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Reggie returned inside, eyeing me, squinting as he examined the rope at my feet and hands. “How’d you loosen that?”
I forced myself not to look behind me. “What? Reggie—”
My cousin held the lantern aloft, his expression scathing. “Reginald—I’ve always hated the name Reggie.”
“Please. You’re not like this. Think of your wife. Your son.”
“That’s exactly who I’m thinking of.” He straightened, looked behind him, the Grey Ghost now on the bed of the lorry. “Eddie, Mac, leave the car and get rid of my cousin. Make it look like an accident. Finlay, take the reins. Time to go.”
“Reg— Reginald! Don’t do this. Please!”
Reggie ignored me as Eddie jumped down from the back of the lorry, drawing a knife from his waistband as he stalked in my direction. Mac joined him, while Reggie held the lantern aloft. Eddie lifted the blade, the flickering lantern flame reflecting on the cold steel.
“Two against one?” came a voice from behind
me. “That’s hardly fair.”
Mac and Eddie stopped in their tracks, both men looking around, trying to find the source of the voice.
“Who’s there?” Reggie asked, holding the lantern higher as he searched the warehouse.
“The name’s Isaac Bell.” Mr. Bell stepped out into the light, walking toward us, until he stood between me and my would-be murderers. Dressed all in white, he held my father’s brass-handled cane, the hidden blade returned to its sheath. He looked at Reggie, then turned his attention toward Mac and Eddie. “And the lot of you are under arrest for train robbery.”
The shock on Eddie and Mac’s faces lasted a few seconds before both burst out laughing.
Eddie pointed his dagger toward Mr. Bell. “Followed us all the way from New York, did you? By yourself? Aren’t you the funny bloke.” He took a step forward.
Isaac Bell blocked his path with my father’s cane. “Sorry. I can’t let you do that.”
Eddie, knife in one hand, grabbed the cane with the other, using it to pull Isaac toward him. His leer twisted the scar on his cheek as he glared at Mr. Bell. “I’ll slit your throat and shove your fancy stick in after it.”
“Will you, now?” Isaac said, taking a half step back.
Eddie held tight to the cane.
As Isaac ran his left hand down the cane’s shaft, gripping the handle with his right, I thought he’d pull out the blade. But, no. He leaned in, drove the cane forward, rammed the man with his shoulder. Eddie’s dagger flew from his hand, sliding across the wood-plank floor. As Eddie staggered back, Isaac swung the cane around, striking Mac in the chest with the heavy handle, bringing him to his knees.
Reggie aimed his gun at the detective. Isaac pivoted, swinging the cane again, knocking the pistol from his hand.
Reggie started to reach for it, but Isaac kicked the pistol away, swung the cane against Eddie’s spine, knocking him into Mac.
Even then the three men sought to attack. But Isaac pressed the cane’s catch, drawing the hidden dagger from the handle. “Perhaps I wasn’t clear enough,” Isaac said, as he shoved the point toward Mac’s throat, stopping just as it drew blood. “You’re under arrest.” The sound of an approaching horseman caught their attention. Isaac was the only one who didn’t look, his attention on the three men. “Get the gun, Payton!”
The moment I grabbed the pistol and pointed it at them, my cousin ran out the door.
“I say . . . Reggie?” I recognized my friend Byron’s voice. He’d gotten my message. “Where’s Payton?”
Reggie raced past, climbing up onto the lorry. “Go! Go!”
Finlay shook the reins.
The lorry lurched forward, the wheels squeaking beneath the weight of its load.
“They’re getting away,” I called out, as Byron dismounted, clearly not understanding.
Isaac quickly assessed the situation. “Watch these two, Payton. Shoot if you have to.” Isaac ran out, grabbed the reins of Byron’s horse, mounted, and raced off after the lorry.
I held the gun pointed at the two, my fears of being left in charge, turning my stomach. This was not me. I was the last person meant to be a hero. Even so, I realized that if either of these two men tried to escape, I would have to shoot them or let them go. Not wanting anyone’s death on my conscience, I saw the rope. “Byron. We need to tie these two. Quick. Now!”