by Rebecca King
“Be careful about whose toes you tread on, Dunnicliffe, or I shall have you out of your position faster than you can blink,” Argent growled.
“Are you warning me to drop my investigation into multiple kidnaps which have led to several murders?” Sir Hugo asked, his voice rife with astonishment.
“If I have to.”
“Now, why would you want to do that? What are you so worried I will find, eh?” Sir Hugo demanded. “Unless you are up to your necks in the Smidgley crimes I can see no reason why you should concern yourself.”
“Leave the Smidgley brothers alone. They have contacts who can get you out of office should anything happen to me. I warn you now, Dunnicliffe, there will be no good come from you trying to bring them to justice,” Argent warned.
Sir Hugo smirked. “I am afraid that my duties require me to continue with my investigation regardless of what people in authority think. That is the realm of the law I work for, you see? Nobody can stop me working on an investigation into any crime. That is the power I have been invested with, and it is a legally binding one, I am afraid. Not even you can break it – unless you are prepared to change the law, that is, which even I know you don’t have the power to do. The authority of my position has been created specifically to stop people in authority from engaging in corruption and doing whatever they want to thwart justice being served. There is nothing you can do about it. I shall have to take your, er, warning into account, Argent. Don’t go anywhere, will you?”
With that, Sir Hugo slid a pile of letters across the desk toward him and began to read, effectively dismissing the squat little man. Argent’s temper bloomed at being so summarily dismissed.
“I shall have you out of your job, Dunnicliffe. You just see if I don’t,” Argent hissed.
“I suggest you go home, Argent, but don’t try to leave the country,” Sir Hugo warned.
“Are you threatening to arrest me?” Argent demanded.
“I am going to have to invite you to see me, formally of course, for questioning,” Sir Hugo warned. He peered over the top of his spectacles at Argent and watched the man go still. “I think a few questions have to be asked about your – connections – with our main suspects. The Smidgleys will face justice for their crimes, and so will everyone who has been helping them.”
It was then that Atticus Potter stepped further into the room. When Argent heard the rustling of the man’s clothing, he whirled around and blinked owlishly at the latest arrival. His narrowed gaze then slid accusingly to Sir Hugo. Wisely, Argent didn’t offer any further threats or insults. Instead, he warily nodded his head at the influential man while he paled alarmingly.
“Sir, I didn’t realise you were here,” Argent gushed.
“So I hear,” Atticus drawled with a heavy frown. “Trying to influence my men, are you, Argent?”
“Trying to stop me investigating the Smidgley brothers,” Sir Hugo informed his boss.
He knew that he had two extremely influential men in his office, both of whom had the ear of people who ran the country. What Sir Hugo needed to know was whether his boss was up to his neck in what the Smidgleys were up to as well. If he was, Sir Hugo knew he was going to lose his job, for the time being at least.
As he waited, Sir Hugo found himself feeling nothing more than sad. His time in the Star Elite had taught him a lot. It had brought together a band of soldiers, of fighting men who had all served time in the war, who had developed skills the War Office had made good use of. Those men had fought together, shared life and death experiences in some of the worst conditions, and had grown into an invincible fighting force who had swiftly earnt a reputation for being the best at getting results. But they were just men. As far as the hierarchy of the War Office, and men like Argent were concerned, the Star Elite were expendable. It was painfully obvious to Sir Hugo that if the Secretary of War was involved in the Smidgley’s crimes in some way, the whole Star Elite, those brave and wonderful fighting men, could be disbanded by an arrogant little man who had more connections than intelligence.
“And with whose authority do you work, Argent?” Atticus Potter, the Secretary of War, asked.
“Yours apparently,” Sir Hugo growled before Argent could speak. “Am I to divulge the details of my investigation to him so he can tell his friends? I warn you now that you are going to put a lot of men’s lives at risk if you do.”
