by V. J. Timlin
Nat climbed down. He made no sound but something alerted the figure to his presence.
The woman, for it was not a child after all, dropped to her knees before jumping up again. She spun and threw something at Nat. He dodged aside, evading the missile. A hollow clank echoed from the walls—a stone. Nat darted after the figure who ran towards the mouth of the alley.
Anouk hesitated. Should she shoot in front of the person to stop her? Or at least slow her down so Nat would catch her before she vanished to Roister Street?
Before Anouk had decided her course of action, Nat caught the escapee. The figure screamed. She kicked and clawed Nat, putting up a fierce fight. She didn’t seem to have any weapons unless nails counted as such.
Anouk hurried down. The woman’s screams echoed in the alley. Shit, she would alert the whole of Roister Street.
When Anouk reached Nat, he had the woman’s arm twisted behind her back in a tight restraining lock and had her pressed against the wall. She was still struggling, trying to free herself from Nat’s grip, but at least she was no longer screaming.
“Let go of me,” the woman snarled.
Anouk lifted an eyebrow. Her voice sounded vaguely familiar. Where had she heard it before? Nat took his torch and handed it to Anouk.
“Would you be so kind and show us some light?”
“Certainly.” Anouk switched the light on. The beam revealed the round face of a young woman with sky-blue eyes. Streaks of blonde hair had escaped from under her cap. She was the same woman who had called to them from the window when Anouk and Nat had visited Madam Valeria for the second time.
Chapter 20
“Lila,” Nat said, a mixture of surprise and hardness in his tone. “What are you doing here and what were you looking for?”
Lila squinted and blinked her bloodshot sky-blue eyes under the light of the torch. She wore a dark men’s suit, buttoned all the way up to her small chin. Modest and conservative were the words that came to Anouk’s mind.
“Same as you, Nat,” Lila said, defiance restating in her words.
“How do you know what we were looking for?”
Lila hesitated for a moment. “You’re bounty hunters.”
“So?”
Had Madam Valeria sent her to spy on them? Anouk narrowed her eyes, studying the girl’s childlike face. No, that didn’t make any sense. How would the madam even know she and Nat were there? Unless the rat-catcher had told her. But he didn’t know who they were and their facial features were covered.
Lila dropped her chin to her chest, tears glinting on her cheeks. “This is where Mr London murdered Shannah. But he lost something valuable here or so I heard. A golden cufflink, I think it was. Anyway, I hoped to find it and blackmail him and Madam Valeria.”
“Mr London?”
Lila nodded, her head hanging. “Stalo De Meriweth’s alias. He demands everyone call him by that name, but I know who he is. I’ve seen the wanted posters.”
Anouk and Nat exchanged looks. A shudder ran through Anouk. He had adopted the name of her hometown. How… perverted! More importantly, the information confirmed Amanda’s lead; Stalo and Madam Valeria were working together.
“Where’s Stalo staying at the moment?” Nat asked.
“In the brothel as Madam Valeria’s guest.” Lila twisted her head further towards Nat. “Nat, please let go of me. I’m losing the feeling in my hand. I’ll tell you all I know. I want that bastard caught and hanged for what he did to Shannah.”
Nat stepped aside but stayed within arm’s length. Lila rubbed her shoulder and wrist before she turned to face them, wiping her tears.
“Mr London… Lord De Meriweth came three or four days ago. He wanted to see Madam Valeria. A business proposition the madam couldn’t pass up, he said. He claimed to have this device that allows him to travel back and forth between worlds.” Lila paused and looked at Anouk, her eyes reflecting sadness and… pity? The hair on Anouk’s neck stood up. “You’re Miss Herring, I presume.”
Anouk swallowed and nodded. Now it made sense why the madam wanted her so much.
“He told Madam Valeria about you, and that he could get more girls like you. I know the madam was already interested in recruiting you. She’s been praising your skills and beauty to Jasper.”
Anouk blinked. Jasper? Ah, Mr Sunshine.
