Page 39
I point at him and state, “Do not lie to me.”
He closes it again.
Wise man.
Alcott rests his hands behind his back. “We came because Lord Mire was tied to The Collector.”
That catches my attention and irritation settles into something colder.
“How?”
“He attended private gatherings,” Alcott says. “Carried messages. Paid fees. Procured women when requested.”
My fingers curl. “Women?”
Lazarus’s humor fades entirely. “Yes.”
The single word is enough, this pavilion no longer feels absurd and the roses no longer look romantic. The dead man on the floor no longer looks like a stolen toy. He looks like a doorway and perhaps these men did not simply trip through it by accident.
I step over Lord Mire’s body and approach the table. A stack of folded papers rests beneath one of the plates. I pick the papers up and scan the top page.
There are names, dates, specific locations, an exuberant amount of payments. My pulse becomes sharper with every detail I notice.
“The Collector’s syndicate,” I murmur.
Alcott watches me, “you know of it?”
“I know men like Lord Mire do not operate alone. I know wealth protects monsters better than walls. I know The Collector’s name is spoken too often in rooms where women disappear and powerful men leave smiling.”
Lazarus’s jaw flexes.
Alcott tilts his head. “And what do you intend to do with that knowledge, Widow?”
I look at the body. Then at the papers. Then at the two dangerous men who somehow thought ruining my evening was a suitable courtship attempt.
“I intend to take it apart.” My answer is confident.
Lazarus smiles slowly as Alcott’s eyes brighten menacingly.
“There she is,” he murmurs.
I ignore the way those words settle beneath my skin.
“You may assist,” I say.
Lazarus places a hand over his heart. “How generous.”
“Under strict conditions,” I warn, pointing my finger at both of them.
Alcott’s smile widens. “I adore conditions.”
“You will not kill my marks before I am finished with them.” My first instruction.
Lazarus looks mildly wounded.
“You will not interfere with my plans without informing me.” My second instruction.
Alcott appears less than delighted by that one.
