Page 66 of Duke of Chaos

“Terrence,” Ezra called, taking a step back.

Terrence, a young man of the guard he’d hired who showed potential, came hurrying up to him.

“Yes, Your Grace?” he asked willingly.

“Clean him up, will you?” Ezra asked casually, nodding his head at the groaning, mess-covered man. “I do not want to get too filthy before we begin.”

Terrence quickly agreed, all too happy to fall under Ezra’s mentorship, and Ezra walked back to the table where a pint of ale and a fresh basin of water were waiting for him.

“You think he’s going to deny working for George?” Ambrose asked Ezra.

“Of course he is,” Duncan answered dully before Ezra could reply, “He could have started confessing any time after we’d arrived, but he chose to remain silent. Whatever George has on him, he’s more terrified of that than he is of us.”

“Still no word on where he is?” Morgan asked. For once, he was not joking. In fact, in this room, his entire demeanor had changed.

“None since he was spotted here in Frampton a few days ago. He could be hiding anywhere now. This horse’s arse is the only lead we currently have to find him,” Duncan replied.

“I don’t know where he is,” the man called out as Terrence scrubbed at him.

“You were doing well with the truth before,” Ezra replied chipperly, “Let us not start lying now. And I would be quiet if I were you. This is the last bit of relief you shall get until we are satisfied with what you tell us.”

“Well once we get George, then what?” Morgan asked, “Turn him over to the constable? Do we even have enough proof?”

“We will make him confess,” Ezra replied simply, wrapping clean strips of cloth around his knuckles, “and then we will make him pay.”

“He is clean, Your Grace,” Terrence announced.

“Very good, thank you, Terrence,” Ezra replied in a cheery tone.

“You are in a strangely good mood for someone who was nearly murdered,” Ambrose noted, giving Ezra an odd look.

“Oh, I am,” Ezra agreed, walking up to the man again, his eyes bright with retribution.

He tilted his head slightly as he took in the man before him. Terrence had done his best to clean him up but no amount of washing could hide his sorry state. He would talk. One way or another, Ezra would get what he wanted.

“Now then,” he practically purred, grabbing a fistful of the man’s hair, and yanking his head back, “Let us start with something simple. What is your name?”

“Thank you, Terrence,” Ezra said politely, taking the clean shirt he held out to him.

His other clothes, filthy with the blood, spittle, and tears of his detainee, were now burning in one of the nearby pits. Derrin, the man they now knew as their hired hitman, was unconscious and unchained, lying in a heap on the floor of his cell. He would live. After a time, he might even be able to walk again.

Since Ezra had been the one attacked, his friends had agreed that he should be the one to handle the interrogation and he had to admit, the process was very satisfying. After he’d gotten the information he wanted, Ezra had shed his clothes and washed himself right there, not bothering with modesty as his friends sat nearby, discussing their next move. They had learned a great deal, and though no one was getting too excited, it seemed that the balance of power had now shifted firmly to their side.

“So old Georgie is holed up in a brothel basement outside of London,” Ezra sighed, taking a seat. “Admittedly, one of the last places I would have thought to look, but I am still a little disappointed in his lack of creativity.”

“We need to make a move soon,” Ambrose stated, tapping on the table, “It has already been nearly a day since Derrin attacked you. George was probably expecting him to return hours ago with a report. He might already be on the move again.”

“Let us fetch him and bring him back here. We do not need a public scene,” Ezra stated.

“Not here,” Ambrose stated, rising from his chair. “It was hard enough bringing Helena and Barbara here just knowing that pathetic excuse for a man was down here. Furthermore, I do not want to risk any of them catching a glimpse of this bastard.”

“Very well,” Ezra agreed, “The gaming hell, then.”

They all nodded in agreement and stood up.

“What about him?” Duncan asked, throwing a look of disgust at Derrin. “I know you have guards, but I am not leaving Alice and Beau here alone with him.”

“You are right,” Ezra agreed and beckoned Terrence to come forward.

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