Page 54
‘We’ll take one each, while we’ve got the element of surprise,’ Ben murmured, pulling out his truncheon. ‘On the count of three.’
As Benedict growled out three, they all burst into the improvised bedchamber, catching the bickering men entirely unprepared. It was all over in less than five minutes, well before any of the guards managed to reach for a pistol
There was no surprise to discover that Jem had put a small stiletto to deadly use. The man on the receiving end had gone down without a sound. He wasn’t the only one. Two others lay staring with blank eyes at the ornate ceiling while the fourth lay unconscious on the floor after being clouted on the head with a rolling pin. Only Ben’s order to stand down stopped Jem from finishing him off too.
They had no idea whether Anna would be glad or sorry that the surviving guard was John…
After tying and gagging the comatose man using torn-up sheets, they picked up all three oil lamps and hurried back downstairs to see whether Spry and Gladys had managed to get into the basement. Rob led the way, desperate to discover whether his godson was among the orphans.
On reaching the ground floor, they found the door to the basement already open…
Biting his lip, Rob went to the top of the stairs, the fetid smell rising from the chambers below almost causing him to retch. After the smallest of hesitations, he lifted his lamp and went carefully down the uneven steps, Ben, Rhys and Jem behind him. Falling and breaking a leg now could well prove catastrophic…
At the bottom was a cavernous, low-ceilinged room almost entirely filled with straw mattresses. Desperate for his eyes to adjust to the dimness, Rob held up his lamp, quickly joined by the other three.
A sea of eyes stared back at him.
‘I reckon they’re all ‘ere.’ Gladys’s voice cracked, emotion overcoming her elation.
Hot tears spilled down Rob’s cheeks. He made no move to stop them.
‘Tom?’ he called, his voice husky.
For a second there was no response, then a sharp cry came from the back of the silent crowd. ‘Uncle Rob.’
A lone figure fought his way through the throng, abruptly bursting free with a loud sob. Without hesitation, Tom raced across the room and threw himself into his godfather’s arms.
It was the catalyst needed, and the next few minutes were filled with children crying and laughing.
Both Ben and Rhys held back, anxious about unfinished business. Mrs Bridgers was still upstairs, as was their one and only prisoner. Turning back to Jem and Spry, he tilted his head towards the stairs. They needed no more urging.
Realising what his companions were about, Rob set Tom gently but firmly back on his feet. ‘Stay here, lad,’ he said. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’
Gladys appeared, gently taking hold of the boy’s shoulders. ‘E’ll be fine wi’ me,’ she declared. ‘Go.’
Handing her the lamp, Rob followed the other men upstairs, only to find they’d been waiting for him. Without speaking, they started up the next flight of stairs, aiming to finish what they’d started.
That was when they suddenly smelled the smoke…
