February 16, 1889 Afternoon
Sibyl’s cottage was on the outskirts of Bath, down near the river Avon with an attached waterwheel that was in such disrepair it no longer turned.
The old millhouse was small and covered with ivy, flanked by thorny rose bushes whose leaves hadn’t returned yet, and surrounded by tall, yellowing grass.
A black carriage was parked beside it. A dappled horse tied to a post was straining its neck to reach whatever it could graze on.
The sky was dim with grey clouds and Mira couldn’t help the sense of dread that came over her as they climbed out of their own carriage and started down the path.
Walker split off a few yards from the house and made his way around the side.
Once he was out of sight, Byron rapped on the door. It opened a crack, revealing Sibyl’s face, which paled upon recognition.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed.
“We’re here to see Hoddle. Or Suchet. Whichever name he’s using now. May we come in?”
Byron didn’t let her answer, pushing through the door and pulling Mira along with him.
Hoddle sat at the table, a spoonful of soup halfway to his mouth. His eyes bulged at their sudden appearance, his stricken gaze skittering towards the stairs.
“Where’s my sister?” Byron said, tone calm.
“You need to go,” Sibyl said. “He’ll kill her. I know he will.”
Mira frowned. The way Sibyl spoke held the same desperation as when she’d talked about Circe in the Roman Baths. It was then, and only then, that she remembered Sibyl had mentioned three men involved with the burglaries. Not two. She stepped back. “Who will kill her?”
Sibyl kept her voice pitched low. “If you know what’s good for you—and your sister—you’ll leave and send the documents like he asked.”
There was a creak from the floor above. “Who’s there, Sibyl?” A man’s voice called down. It was deep, raspy, and vaguely familiar.
“Just the milkman delivering some milk,” Sibyl called back. She lowered her voice again. “You really must go.”
Byron’s eyes flicked towards the stairs. “Is my sister up there?”
Sibyl nodded. “Please, go.”
A thump sounded above them, followed by a heavy tread on the stairs.
A man descended, holding Mary in front of him, arms bound, mouth gagged, and a knife to her throat.
He was broad-shouldered and had a ragged scar that ran from the corner of his eyebrow to below his cheekbone.
He towered above them on the stairs, a sly smile on his lips.
“I didn’t know you delivered milk, Detective Constantine,” said Aaron Dennis.
Mira’s breath caught in her throat. Had Monty known that his former partner was working with Sibyl?
“And I didn’t know you drove carriages.” Byron’s voice was steely and cold as he pushed Mira behind him.
“I’ve driven you more than once, I’ll tell you.
To think that I was able to pull one over on the ‘Great Detective Constantine.’” His smile spread into a toothy sneer and a chill spread across Mira’s back.
She glanced over at the hooks on the wall and found a grey muffler.
They’d been driven across Bath so many times. How often had Dennis been the driver?
“Now hand over the documents, else this will get unpleasant.”
“You would add another murder to your list of crimes?” Byron said.
Dennis laughed. “This is a familiar scene, ain’t it? You and me, a dagger between us. And you said nearly the same thing back then, don’t you remember?”
Byron’s jaw tightened.
Dennis scowled. “I suppose you wouldn’t.
It’s another day for you. I’d wager you never thought of me again after arresting me.
” His eyes darkened. “But I dreamt of this moment every night in that prison in Reading. I didn’t think it would happen.
I thought you would be smart enough to follow the ransom instructions.
But here we are. Just the same as before.
Though this time I’ve got insurance.” His hold on Mary tightened.
“And I am fully prepared to kill her if it means you’ll hand over the documents. ”
Byron stood tall. “You assume that we’ve found them. You only gave us three days to find something your people haven’t been able to find after eleven years.”
“Well then, you made a mistake in coming here. Your last day has been shortened to ten seconds. If you don’t hand the documents over in that time...” He pressed the knife closer to Mary’s neck and she let out a muffled cry.
“Ten.”
Byron stilled. Mira didn’t know what they could do. It was his sister or the documents. Documents that might prevent a war and millions of deaths.
“Nine.”
But it was his sister standing in front of them, her red, greying hair falling out of its style, eyes wide and pleading.
“Eight.”
The police were waiting at the stations and the docks, not outside the house.
“Seven.”
Walker might be able to stall him but there was no guarantee he could retrieve the documents.
“Six.”
There was no reprieve, no other option.
“Fi—”
Byron reached into his jacket and pulled the documents from his inside pocket.
“Give them to Suchet.” Dennis jerked his head towards the actor.
With slow, deliberate movements, Byron did as he was told. Hoddle brought the documents over to Dennis and held them up for him to see.
“We’ve done it,” Dennis breathed. “The Crescent searched for eleven years, and we’re the ones who’ve finally done it. The Serpent will be pleased.”
In one quick motion he snatched the papers from Hoddle and threw Mary away from him, retreating up the stairs. Hoddle ran after him. Byron was just quick enough to catch Mary before she hit the floor. Mira turned to Sibyl. “Is there another exit?”
