Page 41 of Molly Boys
“As soon as they find him?” Archie frowned. “Is he missing?”
“It’s not unusual for Eddy to disappear for days at a time. Sooner or later he crawls out of the nearest whore house or…”
“Or?”
Merriweather’s lips tightened. “It doesn’t matter.” He shook his head. “What matters is that you need to find Eddy before they do if you want to find out where David Perkins was the night he was taken.”
Archie stared at Merriweather contemplatively. “Why are you telling me this?”
“What?”
“You work for Harcourt, you’re part of the Home Office, aren’t you duty bound to their purpose? I should have thought you too would want Eddy squirrelled away and protected rather than talking to me.”
Merriweather let out a small huffing sigh. “What I want is to make sure this monster is caught. David was…” He swallowed tightly. “David was my friend. You’re right in that I am duty bound when it comes to Eddy and I would rather it wasn’t necessary that you speak with him. In fact, I can’t even be sure he’ll be very helpful even if you do find him. It depends how sober he is.”
“You’re taking a big risk by telling me this.” Archie tilted his head as he studied the mousy-looking man.
“If this monster isn’t stopped, I can’t guarantee Eddy won’t accidentally get himself killed also, and believe me, that’s one scandal the royal family do not need. I will tell you where you can most likely find Eddy and, in return, you have to promise me you’ll not breathe a word of it to anyone. Not your superiors, not the papers, no one.”
Archie studied him silently for a long drawn out moment before finally nodding. “Alright, you have my word.”
Merriweather blew out a relieved breath. “You have to be very careful, the full weight of the Home Office will be following this investigation now, and they’re watching your every move. You can’t afford any mistakes.”
“Believe me, I am aware,” Archie replied.
“There’s an opium den David and Eddy liked to frequent in Bethnal Green,” Merriweather whispered, once again glancing around to make sure they weren’t overheard. He pressed a scrap of paper into Archie’s hand. “It has a red door with a small lotus flower etched into the wood.”
“Thank you.” Archie slipped the paper into his pocket.
“Merriweather!” a voice barked sharply from the room that adjoined Commissioner Perkins’ office. “Where the devil are you?”
“Here, sir.” Merriweather jolted and hurried into the room, leaving Archie standing in the hallway as he mulled over David Perkins’s secret connection to the royal family. That complicated things.
Moments later, Mr Harcourt appeared in the hallway with Merriweather faithfully at his side.
“Still here then, Franklin?” Harcourt stated with a brusque huff.
“I was hoping that I still have a job, sir,” Archie said and Harcourt huffed, a sound caught somewhere between frustration and amusement.
“I’m sure you were,” he replied as he regarded Archie with intense scrutiny. “You’ve been making quite a name for yourself I hear.”
“Just doing my job, sir.”
Harcourt huffed again. “You still have your position,” he finally said. “For now.”
“Thank you, sir.” Archie couldn’t help but cast a glance in the direction of the Chief Commissioner Perkins’ office.
“You’ll be reporting to your chief inspector as usual, there will be no reason for you to come back here,” Harcourt stated.
The home secretary offered no further explanation with regards to Commissioner Perkins’ continuing authority nor did Archie ask. He’d just as soon not cross paths with the man again.
He inclined his head. “Thank you, sir.”
“We expect this matter to be resolved as quickly and quietly as possible, Franklin,” Harcourt said firmly.
“I will do my best, sir.”
“See that you do.” Harcourt’s gaze swept over Archie in one last appraising look. “We’ll be watching you, Franklin.”