Page 18 of Keeper of Secrets

The Master got up from his seat in the corner coming to the table to join the discussion.“You might be a real ass, but you’re a smart ass.That is an excellent point.”

The Emperor let out a long sigh.“This is why we don’t discuss anything beyond games.It never goes well.”

The Summoner grunted.Ryker’s head jerked back in surprise.He’d never heard the man make a single sound.Apparently, he wasn’t completely mute.

He flexed his fingers, forcing them to relax.The Emperor was clearly not going to divulge his motives.

So Ryker was not surprised when the man shifted the topic back to the investigation, “Keeper would you go first, and tell us what you discovered?”

Ryker grimaced.“In terms of my investigation, several of the inn’s workers recognized the man I described.Goes by the name of Adam.He stays occasionally but not with any regularity.I hired a young man to watch out for him and follow him no matter where he goes.Should he travel to the inn again, this boy will take pursuit.Paid the boy a king’s ransom so I sincerely hope he does his job.”

The Emperor nodded.“Excellent.But as it stands, I suspected it might be Adam.”

Another rumble of frustration.“Perhaps you should have traveled to the inn to investigate for yourself.”

“He is extra touchy today,” the Master volunteered, tapping the table as he leaned forward.“What’s the matter, Keeper?”

Ryker ran another hand through his hair, knowing the man had a point.“For our next challenge, I’d like something more physical.Hand-to-hand combat or boxing or…”

“Join another club for that.”The Emperor frowned.“Let’s get back to the subject.Adam is known to me because he is quite close to Lord Severus Whitehouse.A Gothic revivalist whose brother is a bishop.Zealots, the lot of them, though Severus plays more mainstream because he likes to stay in the favor of the King.I happen to know that Severus is having a gathering tomorrow evening, and I would guess that all of us are on the list of invitees.I can’t attend, I have other matters.”

Ryker frowned.He saw where this was going.

“Neither can I.”The Master waved his hand.“I already promised another member I’d be his eyes as proof at the Wilmington ball.”

“Leaves me, does it?”Ryker’s voice dropped low and menacing with his irritation.Today was not the day for him to hand out favors.“What am I supposed to do there?”

The Emperor gave him a rare smile.“Our Keeper is not the friendliest man, Master, but you have to admit, he gets the job done.”

The Master leaned back in his chair.“The yin to my yang?I’m the charm and he’s the whip.”

Ryker ignored the other man, looking back at the Emperor.

“Watch for Adam, of course.He sometimes attends Whitehouse’s events.Listen to whatever private conversations with Lord Whitehouse that you can.Feel free to search his private rooms.”

“I’m searching for…”

The Emperor shrugged.“Anything that might tie Whitehouse, and his gang of zealots, to the murder or the club.It’s not a lot to go on but…”

Ryker let out a long breath.“Ought we hire men who do this professionally?”

“Mayhap.But first I wish to know if we need to involve ourselves at all.If this was all a coincidence, and the death had nothing to do with the club, I’d rather not have any record of our involvement.And that includes putting investigators on the payroll.”

Ryker shook his head.“I’ll go tomorrow night.But that is the end of my involvement with the investigation.I am in danger of tying my name to this thing, and that would be damn hard to explain.”

“What’s the danger there?”the Master asked.

Ryker tapped his finger, resisting the urge to just punch the man.“None of us wish to claim that Maxwell was our friend.It ties us to the murder and endangers the club.”He looked back at the Emperor.“If you’re truly considering retiring, perhaps it would be best if it was you who hired an investigator.”

The Emperor gave a nod.“Fine.But even if he proves Adam did it, without knowing about the club’s existence, no one can prove if it’s related to us.Only we can do that.”

Ryker saw the man’s point.Still.“If you don’t want to hire out, then I suggest you both make time to help.The choice is yours.But I’m not your errand boy.This is my last favor to the investigation.”

Then he rose.

A leader did not take orders, he gave them.And if the club needed a new Emperor, he was up for the challenge.

But he did things his way and no one else’s.Furthermore, the Master was not his friend, he was another man of whom Ryker needed to keep a careful watch.

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