Lila continued, “Madam Valeria accepted the deal without hesitation after he promised her protection or something. I don’t know exact details, but on the very same day, Stalo De Meriweth moved in with three of his men. One of them died the other night in some squabble in The Pits.”
Anouk frowned. She wouldn’t call it a squabble; more of an ambush and attempted murder.
Lila paused as if gathering herself. She wiped her eyes again and said with a thick voice, “Then last night, Shannah was entertaining Lord De Meriweth. I don’t know exactly how it happened, but she broke his world travel device. Both Madam Valeria and the lord were furious.” She sniffed. “It was an accident. Shannah didn’t do it on purpose, I’m sure of it.”
Nat put his hand on Lila’s shoulder. “We know this isn’t easy for you, but we need to know what happened next?”
“Lord De Meriweth dragged her out of the brothel. We didn’t see her after that. Later we learnt he had brought her here and killed her.” Lila drew a shaky breath. “I can still hear her screaming and begging for help, but Madam Valeria did nothing and made sure we didn’t either. This was to be a lesson to all of us not to interfere in her business, the madam said.”
Anouk shuddered at the brutality. What was wrong with that woman? To let Stalo kill her employee just for breaking that damn contraption? The girl had done the universe a favour, and for Anouk in particular, however inadvertently. Unfortunately, it had cost her her life. Now, though, it simplified their pursuit if Stalo couldn’t jump between worlds anymore.
Lila directed her tearful eyes at Anouk, who in turn winced and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
How inadequate the word was, but that was all she could think of saying. Nothing would bring Shannah back. Neither did she think Lila was there because Madam Valeria sent her. Or Lila was one damn good actress. Anouk glanced at Nat. Did he believe Lila?
Nat met her eyes. His expression was unreadable. Did Lila’s story bring back painful memories? Anouk wanted to ask, but Nat shifted his gaze back at Lila.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” he said softly. “But I need to ask you a few more questions.”
Lila sniffed again and nodded.
“I see what’s in it for Madam Valeria, but how does Stalo benefit? What has Madam Valeria promised him?”
“I don’t know. I only heard pieces of their conversation when I was taking them tea. He said something about wanting his title and land back. Somehow that’s supposed to benefit the madam, so in return she hides him for as long as is needed. Or that’s what I read between the lines.”
“Have you heard anything about placing an order for weapons? Maybe even to be delivered to the brothel?”
First Lila shook her head, but then paused. “I wonder…” She hesitated.
“Yes?”
Anouk admired Nat’s ability to sound calm. She was practically bouncing on her toes.
“This probably is nothing, but one of the girls mentioned him throwing a tantrum for something that didn’t come out the way he wanted.”
“The weapon order?” Anouk mouthed to Nat.
He shrugged before turning back to Lila. “Did anyone see you leaving?”
“No, I don’t think so. I faked having a migraine which I do suffer now and then. Madam Valeria knows this and usually leaves me alone. I need total quiet and darkness when I have one.” Lila gave them a faint smile.
“Clever.” Anouk smiled back. “Do you happen to know anything about a woman called Rose and her daughters, Valintina and Danja? Captain Biddulph is somehow involved with their disappearance.”
The captain’s name made Lila flinch as if she had received an electric
shock. She wrapped her arms around herself, fear and wariness in her face. “That monster,” she spat.
Anouk’s eyebrows shot up. Did Madam Valeria also let the captain abuse her girls? Before Anouk could ask, Lila said, “I don’t know about Rose, but they brought two little girls, around five and six, just when I was about to leave. I had to wait to make sure no one saw me.”
Anouk’s stomach knotted. Had Rose got caught for sending them the warning? Was she still alive?
Nat opened his mouth to say something when hasty footsteps echoed from Roister Street. Anouk’s whole body went into a high alert. Her gut instinct told her their time was up.
“Wait here,” Nat whispered and vanished behind the corner.
Anouk glanced at Lila. Her eyes were wide, brimming with naked fear. If Anouk had any doubts about her sincerity, they vanished now. Lila was afraid. No, she was terrified.
