“Well, let’s make sure it is Seth who did this, because if I were a minor crime lord who wanted to expand my territory, a clever way to do so would be cause a squabble between the two big guys. Then I would ensure the crime lord who claimed the area which I want to poach is killed, but in a manner which it wouldn’t come back to me. Then as the territory falls into chaos, I shave off the portions I want and no one even notices in the chaos that follows.”
Tubs frowned.
“You don’t like my scenario?”
“No.”
“So where have I gone wrong?” she asked.
“It fits perfectly to the facts we know. Only none of the minor crime lords are smart enough to do this.”
“So you think this is a feasible theory, only it’s not a crime lord doing it.”
“I wish it were. Then we could probably stop it. This is somebody much smarter and subtler. This is somebody I don’t even know.”
Vic shivered from the chill that ran down her spine. Tubs knew everyone from the criminal world, which meant this person hid among the innocents. How the hell would they ever find him or her?
Chapter 11
Once Barns gave his report to Inspector Stone, he made a second call.
“Simon Barringbarn, please. This is an emergency.”
“Your name and the emergency?” the young man asked.
“Officer Barns of Scotland Yard, and it concerns an assassination attempt on an important person.”
“Then I suggest you bring it to the attention of your betters, Officer Barns,” the young man chided and hung up.
Barns asked the switching operator to put him through to the same number.
“Who is calling please?”
“I wish to be put through to my father at once. This is Clive Barringbarn. Do I need to state who my father is, or can your feeble brain work that one out?”
“You’re the person who just called,” the young man accused.
“Yes, I am. And while my father and I may not get along, I assure you that if you don’t put me through, he will fire you.”
“Hold please,” the young man snapped.
Five drawn out minutes later, an all too familiar angry voice spoke. “Clive?”
“You remember my name. I am flattered.”
“I am at work! Why the bloody hell are you calling and threatening my staff. Whatever you need to discuss can wait until this weekend.”
“Two attempts were made today on Victor Hamilton’s life. Silly me, I thought you might like to know that.”
“Victor? When? How? The details, now!”
Barns almost hung up the phone. His father had been barking at him like that since he was born.
“Call Stone and request my report,” he yelled and slammed the phone down.
He stormed out of the butler’s room, which was absurdly palatial for a damn butler. Barns wondered if Xavier knew he was being robbed by his help.
That was the least of Xavier’s worries.
Upon running into the thieving butler, he demanded to know where Vic could be found.
Instead of telling him, Gregory led him down the servants’ hall.
“Did you not hear me? I want Vic.”
The old butler came to a halt. “Yes, sir. I heard you. Victor is presently with Tubs. Would you prefer I place you in the parlor and Victor can join you at his convenience?”
“No, I need Tubs as well. Continue on.”
The old fellow didn’t move. He just eyed Barns with steely black orbs.
Barns met his gaze, determined to stare him down. After fifteen minutes he realized he had to accept that the old fellow felt in total control of his environment and if he ever wanted to speak to Tubs and Vic again, he needed to appease the fellow.
“If you misunderstood anything I said as insulting or demanding I apologize. But if you recall I am an officer of Scotland Yard trying to solve a case. I need to speak to Victor and Tubs.”
The old man had the audacity to roll his eyes before they continued down the hall. Barns was astounded. Not even his family butler would dare do such a thing.
They finally arrived at a door and the man held out his hand. “Please remain here while you are announced.” He then knocked and slipped inside, firmly shutting the door before Barns could follow. Having lost patience, Barns hammered his fist on the door.
Vic, laughing over something, opened the door and motioned him in. The old man sniffed and left the room.
“You need a new butler. That one is rude as hell and he’s stealing you blind,” Barns declared, successfully removing Vic’s smile.
“I’m not in a mood to tolerate your bouts of childish behavior, Barns. While Gregory was not impressed with you either, he at least refrained from spewing slander.”
“Have you seen the man’s private quarters? They are far beyond those of a butler. For God’s sakes, my rooms aren’t that nice.”
Victor smacked him on the head. “Of course I’ve seen them. I was on the phone when you entered the room. Do you think I went in there with my eyes closed?”
“Of course not. But you clearly have no concept of what a butler’s rooms should look like.”
Vic paused. “That’s true, I’ve never actually seen another butler’s rooms. Xavier has said they tend to be spartan in design and considerably smaller than Gregory’s, but just because everyone doesn’t value their help is no reason to slander mine. Gregory is the finest butler you’ll ever meet, and he is like a father to me. So keep your comments to yourself. We have much to discuss concerning crimes and this conversation is just making me angry.”
Barns looked to Tubs for support. Surely he must know how a butler is to act and live.
“Let’s move on to the crimes,” Tubs suggested.
Barns sat down in Tub’s giant chair and frowned at the pretty girl massaging Tubs’ arms. “You, girl. Leave.”
While the girl only seemed surprised, both Vic and Tubs became truly outraged.