“I have never given Argent authority to obtain information about the Star Elite’s activities on my behalf. I already know what you are doing. What of it, eh, Argent? What in the world possessed you to even try?” Atticus demanded.
“He wants to protect the Smidgley brothers,” Sir Hugo drawled. “There can be no other reason.”
“Oh? Really, Argent? I thought you had already been warned to keep your distance from those two.”
“Sir Hugo is stepping on toes.”
“So you thought you would try to protect your criminal friends, did you?” Atticus challenged. “What are you really doing here, Argent? You don’t have any business with the War Office. Who let you through the door?”
“I am allowed to come here if I please,” Argent blustered. “I am acquaintances with the Attorney General himself.”
“Yes, but you are not the Attourney General, are you? In fact, Argent, as far as I am aware, you hold no position of authority in the War Office, ergo should not even be in the damned building,” Atticus snapped. “Now get out and don’t come back. If you have anything to say to any of my men, make sure you do so through the Lord Chief Justice, do you hear? Anybody holding offices less than his are not welcome in here, do you understand? Like Sir Hugo said, though, we will be in touch. I do believe you have knowledge that is going to be useful in our investigation. Of course, should you withhold it, I shall have no qualms about issuing a warrant for your arrest just so you don’t do anything more to protect those criminal friends of yours.”
“But-” Argent’s mouth fell open. He threw a panicked look at Sir Hugo, who didn’t move or even blink as Atticus yanked the door open.
“Turner!”
A uniformed officer suddenly appeared, his marching boots ringing hollowly on the tiled floor of the hallway.
“Sir.”
“Get this buffoon out of here and warn the guards on the door that he isn’t to be allowed back into the building without a confirmed appointment. Do you hear? No. Make that he isn’t allowed into the building at all. If any of the bloody Lord Chief Justice’s associates want to speak to me then they can do so through the sodding Lord Chief Justice himself and nobody less. Do you understand?”
“Sir.”
“Argent. Out. Now. And don’t bother to come back. You can tell those Smidgley friends of yours that they are not immune to justice. They are under investigation and are going to gaol for their crimes – all of them – and so will you for that matter seeing as you are helping them, so like Sir Hugo said, don’t leave the country. I wonder if Rufus knows just how close you are to the Smidgleys, eh? It wouldn’t do for the Attorney General’s honesty to be called into question by being associated with the Smidgley’s, now would it?” Atticus squinted accusingly at the squalid little man, who went from puce to pale and back again within a matter of several heartbeats. His flabby jowls wobbled when his mouth opened and closed several times. Not a word was said.
“I-I can assure you, sir, that I should never do such a thing as to get involved with their crimes,” Argent blustered.
“Oh?” Atticus turned and lifted high brows at Sir Hugo. “Has he just warned you to leave the Smidgley brothers alone?”
“Yes.” Sir Hugo mentally heaved a sigh of relief and leaned back in his seat. Folding his arms across his flat stomach again, he lifted a condescending brow at Argent. “One has to wonder how involved he is in their shenanigans.”
“Then I think he has to answer a few of our questions, before he goes anywhere.” Atticus opened the door again. “Turner!”
“Yes, sir.” Once again, Turner appeare
d in the doorway.
“Go and fetch several men. Mr Argent, here, is going to gaol, and is to remain there for further questioning.”
“But I haven’t committed any crimes,” Argent cried.
“You have been trying to interfere in a criminal investigation,” Atticus growled. “Moreover, you have been trying to protect criminals. We are not going to have a traitor in our midst, Argent, no matter who in the Hell you are working for.”
Turner hurried off to round up several heavily armed men.
“You can’t do that.” Argent’s panicked gaze flew to the door.
For a moment, Sir Hugo wondered if he was going to try to make a run for it. He slowly eased to his feet and edged around the table whereupon he propped his hips against his desk and folded his arms. As a much leaner, and considerably more powerful man, his physical stance made it clear that Argent, a much smaller, rotund gentleman, wouldn’t stand a chance. Argent seemed to realise that after he had raked Sir Hugo with a calculating look
“We can do anything we want,” Atticus growled. “And I am afraid there is nothing you, or the Attorney General, can do about it.”
