“I know, but it may be the only way for you to get some results.Don’t forget, I owe you a debt of gratitude.I’ll not let you down.”
Kendrick shifted his gaze so he could meet Adrian’s.A second passed and then he finally nodded.He directed his attention toward the masked men.“I’ll agree to your terms.You may speak with Mr.Croft alone.”
The masked men gestured toward the tunnel opposite the one Adrian had just used, inviting him to head toward it.He promised Kendrick, “I’ll stop by your office as soon as I’m able.”
“I’m counting on that,” Kendrick told him.To his Runners he said, “Come on, lads.Let’s record our observations, then see about getting back to Bow Street.”
Heading in the opposite direction, Adrian entered the other tunnel with the five masked men at his back.Having come this way before with Samantha and Melroy, he already knew where it would take them, which put him more at ease.
The air was chilly and damp, infused with the smell of dirt.Eager to escape it, Adrian continued onward, until the glow from his oil lamp found the steps leading up the circular staircase.He started to climb it.No need to see if his entourage kept pace.The sound of their footfalls echoed around him.None appeared to make much effort to maintain a silent tread.Probably because there was little risk of crossing paths with anyone else.At least not yet.
They reached the top of the stairs which, unlike the ones at the hospital, opened into a narrow hallway.At the end was a plain wooden door that hung on iron hinges.Adrian pushed it open and stepped into an arched chamber with low ceilings.The floor was slightly uneven, the worn paving stones hinting that this place might have existed before the abbey was built.
He stepped farther inside, allowing space for the masked men to follow.The door was closed once the last man was through, erasing all evidence of its existence.To the untrained eye it now looked like no more than a medieval painting of Archangel Michael.A matching depiction of Archangel Gabriel hung on the opposite wall.The wooden cross placed between them further reduced the chance of anyone thinking the space was used for anything other than peaceful reflection.
Adrian prepared to enter the hallway beyond when one of the men finally spoke.“One moment, Mr.Croft.”
The sound, coming on the heels of prolonged silence, was somewhat jarring.It had the desired effect, putting Adrian on instant alert and prompting him to halt.He turned, one eyebrow rising in question, but no other word was uttered.Instead, the five men helped each other collect an iron rod that hung suspended from two iron brackets imbedded in the stone ceiling.They removed the candelabra that hung from the center of it and set this aside.
Adrian watched in fascination as they then pushed the rod through an iron ring that protruded from a stone slab at the far-right corner of the floor.With each man grabbing an end of the rod, they helped each other lift the stone slab out of the way.
A compartment containing a wooden chest came into view.One of the men knelt so he could reach down and open the lid.Having moved a bit closer, Adrian peered at the chest’s contents.Bundles of fabric lay to one side.Masks to the other.Adrian couldn’t help but produce an incredulous laugh only to swallow the sound when he saw that his five companions were now taking off their disguises.
The cloaks were neatly folded and placed in the chest.Each of their masks quickly followed.And then the lid was lowered, the stone slab placed back in position, and the iron rod returned to the brackets that hung from the ceiling together with the candelabra.
Adrian blinked.The entire process had lasted less than five minutes and left no hint of the curious occurrence that had just taken place.
He looked at each of the five men, most of whom he knew quite well, and said, “I suppose we’d best have that talk.”
25
Gabriella kept waiting for Kendrick to say something, either to her or to Jackson, during their ride back to Bow Street.Instead he kept silent, which made her all the more curious.She had questions.Lots of them.And by the time they entered his office, she was practically bursting.
“You never returned,” she started.
He spun to face her.“What?”
“Why didn’t you come and fetch me when you realized there wasn’t any danger?”When all he did was stare at her she said, “Mr.Croft went to join you.It sounded like an exchange followed, after which there was a lengthy pause of what I estimate to have been five minutes at least.There was no indication of an altercation.”
“Forgive me, I—”
“Do you have any idea what it was like for me to stand in that tunnel alone with the pistol you gave me, not knowing what was happening?”
“You were frightened.”A statement of fact more than a question.
“Of course I was bloody frightened,” she snapped, finally losing the war she’d been waging against her nerves since Kendrick had left her side.As much as she hated feeling weak and vulnerable – of letting it show – there was no stopping it.Her hands were already shaking.
Kendrick stepped toward her with purpose and for a second she thought he might pull her into his arms.Her pulse quickened in preparation, only to slow once more when he stopped mid-stride, paused, and turned to the side table instead.
“I don’t usually encourage drinking during the day,” he said as he reached for a crystal decanter, “but it looks like you could use a glass of brandy.”
She clamped her mouth shut, teeth clenched so hard she feared they might turn to powder.How could someone be so insufferable while trying to be nice?
“Will you tell me why being underground scares you?”he asked when he handed her the glass he’d prepared.
She hesitated until she saw the empathy in his eyes, encouraging her to explain.“I was visiting Tildale with my parents when the mine collapsed.”
She sipped the brandy and sure enough, the heat helped settle her nerves.
