“And the need to hire fresh muscle.”Having failed in his first attempt to destroy Croft, O’Leary would want to make sure he had more reinforcement next time.A bigger plan with a larger army.Enough men to force Croft into submission.
“Which Croft says he had a habit of doing at The Mad Bull.”Made perfect sense.The tavern was renowned for its bareknuckle fights, which would have permitted O’Leary to gauge each man’s strength and skill.He’d fought there himself at least once, after which he’d stabbed his opponent before, once again, disappearing into the night.Peter considered this, then murmured, “Croft made sure all public houses and brothels were kept under constant surveillance in an effort to catch him, but—”
“O’Leary might have sent a trusted scout to recruit more men in his stead.”
Peter blinked.Why the hell hadn’t he thought of this?
Meeting Gabriella’s gaze, he said, “Instead of expecting to find a hint of O’Leary in London’s seedier places, we should have been gathering information on anyone offering lucrative pay to thugs and riffraff.”
7
James followed Croft into The Fox’s Burrow and scanned the interior.The noise from the throng of people who gathered here in the evenings was muted at this time of day.Only a few tables were occupied by guests who’d come for a late luncheon, their bodies hunched over their meals.
A thick smell of smoke mingled with that of roast meat and cooked vegetables.James’s stomach produced an involuntary growl.He ignored it and strode after Croft, toward a portly man who stood at a counter, jotting down notes in what looked like a ledger.
“Good afternoon,” said Croft, forcing the man’s attention to him.“Are you the owner of this establishment?”
The man straightened.“I am.How may I help you, Mr…?”
“Croft.”Croft seemed to ignore the man’s startled expression and gestured to James.“This is Mr.Murry.And you are?”
The man cleared his throat, then stuck out his hand.“Keats.It’s a pleasure to have you here, sir.”
Croft shook Keats’s hand, then said, “Murry and I have come to acquire some information about an individual who was last seen entering this establishment.”
“Uh…” Uncertainty lent a wariness to Keats’s expression.
“He was described as being well-dressed, roughly thirty years old, about my height, with light brown hair, and in possession of a pleasant disposition.Might have used the name, Smith.”Croft leaned toward Keats ever so slightly.“We need to speak with anyone who may have had contact with him.”
“I…um…I believe I know to whom you’re referring,” said Keats, his gaze darting sideways for a brief second before returning to Croft.“If it’s the man I’m thinkin’ of, he spent a few nights here last week but has moved on.”
“Did he say where he was off to next?”James asked.
Keats shook his head.“No, but he met with an older gent more than once.Could be Old Larry over there has more to say on the matter — keenest observer if ever there was one.”
James looked toward the man Keats indicated.He was a lean individual whose clothes showed evidence of wear and tear, but that was not the part that caught James’s attention most.Neither was his wrinkled face or pointy nose, but rather his milky-white gaze.
“Is he blind?”Croft asked while Old Larry ate some more of the stew he’d been served.
“His eyes don’t work, if that’s what you’re asking,” said Keats.“But he’s far from blind.It’s my belief he sees much better than the rest of us.”
“You know I can hear you,” Old Larry muttered from across the room.
James stared at the man as he took his next bite.He had to be roughly ten yards away.Keats’s voice had been low while he’d spoken.If that weren’t enough, his words should have been buried beneath other sounds, like those of other guests eating, the serving girl clearing a table, and the barkeep rearranging glasses.
“Might we have a word with you, sir?”Croft directed his question toward Old Larry.
“No,” Old Larry replied.
Croft’s brow creased, his eyes darkening in response to the rebuttal.“I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t—”
“Interrupting a man’s meal is rude.Mr.Croft.If you want to speak with me, it’ll have to wait until I’m done.”
James took a deep breath and held it.Not only was Old Larry fully aware of who he was addressing, he also looked like it had no impact upon him whatsoever.Where Keats had seemed to shrink a little upon realizing the man seeking answers was Croft, Old Larry dismissed him without blinking.
A couple of seconds ticked by.Keats wrung his hands, an anxious look on his face.Old Larry merely returned to his food.
And then…
