Page 24 of The Journal of a Thousand Years
“He’s been kidnapped!”
The words punched me in the gut. I covered my mouth, thinking I was going to be sick, but it was just the agonizing pain of panic gripping my insides. “Oh God, no.”
“Come quickly. You can help.”
Her words didn’t make sense. “Me? How?”
“Alex said to fetch you so I came here directly.”
“Alex? Ivy, I don’t understand. Alex knows about the abduction?”
She nodded quickly. “Willie, too. They’re out looking for Gabe now.” She bit her lower lip. “This is all my fault, but I had to do it, you see. I had to, or Bertie…” She pressed her lips together and turned her face away.
I grasped her shoulders and shook her. “Tell me what happened. Who kidnapped Gabe? Why is it your fault?”
“There’s a man… My mother and I became entangled in his business enterprises. But he wasn’t what we thought. He turnedout to be a brute, and I think his businesses are involved in criminal activity.”
“Thurlow?” It wasn’t a great leap to make, considering we’d seen Ivy and Mrs. Hobson speaking to the bookmaker at the racetrack.
She nodded. “He came to me tonight and said he was holding Bertie captive.” She pressed the hand that grasped the handkerchief to her chest. She seemed to be having trouble catching her breath. It came in short, sharp gasps as she tried to hold back her tears. “Thurlow told me he wouldn’t release Bertie until I gave him Gabe.”
My own breathing turned ragged. “Ivy, what did you do?” When she began to cry, I shook her again, harder. “What did you do?”
“I went to Park Street and lured Gabe out of his house, alone. Then Thurlow’s men bundled him into their motorcar.”
My fingers sprang apart, releasing her. I could have slapped her. I wanted to slap her. But I wanted answers more. “Go on.” My voice was ominously low.
Ivy swallowed heavily. “I regretted it instantly. I raced into the house and alerted Alex and Willie. I think they know some of Thurlow’s haunts so they were going to look there first. Before he left, Alex told me to fetch you and take you to the house. He said you’d want to know, and you’d be a help in keeping the servants calm.”
I pressed my fingers into my scalp. It felt like a blacksmith had set up a workshop in my head. “Why didn’t Gabe use—” I cut myself short. Even now, I wouldn’t divulge his secret.
“Why didn’t he use what?” Ivy asked.
I shook my head, dismissing her question. Gabe’s magic only engaged when his life was threatened anyway. It didn’t react to kidnap. I tried to think of something I could do, something more productive than sitting with the servants. But it was no use. Iwas consumed with fear. Thurlow was cruel, and he’d seen what Gabe’s magic was capable of at Epsom Downs Racecourse when Gabe had slowed time to save me from being hit by a bullet. Thurlow must think he could harness the magic for himself somehow.
“Sylvia, please. Come with me now. The elderly butler looked dreadfully pale when I left.”
I stopped pacing. When had I started? “Did you drive here?”
“Our driver brought me. He’s waiting outside with the motor running.”
“There’s just one thing I have to do first.”
“What?”
“This.” I slapped the side of her face. It could have been harder, but it was enough to sting, and get my point across.
She clutched her cheek with a shaking hand and stared at me, mouth open.
I strode out of the sitting room, passing Mrs. Parry listening in at the door.
“Should I telephone the police?” she asked.
“No,” Ivy said from behind me. “Please, don’t. If Thurlow finds out, he might do something awful to Gabe.”
I tried to reassure Mrs. Parry, but I doubt I succeeded. My own fears were on full display as my eyes filled with tears.
I drew in a deep breath to steady my nerves. Crying wouldn’t get Gabe back. Only action would. I’d go to Park Street and discuss what to do with the footman, Murray, the former police constable who’d been forced to change occupations after getting injured in the war. I rushed out of the house and raced toward the idling vehicle. I jerked the back door open and slid onto the back seat.
