Page 64 of From the Ashes
Bell shrugged. "Nothing. You've seen the papers. There is no name, no monogram, no letterhead, and the signature cannot be made out. Money was left in a bag in here for me. I don't know who put it there. No one does."
"And you didn't ask for proof of his identity considering the medicine would be dangerous if it was used by an unscrupulous person?" I asked. "That's very unwise."
"It must have been a lot of money," Seth muttered.
"It wasn't the money!" Bell snapped. "It was the challenge. Only a genius could succeed in creating such a medicine."
"Shame you couldn't do it," Seth sneered.
Bell ignored him. "I have questions for you, Mr. Fitzroy. How did Mannering come back to life? Was it a serum based on the analysis of his own blood, or something else entirely? Is my research into hematology important at all? Please, I've been floundering without getting close and now—"
"Enough," Lincoln ordered. "We have to leave. Now."
"Don't be ridiculous. I can't leave like this. I have work to do."
"It's not negotiable."
"Dr. Bell, please," I said. "You have to leave London and go into hiding until we catch this man. He's incredibly dangerous. He lied to you. He doesn't want the serum for good."
"How do you know?"
"He's murdering people to keep them quiet. Do you know any murderers out to do good for the nation?"
Bell fell back into his chair. He looked like an old man, worn down by years of hard physical labor, not scientific work in a laboratory. He lifted a shaky hand to stroke his beard. "Then what does he want it for if not for national security?"
Lincoln rounded the desk and pulled Bell to his feet. "We have to go. Now. Do you have family?"
Bell shook his head.
"I'll give you money to buy new clothes at your destination. Are there any personal effects from here that you wish to take?"
Bell simply stared at him as if he couldn't quite see or hear him.
Lincoln gripped his shoulders and shook him. "Move."
"Butyoumanaged to raise Mannering."
Lincoln let him go. Then he punched him. Lincoln caught the unconscious man before he hit the floor.
"Now how do we get him out without anyone seeing?" Seth asked on a sigh.
The door opened, knocking Seth in the back and pushing him forward. Dr. Fawkner stood there, gun in hand. It shook. "Stand all together over there," he ordered, pointing the gun at the far wall. He noticed Dr. Bell on the floor. "What did you do to him?" he cried in a squeaky voice.
"He wouldn't do as he was told," Lincoln said. "And if you don't do as you're told, the same thing will happen. Put the gun down."
Dr. Fawkner shook his head. "N, no," he stuttered. "I'm just following orders."
Orders! My God,hewas the spy.
"Miss, go stand with him. You too," he said to Seth.
"Whose orders?" Lincoln asked as we joined him.
"I don't know. All I know is I have to make sure no one gets near Dr. Bell and his research. I didn't suspect you two at first, but then after I heard about last night…" He pursed his lips and expelled a breath. "Hopefully I can make up for my mistake now."
"You don't look like you want to use that thing," I said, wishing I felt as calm as I sounded.
Dr. Fawkner wiped the side of his face on his shoulder. It left a wet, sweaty streak on his jacket. "I will if I have to."
