Page 133 of Storm of Bells
‘Where can I find the key?’
His hand cut through the air impatiently.‘He’ll have it with him. He’ll have it on his person. In hispocket, hidden in beneath his clothing—I don’t really care. Youwill have to get it somehow.’
Oh, I would have to, would I? Searching MrAmbrose’s pocket, and under his clothing…Hm. Who knew that beingblackmailed could present such intriguing opportunities? How wouldI get hold of that key, if I had to? Hm…
Sidling up to him in the dusk, slipping myarms around him to slip my hands in his back pockets and—just tocheck for the key, of course, not to feel other things…
Lord Dalgliesh didn’t seem to notice the waymy thoughts were wandering. There was a gleam in his eyes as hestared at me. ‘Inside the briefcase, you will find an envelopeaddressed to the The Manhattan Company. I want that envelope. Iwant what’s inside it.’
Opening his buttons, exploring beneath hisshirt with my fingers—again, of course just to check for anykeys—
‘Hey! Are you even listening to me?’
‘What? Oh. Right.’ Remember. He, big badblackmailer. Me, scared little victim. Darn, this was hard!‘Please!’ Clutching my hands together, I gave him a wide-eyed stareof pure fear. Or maybe the cross-eyed gaze of a traumatized ferret.Where was a mirror when you needed one? ‘Please don’t make me dothis!’
Oh yes, yes! Please make me do this! Justyou wait, key, I’m coming for you! I’ll find you, no matter howthoroughly I’ll have to search…
‘Save it!’ His mouth gave another crueltwist. Was he enjoying this? Well, not nearly as much as I was!‘You will do as I say. Or else…’
‘No, please!’ My hands shot up, as if to wardhim off. ‘Please! He can’t find out about this!’
At least not until I’ve had the chance tosearch for that key in his pockets and…other places.
The cruel twist of his mouth widened. ‘Yoursecret shall be safe with me,MisterLinton—at least, aslong as you do as I say.’ His eyes hardened. ‘The envelope. I wantit, and I want it fast. Bring it to me. I will expect you back herewith the item in three days at ten o’clock in the morning. Comealone.’
I swallowed, making sure to make my Adam’sapple wobble impressively, and gave a sharp nod. My playacting musthave been impressive, because even Barb and Wire bought it. Theyrushed to my side and surrounded me, whining and growling at myfeet, their glares fixed on Dalgliesh. My voice wobbling with justthe right vibrato, I whispered, ‘I’ll be here.’
‘Excellent.’
A smile of triumph spread over his face, and,pulling his cloak around him, he retreated into the shadows. ‘Aurevoir,MisterLinton.’
With a whirl, he vanished around thecorner—and a smile spread overmyface.
I hadn’t lied. Iwouldbe here. I justwouldn’t come alone. Lord Daniel Eugene Dalgliesh was in for thesurprise of his life.
Searching Pockets and…OtherPlaces
‘Welcome back, MissLinton.’ The cool voice welcomed me the moment I stepped into theentrance hall. ‘And where exactly have you been?’
Crap, crap, crap!
My eyes zeroed in on the tall, dark figurestanding at the top of the entrance hall staircase. His eyes wereglacial and…yes.
His little finger was twitching at doubletempo. Yay!
Quickly, I hid the hand that was stillholding the revolver behind my back. Behind me, Barb sniffed myhand and chewed on the gun barrel.Down, boy! Down!
‘Oh. Um…hello, Sir. Lovely day, isn’tit?’
‘That, Miss Linton, depends on yourdefinition of “lovely”.’ Dark eyes blazing, he started stalkingdown the steps towards me. ‘Some people, for instance, might thinkthat the fair weather does not count as much as recent events.’
He knows! He knows! How the heck does hebloody know?
Did I really have to ask? This was the manwho, when going out of the country, had his bodyguard shadow me,disguised as a bearded rosebush. Did I really think he’d miss aclandestine meeting with his archenemy?
Well, I was still left with the trustedfriend of all delinquents and scallywags: plausible deniability.Carefully, I slipped the revolver into the back of my skirt—hopingto hell I had remembered to put the safety on—and started toretreat.
‘Um…it’s not what you think. I just…I wasjust…’
