Page 55 of The Journal of a Thousand Years
Unaware of our moment of shared distress, Alex pointed out an obvious fact that Willie and I had forgotten. “Frank Alcott was involved in testing Gabe’s magic at the racetrack, so we can be sure Gabe’s kidnap—which Alcott was also involved in—was magic-related,notrevenge.”
Willie faced forward with ahumph. “That doesn’t mean the Hobsons aren’t behind the kidnap.”
“True. But let’s be clear about the reason and not blame each other. We need to support one another, not criticize.”
“We’re supportive. Ain’t we, Sylvia?”
I leaned forward so they could hear me over the roar of the engine and the wind whipping past the window apertures. “We’re a team, and a formidable one at that.”
Alex’s surprise at our unification turned to satisfaction. “We’ll find Gabe.”
“And when we do,” Willie added, “I’m going to shoot the bollocks off whoever is responsible.”
“And if it turns out to be Mrs. Hobson or Ivy?”
“They’ve got the biggest bollocks of them all.”
The momentof shared distress we’d experienced in the motorcar didn’t last. Willie might not blame me for attracting the Hobsons’ ire, but she still blamed me for attracting Melville Hendry’s attention. In her mind, my father was still a suspect.
She reminded me of that as we climbed the steps to the front door of the Park Street house. “It’s too much of a coincidence that he comes back into our lives right before this happens. I know it ain’t something you could have foreseen, Sylvia, so I don’t blame you altogether.”
I rubbed my arms as a chill rippled through me.
Alex touched my elbow and shook his head. The roll of his eyes told me what he thought of Willie’s theory. “Why would he kidnap Gabe?” he asked her.
“He’s ruthless, mad and hates the Glass family.”
“Those aren’t motives.”
“They are to me.”
“You’re the one who’s mad, Willie. He has no link to Rosebank Gardens hospital or Frank Alcott.”
“That we know of.”
The door opened and Bristow stood there. He always seemed more upper class than Gabe, but now he looked positively imperious as he looked down his nose at Willie. “Detective Inspector Bailey wishes to see you in the library, my lady.”
She wrinkled her nose. “‘My lady?’ You ain’t called me that in years. You lost your marbles, Bristow?” She patted his arm as she passed him, thinking nothing more of it.
I saw his scowl, however. He’d never looked at anyone like that, not even when Willie was at her most irritating.
It wasn’t until she saw Cyclops standing in the library’s doorway with a similar scowl on his face that she realized something was amiss. “What’s wrong? What’s happened? Is Gabe?—”
“Still missing.” Cyclops stepped aside. “I want a word with you.”
Alex and I exchanged glances as we followed Willie.
Cyclops shut the door, then stood with his arms over his chest. It was a formidable stance, and not one I’d seen him employ with friends or family. What made it more worrying was the grave look he gave her.
Willie rarely showed fear, but she swallowed audibly.
“The kidnappers had a key to this house,” Cyclops said. “There was no sign of forced entry.”
“Aside from us, only the Bristows and Sally have keys,” Alex pointed out. “Are you suggesting one of them gave theirs to the kidnapper inadvertently? I can assure you, none did it on purpose.”
Cyclops shook his head without taking his gaze off Willie. “I questioned all the servants after you left this morning. No one gave their key away, or lost it or misplaced it, not even for a few hours during which time one of the other servants could have made a copy.”
Alex glanced between his father and Willie. “And?”
