AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He’s either been paid and is making off with his ill-gotten gains or he’s fleeing something—or someone,” Percy surmised.
“I concur. If you want my opinion, I think it’s the latter. Everything says he’s jumped ship like a rat smelling smoke. My gut tells me something is about to happen and that Rowell got wind of it in advance.” He paused and peered at his guest. “If you never received my message, then what brought you here?”
Percy filled him in on what he’d learned. “What think you? Does Wells know Ravenwood’s secret?”
“Oh, I’m almost certain of it,” said the other man. “It’s the only thing I can imagine would serve to make a man of higher rank dance to his tune. But he didn’t learn it from me, which means Ravenwood either confided in him willingly or Wells witnessed him in a compromising situation.”
“I doubt it’s the former,” Percy mused. “If the latter, then Wells would have to have been in the right place at the right time to catch Ravenwood in the act—”
“Which means he’s got similar vices,” concluded Loxdon. “If you need something on the fellow, I can have him followed.”
He contemplated the offer, but then shook his head. “No. I cannot risk him learning of our association. I’ve a better idea.”
“As you like it,” conceded his friend. “As for Abigail, I doubt we’ll find her now. With Rowell gone, I’ve got no trail to follow. The other two haven’t shown themselves since we last talked.”
“God,” Percy muttered, passing a hand over his face. He would have to tell Fanny he’d failed. It wasn’t the first time, and it probably wouldn’t be the last, but that didn’t make it any easier. Every loss was felt as keenly as a knife in his heart. He sighed, nodding. “I’ll take care of informing her sister. It won’t be this week or likely even the next, but I’ll arrange a meeting with her as soon as I manage to resolve this business with Ravenwood and Wells.”
It was only eleven o’ clock, and already he craved a bloody brandy. Just as he was about to leave, there arose a great clatter in the hall outside. A moment later a young lad burst into the room, gasping for breath.
“What is it?” demanded Loxdon.
“It’s a panic, sir,” huffed the boy. “All morning they’ve been findin’ bodies in Covent Garden—women, sir. Harlots, the lot of ’em. Eleven so far.”
Percy felt the blood leave his face. “Where, exactly?”
“Down the back alleys.” Turning to Loxdon, the boy continued his grisly report. “Laid out they was, all of ’em, with ’alf empty bottles of liquor to make ’em look like they was just passed out, but they’re all dead. I ’eard Constable Danbury say they’d all been garroted. Every one. They’re sayin’ there’s a mass murderer on the loose. All the Garden is in a riot over it.”
“Anything else?” prompted Loxdon after giving the boy a moment to catch his breath.
The lad nodded. “One o’ the men with Danbury said ’e recognized the one they was lookin’ at. Said she was the fourth one from the same bawdy ’ouse—a place called the Temple of ’Rora or some such. Danbury said ’e ’spected they was all from the same one.”
Percy uttered an oath. The Temple of Aurora was an exclusive brothel servicing clients with a preference for very young girls. He and Loxdon had been trying to shut the place down for more than a year, but it had proven impossible. Whenever they got close, it vanished without a trace, only to resurface somewhere else, forcing them to find it all over again.
“Well, that would certainly explain why Rowell left in such a rush,” muttered Loxdon. “I would imagine anyone who knew anything about your missing girl and the proprietress who took her is now dead, with the possible exception of the girl’s buyer and her sister.”
He nodded. “Rowell was either directly involved in the killings, or he knew he’d be blamed for them.” Reaching into his pocket, Percy turned to the boy. “You’ve never seen me, is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.” The lad grinned as he took the shiny guinea.
Loxdon nodded to the boy, dismissing him. After he’d gone, he turned to Percy. “You could have kept your money, you know. He’d never have said a word.”
“I know, but I thought it prudent to sweeten the deal.”
His friend shrugged. “It’s your coin.” Reaching under his desk, he withdrew a flask and two glasses. Without asking, he poured for them both and handed one to Percy. “Here, have some whiskey. Where do we go from here?”
&nb
sp; Downing the burning fluid in one swallow, Percy plunked his now empty glass back on the desk. “The Aurora is gone, which means you go nowhere. As for me, I’ll see Fanny is moved out of London at once.”
“She’ll not want to go without her sister.”
“She won’t have a choice. She knows about me. Once she learns Abigail is still lost, she’ll be tempted to run away and look for her herself. I cannot allow her to remain here and potentially be caught by Abigail’s abductor.”
His friend nodded. “You can’t keep it from her forever.”
“No, but I can for a little longer. Send me a message when you have a final body count. And a detailed description of each of the victims, if at all possible. I’ll have Fanny look it over and let me know if our murderer missed anyone. If so, it’ll be up to us to find the poor soul before the killer—if it wasn’t Rowell—can do so.”
“Consider it done,” said Loxdon. “I know Danbury. Good man. We work together often enough he’ll give me what I ask for without questions. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if he came here to seek my assistance in solving these murders.” He poured himself another finger of whiskey. “What of Ravenwood and Wells?”
