Pack of Trouble (The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Book 5)

by Liza O'Connor

  “It wouldn’t hurt to have him on our side if Claire tries to abduct the boy.”

  The thought amused her. “She’d regret her treachery the first time he wet her lap.”

  “All the same, consider my suggestion. It could come in handy sometime in the future.”

  Vic knew the value of contacts. It was something Xavier had a great deal of and she very little. And while this wouldn’t make the First Minister like her any better, he might like Cannon because the boy had his name, and arrogant fellow would always be a man of influence.

  “Do it,” she sighed.

  Xavier stared at her, clearly surprised by her reply.

  “Just don’t expect me to use it,” she warned.

  In order for Cannon Archibald Thorn to be fed in private, Vic, Xavier, Tubs, and Sara all escaped to the deck. There they split up.

  Vic and Xavier stared out at England far on the horizon. Vic sighed happily “I’m looking forward to getting home. Did Jacko say if matters had settled down in his last letter to you?”

  “How did you know we’ve been in contact?” Xavier challenged.

  “You hired Rachel to manage his house. Not even you would do such a thing without getting permission.”

  He smiled and stared out. “I already miss the short time I could reward your cleverness with kisses.”

  Vic missed that too. “Just keep count. We can settle up each evening.”

  “An excellent plan. To answer your question, Jacko’s letter was so dire as to make me wonder if England still stood. He said Stone made me look like a good-natured genius.”

  Vic wasn’t surprised. While Stone was generally nice to her, he was often rude and abrupt to Captain Meyers and his behavior to Tubs was outrageously bad. However, when he did so in her presence, her wrath had no limits…like when he accused Tubs of breaking into a bank and carrying off a few tons of gold. Stone’s sole ‘evidence’ for accusing Tubs was he didn’t know another man strong enough to commit the crime.

  “What’s the scowl for?” Xavier asked.

  “I was thinking of when someone used an elephant to break into a bank and carry off the gold.”

  “Ah yes. And you went running aboard the ship to keep it from leaving, coming damn close to getting us all killed.”

  She laughed. “Fortunately, the captain hired Tubs to get rid of us.”

  Xavier laughed as well. “Your hiring Tubs was a fantastic idea, one that I would have never considered.”

  “Why?” Vic asked. To her, nothing was more obvious. Tubs had been terribly underutilized when he worked for the criminals.

  “Because it never occurred to me Tubs would want to switch sides. He was very good at his job.”

  “They treated him like a brainless beast!”

  “I had failed to realize that, but then again, I wasn’t kidnapped and provided the chance to witness his abuse firsthand.”

  “It infuriated me! Tubs had managed to enter through your back door, pass all those creaky boards without a sound and had me bagged within seconds, all the while, the fool boss kept chiseling at the front door like a stupid rodent. And was he appreciative when Tubs opens the door and carries me out? No! The little weasel went on about Tubs’ inability to follow a simple order.” She huffed. “It still makes me angry.”

  Xavier chuckled. “Apparently so.”

  “Speaking of which, where is…oh there they are.” Tubs stood at the front of the deck with his arms secured to the railing. While Vic couldn’t see Sara, she had no doubt the young woman was ensconced in front of Tubs, safe from all harm.

  As England came closer and proved to still be standing, Tubs and Sara returned to the cabin. By the time the ship entered the Thames and docked, Tubs returned with Cannon securely in his grip. Sara and Gina followed behind him.

  Vic held out her arms for Cannon. “Shall I take him?”

  Tubs shook his head.

  Vic studied the crazed almost feral glare in her son’s eyes. “Maybe you should keep him.”

  Tubs nodded as Cannon growled, but at what, Vic wasn’t certain. His eyes focused on the dock.

  “Maybe he can sense crime,” Vic suggested.

  Xavier snorted. “More likely he hates his country. It is a great deal bleaker, wetter, and colder than Spain.”

  “It does seem cold for July,” Vic agreed.

  As the ship eased into its slot, Vic pointed to Stone, Meyers, and Jacko waiting on the dock. By the ten feet space between Stone and Jacko, she suspected they were no longer speaking to one another.

