Ambrose had plenty of experience with children, but rarely ones who lived the life this girl did.
“She’s my niece. Her ma died,” the woman said.
The girl shot her aunt a nervous look.
“Now, Ginny, I need to ask you some questions, and don’t be afraid, as I will not harm you in any way,” Ambrose said.
She stared at him, wide-eyed.
“I have three sisters, Ginny. Do you have any?”
She shook her head.
“We have nicknames for each other,” he continued, trying to show he meant her no harm. “My name is Ambrose, but they call me Rosie, and next it is Cissa, Tavi, and lastly Pixie, as she is the youngest and smallest.”
Her shoulders lowered slightly.
“Pixie’s best friend is who we are trying to find. They have been close for some time. Do you have a friend like that?”
She nodded this time.
“So you see how sad she is that her friend, Tilly—that’s her name—is missing.”
“Just ask the question,” the woman snapped from behind them.
Ambrose heard Alex talking to her but focused on the child.
“Have you seen her, Ginny? Tilly was at Lolly’s Bookshop today, and then she was to go home, but she did not make it, and now everyone who cares about her is very worried.”
The girl looked at him solemnly but did not speak.
“Or would anyone you know be aware of her location who we can talk to?” Ambrose pulled some coins out of his pocket, and a hand appeared with a twist of paper, which he took. Like Tilly, Alex always had sweets.
“You can have these if you like?” Ambrose opened the paper and held them out to her. She took a peppermint stick—just the one—and stuck it in her mouth. He did the same. “Peppermint sticks are my favorite behind sherbert lemons.”
“Take the money,” the woman snapped, and the girl did as she was told.
“Follow me,” Ginny said around her peppermint stick.
He regained his feet, and with Alex on his heels, they followed the girl hoping she was leading them to Tilly. She ran, nipping down lanes and across roads with the ease of someone who knew her surroundings well.
When she finally stopped, he was breathing hard, as was Alex.
“I did it cus they paid me, but I didn’t want her hurt, and they hurt her.”
Every muscle in his body clenched at the words. He would kill whoever had laid a hand on Tilly.
“I went in to see where she was, and she’s in a box.”
“Where, Ginny?” Ambrose said, trying to keep his tone calm.
“In there. Two men are guarding her. They’re by the door, playing cards,” Ginny said. “I didn’t want her hurt,” she whispered.
He didn’t comment on the fact that if she was luring Tilly here, in all likelihood that was going to happen.
“Is there another way inside?” Alex asked.
She started walking around the building to the rear, toward what looked to be a wood box. “That goes down, but there are stairs to where she is.”
