“You said yes first. I suspect that’s the more honest answer.”
She couldn’t argue with him. He wasn’t wrong. She swallowed against the stinging in her throat. “I’m sorry, Ash. I didn’t…” She trailed off, not sure what she meant to say. Nothing she said was going to make this easier for either of them.
He drew in a deep breath and exhaled. “Don’t be. I’m not that fond of the bloke myself, but I can see that he means a lot to you. I’m not going to get all barmy about it. Can’t say it doesn’t hurt though.”
She turned to look at him. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. The hurt was plain on his face, but there was no pain-free way to handle this. “May not matter now anyway. I’ve lost him.” Would Wells come through? Would Drake?
“You and I are still a team, right?”
“Sure.”
His expression hardened. “Right?”
She smiled, though optimism evaded her. “Yes.”
“Then we’ll get Chaff and my father back together. I won’t even try to kiss you while we’re at it,” he added with a wink.
Macak purred, warm and alive in her arms. A light sparked within her as she cradled the cat. A light that felt like hope, but it was so frail and tentative. Maybe it would get stronger if she believed in it. “Perhaps we will.”
They parted ways then. Sleep came fast in the soft bed after the trials of the previous days. A sleep that held her captive through the next day, interrupted briefly when her mum insisted on her eating some dinner. Then she climbed back into bed only to be pulled out again well after dark by someone unexpected.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Maeko forced her way into the narrow space between several stacks of big crates, her mouth as dry as if she had been sucking on wool. Two Literati offices, Joel Jacard, and a couple of other toffs she hadn’t gotten a good look at were walking around the crates. She tried to breath soft and quiet. She wasn’t so tired anymore, but she was still much too sore for this kind of stealth operation.
How had she let herself to be talked into this? Oh yes, Drake had made it sound so simple.
Not less than an hour ago Crimson had snuck into the room Maeko shared with her mother and nudged her awake. She had put a finger to her full red lips and gestured for Maeko to follow. They’d crept down the hallway to a library full of books, at least half of which she probably didn’t have enough education to read. Drake had been there, clean-shaven and dressed in a fine suit, his long black hair swept back under a coachman hat. She almost hadn’t recognized him at first.
“Maeko, I have need of someone with your skills.”
The comment made her uneasy. She had doubts about her decision to help him. A rich Pirate was an oxymoron and Drake’s desire to help the Pirates, given his status, still didn’t make sense to her, but she pushed her uncertainty away. She needed his help. How better to get it than to make him indebted to her?
“My skills don’t come free,” she’d answered.
Crimson had winked at her then. “You make him beg for it, kitten.”
Drake gave Crimson a sour look. “We can discuss your price later. I had a shipment of parts on route to a warehouse in Billingsgate under an assumed name. That shipment was pulled off the train last night by Literati officers and moved somewhere. I believe, given the nature of the parts and where the shipment was intercepted, that the crates may have been taken to Clockwork Enterprises’ primary receiving facility. I have another delivery to pick up tonight. I want you to come along. On the way, we’ll drop you at the receiving facility. All I need you to do is sneak in and verify if the crates are there. Then make your way to the roof and wait for me. It’s a simple reconnaissance mission. It shouldn’t be hard for someone with your background.”
It shouldn’t have been hard, except there was more than only the night watchman on hand. Instead, a whole mess of blokes, at least one of whom had tried to kill her recently, were inspecting the crates she had come searching for. Drake told her how to identify the crates, an image of a diving raptor stamped on the sides. Finding them was the easy part. Getting out again was a different problem.
“Where were these materials supposed to go?”
Joel’s voice made her shudder, a reaction that proved uncomfortable in the tight space between the crates.
“They were bound for a warehouse in Billingsgate. We haven’t been able to track down the bloke whose name’s on the papers. Can’t even find an address for him.”
“Splendid.” That voice made her stomach turn. Thaddeus was with the group. It had to be Thaddeus. No matter what Joel said, she didn’t believe that man was Lucian. “Let’s look inside one and make sure everything is what it says it is. If so, we’ll have a couple of coaches haul these things out to the new facility later this week.”
Time to move.
She slid to one side, moving slow to avoid making too much noise. They began shifting the crate next to her and she took advantage of the noise they made to move a little faster. She drew in a breath of relief as soon as she slid free, but she didn’t get to enjoy it long.
“I’m impressed.”
The soft voice behind her made her jump. She spun.
“Most people I kill don’t show up walkin’ later. It’s almost a shame I’ll have to do it again.”
The man lurking in the dark behind her smiled and turned the knife in his hand so it caught a glint of light from a gas lantern sitting on top of the crates. He had a deep scar across his nose that somehow substantiated the dangerous gleam in his baby blue eyes. She hadn’t seen Bennett the night he killed her, but she didn’t doubt that was who this man was. His presence had the same sinister anticipation, like a snake about to bite.
She stared at the blade and inched back. “I wouldn’t mind so much if you didn’t.”
“Shall we get the boss’s opinion?” He gestured with the knife for her to go ahead of him.