  Vic waved at Meyers. All three waved back. “Well, they seem to still like me. You try,” she challenged Xavier.

  His eyes rounded in outrage. “I will not! Gentlemen do not wave…which brings up a good point. Where is your butler?”

  “I didn’t tell him we were returning. I thought you might prefer to buy the house across the street from our office before Claire knows we are home.” Unlike Vic, her sister Claire had decided to live life as a young lady, and finding it a perfectly horrible existence when compared to Vic’s, Claire had become bitter and resentful. Vic had located her a husband who loved her not just for her beauty and dowry, but for her brains. However, that was evidently insufficient.

  “Jacko still has L’il Pete, I hope,” she said, recalling how Claire had taken control of the boy when Maggie was murdered. Jacko set out to find Pete’s father to save him from living with Claire, only to discover Pete was actually his son. While still a pirate, Jacko had enjoyed the company of an actress while his ship was repaired and Pete unexpectedly showed up eight months later. She kept the secret from Jacko and gave Pete to her sister, Maggie, to raise as her own.

  “I’m surprised L’il Pete’s not here,” Vic said, feeling a bit sad about their small welcome group. A very large crowd had been there to see them off.

  She scowled. That better not mean they were happier to see me go than return.

  A firm hand gripped Vic’s neck. She stared up at Xavier, clearly frustrated by his inability to openly show his affection towards her.

  “Try not to fight with anyone,” he said.

  A loud growl sounded behind her.

  “Hush,” Tubs warned.

  She turned around to offer again to take the boy. However, she changed her mind as she watched Cannon chew Tubs’ thumb with excessive vigor.

  The sailors laid the planks and the other passengers seemed more than willing to stand back and let their group go first. She smiled up at Tubs. Damn, but he was a useful fellow.

  Once on the dock, a whistle came from the left. Davy stood on the top of their carriage, waving at Tubs.

  Her employee looked torn between following Vic and seeing the ladies to the carriage.

  “Go!” Vic ordered. “I’ve got Sherlock Holmes and Scotland Yard watching me.”

  Tubs nodded and led the ladies to the carriage.

  “Sherlock Holmes?” Xavier growled.

  He hated being called that. She chuckled and walked faster, leaving Xavier behind. First, thing she did was shake hands with Meyers and Stone. Then she reluctantly nodded at Jacko.

  Ever since Jacko had kissed her during a mission, she honestly rated him up there with the plague as to things she wished to be around. Fortunately, he felt the same, choosing to ignore her entirely and walked to Xavier, giving him a hearty handshake.

  “Thank God you are back. I officially resign. I have left detailed notes on all that has passed. Hopefully, they will suffice because honestly, I never wish to think of this time of my life again. Even L’il Pete is rethinking his career.”

  Upon hearing that, Vic turned on the pirate. “What? No! Pete loved his job! If you’ve ruined that for him, it’s your doing, and he has to allow us a chance to remind him how fun work can be.”

  Jacko continued to ignore her, so she focused on Xavier.

  “We can discuss this later. However, I tend to side with Vic on the matter. The boy was perfectly happy when he worked for us.”

  “W
ell, no one has had a bit of fun since we saw you off,” Meyers grumbled.

  “Silence,” Stone ordered.

  Meyers grimaced and stepped back, so he was slightly behind and out of Stone’s sight range.

  “I understand you were shot during your holidays.” The disapproval in Stone’s voice set Vic off.

  “That was not my fault!” Vic snapped.

  Stone flinched. “No, I did not mean… I only mentioned it out of concern. Are you better now?”

  “I’m fine and ready to get to work.” She eyed him cautiously, waiting to see if he wished to fight over that as well.

  “Thank God.” He then looked at Xavier. “Did you by chance take care of the list I gave you? Your Queen wishes to know.”

  “I did,” Xavier replied.

  Vic turned on Xavier. “You did not! I took care of the list while enduring excruciating pain. How dare you take credit for my work!” Facing Stone, she adde, “All the ladies were having a socially good time except for one.”

