Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Three Nights Later

S ebastian was like a racehorse chomping at the bit. He wanted to find the bastards who'd caused Katie so much pain and heartache and had left her paralyzed with fear for more than a year.

" Several ships have come in today. The Rooster is likely full of riffraff that came in with the tide," Sebastian said as his carriage traveled swiftly through the London streets. " With luck, Doogan —will be there."

" Let's hope he has coin in his pockets for several mugs of ale," Nelson added. " It's been three nights and no sign of him yet."

" By the by, your man certainly came through with these clothes." Sebastian glanced down at the shabby coat and trousers they had worn on their late-night patrols. " I must thank him with a jug of his favorite ale."

" Just get him some fresh kippers, he loves those above all else."

Sebastian chuckled at Nelson's description of his head footman, who'd acquired the nickname Kipper because of his fondness for the fish. " And I thank you for foregoing your nightly visit to your mistress and spending this night with me."

Nelson shrugged. " I don't visit her every night. We have a firm understanding. Our relationship is quite free of entanglements."

Sebastian grinned at his friend's seeming indifference. After watching Nelson and the lovely Miss Gowans bicker back and forth most of the night, he was curious at Nelson's sudden change of heart about his mistress. " Well , entanglement or not, I'm glad to have you with me this night."

" You don't think I'd let you have all the fun, should a fight break out, do you?"

Sebastian knew that was Nelson's way of saying he would cover his back. " Thank you, friend. I have an overwhelming need to look for the scum that did this to her."

" You mean the beautiful Miss Latham ?" Nelson said.

Sebastian was silent for a long moment. " I know what you're thinking—and you can un-think it. I have no intention of marrying. Not for a long time. My work takes me all over. And that is my life at present."

" Then , if that's how you feel, you'd best watch yourself around Miss Latham . I see the way she looks at you, with those big blue eyes. Latham would give you a good bashing if he thought you were dallying with his sister's feelings. I'm not sure that his anger wouldn't give him the edge."

" I hear you. And I assure you, there is nothing to be concerned about," Sebastian replied. The trouble was, more and more, Katie consumed his thoughts. Was he merely feeling protective over Katie ? It made his blood boil when he saw the completed sketches of the men who'd accosted her.

The leader, in particular.

Katie had not shared everything with him, but men like that had no respect for women. Sebastian's thoughts had gone to a very dark place as he pictured what they might have done or tried to do to Katie . But he had to push those thoughts aside. No matter how protective he felt toward her, no matter how much her beauty beguiled him, no matter how sweet and charming she was, he had to focus on the task at hand—tracking down and capturing the men who attacked her and killed Wendel Colborne .

For now, he needed to shelve his feelings towards her and find the man who helped with Colborne's murder.

" Tuck your hair into your cap," Sebastian said, pulling his own hat down as the carriage came to a stop. Sebastian had instructed his driver to let them off far enough away from the docks so they wouldn't be seen descending from the conveyance. He pulled up the collar on his patched-up coat as he and Nelson strode toward the row of public houses located near the docks. The two of them resembled typical ship hands heading out for a mug or two of ale.

A few minutes later, they were seated in a darkened corner of The Rooster , each with a tankard of ale in hand.

" This could be our lucky day," Nelson said in a low voice.

" Do you see him?"

" Tucked back in the corner with a buxom barmaid on his lap. Dark hair and dark complexion."

" Well done," Sebastian said. He lifted his tankard and took a sip. " He's seated next to the back door. We'll have to make sure he doesn't bolt for it."

Nelson snorted. " While he has that lap piece, I don't think he plans to go anywhere."

" I'll block the door. You ask him nicely to leave with us," Sebastian suggested.

A few minutes later, they stood outside the bar with Doogan , the tall beanpole who matched Paula's second drawing.

" That was easier than I anticipated," Sebastian said under his breath.

" So , what's the job? Ye said ye have work fer me," Doogan demanded, with his arms folded across his chest.

" In a manner of speaking. Think of it as re-work . We want you to tell us about a job you pulled off in front of the Drury Lane Theatre over a year ago. A toff and his woman. When she refused to give up her pearls to your leader, he stabbed the poor sod."

Doogan's eyes widened, and he took a step back, causing Sebastian to grab his shoulder. Nelson stood behind Doogan , neatly pinning the thief between them.

" I see you remember that night. You and your friends killed a man who was a well-known respected bloke in Society . Did you think all those powerful toffs would have forgotten that?"