She considered running, but the gun he wore and the knowledge that she had to get away not only from him, but from the whole lot of them, discouraged the thought. Pulling Chaff’s jacket tight around her for the false comfort it gave, she preceded him around the crates. Fear prickled up her spine knowing he could bury that dagger in her back at any moment. When they came into view of the others, Joel’s face went crimson with rage and perhaps a bit of embarrassment given that he thought they’d executed her.
Folesworth stepped out of the shadows and gave both Joel and Bennett hard looks before turning to her. “Maeko.”
She sneered. “Thaddeus.”
“Such assumptions. It seems I underestimated the power of your thieving nature, stealing my cat and sketches and now breaking into my warehouse.”
He looked irritated, but something crept up through his cool regard, something that looked like grudging admiration. It sparked a little hope, until Bennett’s knife touched her cheek and she froze, terror forming a suffocating knot in her chest.
“Your mates tried to kill me,” she glared at Joel.
“She’d like if I didn’t kill her again.” Bennett chuckled and slid the knife along her skin, moving it down toward her neck.
She jerked away.
Irritation dominated Folseworth’s expression again, but no longer directed at her. “Let’s have a talk.”
His words caught her off guard. She blinked. “What?”
“I’d like a few answers before I decide what to do with you. Bennett, please come along. Joel, you can wrap things up here. I’ll assume you can handle that simple task properly.”
Joel glared at her and she gave him a nasty look in return. With Bennett’s presence providing convincing incentive, she followed Thaddeus up a metal staircase to a sparsely furnished office. Through the windows, she could see the layout of the building better. She spotted the door she needed, the one that opened to the stairs that would take her to the roof. Too bad she couldn’t get there now. How long would it be before Drake showed up? Would he abandon her if she weren’t up there when he arrived? Did it
even matter, given her current predicament?
Folesworth sat in a chair behind a scarred wood desk and gestured to another seat across from him. She lifted her chin and ignored the offer.
“Stand then, if it pleases you.” He shrugged to show how little it mattered to him. “I suppose there isn’t much point in trying to convince you I’m not who you think I am.”
“I know who you are. You killed Lucian.”
“I should let Bennett kill you. He could do it nice and slow while I watch to make sure you don’t get up again this time.”
“Why? What can I do to you now?”
“I think I have plenty of reason given what you’ve done already. You stole the cat, though I can’t say I miss him much. I’d almost consider that a favor, but you also stole some very important schematics from me and,” he tapped the desk hard in a small show of anger, “it’s become clear that your friend, Detective Emeraude, also believes I’m not Lucian Folesworth. I imagine I have you to thank for that as well. I do believe we’ll catch up with her soon enough, but I need to know who else you’ve been talking to?”
“You mean, who have I told that you murdered your twin brother and assumed his identity?”
Thaddeus kept his cool expectant gaze on her.
She considered for a moment. This was going to be one of those conversations that required careful handling. He wasn’t going to believe that she’d told no one else. No matter what she said, there was a good chance she wouldn’t get out of this alive, but she wasn’t going to give him the names of people she cared about. She had to give him something. “A few Pirates.”
“You expect me to believe that’s all?”
“I would have spread it all over London by now, but people keep trying to kill me.” She gave Bennett a cross look.
He winked back, grinning, and twirled the knife in his hand.
“What did you do with the schematics? Joel said they weren’t on you when he and Bennett picked you up outside the Tower.”
“Passed them off to the Pirates.”
He glanced at Bennett. She made a point not to. It would rattle her nerves watching him play with his knife.
“Before I let Bennett have his way with you, tell me why you’re here.”
“The Pirates heard about some supplies that were taken off the train. They wanted me to find out what was in them.” It was close enough to the truth.
“And then?”
“I’m supposed to report back to them.”
“Where are they hiding out?”
She was ready for that question. “I’m supposed to meet one of them in town. I don’t know where they’re staying. They don’t trust me that much yet.”
His brow went up. “Yet?”
She bit her lip, encouraging him to think that she had said more than she intended.
His cruel smile gave her a chill. “Why protect them? If they had any concern for you, you wouldn’t be in this mess now.”
“They promised me safe haven if I did this for them.”
“Is that all?” He sat forward and shifted some papers on the desk. He licked his lips. “What if I gave you the same promise in exchange for the location of the Pirate hideout?”
She shifted back from him. “Why would I trust you? You murdered your own brother.”
Thaddaeus sat back in the chair again and crossed his arms, the smug victor. “Lucian wasn’t the kind hearted soul you seem to think he was. His passing wasn’t such a tragedy. Take the cat, for example. You don’t think he got that clockwork leg to work right the first time, do you?”
The sick feeling in her gut started creeping in again. Don’t ask. Don’t take the bait. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, cats with missing legs aren’t that easy to come by, but they’re easy enough to make. Dear little Macak was his seventh attempt to get the design right.”
Her stomach turned. She didn’t need to hear that. The man had taken her into his home. Could he really have amputated cats’ legs merely to test a new design? How could anyone torture and destroy another life in such a way. “The failures?”
