“I . . . I was . . . I—”
“You were afraid. I can understand. It’s not a tolerable excuse, however.”
“I—I’m sorry, Mr. Fury. I didn’t know how to tell you. I planned to, I really did, I just... I told you everything else.”
“You didn’t tell us about Calliope Turner and her little candle shop, The Whispering Wick.”
The man’s eyes rounded even more.
So, he did know her. The confirmation brought him nothing but coldness.
Drake cursed.
“She has nothing to do with this,” Rollings hurried to say. “You must believe me!”
“And what exactly isthis?”
“I am her supplier. I brought her products from France.”
Is that so? “On my ship?”
“It’s not much. Barely takes up any space.”
So bloody dishonest. Using his route, his ship, to bring over products for others. Do it for one, do it for many.
“She doesn’t know anything about what I do other than supply her with her oils.”
“Methinks the man doth protest too much,” Drake said darkly.
“It’s true! Our initial arrangement came through another party!”
Maxen arched a brow. “Oh? And who is that party? Whoelsedid you do these secret shipments for?”
The man’s mouth clamped shut.
Heh.
Maxen pushed off the table. “Let me explain something, Rollings. The last man who lied to me left this room breathing, just not walking. And he doesn’t live on this godforsaken island anymore.”
Rollings paled.
“And you’re about to tell me,” Maxen added, voice like ice, “or you’re about to face a monster you’ve only heard whispers about.”
Beads of sweat gathered on the man’s brow. “An acquaintance of mine approached me in regard to the oils and introduced me to MissTurner. But—but, he is of no consequence. And I only shipped for one other client, but I do not know his identity.”
“Not good enough.”
“That client... he worked through another man. Hair shaved. Brute looking. He gave me the request and payment, and that was that.”
That could be hundreds of men.
“And what was this request?”
“I—I only had to send a letter over to France. That was all.”
Maxen’s blood turned to ice. “So, not only do you lose an important ledger and not inform us, but you also did side jobs on our time, using our ships.” Maxen pressed the heel of his palm against the bridge of his nose before looking at the man again. “Who is the man who introduced you to Calliope Turner?”
The man came up short, spluttering. “I-I-I—”