" No one was supposed to die," Doogan whined. " Else , me and Gummy wouldn't 'ave 'elped 'im."

" And who is him ?" Nelson asked, taking a menacing step closer to the now cringing thief. " Gummy doesn't sound like the name of a ringleader. Who's the one who planned it?"

" He'll kill me if I tell," Doogan said. " Ain't never met no one like 'im. He's dangerous. Got no soul, I tell ye."

" And you may hang for the murder if you don't tell us more than that," Nelson said.

Doogan's grubby hands slid to his neck and his face twisted into a grimace. " All I know is, Gummy and I thought we was just supposed to rob a toff and his chit. He did the killing. We had nothin' to do with the dandy dyin'."

" What is his name?" Sebastian asked in a steely voice.

" I - I can't tell ye, or I'm done fer," Doogan stammered.

" Tell me his name or you'll have more to fear this very night," Sebastian said, lifting the now trembling man by the collar.

" Rosco . He goes by the name Rosco ," Doogan squeaked out. " I only see him when he comes looking for help in one of his jobs. He pays better 'n most others 'round here."

" Tell us about the toff and his chit. They were targeted, weren't they?" Sebastian demanded.

Doogan's face twisted in pain. " Yes . Yes , they was. We were waitin' fer them. We tried a few times to get them and then that night Rosco broke the gas lamps on Drury Lane , we figured no carriage driver would want to wait there on that dark corner. And we was lucky the toff walked into our trap.

" You were lucky, eh?" Nelson growled, shoving Doogan from behind. " You were lucky to get the chance to murder a man in cold blood?"

" No ! No ! No !" Doogan shook his head. " I told ye both, that Rosco told us there would be nobody killed. And then he killed the bloke—for nothing."

" You're coming with us," Sebastian said bluntly. " And if you try to leave, I'll break your legs."

" I'd listen to him. He's not his usual charming self at the moment," Nelson suggested.

Doogan drew up. " What's goin' to 'appen to me?"

Sebastian lifted him once more by the collar. " I'm having you locked up. Prinny has become interested in this murder—you killed a peer and the nephew of a prominent judge in one of the common law courts. You cannot believe that bodes well for you."

" I didn't kill him," Doogan protested again.

" But you did help Rosco to rob the couple and you didn't go to the authorities after, either," Sebastian said. " But if you help us now— I will put a good word in for you. I can make no promises. But anything is better than swinging at the end of a rope. Right ?"

Doogan ran his hand along his neck. " There's a place in the Blackfield Cemetery where he goes sometimes. He bragged about bringing the women up there."

" What do you mean, the women ?" Nelson asked.

" I told ye, Rosco is dangerous. I've heard rumors that he kills them and buries them there. He takes 'em to the old gatekeeper's cottage first. I never done anything like that, but Gummy and I met Rosco there the first time we worked for him." Doogan expelled a breath. " He'll kill me if he finds out I snitched."

" We won't tell. But you aren't finished helping us, either. Where's Gummy ?"

" I dunno…and that's the truth. Haven't seen him in weeks."

" Fine . That's enough for tonight. Let's go." They walked a visibly shaking Doogan to the corner where Sebastian's carriage was waiting. " No . 4 Bow Street ," Sebastian said to his driver.

Nelson opened the door to the carriage and shoved Doogan inside.

" We're going to keep you somewhere nice and safe," Sebastian said. " You may become useful again."

Rosco opened her cell and walked in, kicking the door closed behind him. " I'm back, Endora ."

" I'm sick of this filthy cell." Endora flung the paper she'd been reading to the floor. " You say you have clout here, yet you have yet to find me a more suitable chamber. I want a larger room, one that matches my station in life." She pouted. " You promised me. I want a canopied bed—not that ridiculous excuse for a bed." She pointed to the unmade narrow bed with its dingy sheets. " And an Aubusson carpet, not that flimsy thing," she said, scowling at the threadbare rug.

Rosco instinctively closed his eyes and covered his ears, trying to shut out her shrill voice. Lately , he was finding it more and more of a challenge to coax her out of her dark moods. Endora had picked up exactly where she'd left off that morning when he shut the door behind him.

" You're not listening to me!" she whined. " You never listen to me!"

" You're in the bloody Tower , woman!" he said, losing his temper. " A convict. You killed two husbands with arsenic—and don't bother to deny it. You're lucky they put you in here."

