Page 124 of Notorious

Rowland moved a little and groaned. Gabriel was ready to howl with frustrated rage, but then the man pushed again and slid off the coils, landing with a soft thump on the floor.

“Oh God,” he wailed.

“Keep your voice down, fool, and hurry.”

Gabriel stared at the narrow slit of light beneath the door, living a hundred years in the next few minutes while Rowland inched his way over like a worm. Their captor had tied Rowland’s hands in front of his body so he was able to roll onto his knees and reach the knots that held Gabriel’s hands tight.

His mind went to what he would do once he was free. He had no pistol, no sword, but if he could get his hand on even a stick or perhaps a—

The bonds that had been cutting off the blood to his hands loosened. He flexed his hands and felt a thousand sharp needles stabbing into his fingers.

Ignoring the pain, he worked at the ropes around each boot, each second lasting a year. By the time he freed the second knot, his hands had regained most of their mobility. He stood and stretched, working circulation into his feet and hands.

“What is outside this door?”

“It’s the warehouse where they store the rope-making supplies. Er, would you untie me?”

“I didn’t hear him locking anything,” Gabriel said, ignoring the question. “Is there a lock on this door?”

“No, he’s an arrogant bastard. He told me he could handle a toff with one hand tied behind his back.”

Gabriel’s lips curved into a smile. He hoped to use that arrogance to his benefit. “What about the warehouse—which side are the doors on?”

“You’ll see them straight ahead. A big rolling door with a smaller one cut in it. It’s the only way in. They won’t be waiting in the warehouse; they’re in the pawnbroker’s next door—they keep an eye on the street from there. They saw you come with Byer earlier and watched him leave. They knocked him on the head before he could find a hackney.”

Sudden and severe sickness almost crippled him. Good God—Byer. “Is he dead?” He had to force the words through clenched teeth.

“No, Paul said he looked like he might be worth something, so I think they have plans to ransom him.”

Thank God!

Gabriel put his friend from his mind and concentrated on the here and now. He was good with his fists—he’d trained at Jackson’s and with his stepfather—but he could hardly take on two men at once.

“Can you untie me now?”

Gabriel pressed his face against the rough wood and squinted through the crack. He couldn’t see much—although he did see something that might be a door straight ahead. He needed to get out of here before they came back. He reached for the latch.

“You can’t leave me here.” Rowland’s voice reminded Gabriel of a pig’s squeal.

“I’ll knock you on the head if you don’t shut your mouth,” Gabriel whispered furiously.

“I swear, Marlington. I swear on my life that I’ll help.”

Gabriel snorted and pushed down the latch. “That’s not worth much right now, is it?”

“I brought a pistol.”

His hand froze, and he half turned. “Where is it?”

“Not until you untie me. I swear on my honor as a gentleman.”

A pistol would make all the difference. If he could get his hands on it, that was.

“Tell me where it is, and I’ll let you out.”

“But—”

“That is all I will offer. Take it or stay here.”