“As I understand it, your son has a well-paid position within the army.He’s managed to create a comfortable life for himself and his family.It would be a pity if he were to find himself stripped of his rank because of some crime he’d committed.”
A mixture of disgust and fear filled Mr.Jenkins’ expression.“You would ensure such a thing if I fail to betray the rest of my clients?”
“There is little I would not resort to in order to find the man who murdered my sister.”
“You’ll pay for it with your soul,” Mr.Jenkins murmured, shaking his head and retrieving a ledger.“If you don’t mind, I’d rather you look at it in that storeroom, just to be sure nobody sees.”
Adrian thanked him, took the ledger, and stepped into a small space lined with shelves filled with various boxes.He removed a few to create a space for the ledger to sit, then proceeded to browse through the various names.
Given the fact that the killer had managed to lure Evie to him, Adrian had to assume it was someone she knew and trusted.He was therefore especially interested in the men she’d danced with on more than one occasion since her debut last spring.
Unfortunately, The Gentlemen’s Emporium was a popular shop.Every single gentleman Adrian thought of was listed.All had made purchases two years prior, which made it impossible for him to rule anyone out.He was no better off than before.If anything, he left the shop feeling worse for having forced Mr.Jenkins’s hand.
Unhappy with himself and the lack of progress he’d made, he ordered the carriage to take him home so he could collect a change of clothes and pick up Murry.Together they’d head to Reed’s for a much-needed round of physical exertion.All he wanted right now was to punch someone.And to take a rough beating in return.
14
Three short raps at the door followed by a series of faster knocks alerted Samantha to Isak’s arrival.She crossed the rough wooden floor of the room she’d rented and threw the bolt so he could enter.
“Your quarry’s been spotted on Bond Street.He stopped by The Gentlemen’s Emporium.”Isak greedily accepted the glass of lemonade Samantha offered.
She crossed her arms and waited while he drank.
“He was there for about an hour,” Isak continued, “before he went home, collected a bag, and set off for Reed’s with some other man.After that, he returned home again and didn’t go out for the next three hours.”
“Where is he now?”Samantha asked.
“At White’s.”Isak drank some more lemonade, then set the glass down.“I managed to sneak inside his carriage while he was there.Without gettin’ noticed, mind.Spotted a book, I did.”
Samantha waited for Isak to give her the title.When he didn’t, she had to ask, “What book?”
“That’ll cost you an ext—”
She had him by the throat in an instant.“Listen to me, you little good for nothing thief.I’m paying you daily, besides which I’ve been kind, and now you’re trying to cheat me?”
Isak’s eyes bulged as she raised her hand slightly, pulling him onto his tiptoes.He gasped and wheezed while grabbing her wrists to try and dislodge her grip.When she released him a few moments later, he sputtered and coughed and clutched at his throat.
“Well?”she asked.
Glaring at her, he retrieved a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.She took it and read the clumsy letters he’d copied, the wobbly lines suggesting he’d gripped the pencil with his fist while drawing each shape.
Even so, the word he’d written was clear.Herakles.
Interesting choice.
When Isak reached for the lemonade glass, she snatched it away.“Don’t ever make the mistake of thinking you can take advantage of me.I’ll break one of your fingers next time.Is that clear?”
He gave a defiant nod.
“On the other hand,” she told him, “if you keep doing your job as well as you have thus far, I will reward you for it.So what will it be?”
“I’ll keep providing the information you want,” Isak wheezed.
“In that case, feel free to relax for a moment or two while you finish your drink.”She returned the glass to him and considered her options.
For starters, she’d pay a visit to Hatchard’s.
The bookshop, located on Piccadilly, provided her with the book she desired when she arrived there later.They were even able to bind it while she took refreshment at the small teashop next door.
