Page 46

A drian could scarcely believe what Fellowes had told him.

The surgeon had held nothing back. Indeed, he’d been surprisingly open and frank regarding a subject Adrian would have guarded more closely, had it been him.

Then again, he supposed Fellowes made a good argument for sharing the information.

Apparently, the secret organization he’d once been a part of had striven to do good.

If this had since changed, Fellowes wanted the members to face the consequences of their actions.

To this end, Adrian needed to let Kendrick know what he had discovered.

“Why are you no longer part of this group?” he’d asked of Fellowes.

The surgeon’s response had been swift. “Only those who strive to save lives are welcome. When I began working down here, my membership was revoked.”

“That sounds both harsh and unreasonable considering you investigate the causes of death. I see no better way of advancing medical procedures than through your findings.”

“Rules are rules,” Fellowes had said. “Had I wished to contest them I could have. I’m sure everyone would have listened, but the truth is I didn’t mind walking away from all of those secret meetings and various rituals.

It was a spectacle that took up more time than I was willing to give when I’ve more important things to do. ”

Adrian had thanked Fellowes and, to save time, had gone to find Kendrick. The chief constable was presently searching the premises, but instead of locating him as he’d hoped, Adrian ran into one of his Runners instead.

The same one who’d accompanied Kendrick on his hunt for Adrian and Samantha when they’d been on the run.

The young man – Jackson, was his name – had struck him as a decent fellow.

Still slightly green behind the ears, he’d deferred to Kendrick even though he’d technically been his superior at the time.

Facing Jackson now for the first time since Jackson had helped Kendrick transport a group of kidnapped children back to London, Adrian asked, “Where’s Chief Constable Kendrick?”

“Not here, Mr. Croft.” The room behind Jackson had been brightly lit by several lanterns. Two other Runners appeared to be studying the space with meticulous care. Jackson crossed his arms and tilted his head back to better meet Adrian’s gaze. “Why do you ask?”

“I’ve learned something of value and wanted to share it with him. As per our agreement.”

Jackson seemed to consider this for a second before revealing, “He’s gone to inspect the subterranean tunnel and chamber you mentioned.”

Of course that would be his goal. Adrian thanked Jackson and turned on his heel, determined to find Kendrick fast so they could get to the bottom of this debacle. As such, he strode forward with purpose, descended the stone steps leading down to the tunnel, and made his way through it.

He passed the gate, which hung open just as he and Samantha had left it.

A light flickered. Beyond that came a brighter glow from the chamber itself.

Realizing one of the Runners must be just up ahead with a lantern and that Kendrick had probably lit the candelabras in the chamber, he kept moving without making much of an effort to hide his presence.

“Stop right there,” someone said, a feminine hiss that made him stop short. “Name yourself.”

The voice sounded slightly familiar though he couldn’t quite place it. He halted and spoke his name. “Mr. Croft.”

A sigh was the woman’s first response. It was followed by the tread of her feet as she came toward him with her lantern. “You’re lucky I didn’t shoot you.”

Only then did he spot the pistol she held. When she raised the lantern, he was finally able to make out her features. “Miss Hastings. Why are you armed, ready to fire, and why isn’t Kendrick by your side?”

He found the whole thing odd. At the very least she should have believed him to be one of Kendrick’s Runners, like Jackson for instance.

In which case, she’d have had no reason to aim a pistol at him.

Instead, it was clear that something had spooked her enough to make sure she knew the person coming her way meant no harm.

And then she explained, “He’s through there. Together with Lewis and Anderson. I was told to wait here.”

“Any particular reason?”

“The chamber wasn’t empty when we arrived,” she whispered. “There were people in there. Kendrick said I should run if things got heated.”

Suddenly worried, Adrian stepped past Miss Hastings. “Stay where you are while I take a look.” He set his oil lamp on the ground then edged ahead until he was able to get a clear view of the area he and Samantha had found the previous day. “Bloody hell.”

He stepped forward, fully intent on letting his presence be known. Staying calm was, in his opinion, the only way to ensure the situation he walked into didn’t escalate any further.

“Croft is here,” one of Kendrick’s Runners announced.

He and another Runner Adrian had once met in passing but couldn’t recall the name of flanked the chief constable, their pistols aimed at five masked individuals standing before them.

Kendrick himself wielded a blade, leaving Adrian to suspect the pistol Miss Hastings had used belonged to him.

Everyone turned in Adrian’s direction as soon as they heard his name. He chose to take up a casual stance. “Kendrick. Good to see you again.”

Kendrick sent him a swift sideways glance. “Stay out of this, Croft. I’m handling it.”

“Are you sure about that?” As Adrian considered the scene, he grew increasingly certain things were not at all as Kendrick, or even he – prior to his conversation with Fellowes – believed.

“I’ve demanded these men remove their masks and reveal themselves to us. They know I’ll use force against them if they keep refusing.”

“Hmm…” Adrian scratched the back of his neck and decided to help the poor constable see the facts. “It’s the middle of the day. You and your Runners began your search of the hospital when, exactly?”

“We arrived nearly two hours ago.”

“And yet these men are still down here.” When Kendrick said nothing to this Adrian pointed out, “When they returned to this chamber, they would have seen the broken oil lamp over there. Evidence of my altercation with Melroy and proof someone else had been here. Depending on which tunnel they used, they may even have noticed the gate was left open.”

“Go on,” Kendrick murmured.

“Given the fact that their secret location is no longer secret,” Adrian said, “don’t you think they would have been wary of returning here and potentially being discovered? Unless of course that’s what they intended.”

Kendrick’s gaze shot toward Adrian’s. “What?”

“I propose you lower your weapons,” Adrian said. “These men appear to be unarmed.”

