Well Kept Secrets (The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Book 4)

by Liza O'Connor

  Davy shook his head.

  “Don’t under any circumstances mention that to Vic or we’ll never get the pup to leave.”

  “I wasn’t born yesterday,” Davy grumbled.

  “Stopping to talk to me in daylight…sure seems like it. If anyone recognizes you, we’ll all be in trouble.”

  “Sorry. Tubs said he’d come for you tonight, only I didn’t want to wait.”

  “Well, you should have.” Jacko jumped off the carriage. “I’ll see your friend tonight,” he snapped and hurried down the street towards the apothecary, hoping to God Conrad nor his spies had notice the non-descript carriage or Xavier’s lifelong driver, sitting atop it.

  ***

  Conrad stepped out of the tobacco shop and narrowed his eyes at the departing carriage and then on Jacko headed in the opposite direction. That was the same driver he’d seen yesterday following his cabbie. So it was Jacko who put a tail on him.

  He’d teach the fellow not to stick his nose where it don’t belong.

  He slipped into a dockside bar and found a familiar face. Sauntering forward, he enjoyed how even the toughest of sailors moved from his path. Since he started working for Schnell and had the protection of a parliamentary minister, there wasn’t nothin’ he couldn’t do…and these men knew it.

  He approached Curly, a sly bastard who was always ready to make a coin for a killing. “Got a job for you.”

  The sailor’s hairy right eyebrow rose. “Tell me where and who.” He cracked his knuckles and smiled.

  “He goes by Jacon Bienora. He’s parked himself outside the apothecary on Blake.”

  Curly frowned. “Ain’t that Jacko’s new name?”

  “Yes.” Clearly the sailor wasn’t as drunk as Conrad had hoped. “You taking the job or not?”

  “How much?”

  “Five shillings.”

  “For Jacko? He once saved my life. Can’t do it for less than twenty.”

  “Ten.”

  “Fifteen. Did I mention he once saved my life?”

  “I’ll find someone else.”

  “No, you asked me. And I’m offering you a fair price. I’ll prove it.” He stood up and bellowed out to the crowd of men. “Anybody here willing to try and kill Jacko Black for less than fifteen shillings?”

  The bar fell deathly silent. Every man in the place stared at Conrad with eyes of hate.

  Suddenly not even powerful connections could make the policeman feel safe. He turned to leave, but Curly grabbed his arm. “I want my money.”

  “I’ve changed my mind.”

  Curly stood up and loomed over Conrad. “Don’t care. You still owe me fifteen shillings ‘cause when Jacko hears of this, he’ll come after me for betraying him. So I want my money. Now!”

  Conrad blinked, trying to determine his best move. If he gave Curly the money then he would lose face with these men, but he’d get rid of Jacko. If he refused to give Curly the money, then the fellow would probably turn him upside down and shake all his money from his pockets. That would be even worse.

  He shoved his hand into his pocket, retrieved four half crowns, and threw them on the table. “The rest when the job is done.”

  Curly released Conrad to retrieve the coins before someone else did. Taking advantage of the distraction, the policeman stormed from the bar, his knife in his hand in case someone now thought him weak.

  ***

  Curly finished his beer and set out in search of Jacko Black, the only pirate captain he’d ever served under who wasn’t a sadistic madman. Yet, Curly never mistook his fairness as a weakness. Jacko had slit plenty of throats, only he always had good reasons, like mutiny and disobeying orders.

  Curly had to do this carefully, or he’d end up dead, and then what good was the ten shillings going to do him?

  He found Jacko exactly where Conrad said he’d be. At first, he hadn’t recognize his former captain. He’d heard life had been good to the fellow, but he hadn’t believed it until now. The captain’s shiny black boots looked custom made and he didn’t seem the least bit cold, so his long black coat had to be a good one.

  He waited until dusk to approach him. “Captain Black,” he boldly declared.

  Jacko glanced in his direction. “You’ve the wrong fellow. I’m Jacon Bienora.” He spoke loud enough for anyone around to hear.

  Curly worried how he was going to do this if Jacko refused to acknowledge him.

  When he stepped closer, Jacko held out his hand and spoke softly. “Good to see you, Curly. How’s life been treating you?”

  “Not as well as I’d like, but then most blokes feel that way…’cept for you. Looks like life’s been treating you mighty fine.”

  Jacko sighed. “Mostly yes, but today, not so much.”

  “Odd that, ‘cause I happen to come to have ten shillings in my pocket today. And it’s all because of you.”

  Jacko’s smile faded at once and he loosened his stance. “How’s that?”

