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“Going somewhere?”
I whirled around. Matty leaned against the building, one foot propped up on the brick. My stomach plummeted and I began backing away. “W-what are you doing out here?”
“I knew you’d run.”
I lowered my chin and raised my fists. “I won’t go back inside. You cannot force me.”
“You think to fight me?” Matty threw her head back and laughed. “You wouldn’t stand a chance, princess.”
“I’m tougher than I look.”
“I don’t doubt it, not if you’ve hooked Bax.”
I hadn’thookedBax—and even if I had, I was throwing him back. “I’m leaving. You can’t stop me.”
“I don’t want to stop you. I want to help you.”
This sounded like a trick. “Why?”
Matty pushed off the wall and came closer. “He should’ve told you about your father. He was a bastard for keeping that from you, which I made perfectly clear many times.”
“So, you’re going to just let me leave?”
“Yes—and I’m going to tell you where to locate your father.” She held out a piece of paper. “There you go.”
I snatched the note, but didn’t read it. Matty put her fingers in her mouth and let out a piercing whistle. A second later, a hack rounded the corner and stopped in front of us. I stared at the other woman, trying to make sense of it. “I don’t understand.”
“Then you’ve never met another woman in dire straits. How nice for you. Not all of us have led a life of such privilege.”
I was confused, but I’d never encountered anyone like her. Matty was fascinating and competent. Unafraid and strong. I doubted she’d let a man ever get the best of her.
But I didn’t want her to risk herself on my account. “Won’t he be angry with you?”
“He’ll be spitting mad. But in time he’ll come to see I was right. Take this pistol.” She held out a gun.
“Thank you.”
“I don’t need your gratitude. Just promise to help someone else when the time comes.” Matty headed toward the saloon doors. “Go in through the rear kitchen. The door’s usually unlocked. Go up to the second floor, third door on the right.”
I wanted to say thanks again, but Matty disappeared inside the saloon. So I hurried into the hack and gave the driver the address on the piece of paper.
Sadly, it wasn’t far, which was both a relief and completely frustrating. This whole time my father had been mere blocks away.
* * *
The frontof the brick townhouse appeared well kept. What was this place? I paid the driver, climbed down and shook out my skirts. Then I moved quickly to the path that ran between the buildings.
Was that laughter I heard inside?
I clasped the butt of my pistol tight in my palm. Were they having a grand time while they tortured my father? I had to hurry.
As Matty predicted, the rear door was unlocked. I slipped inside and found an empty kitchen that smelled of herbs and lemon. Dishes were stacked by the washbasin, waiting to be washed, so I hurried through lest someone come in to begin the task.
A set of servants’ stairs led up from the kitchen, so I began to climb. When I reached the second floor I could hear more feminine giggling and the sound of a rhythmic slapping. Wait, was this . . .?
My God. Bax had imprisoned my father in abordello? I ground my back teeth together. My father must be appalled at these conditions. It was exactly the sort of vice and impropriety he railed against in his speeches.
I hurried to the third door on the right. I tried the knob, expecting it to be locked. To my surprise, the door flew open.