  “Which I could find no evidence of being in Europe,” Xavier cut in. “I strongly advise you to investigate Eldwin Williams most thoroughly.”

  “Told you,” Jacko snapped at Stone.

  Stone pressed two fingers against his temple and focused on Vic. “Thank you for taking care of my list. May I inquire how you were able to do so when you were laid up in bed?”

  “I had Tubs and Sara collect every newspaper sold at the local port. Then I went through the society pages of each. Worst job I’ve ever given myself. In the future, I suggest you give the job to some officer who has truly annoyed you. It was torture beyond words.”

  For the first time, Stone smiled. “I should have thought of that myself, and if Her Majesty insists this be done next year, I will handle the matter as you suggest.” He then looked at Xavier. “I assume you spent your time ensuring this woman who was not in the papers was not hiding in seclusion with a lover?”

  “I did, in my spare time. But I was occupied with something more important.” He glanced at Vic. “Where’s Cannon? Pray we haven’t lost him already.”

  “You bought a cannon?” Stone asked.

  “Bought? Nonsense. This one is naturally mine. I will explain later, unless Vic has lost it already.”

  “Tubs has him. In case you failed to notice, your Cannon was rather feral today.”

  “He is not the only one who growls,” Xavier challenged.

  “Well, I have never mauled Tubs thumb, and Cannon has teeth now,” Vic replied.

  “Have you acquired a dog?” Meyers asked.

  “No, Xavier landed himself a son.”

  “A son?” Stone asked. “How?”

  Xavier glared at Vic and stepped close to Stone. “A mission gone awry,” he whispered.

  Stone gave this thought for a moment, glanced at Vic glaring at Xavier, and then his eyebrows lifted. “Oh…I see. Did the lady not wish—”

  “No, she did not. But I rather like the little fellow, reminds me of Vic with all that growling.”

  Vic growled.

  “I rest my case,” he added and waved Tubs over. When the giant arrived, there was no feral child mauling his hand.

  “Where’s Cannon?” Xavier demanded.

  “I left him with the ladies,” Tubs replied and glanced back at the carriage, his brow furrowed.

  “Good to see you back, Tubs,” Meyers stated and extended his hand.

  Tubs shook his hand. “Good to be back.”

  “You might change your mind on that. Things are a bit—“

  “Enough,” Stone snapped. He then nodded at Tubs. “It is good to have all three of you back. You have been sorely missed.”

  Vic was tempted to ask if he had more crimes he wished to accuse Tubs of committing, but to be honest, his lashings at Meyers made her afraid to taunt the Inspector, less she lose her own head.

  Determined to change the conversation to a happier topic, she announced, “Tubs has gotten married.”

  Meyers, Stone and Jacko stared at her as if she’d lost her bloody mind.

  “To whom?” Jacko asked.

  “Sara,” Tubs answered with pride.

  “Sara, Vic’s Sara?” Jacko asked.

  “She’s Tubs’ Sara now,” Vic replied.

  Jacko’s state of shock lasted only a second before he recovered and patted Tubs on the back. “Well done, Tubs! I wish you all the best. Marriage to a good woman is worth every compromise you have to endure.”

  “That’s true,” Meyers said.

  Stone glared the man into silence. “Xavier, perhaps you could travel in my carriage so we can speak privately.”

  “About what?” Vic demanded. Damn it all, they had not been on English soil for five minutes and already Stone was trying to exclude her.

  Xavier gripped the back of her neck. “If he tells you, then it would defeat the whole nonsense about getting in his carriage in the first place.” Xavier focused on Stone. “If this is work related, the pup will want to come.”

  Stone sighed and rubbed his head. “I have several things I need to discuss. All but one of them Vic would be more than welcome to hear.”

  Glancing up at the inspector’s carriage, he asked, “Where’s the driver?”

  Meyers sighed and raised his hand.

  Jacko rolled his eyes, which brought Xavier’s attention to him. “Did you come with Stone?”

  Jacko snorted. “No, Davy drove me.”

