Page 17 of The Time for Love
“No. Nothing that would suggest a break-in…” She paused, then added, “At least not that I’ve heard.”
He arched his brows. “It might be time we asked specifically. Someone may have noticed something, but considered it too minor to report.”
Her lips firmed, and she collected her bag and stood. “Let’s go and ask the men.”
He followed her from the snug and forestalled her by paying their shot, which earned him a respectful nod from Saul and an approving look from Hector.
The groom-cum-guard fell in behind Martin and Sophy as they walked briskly up the street to the steelworks. She went into her office only long enough to doff her coat and set down her bag, then she was back and, determination in every line of her face, made for the yard door, plainly intending to go to the shed.
“Perhaps,” Martin said as he started in her wake, “as our questions are regarding security, it might be wise to include Hector.”
She paused and glanced back at him, then looked at Hector. “Indeed. Please join us, Hector.”
They quit the office, leaving Harvey and the older lady wondering what was afoot.
In the middle of the yard, Martin slowed. “Sophy.”
Frowning, she glanced at him, and he halted and waited for her to turn and join him.
When, clearly not happy with the delay, she did, he refrained from smiling understandingly and evenly said, “As much as we all would prefer not to think it, it’s possible one of your men is involved. It might be better to talk to Hinckley—and the subforemen, if you’re comfortable with that—out here.”
She stared at him for several seconds, then nodded. “You’re right.” She looked at Hector, who had halted a respectful yard away. “Hector, can you please fetch Hinckley and the four subforemen from the shed?” Her gaze shifted to the receiving office. “Meanwhile, Mr. Cynster and I will collect Oakshot and”—she flicked a glance at the main gates—“Phillips.”
Hector saluted. “At once, miss.”
Martin trailed Sophy as she summoned the receiving clerk and the gatekeeper. As he and she returned to the center of the yard, she whispered, “With Hinckley and the four others from the shed, these are our oldest and most reliable men.”
“The most devoted,” he murmured and received an acknowledging nod.
Once the group had gathered, forming a circle that included Martin, Sophy, and Hector, Sophy briskly outlined their reasoning regarding the accidents and asked if any of them had seen or heard of damage that might indicate a break-in.
None had.
More, after further consultation, all were very certain no such damage had occurred.
“I haven’t seen anything,” Hinckley said, “and I lock up every night, so I would notice any tampering with the locks.”
Frowning, Sophy folded her arms and drummed one finger on her elbow. “Whoever is doing this has to have a key.”
The men dipped their heads in agreement, but said nothing more, leaving Martin to ask, “So who has keys to the works?”
To his dismay, every man in the group pulled out a key. Martin glanced around the circle, confirming that every man in it was holding one key. Including Hinckley, who held out his meaty palm with only one key on it, yet locked all the doors and gates every night.
Martin glanced at Sophy. He managed to keep his voice level. “Only one key?”
She nodded. “Papa lost patience with having different keys to the various gates and doors, so he had them all made the same.”
He smothered his reaction. “How many copies of the key were made?”
She arched a brow at Hinckley, but the foreman shook his head. “Your father took care of handing out the keys. I don’t know how many he had cut or who he gave them to. Well, beyond us here, of course, and Mildred and Harvey in the office.”
Martin swallowed a sigh and caught Sophy’s eye. “Regardless of anyone having kept a record, and it sounds as if no one has, the first thing you need to do is change all the locks.”
She grimaced. “It hadn’t occurred to me, but yes. We’ll change the locks.”
“And get different keys for each,” Hector put in, and everyone nodded.
Given the circumstances, no one was going to argue that point.
