Page 59 of Betrayal from Beyond
“Did she mention anything more about her bigger plans?”
“Not much. I got the sense that she was making progress. I know she had others involved. But she didn’t want me near them.”
“And did she ever say anything about her sister?” Kara asked.
Hawkins frowned. “Nothing more than I already told you, raging about Clémence dying—and sometimes remembering to blame it on you.”
“Not Clémence. Her real sister. Hertwinsister.”
Hawkins looked horrified. “Never say there are two of them!”
“We won’t, as only one is left,” Niall said dryly. “Come, man. Preston says you were with Petra last night—” Stopping, he looked at the light growing outside the window. “The night before last, I should say. She’d only just recently killed her own sister, and she said nothing of it to you? Nothing at all?”
“Not a word!” Seeing the doubt in their faces, Hawkins held up a hand. “I swear it! The other night, she railed at me again for ruining her plans for Turner. She said as she had to go into Town again for a meeting with her fellows. That’s what she calls them.” He looked troubled. “She never would take me along, but I did trail after her a time or two, just to see what she might be tangling me up in. I glimpsed her with more than one of them. I tell you, I didn’t like the look of them.”
“In what way?” asked Niall.
“They weren’t flashy, not loud like some of those League men used to be. Nor did they seem to be at her beck and call. She always has a few of those sorts around, ready to do her bidding.”
Niall did not remind Hawkins that he was one ofthose sort.
“These men…they are different. When they were together, it looked like a meeting of professionals. Simple. Direct.” His brow furrowed. “Not one of them looked like anything out of the ordinary. Nobody you would notice in a crowd. Plain. Someone your eye would slide right past.” He shivered. “Until you looked in their faces. Then it struck my nerves, I tell you.”
Niall didn’t like the sound of that. “You say she never mentioned a sister. What about a woman’s name? Any name at all?”
Hawkins shook his head. “No. I would have remembered. Petra don’t like most women. She don’t find no use for them.” He shot Kara and Gyda an apologetic glance.
“Is there nothing else at all?” Gyda asked, impatient. “Anything we might use?”
“Nothing…except she did say as she had her sights on a new hole to hide in, but that it was too far. She thought she might have to change locations.”
“Where?” Gyda demanded. “Where was it that was too far away?”
“I don’t… Wait! She did say something, once. Something about the river. Let me think. Prince, something? No. King. Kings.”
“Kingston?” asked Niall.
Kara shot out of her chair. “Kingston on Thames! Niall, it is upriver from Teddington Lock! The sister’s body floated down to Teddington Lock.”
“But she said she must move to a new spot,” Gyda objected. She glared at Hawkins. “Where?”
“She never said. I swear it!”
“It gives us a place to start.” Kara was already moving toward the door.
“Wait! Please?” Hawkins was on his feet too, shifting in place, his color rising. “I was wondering…hoping…”
“What?” asked Niall.
“It’s much to ask. I know it,” he said miserably. “I’m ashamed to ask it. But do you think…might I stay here? Until this is wrapped up and Petra is in custody? If she finds I’m gone from the abbey, she will look first for me at Preston’s.” He frowned. “I don’t want to put him in her sights.”
“I’m not sure that is a good idea,” Preston interjected.
Kara hesitated. “I’m not sure I can ask such a thing of Turner.”
Her butler stepped forward, eyeing the man who had injured him. “In the normal state of things, I’d be traveling with you, Your Grace. But I concede, my ribs are not yet healed. I won’t be a hindrance to you all. So, then.” He tilted his head toward Hawkins. “As I’ll be here to watch him, I won’t object to Mr. Hawkins’s staying. Not as long as he will pledge to make himself useful.”
“I would appreciate the chance to make amends,” said Hawkins.
