“Benny,” he said. Then they both fell silent as another hackney pulled up and out came a young man with a scantily clad woman. The boy was wealthy—probably a merchant’s son—obviously inebriated enough to risk gambling for higher stakes than he could afford. The woman was just to provide extra enticement as she cooed into his ear about how they’d spend all the money he was about to win.
“Here comes another pair,” Benny whispered as he gestured up the street. Two men whistled loudly as they walked, one clearly less drunk than the other. There were other people on the street. Most were working women and their customers, though Lucas had passed several men in a dice game on the way to Benny’s hiding spot. It was a busy enough street to take little notice of anyone’s coming and going, but quiet enough that the Watch didn’t come by too often.
“Have you seen where they’re going?” Lucas asked. He’d figured out the building, but not the specific flat.
Benny pointed to the top floor. “I think it’s the one with the dim light.”
That would be Lucas’s guess, too, but it would take following this pair upstairs to be sure. He hoped his brother knew to keep doing his booming laugh. That was as good as a foghorn in a place like this.
Lucas gave the boy a nod, then stepped out onto the walk. He was going to go up right behind the whistling pair, but before he could leave, the boy touched his arm.
“Want me to get the Watch now? Or wait—”
“Now.”
“And if you’re wrong?”
He shrugged. “Then, I’ll pay them for their troubles, but keep them quiet until my signal.” He was fast running out of coin thanks to the shopping spree with his mother, but if it came to blows, he wanted the Watch on his side. Not for their help, but because they could testify in court that he’d called them if things went bad.
He waited for the whistling pair to pass, then slipped in behind them as if he belonged. When the sober one looked back at him, he held out his bottle of brandy and put on his oiliest smile. “I’m just ’ere to ’elp.”
Thanks to his haircut, cleanly shaven face, and a bit of makeup to cover his scar, Lucas looked better than he had in years. He appeared more like an aristocrat looking for an easy mark rather than the dangerous head of security at the Lyon’s Den. And the clearly re-filled brandy helped seal the deal. That helped him appear as someone in on the con.
“Now that’s a good friend,” the drunk cried as he reached for the bottle.
Lucas held it out of the way. “Have some manners,” he chided. “Inside. With a glass.”
“Quite right, quite right. Must keep to appearances.”
“This is a sophisticated game we’re going to,” he said with a grin. “That’s why we use glasses.”
They came to the door, and he let the other whistler get them in. A quick series of knocks and the door opened. Even before he stepped inside, he heard Nathan’s booming laugh. That was reassuring. The fact that he’d guessed wrong on which flat they were using was not. They were in the back of the building rather than the front. Well, he’d hope the Watch saw his signal anyway.
He stepped inside and greeted everyone. He saw the six he knew about, plus another lady who smiled warmly as he passed her the brandy. His brother appeared in good spirits as he called for the real card game to begin, and everyone began to gather around the table.
Five players, a female dealer, and an empty sixth place.Geoffrey?He could only pray that was true.
He angled for a seat next to his brother and managed it, but then was annoyed to see that Sid took the place on the other side. No way to block a stiletto into Nathan’s ribs, but at least he could protect his brother’s other side. And then they began to play.
Fortunately, Lucas had brought enough coin to cover the buy-in, and so he gathered his cards and played an indifferent game. He listened to the talk, won as much as he lost, and cursed himself for an idiot. Geoffrey wasn’t here.
He was just about to call it quits when the dealer began to struggle. Her words began to slur, and though she had been flirting with everyone at the table, she started to focus on Nathan with singular attention. He returned her teases with a reddening of his ears. Good heavens, his brother was embarrassed as she began to bow deeper toward him, as she showed more and more of her assets. After a few more hands, she waved the hostess over.
“It appears I am tired, gentleman. Do you mind if I allow another dealer to take my place?” She winked at Nathan. “I’ll just sit by you in the meantime.”
Everyone agreed that they didn’t care who dealt and that she should, of course, sit down. And then the trap was sprung. As she sat down between Nathan and Lucas, the door opened, and Geoffrey sauntered in followed by two thick armed brutes who carried their knives openly.
“You’ve brought another player!” the lady exclaimed as one of the brutes took her place as dealer, the other stood by the door, and Geoffrey headed for the last empty seat.
In the normal course of things, Geoffrey would steadily win all of the marks’ money while the others kept anyone from leaving until it was done. Geoffrey would pay his helpers a pre-arranged amount, and everyone would disappear to do it again the next night. In truth, it was all fairly civilized. Or it would have been until Geoffrey recognized Lucas.
“You!” he bellowed, and if a word could carry bitter hatred, that one did.
Lucas smiled, grateful that finally, his plans had come to fruition. At last, he could act.
First, he shoved to his feet while Geoffrey gestured at his brutes. The two menacing men bolted forward, but Lucas was faster. He grabbed his chair and heaved it toward the window. The glass shattered with a loud crack, and someone down in the street cried out in shock as the pieces came tumbling down.
Signal sent. Please, God, let the Watch see it.
