Storm and Silence (Storm and Silence 1)

That nice comment came from Mr Ambrose. ‘Now, can we get on with this?’

We did get on. Or rather out, of the building to be exact. Then, to our employer’s severe displeasure, we got into another cab and drove away. Our first stop was the Brown’s Hotel in Albermarle Street. When the cabbie stopped his horses, I got out but held up my hand when Mr Ambrose moved to follow me.

‘No. I’ll go in alone.’

‘What? Do you intend to catch Simmons all on your own?’

‘No, of course not. I’m just going to inquire if he’s here.’

‘And they’re going to tell you just like that, are they?’

‘Yes, actually they are.’ I winked at him. ‘Could you hand me my sack of onions please?’

He didn’t. Instead he said: ‘You can’t go in there alone. It’s much too risky.’

‘Risky?’ Did he actually sound worried? Worried for me?

‘I mean,’ he added hurriedly, ‘if Simmons should hear your questions and decide to flee before we can catch him.’

‘Don’t worry. I won’t let that happen. My onions, please?’

He hesitated a moment - then handed me the sack of onions, looking as though he had just bitten into one.

Wordlessly, I turned and entered Brown’s Hotel.

*~*~**~*~*

Ten minutes later I was out again and climbed into the cab.

‘He’s not here,’ I proclaimed. ‘Let’s go try the next one.’

‘How do you know?’ demanded Mr Ambrose. Yet this was a demand I was not very disposed to comply with.

‘You mean you can’t guess, Sir?’ I purred, smiling at him. ‘Surely you are more intelligent than an insignificant little girl.’

The others laughed, thinking I had made a joke. Then they saw Mr Ambrose’s expression and stopped laughing.

Soon we stopped at another hotel. I entered, and ten minutes later I left again.

‘Not here,’ I stated. ‘Let’s go on.’

‘How,’ Mr Ambrose asked, his voice dangerously low, ‘do you know?’

We stopped at another hotel, and another, and another. After eight failures, Mr Ambrose’s expression had turned from stony to steely. His hands were balled into fists.

I climbed into the coach again, just returned from my latest excursion.

‘He’s not here either,’ I said. ‘Let’s try the next one.’

‘How,’ Mr Ambrose inquired, putting emphasis on each word, ‘do-you-know?’

I smiled.

‘Oh, it’s just my female intuition.’

*~*~**~*~*

Stepping into the foyer of the Elderberry Hotel, I concealed myself behind one of the columns near the entrance, took the onion I had brought with me out of my pocket and cracked it in half. The strong smell immediately bit into my nose and brought tears to my eyes. Only with difficulty did I keep from sneezing.