Chapter Forty-One #2
“But even if he does attend, how will we spot him?” Sera placed her hands on her hips. “He could be dressed in any disguise, and as you said, the very novelty of you performing will create a frenzy of interest. The Egyptian Hall will be packed to the rafters.”
“We won’t need to know what he looks like, or even how to find him, Sera, because he will find me.” Jack took in a deep breath and squared her shoulders, her resolve solidifying. “After all, if I am to be his Burning Lady, he’s going to have to abduct me first, isn’t he?”
*
“You cannot let him abduct you!”
Tobias reentered Jack’s townhouse to hear Miss Montague’s loudly voiced declaration echoing around the entrance hallway.
Immediately, all three ladies spun around towards him: Miss Montague and Miss Fennessy looking anywhere but at him, while Jack stared at him in defiance.
“I leave for a few minutes and you’re already planning to get abducted?” He raised a brow, staring straight back at Jack.
“You weren’t meant to hear that,” she replied.
“Obviously,” he said dryly. “What are you planning, Jack? And don’t tell me nothing because clearly, it’s something, and knowing you, I imagine you’re planning to put yourself in harm’s way in some misguided attempt to save Mrs. Thompson.”
“You’ve only known me for just over a week.” She scoffed, crossing her hands over her chest. “You don’t really know me at all.”
“Is that so?” He arched an eyebrow again. “You weren’t planning to do exactly that?”
She pressed her lips together and exhaled sharply. “Fine, you know me a little, then.”
“What is it you’re planning?” he asked, hoping that she might just tell him the truth. “Letting this killer get his hands on you?”
“In a manner of speaking.” Jack stared at him for several seconds before she seemed to come to a decision and reluctantly gave a swift bob of her head. “Fine, then, this is what I’m planning.” She quickly explained it to him.
With every detail, he felt his temper rising, but a part of him knew that perhaps, just perhaps, it might work. “And you two don’t think this plan is foolish?” He turned and faced her friends, who both were staring boldly at him.
“Not in the least,” Miss Montague replied, raising her chin.
“Is it not more foolish to wait for whatever this killer has planned?” Miss Fennessy added.
Tobias dragged a hand through his hair and turned back to Jack. “Your plan is foolhardy and could get you killed!”
“The police are the ones who come up with foolhardy plans,” Jack bit out. “My plan will work. Now, if you’re quite done glaring at us, time is of the essence, as I’ve heard you mention many times before.”
Tobias narrowed his eyes at the stubborn woman before reluctantly nodding. “You do realize your plan is going to place you in an extraordinary amount of danger. But damn it, it might be our only hope, and perhaps just maybe it could, I stress the word could, possibly work.”
“It will work,” Jack said, without any doubt at all.
“If I’m to agree to this plan of yours,” Tobias replied, “then you cannot leave my sight, do you understand? My eyes are to be on you at all times.”
“Firstly, I don’t need your agreement, Inspector,” she said through gritted teeth. “And secondly, I don’t need you to keep your eyes on me at all times.”
Her eyes tightened, and he could understand her annoyance. However, he wasn’t going to risk her life just because she didn’t like to rely on anyone. “Actually, you do need me to agree. Unless, of course, you want me to lock you up for your own protection. Which trust me, I will if I need to.”
She raised her chin, her eyes sending daggers his way. “You cannot arrest me without reason.”
“I can arrest anyone to prevent a breach of the peace. But I don’t want to argue with you, Jack,” he replied, shoving his hands into his pockets, knowing that she was correct, though he was prepared to do whatever he had to to keep her safe.
“But I want you to listen to me very carefully: this is one time I’ll happily not just bend the law, but I’ll break it if I have to.
” He glanced over to both Jack’s friends.
“Do you two care this will place her directly into the hands of a killer?”
“Of course we care!” Miss Montague narrowed her eyes at him. “But Jack is her own person.”
“We care very much,” Miss Fennessy added. “But like you said yourself, Inspector, it might just work. Besides, like I said, this madman intends to try to kidnap Jack at some point in the very near future, so we might as well force his hand on our terms.”
Tobias dragged a hand through his hair, realizing the three very determined woman standing in front of him had made up their minds.
“I hope you all realize this man is a cold-blooded killer, and he won’t hesitate to use any of you as pawns in his game, just as he’s obviously planning to with Mrs. Thompson. ”
“Which is why we must do this,” Jack said. “We can stop him and save Mrs. Thompson.” She strode over to the coat stand and lifted a thicker dark-blue cloak from off the hook before swinging it over her shoulders. “Come on. The clock is ticking.”
“Where are we going at this hour?” Tobias asked as she walked closer to him, looping the cords of the cloak around her neck.
“Firstly, to arrange with Mr. Finnegan, the owner of the Egyptian Hall, for me to perform there tomorrow, or rather tonight, seeing as it is Sunday already. Then, we will let the major newspapers know that the Magnificent Maguire’s daughter is alive and challenging the Conjurer.”
“Of course we’re doing that.” Tobias pressed a hand against his pounding temple. “You two.” He glanced over at the Misses Fennessy and Montague. “You’re coming too. We’ll drop you both off at the Yard first, and Sergeant Kellerman can look after the two of you.”
“What?” Miss Montague exclaimed, fisting her hands on her hips. “You can’t tell us what to do?”
“I have to change first, and who is Sergeant Kellerman?” Miss Fennessy asked.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Miss Montague added. “You can’t—”
“Actually…” Jack’s voice cut through her friend’s protesting. “It’s a good idea.”
“What?” Miss Montague screeched. “Are you serious, Jack? The Yard? No, absolutely not.”
“We don’t know how Mrs. Thompson was taken,” Jack replied, her eyes not leaving Tobias’s. “He could easily return and hurt either of you.”
“Exactly.” Tobias nodded at her, glad she’d understood exactly what he was about. “Iain will keep them safe.”
“But, Jack, I hate police more than you do, you know that!” Miss Montague declared.
“I know you do,” Jack said, turning to her friend. “But Mrs. Thompson was taken because of me and could even be dead already.”
Miss Fennessy gasped. “Don’t say that, Jack!”
“She could be, and we all know it,” Jack countered, resignation in her voice.
“I’m not going to be able to focus on what I need to if I’m worried about the two of you.
You’re the sisters I never had, and I can’t lose any more of my family…
” She pressed her lips together, and Tobias could see she was doing her best to stay strong and not cry.
“Please do this for me, both of you. I need you to both be safe overnight while I sort everything out. I won’t be able to concentrate unless I know you are.
Then, after everything is arranged, Tobias and I will return to the Yard, where we can all plan this out properly. Please, Sera, for me?”
Miss Montague slowly nodded. “For you, Jack, I’ll do it.”
“As will I,” Miss Fennessy agreed, rushing over to Jack and hugging her hard before Miss Montague joined in too.
It was then that Tobias realized the three women were each other’s family. A bond forged through difficult situations and camaraderie, rather than any actual blood ties.
“All right, then, quickly get changed, Cordy, and then we shall go,” Jack said, pulling away from her friends and swiping at some stray tears that had spilled down her cheeks, then turning to Tobias. “He will keep them safe, won’t he?”
Tobias held her gaze with his. “With his life if he has to. As I will keep you safe, with my own life too.”