“Then he’s a fool if he believes I’d give him a damn penny,” Noah said. “I’d put him on a ship bound for the Americas before I’d fund his gambling habit.”
If only that were possible. She would certainly sleep easier at night knowing her brother was thousands of miles away.
“So, where is my brother now? You must have some inkling as to where he is staying.” And why hadn’t he come home?
The clerk started shaking, shaking uncontrollably. “I—I had nothing to do with it, Miss Dunn.”
Impatience saw Noah grab the man by his lapels. “Just tell us what the hell happened!”
“They argued, and then—” The clerk struggled to catch his breath. “Then Mr Hemming hit Mr Dunn on the head with a paperweight.”
The information tore a gasp from Eva’s throat. She started shaking, too. “Good heavens! Is he dead?”
Part of her wanted the clerk to say yes. Did she not deserve some peace? Part of her hoped the answer was no. Would she not always blame herself for not dealing with Mr Hemming sooner?
“No, he’s not dead. Mr Hemming is keeping him prisoner.” Mr Smith began whimpering like a hungry child. “He said I was guilty of aiding him and would swing from the neck, too, if caught.”
“Hence the reason you wrote the second blackmail note,” Mr Cole added.
Noah released the clerk and allowed him a moment to gather his composure before asking, “Where is Hemming holding him?”
“In the a-attic,” the clerk stammered. “Above the office in Tavistock Street.”
Chapter 19
Despite the late hour, Tavistock Street was a hive of activity. Patrons burst from the theatres and cluttered the pavements like an army of ants. The bawds who sold their wares from alleyways and doorways snatched punters as they passed and disappeared for a five-minute fumble. Beggars loitered, waiting to accost the drunken fools stumbling from coffeehouses, brothels and gaming hells. Covent Garden was a playground for the wealthy. A hunting ground for those who made their living on the streets.
Daventry had taken the clerk to Bow Street to make a statement, securing a case against Hemming being a priority. Sloane and D’Angelo had taken the wherry back from Temple Gardens and would arrive in Tavistock Street in due course.
“Every instinct tells me you should wait in the carriage,” Noah said as his conveyance rolled to a stop fifty yards from the publisher’s office.
While Eva had every right to help free her brother from his prison, he feared she might be too lenient, feared Hemming might hurt her in a bid to escape.
“I’ll be perfectly safe,” she said, glancing at Cole and Bower seated opposite. “Besides, I presume Mr Hemming will be at home in bed at this hour.”
Cole’s hum rang with doubt. “In my experience, a felon rarely leaves a hostage unattended. I expect Hemming will be close.”
Beside him, Eva trembled at the mention of the p
ublisher’s name. She cast Noah a sidelong glance and smiled. “What can Mr Hemming do when I have three strong men as my protectors?”
It was Noah’s turn to shiver. Hemming could fire a pistol in the dark and hit the wrong target. He could throw a punch. She might fall, hit her head on the grate. The rooms inside were small and cramped. How could he protect her during the mad scramble, the chaos?
Both Bower and Cole stared at him, waiting for his reply.
The weight of responsibility bore down on his shoulders. No man deserved to live with the pain of regret, but Eva was in just as much danger in the carriage as she was inside Hemming’s office.
Noah met the men’s gazes. “Keep her between us at all times. I shall lead the way. Cole will take the rear. Bower, you will wait at the bottom of the stairs should Hemming or Dunn attempt to escape.”
Both men nodded.
They alighted the carriage, veered around the pedestrians who seemed happy to amble and were in no rush to get home. They entered the alley through the wrought-iron gate next to the apothecary. As expected, the door leading to Hemming’s premises was locked.
“Allow me, sir,” Bower said, rummaging in the deep pocket of his greatcoat. He removed a ring of odd-shaped keys and began sifting through them.
“We could give the door a hard kick,” Cole said.
“What, and alert Hemming of our intentions?” Noah wanted to take Hemming by surprise. It was the best way of ensuring no harm came to the lady standing nervously beside him.