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“But you are Falcon,” Oliver pointed out. “I daresay there is nothing that you can’t do.”
A knock came at the door, and they both reached for their pistols.
“Enter,” Baldwin ordered.
Corbyn stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. “I assumed you would both be here,” he said. “I came by to inform you that agents are standing by to raid the Blue Boar after you drive the wagon away.”
“Thank you.” Baldwin rose and tucked his pistol into the waistband of his trousers, covering it with his waistcoat.
Corbyn gave him a concerned look. “I take it that you didn’t find Miss Dowding?”
“No,” he replied, “and we searched all night.”
“The other agents have all reported back that no one saw a woman fitting her description anywhere near the rookeries,” Corbyn shared.
Baldwin sighed. “I assumed as much.” He held up the bread towards Corbyn. “Hungry?”
Corbyn accepted the bread. “I can always eat.”
“I suppose it is time that I head over to the Blue Boar and meet with Morton and Marie,” Baldwin said as he removed his jacket and tossed it onto the ground. “I can’t show up looking too presentable.”
Corbyn watched him with a frown on his lips. “I daresay that won’t be an issue. You look terrible.”
Oliver spoke up. “I said the same thing.”
“Don’t worry,” Baldwin responded. “I am a trained agent. I know my role in all of this.”
“About that,” Corbyn said, “I have decided not to accept your resignation yet.”
Baldwin let out a disbelieving huff. “Why does it matter?” he asked. “I am set to retire after this mission anyway.”
“That may be true, but I don’t want to do any more paperwork than I have to,” Corbyn remarked. “Frankly, I don’t want to have to explain to anyone why I had a dismissed agent working on a case, especially if it turns into a disaster.”
“It won’t.”
“Let’s hope not,” Corbyn asserted.
As Baldwin moved to open the door, he asked, “Will you both be with the agents that raid the Blue Boar?”
“Oliver will be, but I have someplace I need to be,” Corbyn said.
“Which is?”
Corbyn’s eyes grew dark. “It is best if you don’t know.”
“Understood.” Baldwin knew better than to ask his friend more questions when his responses were cryptic.
Baldwin opened the door and departed from the room. He needed to focus on the mission, but his thoughts kept returning to Miss Dowding. What would he do if he never saw her again? He couldn’t imagine a future that didn’t involve her.
His steps faltered on the street at that realization. He wanted a future with Miss Dowding. He needed her in his life. But would she even welcome his advances? He knew she wasn’t completely immune to his charms, but that was a far cry from her agreeing to a courtship. Regardless, he needed to find her first, and he wouldn’t stop searching until he did.
The Blue Boar loomed up ahead, and Baldwin knew he needed to put Miss Dowding out of his mind for the time being. He had a mission he needed to accomplish.
Baldwin stepped inside and headed towards the back room. He knocked on the door and it was opened by a man he was unfamiliar with. The room was crowded with men as they sat around the tables and some were even resting their shoulders against the walls.
“Baldwin!” Morton shouted from the front of the room. “The man that we have all been waiting for.”
A few of the men turned towards him and lifted their tankards towards him. “Baldwin!” they repeated.
