“The chamber wasn’t empty when we arrived,” she whispered.“There were people in there.Kendrick said I should run if things got heated.”
Suddenly worried, Adrian stepped past Miss Hastings.“Stay where you are while I take a look.”He set his oil lamp on the ground then edged ahead until he was able to get a clear view of the area he and Samantha had found the previous day.“Bloody hell.”
He stepped forward, fully intent on letting his presence be known.Staying calm was, in his opinion, the only way to ensure the situation he walked into didn’t escalate any further.
“Croft is here,” one of Kendrick’s Runners announced.He and another Runner Adrian had once met in passing but couldn’t recall the name of flanked the chief constable, their pistols aimed at five masked individuals standing before them.Kendrick himself wielded a blade, leaving Adrian to suspect the pistol Miss Hastings had used belonged to him.
Everyone turned in Adrian’s direction as soon as they heard his name.He chose to take up a casual stance.“Kendrick.Good to see you again.”
Kendrick sent him a swift sideways glance.“Stay out of this, Croft.I’m handling it.”
“Are you sure about that?”As Adrian considered the scene, he grew increasingly certain things were not at all as Kendrick, or even he – prior to his conversation with Fellowes – believed.
“I’ve demanded these men remove their masks and reveal themselves to us.They know I’ll use force against them if they keep refusing.”
“Hmm…” Adrian scratched the back of his neck and decided to help the poor constable see the facts.“It’s the middle of the day.You and your Runners began your search of the hospital when, exactly?”
“We arrived nearly two hours ago.”
“And yet these men are still down here.”When Kendrick said nothing to this Adrian pointed out, “When they returned to this chamber, they would have seen the broken oil lamp over there.Evidence of my altercation with Melroy and proof someone else had been here.Depending on which tunnel they used, they may even have noticed the gate was left open.”
“Go on,” Kendrick murmured.
“Given the fact that their secret location is no longer secret,” Adrian said, “don’t you think they would have been wary of returning here and potentially being discovered?Unless of course that’s what they intended.”
Kendrick’s gaze shot toward Adrian’s.“What?”
“I propose you lower your weapons,” Adrian said.“These men appear to be unarmed.”
It was hard to tell if that were truly the case on account of the long black cloaks they wore.All manner of weapons might be hidden beneath, but it would take some fumbling to get to them which was why Adrian chose to ignore such a possibility.
“If we lower our weapons,” Kendrick asked the group of masked men, “will you answer my questions?”
They shook their heads in unison then pointed at Adrian.He pressed his lips together and dipped his chin in an effort to hide his humor.This was far too absurd and theatrical.Plus, he was beginning to feel quite bad for Kendrick.
“What?”Kendrick asked, his voice impatient.“Why won’t you speak?”
Adrian cleared his throat and assessed the scene once more.The masked individuals hadn’t moved.They still pointed toward him, clearly intent on relaying their message.
He huffed a breath and started toward the spot where Kendrick stood.As he passed one of his Runners, Adrian placed his hand on the man’s outstretched arm and pressed down, forcing him to lower his pistol.He sent the other Runner a sharp look, in response to which he followed suit.
Kendrick dropped his hand too.The dagger he held now dangled loosely by his side.Confusion and irritation strained his features.“What is going on?”
Adrian stepped up to him and kept his voice low so no one else would hear what he told him next.“I believe they’re only willing to speak with me.”
Anger replaced Kendrick’s previous emotion.He shoved past Adrian, brushing his shoulder.“That’s ridiculous.I’m placing the lot of you under arrest.We’ll see how—”
Adrian grabbed Kendrick’s arm and forced him back a step.His Runners instantly pointed their pistols at him and demanded that he release their superior.Adrian ignored them, choosing instead to tell Kendrick, “Don’t be foolish.They’re willing to speak, but not to you.It’s not personal.They just don’t want their identities known or their statements publicized in any record.”
“Which is precisely why I plan to unmask them,” Kendrick hissed.He tried to shake himself free but Adrian only tightened his grasp.“Unhand me, Mr.Croft or I’ll put you in a cell with them for showing aggression against an officer of the law.”
Adrian loosened his hold but didn’t release him completely.“If you force them back to Bow Street, you’ll never get them to speak.They will remain mute until their solicitors manage to have the charges against them dropped.Which I doubt will be hard to do since you’ve no real crime to accuse them of.”
“At least I’ll know who they are.”
“And yet you will have learned nothing of substance.”Adrian released Kendrick completely and whispered close to his ear.“Let me speak with them.I swear to you upon my honor that I shall relay each word to you directly.”
“This isn’t the way things are done,” Kendrick argued.
