Page 50

Both accomplishments were marks in Kendrick’s favor. Adrian owed him his life. The least he could do in return was help him catch the villain he hunted. Such a success would restore everyone’s faith in the man and advance his career.

Accompanied by Murry, whom Adrian had asked to join him and Samantha for added security, they asked Jennings to take them to Bow Street.

The carriage wove its way through the congested traffic on Berkley Street before gathering speed on Piccadilly.

All in all, it took about twenty minutes to reach the Bow Street Magistrate’s Court, only to learn Kendrick was out.

“When will he return?” Adrian asked Lewis, the young Runner who’d come to greet him.

Lewis shrugged. “I’m afraid I don’t know. He and Hastings were both summoned to Carlton House for a meeting with the Prince Regent.”

Adrian glanced at Samantha, who arched a brow, then he told Lewis, “It’s actually not Kendrick with whom we desire to speak but rather Wentworth and Melroy.

There’s an important question I’d like to put to them.

With your help, we could make significant progress in the murder investigation before Kendrick returns. ”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Croft, but Kendrick’s orders prevent me from allowing such a thing. He made it clear that no one was to speak with either of those men besides him.”

“It would save Kendrick a great deal of time,” Adrian pressed. “If our suspicions are correct and either Wentworth or Melroy confirm them, Kendrick can see to arresting the killer as soon as he gets back.”

“While that may be true, it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been forbidden from granting anyone access.”

Adrian frowned. He hated these types of obstacles where no amount of logical reasoning worked. “Can we at least wait for him in his office?”

“No, but you’re welcome to take a seat on the bench over there.”

Heat flared at the base of Adrian’s skull.

Had he not been forced to live in fear of losing his freedom through one wrong move, he’d have wielded his power to get his way.

Instead, he’d been reduced to a shadow of the man he’d been.

All because of how close he’d come to having everything taken from him.

The impact of that experience stayed him.

Despite the fury pulsing through him because of the injustice being enacted against him, he did no more than nod.

Lewis was not the source of the problem.

He was merely a manifestation. The real issue was the deal Eldridge had struck with Liverpool on Adrian’s behalf.

And even that could not be blamed on either man.

It was Adrian himself who’d provided the opportunity for it.

He had been the architect behind his own downfall. And nothing angered him more.

With Samantha’s hand tucked into the crook of his arm, Adrian started toward the bench.

It felt as though his every step was observed by every Runner who occupied the front office.

The heat at the base of his skull intensified from the shame curving over his shoulders.

It sank its teeth into his flesh and clung to him as he crossed the checkered floor.

“Mr. and Mrs. Croft?”

The feminine voice made him halt and turn.

Miss Hastings, whose presence he’d failed to notice before, now demanded his attention.

He managed to force a smile while suppressing a sigh.

All he wanted right now was some peace while he and Samantha waited for Kendrick’s return, not further engagement with the chief magistrate’s daughter.

“Good day, Miss Hastings.” Against all odds, he actually sounded happy. “What a pleasure it is to see you again.”

“When I saw you I simply had to come greet you,” she said, her attention divided equally between him and Samantha before moving more directly to him. “Thank you for reassuring me earlier. It helped a great deal.”

“What are you referring to?” Samantha asked.

“Miss Hastings was in the tunnel,” Adrian explained, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Kendrick left her there to wait for him, which is where I found her when I arrived.”

“I’m not fond of being underground.” Miss Hastings appeared to make an effort to look unaffected, but a ragged sigh gave her away. “Kendrick told me you accompanied the men he found – that they refused to speak with anyone else. I’m guessing you’ve come to share what you’ve learned?”

“Partly.” Adrian considered Miss Hastings and all he knew about her.

According to Kendrick, she’d insisted on working this case with him.

As the chief magistrate’s daughter, she might even have some authority.

He decided to test that by saying, “I was actually hoping to speak with Wentworth and Melroy. Based on what I’ve discovered, I think they might be able to confirm the killer’s identity. ”

Miss Hastings’s eyes widened. “Really? So it’s not either of them?”

“I’d rather abstain from making any absolute claims until I’ve questioned them.”

“Unfortunately Kendrick is the only person with enough authority to permit such an interview,” Samantha said with a heavy sigh.

“Which means we’ve no choice but to wait for him to return,” Adrian said.

Samantha nodded. “I only hope the delay won’t impede our chances of catching our suspect.”

Crease lines appeared on Miss Hastings’s brow. She flattened her mouth. “That would be regrettable.”

“It can’t be helped,” Samantha told her kindly. “However inconvenient it may be.”

“Please don’t let us keep you from your work, Miss Hastings,” Adrian said. “We’ll be perfectly fine on the bench.”

“You’ve not been asked if you’d like to wait for Kendrick in his office?”

“Our request to do so was also declined,” Adrian said, “even though I’ve been permitted to wait for him there in the past.”

“It’s probably due to the case,” Miss Hastings said with thoughtfulness. “I believe Kendrick is wary of visitors having access to any details he may have left on his desk. Allow me a moment to make sure there’s nothing to see and I’ll escort you there myself.”

“We’d hate to impose,” Adrian said.

“Or land you in trouble,” Samantha added.

“He’ll agree that letting you sit on display in the front office for all to see would be a mistake,” Miss Hastings said. “Just leave it to me.”

She disappeared past the front desk and into a hallway.