This time, Argent did start to back toward the door. His heavy brows drew down. “I just came to warn Sir Hugo that I have heard rumblings that many are offended at his handling of the investigation, that’s all,” Argent blustered. “It won’t do to upset certain people who hold positions of power.”
“But if those positions of power have nothing to hide, there is no reason why they should be upset, is there? There is nobody in this land who cannot be removed from office if they have committed crimes, Argent. Remember that,” Atticus growled. “For now, you are off to gaol to await further questioning for treason.”
“No. No. You can’t do that. I demand to see the Attorney General. I demand my solicitor,” Argent cried loudly.
Atticus looked coldly at him. “You are going to get nothing until you have been questioned.”
Thankfully, Turner appeared with several men.
“Get him out of here,” Atticus growled. He stepped back while Argent was dragged, still protesting, out of the door.
Both men remained quiet until Argent’s protests had faded.
“He is up to his neck in the Smidgleys’ criminal activities, isn’t he?” Atticus murmured quietly.
Sir Hugo nodded. Atticus took a seat and studied the Sir Hugo, who had the respect of everyone who held positions of power. Sir Hugo was a man who had a reputation for getting results. He was as straight forward and honest as the day was long and could be relied upon to be discrete. There was nobody else he would put in charge of such an investigation, not least because he knew Sir Hugo didn’t move about in society very much. He was dedicated his family and his job and in that order. Everything else held little significance for him. Consequently, he would curry no favours, and consider nobody’s ruffled feathers or offended sensibilities when making his enquiries. Sir Hugo could be ruthless when roused, yet cold, clean, and clinical in his precision. He was perfect for this particular investigation given the difficulties of the case and the people Atticus suspected were involved.
“I think you should know that Argent is able to bend the Attorney General’s ear. For now, we can keep him quiet in gaol, but we cannot do so forever. What do you need to get your investigation completed faster?”
Sir Hugo stared at his boots.
“What?” Atticus prompted when Sir Hugo didn’t answer. After a moment or two, his gaze turned knowing. “You really think I would put my social connections before my work, didn’t you? You really think I would turn a blind eye to the ruthless exploits of the Smidgley brothers and put the lives of the men in the Star Elite at risk to do so.” It wasn’t a question.
Sir Hugo looked at him squarely in the eye. “Men are expendable. All good soldiers are. You know that is the attitude the War Office takes.”
“The Star Elite have taken many years to train. They are irreplaceable,” Atticus assured him firmly. “This is the safety of the country we are dallying with here. If we allowed corruption in the halls of power, the entire country would be thrown into chaos and we would never be in any position to fight, and win, another war. Whatever position anybody holds in this organisation, or the Lord Chief Justice’s office, if a person is corrupt then they have to be removed from their position, and face justice for their crimes. What I would say is that you must, and I repeat, must, make sure that you investigate the people in positions of power very carefully. Stay hidden, eh? It won’t do for them to have the ability to hide their crimes.”
“Is my position safe?” Sir Hugo asked carefully. “Do I have authority to do whatever I need to in order to ensure my mission is a success?”
Sir Hugo wasn’t surprised when Atticus sighed.
“While I do have the confidence to say that the Lord Chief Justice himself isn’t involved in whatever the Smidgley brothers are doing, it is safe to say that even he thinks the Attorney General is. He has been a little too vociferous in his objection to your investigation into the Smidgleys as well. But, because many in the hallowed halls of power are involved, many are going to have to be removed. It is going to make things a little unstable for a while. Because of it, you might do better to stay out of sight. Of course, you have my full authority to do whatever you need to do, but be swift and silent, and very, very, thorough Dunnicliffe. You must make sure that you leave no stone unturned. I think it might be best if your men stay out of sight for now. After all, nobody can stop you if they can’t find you.”
