Page 59 of A Dream of Redemption
“Let’s go over the plan one more time,” Grayson suggested.
Chapter 17
The Libertine Scholars, and the rest of the men including Simon, were hiding a block away. He slipped into the sewer network a block from the warehouse and he was trying to remember the sewer layout that Sebastian had drawn for him. He turned the lantern down low and prayed that none of Glover’s men were positioned down here, for they would see the light. But without the light from the lantern he’d be stumbling around in the dark making too much noise.
The men could only guess the location of where Glover might be hiding himself and the children in the warehouse. There was only one obvious place. Sebastian was sure Glover’s headquarters had to be down in one of the rooms off the abandoned grain cellars. That end of his large warehouse had been empty for many years, ever since Sebastian stopped transporting grain. His previous warehouse manager pointed out that the way to make more money was by transporting live cargo such as sheep and cattle to the Americas, southern Africa and other destinations.
If that was Glover’s choice for his den of iniquity, it made it easy to infiltrate from the sewer. What Cleary prayed for was that it would also make it easy for their escape. But when there was only one way in, it meant there would be only one way out. Risky.
As he drew closer to where they believed Glover was hiding, noises began to infiltrate the sewer. He could hear the mumblings of voices. His adrenaline surged. Sebastian had been correct. This was where Glover was hiding. He was sure of it.
He found the trapdoor exactly where he’d been told it was, and thankfully, as the men had expected, there was no one guarding it from below. What Clary hoped was that no one was guarding it above. He also hoped no one inside knew the trapdoor was there. Sebastian said you wouldn’t see it unless you knew about it, as it blended with the wooden floor. It had been built hundreds of years ago as an escape hatch in the event the grain store began to fill when someone was still in it. Quite ironic because that’s exactly what it would be used for. It was to be his and Helen’s escape hatch.
Clary left the lantern on the ground and climbed up the ladder and held his breath as he tried to pry open the hatch. As Sebastian thought, it was jammed tightly closed. He was going to have to thump the wood to jar it open, as it had not been opened for so long the wood had expanded. He prayed there was no one on the other side to hear it, or their plan would fail before it had even started.
It took several thumps and a lot of pushing before the hatch cover began to move. He inched it open and peered out.
The voices were clearer—children moaning and crying. He could even make out a few words. With none of Glover’s men inside he quickly slipped through the hatch and let it fall gently closed. The area was dimly lit but what he did see made his blood boil and his rage darken. There were locked cages lining the left-hand side of the walls, and they were filled with children.
He couldn’t think about the children right now. Helen was his priority. Once they had her safe they could bring down hell on Glover and his men. Then the children would be free.
He quickly saw that he was standing in an old disused grain silo. There was a rope ladder at one end that obviously was the secret entrance from the warehouse above. He could only agree with Sebastian that his warehouse manager had to be on Glover’s payroll for the marquis not to know of this.
Clary moved as silently as he could to the wall, the feel of the wood against his back somewhat comforting, assuring him he couldn’t be jumped from behind. Dressed totally in black Clary hoped he blended into the darkness around him. He used precious moments to ascertain the location of Glover’s private quarters.
He wished he had more information but he would have to use his best guess. Knowing Glover and his disgusting partiality to the young, he’d more than likely want the captive children nearby.
A droplet of sweat dripped into his eye and he angrily swiped it away. It was hot down here. No wonder the children were crying, the heat was unbearable and the air was rank. He stripped off his jacket and placed it in a direct line to the hatch cover so that he could find it easily on his way out. He wouldn’t even contemplate the idea that neither of them would escape.
He had to make a decision as to which room to try first. He didn’t know how long he had before one of Glover’s men came down that rope ladder.
He eyed the three doors in front of him and for some reason something, or someone, was drawing him to the door in the middle. Without any further hesitation Clary silently crossed the floor, drew his weapon, and entered the room.
As he entered a red haze of anger blinded his vision at the sight of Helen sitting at the table, her gown ripped open to the waist, her breasts prominently on display. Glover was sitting next to her, trying to force a drink down her throat.
Time stood still. The two men stared at each other for a fraction of a second. Then everything happened in slow motion.
Clary kicked the door closed behind him, while Glover reached for a knife on the table and put it to Helen’s throat.
“Shoot me and she is a dead woman,” Glover growled with a smile on his face.
“A bullet will be faster than your hand.” Clary didn’t know if his words were true.
Glover’s smile told him that he didn’t believe it either. “I don’t think so. I think you’re too worried about this precious jewel to risk that theory.”
Clary wanted to try and reassure Helen that everything would be all right, but he didn’t want to take his eyes off the enemy. “If I’m not out of here in fifteen minutes, her brother and his men will be swarming over this place. Just give me the girl and I’ll let you go.”
“Do you think I’m stupid? The minute you have her I’m dead.” To prove his point the tip of the knife pressed deeper into Helen’s throat and a trickle of blood ran down her pale skin. “I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t you put down the pistol and get down on your knees, and I might let her live?”
“We can play this game all evening of who is going to surrender their weapon, and it won’t change the outcome. You’re through. Lord Coldhurst will see to that. He’s pretty angry, mainly because you have abused his sister, but also because you’ve been using his warehouse for your despicable trade, and he’s not going to take that slight lightly.”
The smile began to dim on Glover’s face.
Clary continued. “Did you really think I’d come alone? Do you think his lordship would let me come alone?”
He had to keep Glover talking until he came up with how to get Helen out safely. Glover seemed to have a similar idea, delaying until his men came calling perhaps.
Glover twisted the proverbial knife. “Does his lordship know that you have defiled his sister? A man like you. Doessheknow about your sordid past?”
