One Penny Surprise (Saved By Desire 1)

“Yeah, they are in the park,” Toby replied with a shudder. “I don’t wanna be anyone in that park tonight. They are a rough lot. Rumour ‘as it they are using a house in Mainwaring Street. Last but one house on the left, but I ain’t been near so dunno for sure who lives there.”

“Don’t go there, Toby. This group are dangerous. Keep yourself safe.” Luke glanced around with a frown. “No Lucy tonight?”

“Na, she went home. Her mam’s sick.” Toby sniffed again.

“Are there any rumours about who killed the dead man in the park?”

Toby frowned. “Just that he was a friend of Trent’s, and went to the Riverside Club a lot.”

“Have you heard anything about Sayers?” Luke knew he had to be cautious, but needed to start to focus on gathering information on the one person who appeared to be the most dangerous.

Toby looked warily back at him. For a moment he didn’t speak. It was clear that he was deciding whether to tell him. “Just that Sayers is behind the big gang, but it is quiet like. Not many people want to talk about him.”

“Don’t ask too many questions and get yourself into trouble, Toby,” Luke warned.

“I ain’t. My mates are asking round too.”

“Good. Do you know where Sayers’ patch is? I heard it was down the embankment in a warehouse down there. It used to be a coal store?”

Toby shrugged. “I dunno. It ain’t my patch so don’t go down there. I ain’t gonna do it neither. Now are you gonna give me a penny and stick to your side of the bargain?”

Luke handed Toby two pennies and dug deep in the pocket of his own cloak for two pies, and a loaf of bread. Once he had handed them over, he watched Toby stuff them into his pockets, but hesitate for a moment. He glanced back at Luke. There was something in his eyes that warned Luke he wasn’t going to like what Toby was about to tell him.

“You know you were followed here don’cha?” he whispered quietly.

“Where?” Luke squatted down so he could whisper.

“He is in the alley across the road. A tallish fella about her size, but skinnier. I think he was the man from the woods in the park.”

“What’s he wearing?”

“Black. Summat about ‘im that’s trouble if’n you ask me,” Toby warned knowledgeably, his young face stern.

Luke nodded. “Does your patch stretch into Camden?”

Toby frowned. “It can do. As long as I get paid I don’t care where I go.”

“Then keep an eye on this property for me.” Luke reeled off Poppy’s address, but whispered it into Toby’s ear so nobody could overhear. “Tell me who comes and goes. I don’t need to know when they leave or arrive. I just need to know how many people are there, men or women, and ages, that kind of thing. I will give you two more pennies for your time today. Also, keep an ear to the ground. See if anyone is fencing high end goods in pawn shops. In particular, I am looking for a very expensive painting.”

“There are rumours already,” Toby whispered. “I overheard Freddie moaning that the price of his wares has gone down ‘cos the shop has taken a load of heavy stuff. We have been told to take more to make up the difference.”

“Freddie is your boss.” It wasn’t a question. Luke watched Toby hesitate. “Give me his surname, Toby. I am not going to hurt him. I just need to know where to find him if I need to.”

“Why?”

“I need to know if Freddie has connections to Sayers.” He watched Toby closely, but the boy only frowned before he shook his head. “Freddie hates Sayers. He wouldn’t work for him. Freddie is Lucy’s cousin. He is a right thug but he ain’t no gangster. Sayers runs the big gang that’s taken over. It’s pushing us all to go further and further out and stops us getting as much as we should.”

“You need these then,” Luke replied, holding out a couple of apples and one shilling. “Take some to Lucy too. Meantime, if there is anything else just come to see me.” He gave the boy the address for the safe house. “Can you remember that?”

Toby rolled his eyes but nodded.

“I will see you here day after tomorrow if I don’t see you before then, but make sure you aren’t followed.” He ruffled the boy’s hair and watched the lad melt back into the shadows as silently as he arrived.

Poppy watched the mist swallow the boy up and shivered once silence settled over them. They could ostensibly be the only people in London because not even distant sounds of life could be heard through the deafening smog.

“Can we go back now?” she whispered with a sniff. She was frozen, but it was more from what she had just witnessed than the chill in the air.

“Yes, let’s go,” Luke replied.