*
Will Darby’s friend,Benny Kellog, worked at a slaughterhouse in Barking. Jack’s men had learned this from Will Darby, who had softened a little under pressure in his cell, although he rigidly refused to give them the vital information they sought concerning the earl’s murder. He was guilty, no question, which made Jack so angry, he longed to shake it out of the villain. But he hoped to have better luck with this Benny Kellog, who had a great deal less to lose by confessing what he knew.
Jack unearthed the man outside the reeking slaughterhouse. He was seated on a wall eating his meat, pickles, and cheese. How he could eat here with this smell was beyond Jack, but Benny smelled almost as bad himself. “Benny Kellog?”
The ginger-haired man scowled up at him. “Who wants to know?”He dropped the remains of his food onto the filthy ground and leaped up as if ready to take flight.
Jack folded his arms. “Viscount Hereford. You are an associate of Will Darby’s. If you tell us what we wish to know about him, it could be advantageous to you.”
Kellog danced a step back with a nervous grin, his teeth, those he still had, badly stained. “Yer got bats in yer head. Will would cut me throat from ear to ear.”
“Don’t let that concern you. Darby won’t get the chance. You are unlikely to see him again. Unless you plan to watch him hang. On the other hand,youmight end up in Newgate yourself, being involved in a crime, as you are.”
Benny’s hazel eyes widened. “Yer bluffing. I had nothing to do with any of it.”
Jack shook his head regretfully. “If you don’t tell us what you know, we are liable to think the worst.”
He gasped. “Awright! I will! But I don’t know much. Will wouldn’t tell me much. ’E said it was safer that way.”
Jack dug out two guinea coins from his waistcoat pocket.
Benny’s gaze dropped to the bright gold coins in Jack’s palm, flashing in the midday sun. He licked his lips.
“What can you tell me, Benny?” Jack asked.
Benny glanced over at his place of work. “I have to go in.” He eyed the coins again and heaved a sigh. “It’ll have to be quick.”
Impatient, Jack waved an encouraging hand. “Let’s hear it.”
“Someone wanted a man disposed of and hired Will to do it.”
“The name of the man he was to kill?”
He shrugged his thin shoulders. “Some rich blighter. Will never told me ’es name.”
“Had this person hired Will before?”
“Yer. Sent work Will’s way once. Paid well, Will said, and Will was good at it.”
“What did Will call this man who hired him?”
Benny shrugged. “Called ’im ‘govnor’ sometimes.”
“And at other times?”
“’Is Lordship.” Benny watched the coins disappear back into Jack’s pocket. “I can’t tell you ’is name if’n I don’t know it, can I?” he whined.
“I am going to need more.”
“Will was waiting to hear from the tozzer. Wanted his money. That’s why ’e hung around the room. As soon as it came, Will would scarper quick smart. ’E ain’t been paid. Not the last I ’eard. Would’ve shown you lot a clean pair o’ ’eels then.” He nodded his eyes wild. “Might yet.”
“Not enough,” Jack said folding his arms.
Benny shrugged. “Will said the blighter who hired him never met him in the same place twice. He had to wait to be contacted.”
Jack turned away.
“Wait!” Benny called as Jack turned to leave. “Saw the blighter once with Will in the pub near the Docks. The King’s Head. Made sure they didn’t see me. Didn’t think it was healthy to show meself.”
