He headed for the door, confident Murry and Kendrick would both follow.Once in the street, he let Kendrick lead the way to three parked carriages in which his Runners were waiting.Adrian and Murry hung back while Kendrick issued orders.
The carriages pulled away from the pavement a few moments later, rolling forward as one single unit before splitting up and heading in different directions.
Adrian sent Murry a pointed look, registered the barely there nod of agreement, and started walking.The house in which O’Leary was holed up wasn’t far.A combination of street urchins, spies who answered to Murdoch, and Harlowe’s informants had kept it under surveillance all day.
As such, Adrian knew O’Leary was there at the moment and prayed the man would remain so for the next half hour.Just long enough for Adrian to pay him a visit.
They walked to the nearest corner and took a right turn.An alley farther along brought them to Langham Street and past some Runners who were now in position.They walked another twenty yards and turned left.
A shadow moved in a nearby doorway.
Adrian slid the dagger concealed in his jacket sleeve into the palm of his hand, but when Kendrick didn’t break his stride, Adrian kept up his pace as well.So did Murry, ensuring Kendrick took no notice of the other men placed on duty this evening.
A necessary precaution for later, when the situation turned to chaos, as Adrian believed it would.At any rate, he wanted to be prepared for any eventuality in order to avoid the disastrous result of the previous attempt at catching O’Leary.
They entered the street on which the house sat, a tidy-looking edifice sandwiched between a series of similar buildings.Respectability dominated every façade, leaving no indication of what sort of criminals hid behind the neat brick walls.
Candlelight flickered in one of the four windows facing the street.The rest were blacked out.The shimmer from a gaslight farther along reflected in the beveled glass.
“What now?”Kendrick asked when Adrian and Murry slowed their approach.
“We make our presence known,” Adrian said with a smirk.
“What?”Kendrick’s shock was palpable.“That will surely make them flee.”
Adrian jerked his head to the right and Murry jogged off in that direction.“If they try, they’ll encounter him.After that, they’ll have your Runners to contend with.”
“Shouldn’t you go with him for extra reinforcement?”
“No.But you’re welcome to do so if you think it’s necessary.”
Kendrick stared at him.“Murry is just one man, against O’Leary and an entire crew.”
“He is armed and far more dangerous than you could ever imagine.”The valet needed to prove himself and earn back Adrian’s trust.Adrian had no doubt Murry would do whatever he could to stop O’Leary from fleeing.
Because that was the point Kendrick hadn’t yet fathomed.Adrian was only after one man.He couldn’t care less if the rest got away.In fact, he was of the opinion that they would not be as loyal as O’Leary hoped if given the choice between freedom and death.
“But…” Kendrick sounded as though he had no faith in Adrian’s plan.
Understandable, considering it would not align with any of the chief constable’s principles.A matter he’d have to come to grips with later.
For now, Adrian cared not whether he joined him or went to provide Murry with support.He started strolling toward the townhouse, his gait as casual as an alley cat’s.
“I trust you’ve brought a loaded pistol,” Adrian muttered.Reaching into his own coat pocket, he withdrew the set of long needles he’d purchased earlier in the day.
“Of course,” Kendrick hissed.
“Good.Then all you need do is be on alert.”They arrived in front of the door and Adrian dropped to one knee.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Granting us access.”
“Good God, Croft.You’re breaking into someone’s house illegally.I can’t be a part of this.It’s completely…”
Whatever else Kendrick said was lost on Adrian as he focused on doing as Samantha had taught him.Insert the longest pin like so, pushing the tumbler upward and releasing the bolt.
A soft click and the door was unlocked.
