she considered what to do. Nothing had happened yet. She would keep her wits about her, her next defense, and hopefully wouldn’t have to resort to violence.
“So you know who I am,” Rose said, stalling for time, “and you’ve been following me obviously. You put an unsigned note in my carriage. Why did you think I would come?”
“You tell me.”
“Because you knew I’d think the note was from someone else. Moreover, there’s really only one person who might send me such a note and to whom I might go without question. And that person has very few friends or acquaintances.”
The high cheekbones of her captors’ face flushed a ruddy color. She was on the right path. After all, this had to be about Finn. William had been right on that count — all the danger in her life seemed to lead back to her husband. This man was too young to be the missing overseer of Kelly’s yard. So that left—
Rose bit her tongue. Should she let on that she knew who he was, or would that put her in more danger? Liam Berne wouldn’t need to kill her if he thought she couldn’t identify him, would he?
“Why did you want to meet with me?” she asked, as if still in the dark as to his identity.
At last, he pushed away from the door.
“I want to know why Master Builder Gilbert is being detained in the city jail. I want to know if Mr. Dilbey is also being held. I want to know what has happened to Mr. Walsh.”
She only knew the first name for certain, but thought the last one was the missing overseer of the yard where Finn had worked. The man had fled, as far as she knew. Still, Rose said nothing.
“Well?”
She blinked. “I think you should be asking the city police. How would I know anything about any of those people?”
Liam’s tone grew harsher. “Because Finn has come back to even the score, and you are Finn’s wife.”
“We are divorcing,” Rose said bluntly, though it was odious to have to speak to a stranger about such a private matter. “In any case, I don’t understand why bringing me here will help you get your answers. Why do you care what befalls these men?”
His face transformed into a sneer. “It’s no matter to you, is it, why I care? But I’ll tell you. Because I don’t want whatever’s happening to everyone else to happen to me. I did nothing wrong.”
She nearly gave away her game of ignorance by telling him it was wrong to get rich off of dead men, but again, she held her tongue.