Vic stormed towards him. “That is Tubs’ wife and she is massaging his arms while I am tending to his legs. I will not bother to explain why this is necessary, because this is my house. You don’t get a say in how it is run, what my people do, or how they live. Don’t you ever speak to Sara again, unless it is with the utmost respect.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “I humbly apologize. I am completely out of line. However, we are about to discuss serious matters. I am almost certain Inspector Stone will be outraged to learn a young woman was allowed to hear what was said.”
“She’s already heard it. She was right here tending her husband as we’ve flushed the matter out. The only question left is if you are going to hear it.”
Barns grimaced at the outburst his next statement was going to cause, but he had to do it. “Sara, you do realize repeating anything you have heard or will hear could be considered treason with the penalty of death.”
“Stop threatening my wife,” Tubs growled. “She’s not telling nobody nothing.”
Sara kissed Tubs, then stood up. “I’ll go retrieve the cold towels.” She then smiled at Barns. “And I promise not to commit treason as I do.”
Barns covered his head expecting Vic to come after him full force.
Instead Vic just sighed. “Looks like you’re having a bad day as well.”
“It was fine until I spoke to my father.”
“You didn’t tell him about the assassination attempts did you?” she demanded.
“I tried, but he was more intent on yelling at me for threatening his staff.”
“Well, don’t tell him.”
“Why?” Barns asked, not having the nerve to admit while he hadn’t given details, he had managed to mention the assassination attempts.
“Xavier is on a mission. While I don’t believe your father will cancel the mission, if Xavier knew I was threatened, he might do something foolish like abandon his post.”
“Not unless he wants to be hung for treason,” Barns muttered.
Vic slapped him across the head. “Then you understand why I don’t want him to know.”
“You know, assaulting an officer is a crime.”
“Then act like one, instead of a spoiled brat,” she yelled in return.
“Both of you, enough!” Tubs ordered. “This is serious. You two don’t have time to fight each other. We’ve got a dangerous criminal out there and no clue who he is.”
“It could be a her,” Vic said. “We know nothing about this criminal except they have financial resources, contacts to the underworld, utter ruthlessness, excellent strategic and planning skills, and some intelligence. Oh, and they are more than likely upper class.”
Barns was stunned by all that Vic knew of a person completely unknown.
“Perhaps you can walk me through your evidence and your intuitive insights.” He added the second, so Vic wouldn’t leave that part out, since he figured it was the lion share of what the amazing fellow planned to reveal.
Chapter 12
Upon listening to Vic’s theory that a third, non-criminal had ordered her assassination attempts to bring down the crime lord Seth, Barns regretted providing his report so quickly to Stone, since he had proposed Seth to be the person behind the assassination.
He glared at Tubs. “You said Conrad worked for Seth.”
“He does. But on occasion, he takes a job from the wealthy who wants to get rid of a problem.”
“And you think that happened this time?”
“It makes more sense than Seth declaring war on Xavier. That makes no sense at all. Seth is smarter than that.”
A knocked sounded on the door.
“Tell them to go away,” Barns ordered.
“Come in,” Vic yelled.
Sara entered along with Casey and Fagan, carrying the cold towels.
Tubs smiled as Vic and Sara wrapped his arms and legs.
“You can leave now,” Barns stated to Casey and Fagan.
“Stop ordering my employees around!” She then smiled up at Casey. “Did you talk to Samson?”
He glanced at Barns then Vic. “You were right. He’s busy.”
She looked at Tubs. “I need to talk to him.”
Casey and Fagan shook their heads. Thankfully, Tubs agreed with her. “Give me five hours to rest. Let Samson know we need to talk to him. He can set the place and the precise time. And while we’ll travel in Vic’s carriage during out talk, his men can ride along or follow behind. Tell him it concerns his current activities.”
“Current activities?” Barns slammed his palm upon the small table beside him. “He and Seth are having a full out crime war.” He then glared at Vic. “I’m the one who told you this. How dare you exclude me from my own information.”
Vic sighed at yet another childish outburst. “Call and tell Samson you are coming over. Anyone could be listening on a phone.”
Once the boys had left, Barns asked, “What do you mean anyone can listen in on a phone?”
She sighed. “I know they seem private, but clearly the switch operators can listen in and probably others as well.”
“Most switch operators are women,” he stated as if that made them harmless.
“Well, they have ears and brains and can write down and pass along what they hear as well as anyone.”
Barns brow furrowed. “Perhaps that is why my father was so hateful…”
“Was he more hateful than normal?” she asked.
Barns smiled. “No. He was just his horrible self. Clearly he doesn’t know about phones any more than he does about typewriters.”
Tubs closed his eyes.
Sara smiled at Vic. “Perhaps you and the officer from Scotland Yard can discuss this in the library.”
Vic patted Tubs leg. “Excellent idea. Come along, Barns. I’ll show you my library.”
“I need to get back to work,” Barns declared.
“Then I’ll show you the front door.”
***
Vic didn’t get a hundred feet near the front door before Gregory spoke her name.
“Victor, you are not leaving the house.”
“I was just showing Barns to the door. By all means, take on the task. I’m going to the kitchen and retrieve the pudding you promised, then I’m headed to bed.”
