“This agency is specifically tasked with protecting the interests of the Crown, interests which at times must remain secret to accomplish what must be done. You have interfered in that!”
I angled a look at the expression on Brodie’s face in an effort to determine just how precisely he would respond to that direct attack by a man he admittedly did not trust.
His expression was completely void of all emotion, that dark gaze direct and unwavering as he stared back at Sir Avery. Then, respectfully but succinctly, he replied.
“I would remind ye that Lady Forsythe assisted in exposing a plot against the Royals and, in due course, was severely injured during an assassination attempt against His Royal Highness. And with all due respect, if the Agency was doin’ their job, as ye say, there would have been no need for our present inquiries...sir!”
I fought not to burst out laughing. He had, in a very direct, succinct manner replied as Sir Laughton had recommended. Although perhaps not precisely as Sir Laughton intended.
That first inquiry case that involved my sister’s disappearance had been difficult...very near almost deadly.
I had been injured with a bullet wound to the shoulder, my first direct encounter with Mr. Brimley and his remarkable skill. The wound had healed quickly with no lingering impairment.
Not one to carry on about such things, I chose to ignore what had happened. However, Brodie had not forgotten, nor forgiven himself for not being there at that precise moment and taking the bullet himself.
Even now, a handful of years after, in private moments, he lightly touched that scar, and there was something in his expression.“I might have lost ye.”
As for the present situation, I wasn’t at all certain that Sir Avery would survive the moment, a vein standing out on his forehead.
He eventually managed to bring himself under a measure of control as he looked down at what appeared to be a report withthe Royal Navy seal at the top. He then sat down at his desk, hands steepled before him, that sharp gaze fastened on Brodie.
“I must insist that you explain the present circumstances of your inquiry case.”
Straightforward, Sir Laughton had cautioned. Only as much as necessary.
Brodie gave me a reassuring nod and indicated one of the chairs across from Sir Avery.
I knew precisely what he was about, subtly sending a message to the man. I sat and then Brodie continued.
“Lady Forsythe received a request to meet with Mr. Theodolphus Burke of the Times newspaper. Upon her arrival, it was discovered that Mr. Burke had been attacked and severely injured.”
He continued to explain the note I received that contained the name of a woman. How, in the interest of learning who the murderer was, we had proceeded to the woman’s residence, where we discovered that there had been a disturbance and she had departed.
The remainder of the details were sparingly revealed and included the name of a witness to the murder and the discovery of his identity.
“Maximillian Steiner,” Sir Avery repeated, not surprised. “A man known to us.” And then continued.
“I am informed that news of Burke’s death has been withheld.”
“It was reasonable to assume that those responsible might be drawn out if they thought he was still alive,” Brodie responded.
“A plausible assumption perhaps.” He turned to me then. A bit of divide and conquer?
“What of your visit to Gosport, Lady Forsythe? And disregarding that it was a restricted area? A highly serious offense?”
The sarcasm was obvious as he pressed for more information. I did wonder how much Brodie would tell him, including the contact Adele had made with me the night before.
I was quite thorough with this interrogation, yet determined not to reveal more than absolutely necessary for Adele’s sake.
“The combination of the letter and numbers was discovered along with information for the date of 18 April,” I explained.
“And with your vast experience in world travel, you were able to conclude that it was necessary to go to Portsmouth,” Sir Avery snapped.
“I read somewhere that naval vessels are usually known by a series of letters and numbers before they are named and christened by the Queen.”
It was a bit of a stretch of the truth, actually more than just a bit. However, I left it at that. Let him think whatever he would.
“As for the facility at Gosport, there was no restriction, and no one was about to inform us that we were not allowed to enter.” True as far as it went.
