When they were finished dressing Angela, they walked out from around the screen. She took her cloak and bonnet and Nicole assisted with putting them on her friend as they led the way downstairs at a slow pace with Joseph following. After reaching the bottom floor, Nicole draped her own cloak around her shoulders as well.
“Now we are goin’ to walk out this door and act like nothin’ is happenin’,” Joseph said roughly. “Believe me, I won’t have any second thoughts about killin’ ye right here.”
“Mr. Donnelly,” Nicole spoke in a steady voice, “tell me what I can do that will convince you we are not a threat. I’ve already mentioned that we are not going to pursue your opium business. There are other things the Metropolitan Police are having us do.”
“Ye just don’t understand, do ye?” He shook his head. “I don’t believe a word that comes from yer mouth, Miss Bastian. When I first met ye in London, ye were such a sweet-talker, and ye acted so innocent. It was easy tae believe ye then. But now I ‘no ye better. I ‘no ye lie to everyone.”
Tears spiked her eyes and she blinked rapidly. The truth hurt, and because of what had happened between her and Ashton, it made reality that much harder to handle. How many people had she lied to in her life? Yet after meeting Ashton, she realized she never wanted to lie again. And if she dared admit, she was sick to death of getting in these situations where her life was threatened. Like now.
The night air was cool, and she bundled the collar of her cloak against her throat with one hand, while holding onto Angela’s arm with the other. They walked slowly down the road toward the end of town. Nicole figured he wanted to take them near the docks. That would be the perfect place to kill them. Joseph could push their bodies into the water when he was finished. They wouldn’t be discovered for quite a while. Nicole knew enough men like Donnelly to know how their minds worked.
“Can’t ye ladies walk faster?” Joseph snapped.
Nicole threw him a glare. “I don’t know why it keeps slipping your mind, but Mrs. Phelps is injured. She is extremely weak, you imbecile!”
He grumbled something incoherent and shook his head. Thankfully, he didn’t say anymore because Nicole just might attack him now. She was already tired of his attitude.
“Are you all right?” she whispered to Angela.
The sluggish way the other woman turned her head toward Nicole gave her the answer she sought without any words needed. The other detective’s face was pale, and Nicole worried that Angela might swoon sooner than planned. All of this walking wasn’t good for a woman who had lost a lot of blood. Nicole knew that feeling well.
Frowning, Angela shook her head. “I don’t feel well at all.”
I know, Nicole mouthed. I’m so sorry.
Water splashing against rocks became louder the closer they dragged their weary steps toward the docks. Angela stumbled a few times, and Nicole wrapped an arm around the older woman’s waist, but it wasn’t helping. Angela just didn’t have the strength. Silently, Nicole prayed that a miracle would happen—anything that would help out their dire situation.
Each step toward what would be their final resting place, Nicole couldn’t help but think that she was the one to blame for all of this. She had known Joseph Donnelly was in Liverpool, and yet she didn’t say anything to her father or brother. She was focused on Ashton and the false accusations being made against him. Yet if she had been a good detective, she would have mentioned something to her father and he could have sent the others to check out Mr. Donnelly’s whereabouts. She knew he was selling opium because Mrs. Larson had purchased some, but still Nicole did nothing. Indeed, this was her fault, and now it was too late to do anything about it. Because of her mistake, she put not only her life in danger, but a fellow detective.
Soon, the sun disappeared, and the moon climbing in the night sky didn’t give off very much light. The scent of salt—and fish—hung in the air, letting Nicole know they were very close to the shore now. In the distance she could hear the splashing of water hitting against the rocks.
“Over there,” Joseph snipped, “by the water.”
Suddenly, Angela released a weak sob and crumbled to the ground. Gasping, Nicole tried to reach for her, but Joseph pushed her away.
“Leave her,” he commanded. “That’s where I’d planned for her tae be, anyway.”
Nicole gnashed her teeth, wanting to shout obscenities at him whether it was lady-like or not. But before she could do anything, he lifted his foot and kicked Angela’s limp body, pushing her down the slope toward the water.
Screaming, Nicole pounded on his back with her fists, and kicked him in the legs, which brought him to his knees. She tried to keep an eye on Angela to see if she had stopped herself before reaching the water, but her friend had rolled into the shadows. It was impossible to see her now.
Joseph muttered a few choice words and aimed the pistol at Nicole. Fear had left her, and in its place was raging anger. The emotion filled her and she balled her hands into fists. She was frustrated at him, at her life, and definitely irritated at what fate had handed her. She lifted the skirt of her dress a little higher to give her legs better access and more room to kick him again. This time, she let the fury flowing through her guide her limb. Her foot connected with his jaw and he fell back, dropping the weapon in the process.
She reached for the pistol, but Joseph regained his bearings and lunged for it as well. Nicole wrapped her fingers around it just as he jumped on her, knocking her down on her back. The man was strong, but that didn’t stop her from fighting as hard as she could. If she were going to die tonight, she would do her best and fight to the end.
“Give me the pistol!” he shouted, trying to pry her fingers off the steel.
“Go to the devil, Mr. Donnelly. I will not relent!”
Using her legs, she kicked as much as she could with him on top of her. She rolled one way and then the other, doing her best to keep him from winning.
Cussing loudly, Joseph drew back his fist before slamming it into Nicole’s face. The right side of her jaw exploded with pain, and for a brief second, blackness filled her head. All sounds around her disappeared for a moment before slowly returning and sounding as if she were in a tunnel.
The agony shooting through her made her limp, and Joseph took the opportunity to snatch the pistol from her. As her vision gradually returned, she could see him struggling with the weapon, getting it ready to fire.
Suddenly, a large figure ran up behind Joseph wielding a thick board in his hands. The person swung hard and the piece of wood connected with Joseph’s head. The strength of it knocked the weapon from his hands as he rolled to the ground beside her in an unconscious heap.
Her vision was still a little fuzzy, but she could now tell it was a man. He dropped to his knees beside her.
