AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He knew Sayers was lying. Extensive investigations had already taken place into Sayers’ background. He had no siblings anywhere, hidden or otherwise.
“Your mother is still in Tooting, I do believe, and your father is still in Newgate. He provided us with a lot of information about you.” Marcus knew the message was received loud and clear when Sayers sighed deeply. “His only son.”
“What’s going on, Marcus?” Jess demanded. “He says he wants something back that was in my room.”
“I know, but it isn’t his, you see? It is on its way to the War Office because it has been stolen. It doesn’t belong to him so he cannot claim it back.” Marcus didn’t take his eyes off Sayers while he spoke.
In the periphery of his vision, he saw Barnaby appear outside the window, his gun drawn in readiness. Just knowing he
had backup made Marcus considerably happier, and able to focus on his part of this operation.
“Get away from her,” Gillespie ordered when Marcus stepped casually into the room to be closer to Jess if Sayers made any sudden moves.
Marcus did as he instructed, but slowly. He knew the man would have no hesitation killing Jess if he felt he wanted to, especially given his dire situation. The last thing he wanted while Jess was on the wrong end of Sayers’ gun was to make any sudden moves that might prompt the man to do something rash like pulling the trigger.
“Put your gun down.” Sayers waved his gun toward the floor.
This time, when Marcus didn’t immediately move, Sayers walked up to Jess and pointed his gun directly at her head. It was impossible for Marcus to get a shot off without Sayers pulling the trigger instinctively as he fell. Nor would Barnaby be able to get a clear shot from outside. His gun was effectively useless now, so Marcus carefully put it onto the floor as instructed.
“Kick it under the table.”
Marcus kicked it but kept his gaze trained on Sayers.
“Get down on your knees,” Gillespie ordered.
“No.” That was the last thing Marcus would ever do.
“Do it,” Sayers snarled.
“No,” Marcus challenged.
He knew that if he were foolish enough to do so he would get shot right there and then. There was no earthly possibility Marcus was going to hand himself over to Sayers on a silver platter. Sayers would shoot him in front of Jess. She would then be too horrified to argue with the man should he want to drag her out of the door.
“Don’t hurt him,” Jess pleaded tearfully.
“Shut up,” Sayers snarled. “He doesn’t give a damn about you. He used you to stay in the house because he knew you didn’t want him here. He bedded you so you wouldn’t throw him out. He doesn’t give a damn about you at all. Look at him. Is he doing as he is told to save you? No, he is thinking of saving his skin.”
“Don’t listen to him, Jess. He has you at the end of a gun. It is hardly the rational behaviour of someone who you should trust,” Marcus challenged. “He has pretended to be an ordinary lodger, but is nothing more than a thief and a charlatan.”
“Tell me who you are,” Sayers demanded.
Marcus looked at him. “You know who I am.”
“Liar!” Sayers shouted. “I saw you in those woods. Nobody moves like that unless they have been trained to do so. You told Lloyd that you had connections to the law.”
When Marcus neither confirmed or denied the accusation and merely stared blandly at the man, Sayers began to wave the gun around.
“You are one of those pests from the Star Elite, aren’t you?”
Jess closed her eyes at the mention of the organisation Marcus worked with. Although Sayers’ use of the name went a heck of a long way toward reassuring her that Marcus had been honest with her, it was horrible to realise that Sayers knew who Marcus was, and of his connections to the War Office.
At that moment, she felt as though she had suddenly received divine intervention. A lightbulb of inner wisdom suddenly flickered on and eradicated all of the shadows of her worst nightmares. Fear suddenly became something to latch on to and use to bolster the raw determination she needed to stay calm and get through this situation alive.
Just knowing that she had the law; the proper law, in the house, eased her doubts and worries. There was someone she didn’t recognise trying to get in through the window. But, given Marcus had seen him and was trying not to look at him, she knew that whoever it was, had a connection to the Star Elite.
“It will be alright, Jess,” Marcus murmured.
“Aahh, isn’t that sweet.” Sayers’ voice was laden with sarcasm.