Adrian dipped his chin and rocked back on his heels, then glanced at Samantha.

His wife gave away no hint of emotion. Nothing about her suggested she was manipulating her way toward their goal.

A frightening observation that reminded him once again of how easily she’d maneuvered her way into his life.

He took a slow breath to dispel the accompanying anger and told himself this was before. Everything had changed since then. She’d proven herself to him more than once. Even when he’d doubted her, she’d come for him, saved his life, helped him recapture the life that had been stolen.

His pulse slowed into a steadier rhythm.

Another breath banished the anger completely.

She’d been highly trained by Harlowe but she was Adrian’s wife now.

Her allegiance was to him and he’d do well not to forget that.

Hell, he owed it to her to put her reason for forming that initial attachment with him in the past where it belonged.

“Everything all right?”

Her voice made him blink, refocus, realize she was staring at him. He nodded. “Yes.”

She kept her gaze on him, allowed it to linger as though she might be discerning the truth in his words. Eventually she nodded toward her left. “Looks like Miss Hastings has returned.”

Adrian straightened as Miss Hastings came nearer. She swept her arm to one side. “I’ll show you to Kendrick’s office now. Please follow me.”

When Adrian entered the room, his gaze went straight to Kendrick’s desk. The surface was usually filled with piles of papers and other things. Now, it appeared completely bare. He sent Miss Hastings a questioning look and arched one brow.

Noting his expression, she shrugged one shoulder. “I didn’t want to keep you waiting while I figured out what he might wish to hide, so I put it all in a box.”

Adrian snorted, then shared a look with Samantha, who looked as though she were torn between horror and amusement. “I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.”

“I’ve done it in a way that will make it easy for me to return it all exactly as I found it.

” Miss Hastings bit her lip, concern filling her gaze for a second before she banked the emotion and straightened her spine.

“If what I did angers him then so be it. He should simply learn to be more orderly.”

“It might have been more prudent to simply cover his things with a cloth,” Samantha said.

Miss Hastings turned to her, lips parted. “I…didn’t think of that.”

“Well, what’s done is done,” Samantha said. “Maybe next time.”

“Hmm…” Miss Hastings stood for an awkward moment, her attention on the empty desk before she suddenly gestured toward the vacant chairs. “Now that we’re here, won’t you both sit?”

“Thank you.” Adrian waited for Samantha to claim her seat, then took the second one and asked Miss Hastings. “Will you join us?”

Only one vacant seat remained and that was Kendrick’s. “I couldn’t possibly.”

Adrian was instantly back on his feet. “Well, I cannot sit in the presence of a lady.” He gestured toward the chair he’d vacated. “If you won’t use Kendrick’s chair then by all means, use this one.”

“Thank you, Mr. Croft, but that doesn’t seem right either when you’re the guest. Besides, I thought I might fetch you something to drink. There’s both coffee and tea, if you like.”

“I’m not in need of either,” Samantha said. When Adrian echoed this sentiment she said, “However, I do wonder if you have any idea when Kendrick is due to return. The longer we wait to speak with Wentworth and Melroy, the longer it will take us to figure out whether or not our lead is valid.”

“It would be more efficient if we had our answer ready for when he gets back,” Adrian said. “Then we could head out together if need be and prevent any further delay.”

“That does make sense,” Miss Hastings agreed, “and since I am working the case with him, I don’t see why I cannot speak with these men. If you’ll accept my presence, I’ll see to it that you meet with them.”

“An excellent plan,” Adrian told her. “Thank you, Miss Hastings.”

It took nearly ten minutes for her to return. When she did, she was accompanied not just by Wentworth and Melroy but also by two guards, one of whom Adrian recognized from his own incarceration here. A reminder that made him sympathize all the more with the two men who were escorted into the room.

He stood, thanked Miss Hastings, and sent the familiar guard a stiff nod by way of greeting.

The man responded with a scowl, then released his hold on Wentworth’s arm and stepped back.

He assured the other guard he could leave, waited for him to do so, then positioned himself by the door while keeping his gaze fixed on everyone present.

Although Adrian knew he was merely doing his job, the urge to punch him was undeniable. There was just something in his expression that got on Adrian’s nerves.

He shoved the impractical feeling aside and addressed the physicians. “Gentlemen, I’ve asked to meet with you because I believe you may be able to shed some light on the murders I’ve been helping Chief Constable Kendrick investigate. If I’m correct, helping me will ensure your release.”

“I don’t think I’d be here at all, were it not for you,” Wentworth muttered. He wore a disgruntled expression. “I’ve gone back over the details pertaining to my arrest. Funny how you were left alone in my office the same day Bow Street came to search it.”

“You’re not wrong,” Adrian said. “I needed to know if you might be involved, so I searched the place until I discovered your notebook. Based on its contents, I informed Kendrick. Just in case you were the guilty party.”

“Seems like we’ve both been unlucky to cross paths with you,” Melroy said.

“Your mistake was in not coming here from the start. Had you brought your suspicions and concerns to Kendrick instead of attempting to find your own answers, I doubt you’d have landed yourself in this mess.”

“What’s done is done,” Samantha said.

“No arguing that,” Miss Hastings murmured.

Adrian shook his head. This conversation was proving unhelpful. If he was to start making progress, he’d need to focus on what was important.

Arms crossed, he addressed Melroy and Wentworth. “In the interest of saving time, I’ll get straight to the point.”