It was hard to tell if that were truly the case on account of the long black cloaks they wore. All manner of weapons might be hidden beneath, but it would take some fumbling to get to them which was why Adrian chose to ignore such a possibility.

“If we lower our weapons,” Kendrick asked the group of masked men, “will you answer my questions?”

They shook their heads in unison then pointed at Adrian. He pressed his lips together and dipped his chin in an effort to hide his humor. This was far too absurd and theatrical. Plus, he was beginning to feel quite bad for Kendrick.

“What?” Kendrick asked, his voice impatient. “Why won’t you speak?”

Adrian cleared his throat and assessed the scene once more. The masked individuals hadn’t moved. They still pointed toward him, clearly intent on relaying their message.

He huffed a breath and started toward the spot where Kendrick stood. As he passed one of his Runners, Adrian placed his hand on the man’s outstretched arm and pressed down, forcing him to lower his pistol. He sent the other Runner a sharp look, in response to which he followed suit.

Kendrick dropped his hand too. The dagger he held now dangled loosely by his side. Confusion and irritation strained his features. “What is going on?”

Adrian stepped up to him and kept his voice low so no one else would hear what he told him next. “I believe they’re only willing to speak with me.”

Anger replaced Kendrick’s previous emotion. He shoved past Adrian, brushing his shoulder. “That’s ridiculous. I’m placing the lot of you under arrest. We’ll see how—”

Adrian grabbed Kendrick’s arm and forced him back a step.

His Runners instantly pointed their pistols at him and demanded that he release their superior.

Adrian ignored them, choosing instead to tell Kendrick, “Don’t be foolish.

They’re willing to speak, but not to you.

It’s not personal. They just don’t want their identities known or their statements publicized in any record. ”

“Which is precisely why I plan to unmask them,” Kendrick hissed. He tried to shake himself free but Adrian only tightened his grasp. “Unhand me, Mr. Croft or I’ll put you in a cell with them for showing aggression against an officer of the law.”

Adrian loosened his hold but didn’t release him completely.

“If you force them back to Bow Street, you’ll never get them to speak.

They will remain mute until their solicitors manage to have the charges against them dropped.

Which I doubt will be hard to do since you’ve no real crime to accuse them of. ”

“At least I’ll know who they are.”

“And yet you will have learned nothing of substance.” Adrian released Kendrick completely and whispered close to his ear. “Let me speak with them. I swear to you upon my honor that I shall relay each word to you directly.”

“This isn’t the way things are done,” Kendrick argued.

“I know, but it may be the only way for you to get some results. Don’t forget, I owe you a debt of gratitude. I’ll not let you down.”

Kendrick shifted his gaze so he could meet Adrian’s. A second passed and then he finally nodded. He directed his attention toward the masked men. “I’ll agree to your terms. You may speak with Mr. Croft alone.”

The masked men gestured toward the tunnel opposite the one Adrian had just used, inviting him to head toward it. He promised Kendrick, “I’ll stop by your office as soon as I’m able.”

“I’m counting on that,” Kendrick told him. To his Runners he said, “Come on, lads. Let’s record our observations, then see about getting back to Bow Street.”

Heading in the opposite direction, Adrian entered the other tunnel with the five masked men at his back. Having come this way before with Samantha and Melroy, he already knew where it would take them, which put him more at ease.

The air was chilly and damp, infused with the smell of dirt.

Eager to escape it, Adrian continued onward, until the glow from his oil lamp found the steps leading up the circular staircase.

He started to climb it. No need to see if his entourage kept pace.

The sound of their footfalls echoed around him.

None appeared to make much effort to maintain a silent tread.

Probably because there was little risk of crossing paths with anyone else. At least not yet.

They reached the top of the stairs which, unlike the ones at the hospital, opened into a narrow hallway.

At the end was a plain wooden door that hung on iron hinges.

Adrian pushed it open and stepped into an arched chamber with low ceilings.

The floor was slightly uneven, the worn paving stones hinting that this place might have existed before the abbey was built.

He stepped farther inside, allowing space for the masked men to follow.

The door was closed once the last man was through, erasing all evidence of its existence.

To the untrained eye it now looked like no more than a medieval painting of Archangel Michael.

A matching depiction of Archangel Gabriel hung on the opposite wall.

The wooden cross placed between them further reduced the chance of anyone thinking the space was used for anything other than peaceful reflection.

Adrian prepared to enter the hallway beyond when one of the men finally spoke. “One moment, Mr. Croft.”

The sound, coming on the heels of prolonged silence, was somewhat jarring.

It had the desired effect, putting Adrian on instant alert and prompting him to halt.

He turned, one eyebrow rising in question, but no other word was uttered.

Instead, the five men helped each other collect an iron rod that hung suspended from two iron brackets imbedded in the stone ceiling.

They removed the candelabra that hung from the center of it and set this aside.

Adrian watched in fascination as they then pushed the rod through an iron ring that protruded from a stone slab at the far-right corner of the floor. With each man grabbing an end of the rod, they helped each other lift the stone slab out of the way.

A compartment containing a wooden chest came into view.

One of the men knelt so he could reach down and open the lid.

Having moved a bit closer, Adrian peered at the chest’s contents.

Bundles of fabric lay to one side. Masks to the other.

Adrian couldn’t help but produce an incredulous laugh only to swallow the sound when he saw that his five companions were now taking off their disguises.

The cloaks were neatly folded and placed in the chest. Each of their masks quickly followed. And then the lid was lowered, the stone slab placed back in position, and the iron rod returned to the brackets that hung from the ceiling together with the candelabra.

Adrian blinked. The entire process had lasted less than five minutes and left no hint of the curious occurrence that had just taken place.

He looked at each of the five men, most of whom he knew quite well, and said, “I suppose we’d best have that talk.”