His palm slapped against her forehead. “Are you ill?”
“No, just exhausted and achy from leaping out of the way of that carriage. I thought if I fell asleep and woke up tomorrow, my luck might be better.”
“An excellent idea. I will have the pudding sent up to your room. Go on up.” He then turned to Barns. “And you, sir. Allow me the pleasure of seeing you out.”
Vic chuckled at how subtle an excellent butler could insult someone they did not like.
While Barns frequently outraged her, she never could dislike him. All his flaws were formed in a terrible childhood where he was left alone with powerless nannies that he could boss and bully until he got his way.
She could only imagine his frustration and misery now that he dealt with people who didn't give a damn what he wanted. While Gregory had been a strict disciplinarian and her aunt a loving and supportive second mother, Barns had been abandoned by his parents to countless nannies, neither of them liking their son, but too wrapped up in themselves to spend any effort trying to make Barns a better person.
She supposed the world was lucky he hadn’t come out any worse than he was. And there were times he could be a pleasant, likable fellow. Such as not jumping to ‘let’s arrest Fagan because he shot a man for shooting a haystack.” There was a time he would have tried that line of reason, but today she had seen great improvement in Barns…until he spoke to his father. That caused an immediate regression that would take him days to shake.
When Gregory brought her the promised pudding and placed it on a folding table, she gave him a hug.
“Vic—”
“I know, gentlemen don’t hug. But we’ve both had a bloody awful day and deserve one.”
Instead of setting her back with a scold, his arms tightened and he kissed the top of her head.
It made her feel a little guilty that in less than five hours, she was going to blatantly ignore his demand she not leave the house.
Chapter 13
Someone shook Vic awake. God, had she overslept? She felt as if she had only just gone to bed.
“Bloody hell, I didn’t get any rest at all,” she grumbled.
Casey grimaced. “That’s because it’s only been an hour since I left. Why are you sleeping at four in the afternoon? Are you ill?”
“No, I was trying to rest so I’d be alert to attempted assassinations tonight when we visit Samson.”
“Change of plans. Samson refused to wait five hours to discuss the matter. He’s waiting for you in the library.”
Vic rose, happy she hadn’t bothered to undress, and hurried downstairs to the library in her crumpled clothes.
Gregory was serving him tea upon her arrival and frowned at her, no doubt restraining his scold about her state of disrepair.
“Do you have a cup for me?” she asked and frowned at Samson sitting in Xavier’s chair. She pointed to hers. “Sit in that one. It’s safer.”
Gregory rose an eyebrow at her.
“What? I am only trying to keep Samson out of trouble. Xavier doesn’t like anyone sitting in his chair.”
Samson rose and sat in her chair. “And do you plan to stand during our talk?” he asked.
She threw herself into Xavier’s chair. “Not in the least.” Once they both had tea served, Gregory left without her having to ask for privacy. A moment later, Casey and Fagan entered, carrying Tubs’ chair.”
“Does Xavier expect you to sit in that?” Samson whispered.
“No, that’s for Tubs. He’s going to join us.”
Samson smiled and stood when Tubs arrived, pushing his iron walker before him. Samson must have realized he needed both hands on the walker to move about, for he waited until Tubs sat down to shake his hand
.
“It is great to see you alive and doing so well, my friend. I have been very worried about you.”
Tub shrugged. “I was headed south until Vic stepped in and countermanded the doc’s order to remain in bed. Once he got me upright, I could finally breathe. That's turned matters around.”
When Casey and Fagan started to leave, Tubs told them to hold up. “The boys are going to be my arms and legs in keeping Vic alive, so they have to know what’s going on. Now, I can tell them later what was said here, but I’d prefer they remain and hear it firsthand.”
Vic smiled. “I would prefer them to stay. They might have suggestions or questions that we need to resolve.”
Samson grinned. “I have no problems with that, and for the same reasons, would you mind if my two brothers join.”
Vic pressed her hands to her chest and breathed out. “Then they are safe? I’ve been so worried about them.”
“Someone damn near killed them last night, but thankfully they’re great swimmers even when their arms and legs are tied. And for the record, I did not kill those men bobbing about the Thames this morning.”
“Definitely, call them in,” Vic said. Never had two men needed interrogated more.
***
She barely recognized the young muscles from the night before. Samson had failed to mention they’d been severely beaten before being tied and tossed in the river.
“Before we discuss what we know and our plan to unearth the person behind this, I really need to interview your brothers over what happened last night.”
The eldest of the two, Lionel, rubbed his face with his hands, or tried to, then stopped, no doubt due to the pain he was inflicting upon himself.
She pulled her chair closer to theirs. “I imagine it was the worst night in your life and you’d rather just forget it.”
They both nodded.
“I wish that were possible, but the only way you’ll put this behind you is by seeing the person responsible uncovered and punished. If you decline my interview, or give me partial answers, this person will continue to wreak havoc. This person is trying to create an all-out war between Samson and Seth.”
The CrimeLords' War (The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Book 7) Page 10