Caleb stuck his head back into the coach. “Wait here,” he ordered. “I will be back once Anette is safely inside.”
Roswell nodded his understanding and leaned back in his seat. As he watched Caleb escort Anette into their townhouse, he noticed a man walking along the pavement. The man was fashionably dressed, not appearing out of place in this part of Town, but his eyes seemed alert as they studied the buildings.
The man came to a stop in front of the gate that led to Lord Oxley’s gardens. He looked over his shoulder before he unlatched the gate and disappeared inside.
Roswell wondered what this man was about.
He exited the coach and approached the gate. He quietly unlatched it and stepped onto the path. His eyes roamed over the gardens as he looked to see where the man had gone, but he saw no sign of him. Drats. Where had he disappeared to?
As he walked further into the gardens, he saw the man climbing into a window at the rear of the townhouse. He hurried towards the building and positioned himself so he could see inside the room without the man knowing.
For what purpose had this man broken into Lord Oxley’s study?
The man walked towards the desk but stopped. He reached down and removed a floorboard, revealing an opening. A small, green, cloth-bound book was stuffed inside and the man retrieved it. He shoved it into his jacket pocket and returned the floorboard to its proper place.
Roswell needed to see what was in that book, but he knew the man wouldn’t give it up if he asked nicely.
He didn’t want to give away his advantage so he moved to the side of the building. He retrieved his pistol and waited for the man to leave the study.
It wasn’t long before he heard the man’s booted steps on the gravel. Once the man appeared in front of him, he brought his pistol up and demanded, “Give me the book.”
Surprise registered on the man’s face as he stared back at him. “What book?” he asked in an unconvincing voice.
“The one in your pocket,” Roswell replied.
“I can’t do that,” the man replied. “If I give you this book, I am a dead man.”
“Who would kill you?”
The man shrugged. “I don’t know his name, but he paid me to steal the book. He said if I messed this job up that he would kill me.”
“What is in the book?”
“How should I know?” the man asked. “The man told me where to find it and paid me. That is all I care about.”
Roswell didn’t have time for these games. He just wanted that book and he didn’t care about the man’s excuses. However, he couldn’t shake the suspicion that the man possessed more information than he was letting on.
“Give me the book and I won’t shoot you,” Roswell ordered.
“But—”
Roswell cut him off. “I would be more concerned about the man pointing a pistol at you.”
The man reluctantly reached into his jacket pocket and removed the book. He held it up. “You have signed my death warrant.”
“Not quite,” Roswell said as he accepted the book. “I have a plan that will help both of us.”
Not looking convinced, the man asked, “What is that?”
Roswell placed the book into his pocket. “Where were you going to meet this man to turn over the book?”
“The Black Duck Tavern,” the man replied.
“I want to speak to this man,” Roswell said.
The man’s brow shot up. “Why would you do such a thing?” he asked. “He will kill you, too.”
“I will take my chances.”
