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That is a good enough reason for Sayers to need to get his hands on Marguerite and force a wedding anyway, Joe mused, intensely relieved that the man was innocent after all. Once Eustace realised his connection with Sayers was a permanent arrangement, Sayers had ultimate control over the man’s daughter, his house, his business, and ergo his entire life, Eustace would have no choice but to assist the thug. That means that Eustace has something Sayers needs, but what?
“I wondered how long it would take you to get here,” Sayers mused suddenly. Even though he kept his gaze trained on the men in the chairs, Joe knew he was talking to him.
Joe sauntered into the room, aware of the cadaverous looking coachman closing the door behind him. He didn’t hesitate or bother to look back. Whether either man knew about Kerrigan or not Joe couldn’t be sure, but he didn’t bother to look for his colleague. He had to just hope and pray that Kerrigan was in the room somewhere, or could gain entrance quickly if needed.
“Eustace,” Joe murmured with a nod to the elder gentleman. “Sayers thinks you are a valuable man.”
“He wants me to set some of his stolen jewels for him,” Eustace murmured. “He has also been stealing my clocks and using my business for his crimes. He thinks it will make him a legitimate businessman.”
“I know,” Joe replied with a sigh. “How long have you known?”
“A few days before I disappeared,” Eustace replied. “I suspected Donaldson was up to something when I noticed a clock I had put up for display had vanished. He claimed he didn’t know anything about its disappearance. Then I went back to the workshop one night and found him working in there, packing things that didn’t need to be packed. To stop him doing anything in my name, I took my tools and put them into my drawer at home. I told Donaldson to get out of the flat and stay away from the business because I didn’t need his services anymore. Everything changed.”
“Let me guess,” Joe mused, keeping his gaze trained on Sayers. “Donaldson became defensive, threatening, and wanted you out of the shop. You were then accosted on the street, tied up here, and then they started to tell you that Marguerite was married to him.”
Eustace’s gaze sharpened, in spite of his swollen and bruised face. “You know? God, please tell me she isn’t married to that bastard?”
“No,” Joe replied. “It isn’t for the lack of trying on Sayers behalf here, but your daughter is nothing if not resilient. She finds him abhorrent. She is going to marry me instead.”
Eustace gasped, but Joe ignored him. Instead, he turned his attention to Marcus.
“We will get you out of here,” Joe replied. “Marcus?”
“Ah, it appears that your friend is a little out-of-sorts right now.” Sayers snorted disparagingly as he looked at his captives.
Ben swore at him. When Sayers lifted a hand to strike him, Joe stepped forward.
“Touch him and die,” Joe snarled. “Marcus?”
At first, Marcus didn’t appear to have heard him. Joe wondered if he had been beaten unconscious, or if he was just asleep.
“Marcus?” Joe shook his shoulder when he still didn’t answer.
Marcus jerked and mumbled something unintelligible.
“Whosa?” Marcus grunted.
“It’s me, Joe,” Joe replied. “Are you ready to leave?”
“Yes,” Marcus replied with a hiss.
“It seems that your er, guests, don’t want to be here any longer,” Joe said when he turned to Sayers.
Sayers had yet to stop pacing around the room in random circles. “I won’t worry too much seeing as I know everything about you all, and your Star Elite connections to the War Office.”
“Well, I am afraid that Reg has been stopped from helping you. It hasn’t been a very good night for you, has it, Sayers? I mean, first, you lost your magistrate. He is busy trying to put out the fire that is wrecking his house. Then you lost one of your traitors. He is dead with a knife in his back right now, so he is never going to be able to help you again. By the way, we have known about him for a long time. We have told him what we want him to know. We know that he is going to bring anything he learnt to you, so I wouldn’t rely too much on any information you received from him. We are, after all, a clandestine operation, and don’t take kindly to people who double cross us.”
“You work for the War Office?” Eustace suddenly interrupted, his eyes full of hope.
“Yes, we do. We are Sayers’ worst enemy, and here to clear the streets of his kind.”
“You will have to take me dead because I won’t come with you alive,” Sayers countered.
“Well, that can be easily arranged,” Joe retorted. “I mean, you don’t appear to have anybody here but the coachman, do you?”
“There are three guards around here somewhere,” Ben grunted through swollen lips.
“It doesn’t matter,” Joe replied. “Feel free to scream if you want to, Terrence, but I doubt they will be of any use to you.”