" Lucky ? Lucky am I ?" She stood and began to pace. " How am I lucky? I'm in here because of that meddling old woman and the Lathams ."

" You avoided the hangman's noose, En …dor…a ," he said, deliberately drawing out her name. " I'd say that qualifies as luck."

She threw a scowl at him and continued to pepper him with questions. " Well ? Did you do what I asked? Are those two buffoons back in town? Have you been following the chit's movements? We have to know what her routine is."

How he wished Endora would stop pestering him. Between catering to the wealthy prisoners and doing her bidding, he was exhausted.

She stopped pacing and pointed an accusing finger at him. " You're keeping something from me. I recognize that look on your face. I've seen it before when I mention Katie Latham . Does that tart arouse you more than I do? Do you want to make her your lover?" She threw up her hands in the air. " And after everything I do for you," she screamed in her shrill voice. " Do you honestly think sweet Miss Latham would turn her attention to you?" Endora threw her head back and laughed. " She likes pretty fair-haired boys, not brutish goliaths like you."

She continued to cackle as she pointed out his physical faults.

" You go too far, woman," Rosco yelled, clenching and unclenching his hands.

" Stop acting like a petulant child," she snapped as she strode to the small window. Looking out, she uttered another curse. I can barely see the courtyard. I should have a better view…"

His anger was beginning to boil. Her favorite pastime of late was berating him and complaining about her quarters. Ignoring him. Talking with her back to him. Like she always did.

She whirled around. " You haven't been spending enough time with me lately. Why do you run to Mayfair every chance you get?"

" To do your bidding," he growled.

" I doubt that!" she screeched. " You have some sort of fetish for the young tart! Had you followed my orders, I wouldn't be reading about her in the Tattle , every damn day ."

" Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Rosco yelled, picking up a chair near the door and flinging it against the wall, splintering it in pieces.

I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! Rosco eyed her lank hair. It was once a rich burnished red. It was the first thing that drew me to her. Now , it hangs dirty, matted, and wild about her shoulders.

He couldn't understand it. He'd given her brushes and combs, perfumes, soaps. He'd even managed to steal a brass tub for her to bathe in. But when she took to one of her moods, she would go weeks without washing, and still, she would rant and rave at him.

He loved her. He'd loved her from the first moment he'd laid eyes on her. From the first moment she'd called him into this chamber, she stood naked, in all her glory, tempting him with her lush beauty, making him want her more than anything else.

Even now, when she rants at me in that ugly voice, she is still beautiful.

I love her.

I hate her.

How can I feel both at the same time?

" What a dullard you are," she said, continuing to deride him. Then , she laughed.

Just like the others… When did she become like them? They all laughed at me too, at first. But they soon learned. I saw to that.

" You're useless," she raged.

" I told you, I was spying on the girl," Rosco said, his teeth clenched. " I went to see if she's back at all the parties like it says in your silly paper." He wanted to tell her how much he cared about her, but she wouldn't stop the incessant insults. " The Latham girl has a new toff. I didn't recognize him. A tall bastard."

Endora spun around. Her face was a twisted picture of hatred. " I hate her. And I hate you for not having killed her. Her brother and his wife ruined my life. And her fiancé's uncle put me here. I wanted them all to pay. She should have died with Colborne , so they would all know the pain they caused me. Had you not botched the whole thing up at the theater, they would have felt the sting of retribution. But no! Instead , you did half a job. You say you love me, but you failed me. You always fail me. Just like every other man I've ever known."

" Enough !" he roared, lunging at her. He lifted her in his arms and threw her onto the bed. " No more talking!"

He rolled her onto her back and straddled her, his hands slipping around her neck.

She was still flushed from all her ranting but now she wore that seductive smile he liked. Good . He wanted her to smile.

" Is this a new thing we're trying?" Her voice was husky as her hands found their way to his pants.

" Yes . It's something new. Do you like it?" He pressed against her as he added more pressure.

" Yes ." She began to breathe heavily.

Finally , he would make her truly his. No more ranting. No more raving. She would belong to him and only him. Just like the others…

He added more pressure. And her eyes began to bulge.

" I —can't—breathe…" she rasped.

He smiled as he pressed his fingers around her neck.

How beautiful you look.

Just like the others…

When he didn't hear anything, Rosco pulled back, but Endora kept staring at him—no longer mocking him. He leaned down and didn't feel her breath. Noooo !" he screamed and pulled her body close. " She did this. She killed you."