“Enter,” Kendrick’s gruff voice ordered.
He opened the door and stepped inside.
Kendrick glanced up from the papers on his desk and asked, “What do you have to report?”
Caleb had followed him inside and closed the door. “We spoke to my father and he is being threatened to turn over information about the troops.”
“What information has he turned over?” Kendrick asked.
“None at this point but someone attempted to abduct my sister, most likely in an attempt to force his hand,” Caleb replied.
Kendrick leaned back in his chair as he studied Caleb. “Do you believe your father was telling the truth?”
“I do,” Caleb said. “He told us that he will inform us at once if the person attempts to make contact with him.”
“Does he know who this person is?” Kendrick inquired.
“He does not.”
Kendrick tapped his fingers on the desk. “I will assign an agent to watch your father and ensure that he is telling us the truth.”
Roswell stepped forward. “If it helps, I believe Lord Oxley is telling us the truth as well. He was rather upset when Anette was almost abducted.”
“Lord Oxley has strong connections in the House of Lords and is privy to sensitive information,” Kendrick said. “We can’t risk that he is keeping anything from us.”
“I understand,” Roswell stated.
Kendrick gave him a curious look. “When did someone attempt to abduct Miss Bolingbroke?”
“When we were visiting Vauxhall Gardens,” Roswell revealed. “I was hit from behind but she was able to scare the attacker off by retrieving her pistol.”
“Miss Bolingbroke scared the attacker off by herself?” Kendrick asked.
“She did,” Roswell confirmed.
Kendrick bobbed his head in approval. “She sounds like an impressive young woman, but it is not like you to be distracted,” he mused. “I must wonder if Miss Bolingbroke has some hold over you.”
Roswell tensed, wondering how Kendrick had been able to see right through him. “She is just a friend, nothing more,” he lied.
“You must strive to be more cautious from now on,” Kendrick advised. “You can’t afford to be distracted.”
“I am well aware,” Roswell said. He didn’t need to be reminded that distractions could get him killed. He may have been lucky last night, but he knew it wouldn’t last.
Kendrick shifted in his seat before saying, “I want you to discover who threatened Lord Oxley and arrest him.”
“Yes, sir,” Caleb said.
“Now off with you two,” Kendrick ordered with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I want you to report back once you have the suspect in Newgate.”
They left Kendrick’s study and walked out the back door.
Once they were walking down the street, Caleb glanced over at him and asked, “Any ideas on who is threatening my father?”
“I was hoping you had some.”
“We will need to wait until they make the first move,” Caleb said.
“I hate the waiting game.”