She nodded. “There are stairs at the back of the mill.”
The sound of voices and a scuffle sounded through the wall.
Mira ran to the window and found Walker in a brawl with the two thieves.
He threw a punch at Hoddle as Dennis came from the side.
A glint of silver flashed in the light. She rushed outside, just in time to see her brother fall backwards into the tall grass.
“Walker!”
Dennis and Hoddle mounted the horse as she ran to her twin’s side. They escaped in a clatter of hooves and dust. Walker sat up before she reached him.
“Are you all right?” She checked him over for any blood.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” He rubbed his jaw where a bruise was already forming.
“I saw a knife.”
“Oh, you mean this one?” He held his other hand up, revealing Dennis’ blade. “I managed to disarm him, but he had a lucky left hook.”
Mira let out a breath of relief, hugging him.
“Careful now, I’m a bit bruised.”
She pulled back to look him over again. “I’m just glad you aren’t dead.”
“‘Course not. But I thought there was only going to be one of them. Did something go wrong?”
Mira’s eyes widened. “The documents! Come on!” She hauled him to his feet and they returned to the house.
Byron was still in the process of untying his sister. “I presume they got away?”
Walker winced. “I wasn’t ready for them.”
“No matter,” Byron removed his sister’s gag. “They’re not important.”
“No, but the documents are!” Mary said, voice increasing in pitch and volume with each word. “I’ve heard them talking about it. They are planning a war, Byron! Who cares about me?”
“I care about you!” Byron matched her intensity, then said softly. “You may not think that, but I do.”
Mary shook her head. “Of all the times to have family loyalty.” She rubbed at her wrists, hands shaking. “You have to get those papers back.”
Byron looked heavenward, reached into his jacket with his other hand, and pulled another packet of papers from his pocket. “I never lost them.”
Mira’s mouth dropped open. “What?” She took the stack and scanned them. It was the documents. “What did you give Dennis?”
“Last night when I was working on the cipher, I decided we needed a backup plan. I didn’t think Hoddle would know what was in the documents, so I made it all up. Three pages of political rigmarole.”
“A bluff?” Walker said, looking over Mira’s shoulder.
“I’m only grateful it worked. I thought it worth the risk when we believed we were only dealing with Hoddle. I didn’t have a choice but to try it with Dennis.” He pulled his sister into a hug. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine,” Mary said, pulling away from him. “A little rattled, but I’m fine.”
“You were abducted.” He stood and offered her a hand, pulling her up.
“I came of my own free will, thinking you’d gotten yourself in another mess. It wasn’t until we got here that I realized my mistake.”
“I’m afraid that still counts as abduction,” Byron said.
The baby started crying and Mira realized they had completely forgotten about Sibyl. The former thief moved to the back of the room and picked up her fussing child, shushing him softly.
“Is Dennis why you were so afraid to leave Circe?” Mira asked.
Sibyl froze in place before giving a hesitant nod.
“You know him well, then?” Byron asked.
“Well enough to want to stay clear of ‘im. He’s a harsh one, and I was grateful when he was conscripted into the army. But in December he came to Bath, as I told you. Enoch had a habit of boasting about his current job in the pub and one night Dennis was there. Dennis recognized him and knew enough from what he was saying to realize Enoch had taken up with Circe. He cornered him and forced him to tell him about the whole plot. Once he heard what we were to be paid, he insisted on being brought on. He transported the goods in that carriage of his. It was his idea to kill Mrs. Callan and bring Hoddle into it too.”
“You mean, Hoddle isn’t part of Circe?” Mira asked.
“He wasn’t. Though after their conversation last night, he might just join.”
“What happened?” Byron asked.
“Hoddle barged in yesterday afternoon in an awful state. Said he’d just killed a man. When Dennis got him to talk, he said some Sherard fellow was asking him questions about being an admiral and hinting that he knew his secret. So, he put laudanum in his drink.”
Mary gasped, paling as she looked at Byron. “Castel?”
“Has a headache. Otherwise, fine.” He waved her off and turned back to Sibyl. “What did Dennis say?”
“He told him that Circe would make it right as soon as they got the documents, and they made the plan to abduct Mary.” The baby’s cries died down and Sibyl looked down at him. “I hate to think what they’ll do when they realize the documents are fake.”
“I doubt that either of them will be back any time soon,” Byron said.
“But they left by horse,” Walker said. “The police are at the docks and train station.”
Byron shook his head. “Be that as it may, they’ll be bringing those documents to the Serpent. I think Circe will impose a far worse punishment for their failure than the law will for theft and impersonation.”
The implication hung between them. Sibyl sat down. “I’m free of him, then. Dennis and Enoch. Free of them both.”
“My offer still stands,” Byron said. “You can have a new life.”
Sibyl smiled. “I may just take it.”