Thirty-four
CODED MESSAGE
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DECIPHERED MESSAGE
Lord Dominic,
Wedmore's treachery runs deep. Fell the family tree.
Farrin
Dom rocked back in his chair. The deciphered message stared him in the face. “Hellfire,” he muttered.
He exhaled, stirring the hair that had fallen into his eyes. How was he supposed to explain murdered guests to the authorities?
He turned over the paper. The letter hadn’t been franked, which meant it was hand-delivered. He rang for his butler. When Wilcox entered the study, Dom asked who had delivered the message.
“I cannot say, my lord. One of the footmen found it lying by the front door.”
Dom thanked Wilcox and released him to return to his duties. Alone again, Dom lifted the message to scrutinize it. He recognized Farrin’s handwriting, so it was a legitimate order. He had to follow it.
Nevertheless, there must be another way to carry out the task without bringing the Janissaries to the villa. He tossed the message in the fire grate and used a flint to light it.
After the flames rendered it to ash, he grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair. He needed to find Farrin to discuss the alternatives. It might take a few days, though. Regent’s men excelled at hiding.