Cold Comfort (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 5)

“I thought he has almost retired,” Oliver interrupted.

“He is up to his knees in children.” Sir Hugo grinned suddenly; the seriousness of the situation they were in temporarily forgotten. “He has six at the last count, but he does still keep his hand in with the local team. He will be able to help you if I cannot. Oliver, I am tasking you with informing the relatives about this young woman’s death, and taking the lead on this investigation in my stead. Do whatever you have to do to make sure the investigation into the Smidgley brothers continues. However, like I have said, watch your backs and stay hidden. I am going to make my presence felt with our traitor for a while. It should give you the time you need to close this case.”

“Do you really think that is a possibility?” Will asked solemnly. “Your being removed from your position I mean?” He cursed when Sir Hugo slowly nodded.

“We are sailing into choppy waters, men,” Sir Hugo informed them dourly.

“If the Smidgley brothers are behind the murders, and they are hiding behind their contacts in the War Office, we are going to struggle to keep them behind bars even if we do arrest them. Your position is going to be even more tenuous then, especially if the hierarchy are prepared to get rid of you to protect them,” Oliver growled.

“Let me deal with the War Office.” Sir Hugo’s voice hardened. “Our traitor has to prove that we had anything to do with getting the Smidgleys behind bars before he can get rid of us. Then he has to find a reason to get the Smidgleys free without making himself appear involved in their criminal activities, but he has to find them first.”

Ryan coughed, and began to smirk. “Er, what do you mean ‘they have to find them first’?”

Sir Hugo’s eyes turned crafty. “No matter what it takes, get the Smidgleys behind bars. I don’t care if you have to kidnap the bastards, just get them off the streets, gentlemen, and fast. Take them to Rowley in Kiggington Gaol. He – Rowley – will keep his mouth shut. He is aware of the situation we face, and its implications for the War Office if we allow corruption to succeed in our ranks.”

“Do we know why the young women were kidnapped yet?” Rhys interrupted.

Sir Hugo shook his head. “Until we can find one alive, we won’t know. What we can take from Caroline Elkins’ recent death is that the others may be alive still. It is why this case has become urgent so suddenly. We have to find those missing women before they are killed.”

Sir Hugo paused. Even he didn’t like what he was going to suggest but could really see no other way of bringing about the downfall of such a well-organised gang like the one the Smidgleys had.

“I hear this Caroline Elkins has a twin sister,” he began.

“Yes, that’s right.” Oliver rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward, not least because he sensed that Sir Hugo hadn’t yet delivered the news he had come to impart.

“Make use of her.”

“What?” Oliver blinked, unsure if he had heard him correctly.

Sir Hugo sighed. “They know Caroline is dead, yes?”

Oliver snorted. “Seeing as they bloody killed her, yes, I should say so.”

“So, how confused would they be if they saw her walking down the street?” Sir Hugo kept his gaze on his clasped fingers for several minutes but was acutely aware of the stillness within the room. When he lifted his gaze to his men, there was an air of callous determination hidden in the depths of Sir Hugo’s eyes that made everyone stare at him. “Do whatever you need to do to flush these bastards out. Unless they know Caroline Elkins has a twin sister, which I doubt seeing as it hasn’t been mentioned to the War Office, or in the broadsheets, it is going to come as a sodding shock to them to see someone they have already killed walking down the road, in their village, isn’t it?”

“What? Are you saying we taunt them with Caroline’s twin sister?” Oliver cried in astonishment.

“Yes, that is exactly what I am saying,” Sir Hugo growled. “We cannot have any sentiments in this situation, gentlemen. There are many men’s lives at stake here, and the reputation of the organisation. We cannot allow Smidgley to win or take any more victims. If we have to risk one person’s life to save many then so be it. However, I task you all with keeping this woman safe. We are too late to help her s

ister, but we are going to make sure our new recruit doesn’t come to any harm.”

“Even though we are going to put her directly in the path of danger,” Oliver snorted scornfully.

“We have no choice,” Sir Hugo warned. “They think they have killed her. We have someone who looks just like the victim. So long as she doesn’t have black hair and completely different looks, there is no reason why this young woman couldn’t be passed off as Caroline, at least from a distance. That will be enough to put Smidgley on edge. He will want to confirm he did actually kill the woman. As soon as we have flushed the rat out of the drainpipe, snatch him just like he has snatched his bloody victims, only he – they - will disappear to gaol at Kiggington. I don’t give a rat’s knackers what the hierarchy in the War Office think. The Smidgleys are not going to manipulate us into dropping this investigation, and they are most definitely not going to bring about the demise of the Star Elite.”

“Here, here,” several of the men chorused.

“Oliver, like I said before, I am tasking you with going to see the relatives and speaking to this sister. I don’t care what you have to promise them. Make sure you enlist her help. She is to remain under your protection until this investigation is over, do you hear?”

“Why me?” Oliver cried in horror. “Rhys is the ladies’ man. Get him to sodding go.” He crossed his arms in a display of defiance that had little impact on Sir Hugo.

“Rhys is going to help find a new base and then get everyone moved. The rest of you are going to keep a constant watch on Smidgley Hall and those damned twins inside it. They are hiding out there. For now, their London house appears to have been closed down. It might have something to do with the collapse of the gang at Rigley Row. Whatever the reason, the brothers have decamped to their country seat for the time being. The second either of them leaves that place, I want them followed. Do not allow them out of your sight, gentlemen. It is going to be difficult given how light you are in numbers, but you can do this.”

Oliver stared at his boss in horror. “I get to babysit, is that it?”

“No, you get to keep our only advantage safe, Oliver. I wouldn’t task just anybody with this. I know Rhys is a ladies’ man, which is why I cannot put him with the woman. I know you are going to be professional and keep your hands to yourself. If I go to any more weddings, I am going to start to get a reputation for being a match-maker,” Sir Hugo teased.

“Or a curse,” Oliver snorted.