Page 40 of The Midnight Secret

Tucker paled, seeing the murderous intent in James’s eyes. ‘Please...I’m s-sorry...I...I lost control of myself...Just l-let me go.’

‘You think I’m going to let you go, just like that? Like you weren’t just trying to rape my wife?’

Tucker didn’t reply. She had been easy prey, but he knew far better than to correct James on the technicality.

Flora watched on. There was no competition between the two men. James could beat Tucker to a pulp if he chose; he certainly had just cause. Who wouldn’t side with him?

‘Give me one good reason I shouldn’t break all your bones,’ he snarled, twisting Tucker’s collar even tighter in his grip, lifting him onto his tiptoes.

‘I...I...’ Tucker stuttered desperately. ‘I have money...’

James shook his head. Tucker might be a rich man, but so was he.

‘Connections, then...’

‘You can’t offer us anything!’ His arm flexed in readiness to land the next punch.

‘Wait!’ Flora took another step forward as a realization came to her. James looked over with a frown. She took a deep breath. ‘...You said he’s in the shipping business?’

James frowned harder, then nodded.

‘Successful?’

‘There’s only his word for it,’ James muttered.

‘No, no!’ Tucker cried desperately. ‘It’s true! It’s a global company.’

Flora looked at him at last, her terror beginning to abate as he hung helpless in her husband’s grip. ‘So, then, your operations extend here?’

‘Yes, across Canada. All over the world!’ He was panting. James had not slackened his hold at all, but he looked over at her, beginning to understand what she was thinking.

‘Tell me what it is you need!’ Tucker whimpered. ‘Whatever it is, I can arrange it for you...If you need someone to look the other way on a...on a shipment, I can arrange that for you. I can make that happen.’

He was shady all the way through, Flora thought. And, in that moment, this was the best thing that could have befallen them.

James slammed Tucker against the wall again, making sure he remained scared. ‘We want a name.’

‘Yes, yes, a name. I can do that...Wh-where?’

James’s voice was low as he pressed his face towards Tucker’s, eyes locked like the lion upon the antelope. ‘Quebec City Harbour Commission,’ he snarled. ‘Immigration.’

‘I won’t be long.’ James kissed Flora lightly on the cheek. They were in the lounge of the Clarendon Hotel, their single case left with the reception desk. They wouldn’t be checking in if they could help it, but there was no guarantee James would be able to procure a car quickly.

That was his plan, to buy a car.

Just like that. Buy a car.

Flora’s definition of luxury had changed. Once, it had been tohavea car. Now, the luxury was the freedom it gave themto get on the road quickly and take their destiny into their own hands.

‘You’ll be all right?’

She was still pale and trembling, but no one could see the bruises that were beginning to purple beneath her clothes. To the casual onlooker’s eye, she was simply another rich young woman off the last boat from Europe, one of many in fur coats and cloche hats. The men were in homburgs and puffing on cigars as their steamer trunks were rolled out on trolleys behind them. Flashbulbs had popped frantically as the first-class passengers walked down the gangplank, capturing the display of wealth for a nation caught in the grip of a depression. There had also been a frenzy of flashes for her; Flora’s beauty had registered like an electric shock, the mass contracting as one as she moved slowly, her face downturned. James had sighed, still unused to the celebrity that came with that face, squeezing her hand all the harder as they were ushered quickly to the waiting taxi that had brought them here.

‘I’ll be fine,’ she smiled, even though she felt terrified to be left alone in this new country. She hadn’t known that the Canadians spoke French – or at least, that these east-coast Canadians did – although she did recognize some phrases from her time in Paris. James had ordered her sweet tea – for the shock, he’d murmured – and something to eat.

‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

‘But what if you can’t find one?’

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