“He dumped their bodies with the rest of the rubbish of course.” Thaddeus looked satisfied with her disgust. “See, people aren’t always what they seem. Help me and I will see that you are not only kept safe, but provided for as well.”
“If I refuse?”
He nodded to Bennett.
Not much of a choice. “Did you kill Commissioner Henderson?”
His eyes flicked to Bennett, the motion so quick she almost missed it. “That’s irrelevant.”
A burning sense of vindication bolstered her. I was right about the killer, Em, and about Thaddaeus. If only she could survive long enough to pass the information on. She took a step away from the creepy murderer and his eager smile. “I don’t need you to provide for me. I can take care of myself.”
“Name your price then?”
She chewed at her lip. What did she want that he could provide? I had to be something he would believe was worth it to her. Now that she thought about it, that wasn’t so hard to figure out. “I’ve a friend who’s been picked up by the Lits. Goes by the name of Chaff. I want him set free and I want us left alone. Promise me those things then I’ll give you the Pirates and you can keep your secret.”
A slow smile curved his lips. Victory sparkled in his eyes now. “Consider it a deal. Give me what I ask for and I will free your friend and forget you both exist.”
She already had the information he wanted. All she had to do was speak a few simple words and she could save Chaff. Was it worth it? Could she trade Ash, Tomoe, and all the other people at Drake’s estate to save Chaff and herself?
She shifted the jacket on her shoulders. It had grown heavier. “It’s a deal.”
“Splendid. You’re a smarter girl than I gave you credit for. You’re free to go then. You know how to find me. However…” he gave her a look of warning, “if you don’t bring me the information within the next three days, the deal is off and I will give Bennett the order to dispatch you in whatever creative fashion most pleases him. And, for your friend Chaff’s sake, don’t try hiding.”
No. Chaff.
She didn’t give him time to change his mind. Instead, she gave a nod and hurried down the stairs, turning toward the exit. Going straight to the roof would provoke curiosity. When she was sure she was out of sight, she ducked into the shadows and began to make her way around to the door that would take her up to the roof. Her hands were shaking and her palms damp with sweat by the time she reached for the door handle. The last thing she’d expected when she saw Bennett there with his knife was to walk away with her life. She hadn’t even heard him coming around the crates. He could move as silent as any thief she knew.
She stood by the door and counted to sixty in time to her rushing heartbeat, listening to the men moving around at the other end of the warehouse. They were covering the crates and getting ready to leave from the sound of it. She waited a while longer, listening as they talked. They were too far away now for her to make out any words. Their footsteps receded and a door screeched open. A few moments later, it shut with a heavy clang. She pulled the roof access door open while the echo of that sound still filled the room and slipped through.
It was dark, cold, and foggy on the roof. She pulled the jacket tight and hugged her arms around herself, breathing in the smell of Chaff on the material. Closing her eyes, she recalled the feel of his arms around her, warm and strong. She’d been away from him many times in her life. Never before had she felt his absence so much. Like a piece of her soul was missing.
Thaddaeus had made his offer. Could Drake do better?
She opened her eyes, glaring defiance at the dark sky.
I will get him back. Whatever it takes.
THE END
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The people who have been most supportive and helpful in this journey don’t change often, so this page will stay much the same with a few exceptions. As alw
ays, there are many people in my life I’m leaving out here for brevity sake. All of you are still very important to me.
I want to offer specific thanks to the following people.
To my husband Michael for your ongoing support of my dreams and willingness to let me read you every book I write, and also for the wonderful photography that helped make this book cover happen.
To my mom Linda for your loving support and for helping me work out and refine my ideas.
To Rick and Ann for always being willing to read and give feedback on my books and for being the best of friends. Extra thanks to Ann for the beautiful jacket worn by the model on the cover.
To Kali for your spectacular content edits and for being such a pleasure to work with.
To my good friend and fellow author Eldritch Black for sharing long rides to the coffee shop full of cathartic rants and commiseration every Thursday and for being an amazing writing companion. Also to the rest of that writing group, you are all part of what makes my Thursdays so productive and fun.
To Aradia for knowing I would succeed from the first time we met and being an inspiration in your dedication to your own art.
To my cover artist, Raquel, and my interior designer, Brian, thank you both for your fantastic work and for your patience with me as I continue to learn this process.
I must also offer thanks to my sixth grade teacher, Mr. Johnson, for being so pleased and excited when I told you I was going to be an author and to my eighth grade algebra teacher, Mr. Siebenlist, for almost letting me flunk because you were so delighted that I was writing books in class rather than notes.
AUTHOR BIO
Nikki started writing her first novel at the age of 12, which she still has tucked in a briefcase in her home office. She now lives in the magnificent Pacific Northwest tending to her awesome husband, two sweet horses, two manipulative cats, and a crazy dog. She feeds her imagination by sitting on the ocean in her kayak gazing out across the never-ending water or hanging from a rope in a cave, embraced by darkness and the sound of dripping water. She finds peace through practicing iaido or shooting her longbow.
The Girl and the Clockwork Conspiracy: Clockwork Enterprises Book Two Page 19