“I can’t get caught,” she whimpered. “They’ll kill me.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll make sure that won’t happen.” Anouk’s heart hammered in her chest and all the moisture drained from her mouth, yet still, she managed to sound calm and assertive. As far as she knew, all three of them might end up dead.
Nat came back. “To the roof. We’re about to have company.”
Anouk and Lila didn’t need to be told twice; they ran towards the ladder.
“You go first,” Anouk said to Lila and pulled her gun. “Nat and I will keep them busy in the meanwhile.”
Lila dipped her head and climbed with the speed and agility of a squirrel. The steps echoed from the mouth of the alley; company was heading in their direction. Anouk started to climb, holding her Phines. Nat followed at her heels. When Anouk had almost reached the roof, the hasty steps stopped and a beam of light brushed past her.
“There they are,” a man shouted—Madam Valeria’s official rat-catcher. “Oi, come down, you thieving rats.”
“Thieving rats? We have stolen nothing,” Anouk muttered as she pulled herself onto the flat roof. Lila was nowhere to be seen. Was she heading back to the brothel? Better so. She and Nat would have one thing less to worry about.
Anouk peeked down. The rat-catcher and two other men were running towards the ladder. Nat twisted his torso and shot in front of the rat-catcher. He jumped back. His squeal echoed between the walls as loud as the gunshot. At the same instant, the two other men pulled their guns and aimed at Nat.
“Look out!” Anouk screamed and fired towards the men. Her bullet hit neither of them, but it made them duck out of the way, giving Nat enough time to climb the last few steps.
He rolled onto the roof and jumped up. “Thanks. Let’s go.”
Anouk broke into a run after Nat, who was heading towards the row of attached houses along Roister Street. The silhouette of the rooftops against the streetlights highlighted their narrowness and height. Unlike the flat-roofed side building, in Flower Estate most of the roofs were hipped. Did Lila really go that way? No, there had to be another way down.
Nat was already climbing a ladder, leading up the slope of the next roof. Anouk took hold of the side rails and glanced over her shoulder. She couldn’t see the rat-catcher and the two men, but their clambering echoed from the walls. Shit. There was no time to look for an alternative exit route. She hoped Nat knew these rooftops as well as he knew the sewers under The Pits.
They reached the ridge cap of the attached house as their pursuers came into view. Anouk flicked her eyes towards Roister Street and her knees buckled at the sight of the drop. A gunshot cut the air. A sharp ding came from the rat cage strapped on Nat’s backpack when the bullet hit it. Anouk ducked but in doing so, her foot slipped, throwing her off balance. Her arms flailed in the air as she tried to keep herself upright and on the roof.
“Nat!” she squealed.
She tipped further off balance. Another squeal escaped from her lips as she clawed the thin air between her and Nat. At the last second, he grabbed her as she was about to lose her battle against gravity. She collapsed on the ridge and hugged its rough tiles like a life buoy, her whole body shaking. A pungent smell of smoke oozed from the tiles into her nose. In the back of her mind, a voice said she would be covered with filthy soot.
“Oh, shut up!” she murmured. “Better that than being smashed on the cobblestones.”
Nat returned fire, forcing the men to find cover where there was none. A scream pierced the air, followed by a dull thud. One of their pursuers had fallen off. Anouk shuddered. That would have been her fate if Nat hadn’t caught her.
Then it hit her. She glanced again down to Roister Street. The lights of Madam Valeria’s brothel shone only a hundred yards or so away. Fuck! If they heard the shooting, they might come to check it out… she and Nat weren’t prepared to face Stalo and his men yet.
“We have to get out of here,” Nat growled and fired at the men on the lower roof.
“My thoughts exactly.”
It took a couple of attempts and a litany of curses to get her body to comply. Soon she ran behind Nat along the narrow walkway, keeping hold of one of the straps on his backpack. It would have been useless if she or Nat fell, but it gave her the mental support she needed to stay upright and not look down.
They ran to the end of the building block. Anouk looked over her shoulder. Their pursuers had reached the same roof and were heading their way, their hands beating the air like pedals for they too had trouble maintaining balance. Anouk hoped they soon would deem it too dangerous to continue chasing them and turn back. So far, no such luck.
