“She never expected you to wait on her hand and foot,” Lottie snapped.
“I know that now, just as I know what I did was horrible.” Bernadette drew in a shuddering breath. “That’s why I’m here to rectify matters.”
“How do you intend to do that?” Owen asked.
“I know where Victor’s keeping Camilla, just as I know that he’s going to send a lot of his men to pick up the ransom.” She lifted her chin. “I went directly to Victor’s from the train station.As I mentioned, I arrived in the city before you. I knew he would expect me to show up there at some point, so off I went, arriving not long after Camilla did.”
“Did you see her?” Owen demanded.
Bernadette shook her head. “I’m afraid not. I was shown directly to Victor’s office, where he told me how pleased he was with the work I’d done. Before I had an opportunity to check on Camilla, Victor sent me off to claim my prize, which is where I’m supposed to be right now.”
“You didn’t bother to try and rescue her?” Lottie asked.
“I doubt I could have been successful with that, given how many men Victor has guarding his lair.” Bernadette dashed another tear away. “I thought it would be more prudent if I came here, since I assumed this is the first place Owen would come. And if Owen wasn’t here, I figured Camilla’s parents would know how to contact agents from the Accounting Firm.”
Bernadette caught Owen’s eye. “Since you are here, know that I think a surprise attack might be possible while Victor’s men are off to pick up the ransom, and I can help with that attack.”
“How can you help?”
“I can tell you exactly where Camilla is being held, as well as give a detailed account of the layout of Victor’s compound. I also know, since I made a point of stopping to talk to a few of the guards, how many men he’s sending to collect the ransom, as well as how many men will be left behind. Victor is expecting me to return after I speak with the manager of the theater—my reward for doing this job—and when I return, I can then unlock one of the side doors for the surprise attack.”
“And you think we should plan this surprise attack while Victor’s men are off retrieving the ransom money?” Gideon asked.
“That’s when he’ll be the most vulnerable.”
Gideon frowned. “How many men do you think will be left in Victor’s compound during the pickup?”
“Around twenty, but that’s better than the number he normallykeeps on hand.” Bernadette smiled. “He’s sending a small army to collect the ransom because he thinks that’ll make it more difficult for any of them to decide to grab the money and run.”
“Twenty doesn’t sound impossible to handle,” Gideon began, “although given that Victor Malvado’s rumored to have some of the most vicious criminals around on his payroll, it’ll still be difficult to execute a rescue.”
Owen caught Gideon’s eye. “I’ve brought men with me who’ll be more than happy to assist in the mission.”
“And not just men,” a far-too-familiar voice said from the doorway.
Swallowing a sigh, Owen turned and found Meemaw advancing into the room with Aunt Elma by her side, both women toting rifles, which had Margaret inching closer to her husband.
“You were supposed to wait at the Fifth Avenue Hotel until I sent for you,” Owen said, which earned him a roll of the eyes from Meemaw.
“Don’t be daft, Owen,” she returned. “You know I’m not one to sit around and wait while the menfolk get down to the real business.”
“Neither am I,” Aunt Elma chimed in, pushing spectacles that were sliding down her nose back into place.
Owen frowned. “You’re wearing spectacles.”
“’Course I am. I’m blind as a bat without them, and I’m thinkin’ my aim better be accurate today.” Aunt Elma smiled. “I’d hate to be takin’ out a person on our side.”
“You always said you’d never get spectacles.”
“As your meemaw said, don’t be daft, boy. I’ve had these here spectacles for years, it’s just that I ain’t above playin’ on everyone’s sympathies to get the attention I feel I’m due by assumin’ the role of some feeble ol’ auntie.”
“Whoarethese women?” Margaret whispered, her gaze fixated on Meemaw’s rifle.
“I’m Beulah Chesterfield,” Meemaw said before Owen couldget a single syllable out of his mouth. “I’m Owen’s meemaw, and this here’s my sister Elma. And now, with that out of the way, what say we go and get our Camilla? I heard Bernadette say she knows where Camilla’s being held, so no use dilly-dallying.”
Gideon cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Chesterfield, but you won’t be accompanying us. Victor Malvado is holding Camilla, and he’s not a man any lady should trifle with.”
“You’re apparently just as daft as my grandson if you think I’m going to be left behind” was all Meemaw said to that as Leopold and Charles strode into the room, Leopold flashing Meemaw a smile before he nodded to Gideon.