Sir Hugo’s face hardened. “Do you think they want you out of office?”
Atticus sighed. “I haven’t had any direct threats, you understand? But the Smidgley brothers have a gang of cretins working for them. Who knows what they would do? I have to take steps to protect my dear Clara, especially given some of the young women who have been snatched are pretty much the same age as her. I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to me and my dear Clara was taken by them.”
“Do you want me to put a watch on her? She doesn’t have to know about it,” Sir Hugo offered.
Atticus considered that but then immediately shook his head. “Right now, she is safely tucked up at home in the country. She will be all right, but I want you to promise me that if anything does happen to me; if, for whatever reason, I am removed from my position, or worse, killed; you will put a watch on her. I don’t doubt they would snatch her if she was left – vulnerable.”
Sir Hugo nodded, and fully supported the man’s fatherly concern. He had no idea what he would do if any of his daughters were snatched.
Go quietly out of my mind probably, while I tore this damned country up finding her again.
“Don’t be worried about stepping on toes, and don’t be worried about what position of authority the guilty hold. Nobody can have immunity.” With a brief nod, Atticus quietly let himself out of the office.
Sir Hugo watched the door close and then slumped back into his chair behind the desk. He was a little stunned that his suspicions had been proven to be partly founded in fact. He now felt a little sorry that he had suspected his boss, Atticus Potter, the great Secretary of War who held the highest position in the War Office, might have been involved.
“That means the Attorney General, Raymondson, and Argent are,” Sir Hugo growled into the silence of his now empty office. “Now what?”
For once in his entire career, Sir Hugo knew he faced the prospect of having to bring down half the War Office, and the men in power in the Lord Chief Justice’s office, and for once, he wasn’t at all that even the Star Elite would be able to manage it.
CHAPTER TEN
“What happens now?” Emmeline asked quietly. She studied the huge kitchen Oliver escorted her into but didn’t move away from the door. For a moment, she watched the rather domesticated scene of everyday life as the men removed cloaks and boots and poked the fire back into life before they set about putting various foodstuffs onto the table.
/> “Come and sit down and have something to eat. I don’t know about you, but I am starving,” Oliver grinned.
Emmeline stared at him in dismay. “You have just dropped two thugs off in gaol.”
“Yes.” Oliver was too busy slicing off large chunks of bread of a loaf in the middle of the table to pay much attention.
“Aren’t you worried that these Smidgley men might go looking for them?”
Oliver began to slather butter onto the bread and barely looked up. “I don’t doubt they will, but they won’t find them.”
“They have no idea where they have gone. Or the carriage for that matter,” Harry added.
Emmeline shook her head. “What do you plan to do with them? I mean, you cannot just swipe them off the street and lock them up for, well, whatever.”
“We aren’t. We are locking them up for a reason. They tried to abduct you. It is perfectly reasonable for them to be arrested for it, and sit behind bars while they await trial, especially seeing as they pose a danger to young women’s lives like yours,” Oliver replied with a nonchalant shrug. “We have committed no crimes. We have just blocked either of them from being able to try to snatch you again or warn Smidgley of where they are.”
“I hope the Smidgley brothers do panic and go out to look for them. Those thugs, while stupid, are treasure troves of information and will tell us what we need to know about who is helping the Smidgleys,” Rhys grinned. “They just don’t know it yet.”
Oliver shoved a chair out for her and motioned to it. “Now get something to eat. We can talk about what we are going to do next while everyone is here. That way, we are unlikely to be confused about what is supposed to happen. Sir Hugo, our boss, is in London right now, so it falls upon me to lead this investigation.”
“You are the second in command?” Emmeline asked.
Jasper choked on his drink and coughed loudly around his laughter.
Oliver threw him a dirty look. “Sort of, although nobody replaces Sir Hugo.”