  “Excellent. Then you can meet my son as Davy drives you back to the office, where you will remain in charge until Vic and I return from Scotland Yard.” He glanced at Stone. “I presume that is where you are taking us?”

  “No, someone else wishes to speak to you.”

  “Ahh, I see.” Xavier glanced at Vic. “Hopefully, my return will cheer him up.”

  “Don’t count on it,” Stone snapped.

  Meyers stood behind Stone shaking his head as a silent warning not to ask why.

  Trusting Meyers, Vic and Xavier let that dog lie.

  “Let us proceed,” Xavier said, heading to Stone’s carriage.

  As Jacko headed to Davy’s carriage, Vic called out. “Don’t feed Cannon your hands, you need them.”

  When they reached the carriage, Vic stopped. “Do you need to have the private conversation before we reach the First Minister’s office?”

  “How did you know—” Stone shook his head and smiled. “It’s good to have you home, Vic. I do need to speak to Xavier first.”

  She smiled and climbed upon the driver’s bench next to Meyers.

  Once they were on their way, Meyers spoke. “I’m so glad you’re back. The entire world went crazy the moment you two left.”

  “Why is Stone so mad at you?”

  “He’s mad at everyone. Rumors have it he’s hanging onto his job by a thread, and if his replacement is the one I heard, then it will be a disaster beyond words if we lose him. In fact, I’ll be at your door asking for work.”

  Vic smiled at the possibility.

  He refused to return her smile. “This is serious, Vic. Do you remember the guy who interrogated Xavier several years ago when you two were questioned about a bank theft that you brought to our attention?”

  Vic nodded. She more than remembered it; she still greatly resented being punished for helping Scotland Yard do their job. And as bad as her treatment had been, Xavier’s had been far worse.

  “Well, that’s who is rumored to be next in line.”

  Vic now understood the problem. Scotland Yard would not only become worthless, they would become the enemy.

  Chapter 9

  “So what has happened since we left the country?” Vic asked, pulling her summer jacket tight against a bitter July wind. “Damn it, why is it so cold?”

  “My theory: England’s broken,” Captain Meyers replied. “Nothing, not even the weather works properly anymore.”

  “So what is the worst disaster on your plate?” she asked.

  “That would be the war that’s broke
out between Seth Sojourn and Blackhand Harry. We’ve over thirty deaths of innocent civilians so far, fortunately none of them being ladies or gents.”

  “And what’s been done to stop it?” Vic asked.

  “Stop it how? It’s not like we can go in and ask them to play nice. These are cut-throat bastards accustomed to doing what they want, like stealing from one another.”

  “So who is trying to steal the other’s property…let me guess: Seth Sojourn.”

  Meyer’s nodded.

  “Has anyone tried to talk to him to find out why he’s no longer satisfied with things as they were?

  The captain’s brow furrowed. “If we knew where he was and had the manpower to enter his hide-about, we wouldn’t be talking to him, we’d be arresting him for a long list of crimes outstanding.”

  “So you wouldn’t be willing to put those aside to get a truce?”

  “We have to uphold the law. If Stone even suggested letting hardened criminals slide from harsh penalties, he’d be fired at once.”

  “So instead over thirty innocent people have died because these two men lack a father figure to bully them into playing nicely with one another?”

  Meyers yelled at a gentleman determined to slow their progress to the First Minister’s office by stepping into the road and getting himself run over.

  The man thanked him with an angry shake of his fist.

  “See what I mean? Everyone in England has gone mad.”

  “Probably the weather,” she grumbled. “What’s next on your list?”

  “That would be the break in at the First Minister’s house.”

  “What was taken?” Vic asked.

  “He won’t say.”

  “When was it taken?”

  “He won’t say.”

  “Who does he think took it?”

  “A spy, but he hasn’t a clue which one.”

  “How are you supposed to find the thief if you don’t know what’s missing, when it went missing, or who might have taken it? What has he told you?”

  “That Stone is going to lose his job unless the item is returned this week.”

  At least now she understood why Jacko was in such a horrible mood. How the hell could anyone work a case with nothing to go on?