“Gather them and meet me at the tavern at midnight.”
“Aye, captain. I will try to find them.” Phillip turned and hurried back up the street.
An ounce of relief was taken off Broderick’s shoulders, but no more. There were still so many things that had to be done. Growling, he raked his fingers through his hair. This madness had to stop immediately, or he would not be able to think straight.
The air had turned slightly cooler, so Broderick bundled his overcoat tighter around his neck. Standing in front of a shop, he closed his eyes and mentally tried to focus on what his next course of action would be.
From across the street, a lad scurried across the road before a carriage whisked by. Just as the boy reached Broderick, he lifted his eyes. His shocked gaze clashed with Broderick’simmediately, and the lad gasped. Quick as lightning, the boy broke into a run.
It took only a second for Broderick to register the identity of the boy. What was the kid doing in Brighton, instead of back at Henry’s house taking care of the stable?
Broderick chased after Levi, determined not to let Henry’s servant get away. But the boy was fast, and it took all of Broderick’s willpower to keep on him. It wasn’t until Levi tripped and fell that Broderick was able to catch up.
Levi sprang to his feet and was off again, but this time Broderick was close enough to grab the boy’s jacket. The sleeve tore, but at least it helped Broderick in capturing the lad.
He tightened his fingers around Levi’s arms, imprisoning him as he glared into the kid’s frightened eyes. “I demand to know what you are doing in Brighton—and why you chose to run from me when you realized my identity.”
“Let me go!”
“I shall when I receive some answers.”
“I’ll scream!”
“Then scream. I’m certain the constable will side with me.” He gave Levi a hard shake. “Now start talking.”
“No. You can’t make me.” Levi struggled, but to no avail.
Broderick arched an eyebrow. “I may not be able to make you, but I’m quite certain my uncle can. Do you want to keep your employment with Mr. Crampton? If so, you had better start talking.”
Levi scowled, and his mouth tightened.
“Why are you in Brighton?” Broderick raised his voice, turning it more threatening. After a few moments of silence, he gave the boy another bone-rattling shake. “Tell me now, or so help me, you’ll wish you were never born.”
“I’m here to keep an eye on you. I’m being paid well.”
That was definitely not the answer Broderick thought he’d get. He met the boy’s glare with one of his own. “Who is paying you to watch me?”
“The man who came looking for Lady Sarah that one day you were gone.”
“Lieutenant Mercer?”
Levi shook his head. “I don’t know his name.”
“You told me the man had orange hair. Is this the same man paying you?”
“No. The man paying me has black hair.”
Shock vibrated through Broderick, but he kept his tight hold on the boy. Then again, Lieutenant Mercer was too cowardly to play this game of cat-and-mouse with the fearsome Captain Hawk alone.
“How did you know we were in Brighton? None of the servants—save for the ones who traveled with us—knew where we were going.”
“I overheard Miss Crampton telling one of the maids.”
Broderick gnashed his teeth. Leave it to his blabbermouth cousin to put a kink in things. “So, tell me why the man with black hair wants you to follow me?”
Levi’s eyes turned a darker color, coated with malice. “You are Captain Hawk. I don’t want a murderer in Mr. Crampton’s house—family or not. You should be hanged for your crimes.”
Broderick nodded. “I commend you for being so devoted to your employer, but the man paying you is wrong. If I kill people it’s because I’m trying to protect myself from their attack. Perhaps you should have talked to Mr. Crampton about my loyalty before condemning an innocent man and feeding him to the wolves.”
