Page 105 of The Secrets of Lord Grayson Child
Gray had continued to track Duvall, who was walking steadily on in a manner guaranteed to attract no attention.
To the Cynster pair, Izzy brightly said, “Come, walk with us. We can go into the town together.” She retook Gray’s arm and waved ahead.
Martin and Toby turned to flank Gray and Izzy, and as a foursome, they strolled on in apparently relaxed fashion.
Duvall was now farther ahead, yet with the intervening pedestrians thinning as many hurried on or turned aside to their homes, there was no risk of losing sight of him and, therefore, no reason to close the distance. Not yet.
Gray glanced back and confirmed the others were trailing some yards behind. Unless Duvall had a sudden attack of suspicion and stopped and scanned carefully behind him, he wasn’t likely to spot them.
Duvall continued striding along, his pace confident and sure.
Gray said, “There’s a group trailing us, about six yards back. Two policemen and three staff fromThe Crier.”
Toby and Martin glanced idly back, then faced forward again. “Good-oh,” Toby said. “That means we won’t have any trouble arresting the blighter and putting him in cuffs.”
Izzy smiled. “Just so.”
They were well along Snargate and could see the buildings of the town’s center ahead.
“So when and how are we going to nab him?” Martin asked.
“Given he’s got that case with him,” Toby mused, “we’re going to have to pick our time.”
“It can’t be while he’s close to other people,” Izzy pointed out.
Martin asked, “Do you think he’s got the powder rigged to ignite?”
“We have to assume he has,” Gray replied. “He had more than enough time to do that before he left his lodgings.”
Toby nodded. “I agree. We can’t take the chance he’ll do something stupid and end up harming a lot of others.”
Gray had been studying Duvall. “He really is utterly oblivious. Let’s take the chance and get the others to join us. We need Baines and Littlejohn’s input for whatever plan we devise.”
Martin, Toby, and Izzy agreed, and Gray turned and beckoned the others forward.
The five rapidly closed the distance.
While they continued strolling in an expanded group, after the briefest of introductions, Gray explained the limitations they faced in capturing Duvall.
“How long do you think that fuse he has might last for?” Littlejohn asked. “A minute? Two? Or less than half a minute?”
“That depends on what type of fuse he’s used…” Gray turned to Baines. “You have the wrapper, I think.”
Baines dug in his pockets and produced the torn pieces of the packet that had contained the fuse. Gray pieced the scraps together, read the information, calculated, then said, “Assuming he has four inches of fuse leading into the briefcase, then the time from ignition to detonation should be in the order of two to three minutes. Definitely not more.”
“So,” Toby said, still walking at an easy pace, “just enough time to light the fuse and scarper.”
Gray nodded. “That’s likely his plan.” After a moment, he glanced at Donaldson. “Donaldson, you know the town best. Assuming he’s making his way directly to the telegraph station, where en route is he going to be farthest from any crowds?”
Donaldson grimaced. “That depends on which route he takes. Once he reaches the end of Snargate, there are several ways he might go, but if he sticks with the general flow of people, he’ll most likely go up to Castle Street and follow it east. That will lead him directly to the bottom of Castle Hill Road. Once he starts up that—as he must given the telegraph station is about halfway up, around the first bend—that’s where there’s unlikely to be many others about.”
Gray glanced at the others. “It sounds as if the best moment to pounce will be once he’s on Castle Hill Road.”
Agreement showed on most faces. No one argued.
“Right, then.” Baines nodded at Duvall, striding on ahead of them. “Let’s keep trailing him and see how the land lies farther on.”
They broke into smaller groups again, strung out along the pavement. Martin and Toby went ahead, two young gentlemen out to enjoy the day. Gray and Izzy followed a few yards behind, arm in arm, a couple making their way somewhere. Hennessy, Donaldson, and Digby chatted about photography as they followed, while Baines and Littlejohn brought up the rear.
