Page 56 of The Swan Syndicate
He gave her a grin. “Catch you asleep?”
She patted her hair and frowned. “Guilty. Is it time?”
“Aye. Jamie doesn’t want to wait on Beckworth and Lando.”
“So, they haven’t returned.” If they had, she would have expected Beckworth to seek her out, but he might have gone straight to Jamie if they’d found anything.
“Nothing to worry about. Gathering information is a slow process.”
She pulled on her jacket, grabbed a piece of paper, and followed Fitz, expecting to find the group at a table in the galley but instead found the men in Jamie’s office. Michelson and Lanesat on stools, and, after closing the door, Fitz offered Stella a chair while he took the other one.
Jamie wore his typical smile, but he seemed to be studying her again. Small lines creased his forehead as he watched her take a seat. Was he considering whether she should still be on board? She pushed the thought away and straightened her shoulders. When his grin widened and his face relaxed, she understood he’d come to a decision, but was it in her favor?
“I’d hoped Beckworth and Lando would be back by now, but I’ve stewed over Hensley’s message long enough, and we have plans to make.” Jamie lifted what looked like the letter that had arrived earlier. “Hensley’s first message advised to keep monitoring. Now, after hearing Cheval and MacDuff seem to have a business arrangement, of which we’re only assuming at this point, Hensley has asked us to dig deeper.”
The men eyed each other, and Stella was ready to ask what that meant when the sound of heavy boots made its way toward the cabin. After a swift knock, the door opened and Lando stuck his head in, then pushed it wider when he noted the others in the room. Beckworth followed him in, gave Stella a stern look, and found a seat.
She wasn’t sure what his look was about but had an idea. They’d learned something new, and he didn’t like the direction the mission was taking. And his misgivings had nothing to do with smugglers and everything to do with her.
“Good timing, gentlemen.” Jamie raised a hand when Beckworth opened his mouth. “We’ve just started, so let me restate Hensley’s second message that arrived a couple of hours ago. He’s concerned by the meeting between MacDuff and Cheval. He wants to know what they’re up to. This has now moved from mere surveillance to something more. We need to find out if they’re working together to increase their smugglingoperation or if it goes deeper. Specifically, are they working with France and stirring up a rebellion?
“Now, based on Hensley’s request…” Jamie looked at Lando. “What can you tell us of your scouting mission. It appears you’ve discovered something.”
Stella was surprised when he asked Lando rather than Beckworth, but he must have had a reason. Perhaps calmer heads, since Beckworth fidgeted in his seat. Maybe he was thinking this would be a good time for both of them to leave and go back to the safety of Waverly and hunting parties. To be honest, she’d be good with that as well—but only if they went together.
“We received information that Cheval might be picking up more cargo and was directed to an old barn north of town. There were three men removing crates and kegs from the barn and loading them into a wagon.” He continued to tell them of the trail that led to a small cove and when they followed it, they found the cargo being loaded ontoThe Horseman.”
Lando nodded to Beckworth, who seemed to have calmed during the telling.
“Lando left me, and, at the time, I assumed he went to search for a better vantage point or to check on the horses. While he was gone, another man showed up, pistol in hand with every intention of shooting me whether I answered his questions or not.” He slid a side glance to Stella but continued. “Fortunately, Lando arrived in time to help, but not before the man got a shot off.”
Stella kept her gaze on Beckworth, though he didn’t look at her again. He could have been killed, and he was acting like it was no big deal. Itwasa big deal. What would she have done if he hadn’t returned? She blinked away the burning sensation at the back of her eyes. How could she return to Waverly knowing the game had changed? Was she supposed to help Mary plan ahunting party while constantly wondering if Beckworth was in trouble or worse? Not a chance in hell.
“We decided not to kill him,” Lando jumped in, shaking Stella out of her growing irritation. “But Beckworth had the foresight to check the man’s pockets. Which was a good thing.”
Beckworth nodded, still avoiding eye contact with her. “He was carrying a map, roughly drawn, but it reflected three points along the coast near ports north of here.”
“Do you have the map?” Jamie asked.
Both men shook their heads, but Lando answered. “We didn’t want to give Cheval any reason to change their plans.” He rubbed his head. “Though he might anyway.”
“Doubtful,” was Beckworth’s only response.
Fitz stood and grabbed a bottle of whiskey from a sideboard and poured several glasses, which he then handed out. Stella took a long swallow and held in the choking burn.
Jamie stared into his glass for several long seconds then only took a sip. “This puts Cheval in a difficult position. There wasn’t just one unknown man watching them but at least two, and possibly more. But he has an advantage that his man has seen Beckworth’s face. Did you recognize the man?”
“He was one of the men at the pub.”
“So, someone highly trusted. Did he recognize you?”
Beckworth shook his head. “No. There was no sign of it, but I suspect he’ll eventually remember.”
“That gives them nothing,” Fitz said. “Too many variables. For all Cheval knows, he could have competition following them. If those kegs were gunpowder and the crates filled with weapons or cannonballs, they’d be valuable to any smuggler.”
The men nodded.
“How easily could they change their plans?” Stella asked. The men glanced at her, probably having forgotten she was in the room—except for Beckworth. Her presence must have weighedheavy based on his stubborn avoidance to glance her way. She ignored him. “I mean, any remaining cargo Cheval wants to retrieve is wherever he hid it. It’s not like they can just beam it up to the ship.” When they gave her a strange look, a grin slipped out, and she caught Beckworth trying to hold one in. “Sorry, that’s a bit futuristic even for my time. But if they’re worried someone’s on to them, they still have to get their cargo or leave it behind for another time. And how would they get a message to MacDuff? God knows, we’ve been sitting here for days waiting for a communique. They’re not on land where messages, as slow as they are, can get to them quickly. They have to dock somewhere.”
