Chapter 12
Mr. Wake awaited me on the sofa in Mr. Stoke’s office, elbows on his knees and one of Mr. Stoke’s notebooks open in his hands.
“You are extremely late,” the man commented, sitting back and crossing one leg over the other, notebook still in hand. “Who was the man escorting you, just now?”
“An admirer who I could not evade,” I said, which was enough of the truth to be an effortless lie. “Do not worry, I made no mention of you lying in wait for me in the shadows.”
He grunted and looked back at the notebook. “Of all the artifacts whose recovery Lord Stillwell might have entrusted to you, I find it curious that he gave Mr. Stoke the most valuable. Did they have a previous relationship?”
“I believe they knew one another from their military days,” I replied, stopping in the doorway. “Lord Stillwell was an officer at the time, and Mr. Stoke owed him a debt.”
Wake seemed to take me at my word. Overall his demeanor was eerily unoffensive despite my tardiness, the gun at his hip ignored.
I sat on the other side of the sofa. I noticed the notebook he had been reading was only half-full, many of its pages untouched and smooth. It was Mr. Stoke’s latest.
“Where did you find that?” I demanded. “That was not here yesterday.”
“I found it on Mr. Stoke,” he informed me levelly. “I encountered him today. The meeting was brief. We scuffled, he refused to answer my questions, and did not appear to be in possession of the artifact. This did, however, fall from his pocket as he fled.”
I was momentarily too stunned to speak. “You saw him? Where was this?”
“The museum island.” Mr. Wake held out the notebook, surprising me further. “It seems he was in contact with a historian or some such thing, but their name is not mentioned. Do you know anything about that?”
Historian? Or Dr. Maddeson, the philologist?
“No,” I stated.
“Read this as soon as you can and tell me what you think of it. Now, what have you learned since our last meeting?”
He laced his fingers over his knee as I slowly took the notebook. I was wary of a trap, but he retained his casual demeanor.
I discarded the notion of telling him about Dr. Maddeson.
It was too valuable a lead. But I could hardly deny learning anything at all.
I braced the notebook across my stomach and said, “I searched Mr. Stoke’s house and determined that he did not flee entirely, at least not of his own accord.
He left items behind of great sentimental value. ”
“There was no sign of the artifact?”
I shook my head. “Unfortunately not. Mr. Wake, if you saw him, I believe we may conclude he is simply in hiding. Likely from you. If you would cease your harassment, our mutual problem may go away.”
“Ah, see, that is where my encounter with the detective becomes particularly interesting,” Wake said. “He was running when our paths crossed, and seemed to consider me an unexpected inconvenience.”
“He was running from someone else?”
“Yes.” Wake’s eyes were keen, searching my face as if he were waiting for something. A clue. A betrayal.
Well, he would learn nothing on this particular front, as I had nothing to share. “Did you not see who it was?”
Wake shook his head. “But your detective does not seem the sort to flee from common criminals. I lost him near the Old Citadel. Does he have friends or relatives in the area? Somewhere he might go?”
“He does not,” I admitted, warming to the puzzle. Harden’s mirror shop was close, but I was not about to say that. “I will go through his contacts. It would seem there is a third party involved in this affair, more dangerous than you. How disconcerting.”
“Indeed,” Wake agreed. “What else have you uncovered?”
Our conversation proceeded in a series of questions and cautious answers.
I fetched Mr. Stoke’s ledgers and address book, combing them for acquaintances in and around the citadel.
This produced several names for Mr. Wake, which I presented as far more promising than I actually felt them to be.
This seemed to satisfy him, however, and within half an hour, the man rose.
I could only hope that I had not consigned those poor contacts of Mr. Stoke to violence.
“I will see you again, here, tomorrow night at the same time,” he told me as he made for the door. “Do not be late.”