After a quick scan, Nat said, “No ladder. We’ll have to climb down the drainpipe.”
“You’ve got to be joking,” Anouk blurted.
“Afraid not. Just follow my example.” He walked down the stair-like narrow hip and stopped at the chimney; he waved Anouk to follow.
He made it look easy enough, she bet this wasn’t his first time, though. She took a deep breath and glanced towards their pursuers—they were approaching too fast. No time for second guessing.
“I’m going to die,” she whimpered and set foot on the first cramped, steep step. She concentrated on her descent, placing her feet carefully. If she strayed only a little, she would fall, bouncing from the roof like a ball and plummet to the busy street. By the time she reached the chimney, she was bathed in her own sweat.
Nat took her by the waist. “I have you. Now, take hold of the chimney and shuffle down to the gutter. You get good holds from tiles. It’s easy.” He grinned and showed her what he meant.
“Easy, my arse,” Anouk growled. She glanced again where their pursuers were. They had turned back and were heading towards the side building. A hope fluttered in her stomach. “The rat-catcher and his mate are giving up.”
“No, they know where we’re coming down and are trying to catch us there. We better hurry.” Nat shuffled the rest of the way to the gutter.
Anouk wiped her clammy hands onto her trousers and followed him. Nat was right; the rough and well attached tiles made it a less frightening experience.
When Anouk reached him, he flipped his legs over the gutter. “The drainpipe is sturdy, so it will hold. Just keep your legs vertical and arms straight when climbing down.” He took a hold around the metal drain and lowered himself. Before he vanished under the gutter, he winked. “It’s like climbing a ladder.”
Anouk wiped her hands again and looked down into the darkened alley. She gulped. “You can do this. It’s like at the hen party years ago when you descended from the cliff top using a rope. You did it three times and had fun. This is no different. Only the rope is replaced with a drainpipe and Nat said it’s sturdy. So, piece of cake.”
Her knees shook when she flipped her legs over the gutter. She kept her eyes fixed on the pipe, avoiding the terrifying drop below. Turning on her stomach, she lowered her body inch by inch, clutching the edge of the metal, her knuckles white. When she reached the pipe, she pressed her feet against the wall and started to walk down, alternating opposite
hands and feet. The pipe groaned and her forearms burned, but neither of them gave out. None too soon Nat touched her legs and supported her down. Her whole body shook for the second time in under ten minutes when she stood on firm ground.
“I didn’t think I would make it.” Her voice was raspy.
“It looked like you’ve done it before,” Nat said, amused.
“Sort of. With a rope.”
“You’re full of surprises, Miss Herring.” Nat patted her on the shoulder. “But we better get going if we want to avoid the rat-catcher and Madam Valeria’s man.”
They jogged to the junction of the alley and Roister Street. Nat waved Anouk to stop. He peeked around the corner. In an instant he pulled his head back. “Fuck. They’re coming this way.”
“I see, I’m a bad influence since you now curse like me.” It was Anouk’s turn to be amused.
Nat’s eyes crinkled. It was hard to tell if he gave her a smile or a scowl because of the half mask over his mouth. “Follow me.” He darted back along the alley.
“Please, don’t say we’re escaping using the sewers again,” Anouk groaned, running after him.
Nat called over his shoulder, “We can if you insist, but I had another route in mind.”
“The other route is good.”
Nat led the way through the labyrinth of smaller streets. Anouk kept glancing back but saw no sign of pursuit. A small spark of hope invaded her psyche. Maybe they had managed to lose them but then doubt seeped in and the spark died. They surely knew the area as well as Nat and might anticipate which way they had gone.
They reached the far end of Roister Street. Nat waved a taxi that had stopped to drop off a passenger. The driver held the door open for them but when his eyes caught the rat cage swinging in Nat’s backpack, his polite expression turned into a scowl.
“I’m not taking rat-catchers on board,” he said, and closed the door with a bang.
“Not even if we’re willing to pay double?” Nat removed his mask.
The driver hesitated, but then opened the door again. “Very well, but you’re not taking in that cage.”
