It was familiar, but she couldn’t place it at the moment. She would, though. She pocketed it as Tommy wrapped an arm around her.
“Let’s get this sorted, and then we’ll go home. And put all of this behind us.”
Minnie looked up at him, relief washing through her. “That sounds nice,” she said, melting into him when he leaned down and took her lips with his in a brief yet still heart-stopping kiss.
Whatever the police decided, Blackwood was dead.
The threat was over.
Tommy didn’t let Minnie out of his sight as they crowded into the small reception area of the police station, before the desk manned by a young constable, who was looking at them with wide, curious eyes.
True to his word, Inspector Finch had put Blackwood’s men in a holding cell, while the rest of them waited on the wooden benches that lined a wall decorated only with maps of Manchester, notices on crime trends, and a bulletin board with wanted posters that Minnie tried to ignore.
Inspector Finch had told Tommy that he could see Minnie home first, but she had insisted on accompanying him, saying that she could help explain what had happened.
Tommy didn’t mind having her with him. Even though the threat had been vanquished, he wanted her beside him. He had come close to losing her too many times now. That was a situation that definitely needed to be remedied.
“Well,” Finch said, standing before them, hands clasped behind his back. They had each provided him with their statements, and he had told them to wait.
He had also ignored Tommy when he had asked rather accusatorily why he hadn’t arrived when he was supposed to.
“We have been through all of your statements, andbetween those and the evidence we gathered, we have found that you are all innocent and may return home.”
“Do you know who the shooter was?” Tommy asked, for that was his one remaining concern.
“We do not know but will continue to investigate,” Finch said. “Whoever it was, he was no amateur, that was for certain. He aimed to kill for Blackwood, and that bullet hit Garrick’s hand precisely where it needed to so that he wouldn’t pull on the trigger in reflex.”
Finch was shaking his head as he turned away. “Most policemen I know wouldn’t be able to do that.”
“And where were you?” Tommy asked again, uncaring about his accusatory tone. “We were all nearly killed.”
Inspector Finch eyed him for a moment before sighing and giving in. “We were in the wrong location. But that was quickly remedied.”
“Not quickly enough,” Rhys said, crossing his arms over his body. “Are we done here? I’d like to get home to my wife.”
“We are done,” Inspector Finch said.
“What of the rest of Blackwood’s operations?” Colin asked, as he stood, favoring his left side.
“We will take all of the evidence, arrest those we know are involved, and continue our investigation,” Finch said, clearly indicating he had no need to share any further information with the rest of them.
“What about all of the cargo he brought to Manchester?” Minnie asked, and Finch sighed, although he softened a bit when it was Minnie asking the question instead of one of the men.
“Everything on the ship will be returned to its rightful owners,” Finch said. “The process of dismantling his empire will be a slow one, but now that the head of it is gone, it shouldn’t meet with much resistance.”
Tommy nodded, and Minnie leaned forward. “Thank you, Inspector. We do appreciate all that you have done for us.”
“Of course,” he agreed. “Take care now. Oh, and Ward?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t leave town. Just in case I have more questions.”
Tommy narrowed his eyes but nodded as he led Minnie out the door, wrapping an arm around her and keeping her snug against his hip.
“Well,” she said, heaving a great sigh as they stepped out the door. “That’s finished.”
“Thank goodness,” said Colin.