  “Well, someone offered me fifteen shillings to get rid of you. Actually, he offered me five and I ask for twenty, seeing as how you once saved my life. Then he offered ten and I insisted on fifteen. Then he said he’d get someone else to do it, so I called out and asked anyone in the bar if they wanted to try and kill Jacko Black for fifteen shillings.”

  “Hope they had the sense to pass that up.”

  “Even drunk, they had better sense. So I got the job.”

  “Did you get your money upfront?”

  Curly sighed. “I asked for it, but he only threw me four crowns, which thanks to you teaching me ‘bout money I know is only worth ten shillings.”

  “Glad you remember.”

  “I remember them all. One guinea equals twenty-one shillings, one pound equals twenty shillings, a half-crown equals two shillings and a six pence, one shilling equals twelve pence, and a florin equals six pence.” He smiled. “I had no idea how often shops were cheating me ‘til you taught me ‘bout money.”

  “Glad my efforts weren’t wasted.” Jacko glanced at the apothecary door. “It’s great to see you again, Curly, but I’m sort of busy right now.”

  Curly stared at the apothecary, wondering why Conrad cared that Jacko was watching it. “Anything I can help you with?”

  “Well, if you weren’t here to kill me, I probably could’ve used your help.”

  “Oh that…I just got to make it seem like I tried, in case Conrad’s watching.”

  “He is.”

  “Figures.”

  “You do realize whether you succeed or fail, he’s not paying you the last five shillings?”

  Curly had forgotten how much he liked Captain Black. Even under the worst situations, the man remained calm with his odd sense of humor.

  “Yeah, I got ten for doing nothing. That’s not bad.”

  “Not unless I actually shoot you, then it will be a great loss.”

  “Well, thank you for saying so. I’m going to pull my knife now and make an attempt to stab you. My right hand will have ‘Buster’ but it’s ‘Lil Mary’ in my left hand you need to worry about.”

  Jacko chuckled. “I’m all too familiar with L’il Mary.” He glanced at the apothecary and frowned. “Damn!” He pulled his gun and aimed it in Curly’s face. “Sorry, I can’t play knives with you right now. I’ve a lady to talk to.”

  Curly had no idea where the gun had come from. He lifted both hands, dropping Buster and Lil Mary onto the cobblestone street.

  “No hard feelings, I hope,” Curly stated.

  “None at all. I was enjoying our conversation. Perhaps I’ll catch up with you later and continue it.”

  Curly nodded and waited to see if Jacko was serious or being sarcastic. He’d never been able to tell the difference with Captain Black. All too often pleasant conversations with the captain ended in death.

  True to his words, Jacko rushed over to a young woman leaving the apothecary shop. She didn’t seem happy to see him, which was really odd. Curly couldn’t remember any woman not be
ing happy to see Jacko.

  He continued to watch them as he picked up L’il Mary and Buster.

  An angry voice spoke from his left. “You idiot! Give me back my shillings!”

  Conrad. “I did my best,” Curly protested.

  “If you’d done your best, he’d be dead now. And how exactly did you plan to kill him? By chatting him to death?”

  “That was to put him at ease. Jacko rarely puts down his guard.”

  “I should have never come to you for this job, you worthless sod.”

  “No reason to get nasty,” Curly growled.

  “You want nasty? Give me back my six half-crowns or I’ll have you arrested for attempted murder.”

  “And I’ll tell them who hired me,” Curly yelled back.

  “And who’s going to believe that? I’m a policeman with connections. That makes me untouchable. I can slice your throat before fifty witnesses and no one will talk.”

  Curly suspected that was true. Rumors were he had serious connections.

  “Look, I don’t want no trouble. You came to me and I tried to do the job.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the four half crowns. “You only gave me four half crowns, but you can have ‘em back. However, I’m not doing any more jobs for you, so don’t ask.”

  Conrad took the four half crowns. “I’ll expect the other two crowns by the end of the month.” He turned and walked away before Curly could object.

  “Thieving rotter,” Curly muttered and headed off in the same direction Jacko and the angry young woman had left. Evidently, Jacko wasn’t the only one having a bad day.

  He turned down a street with no lights. A heavily tilted carriage was parked on the darkest section of the street. Curly only knew one man who could tilt a carriage like that: Sonny Tubs. He crossed the street and gave it wide birth.

  When the carriage door opened on the street side, Curly pulled his knives and turned to face trouble he didn’t want. He relaxed as a familiar silhouette rushed toward him.

  He put away Buster and L’il Mary. If Jacko wanted to kill him he could have done it from the comfort of his carriage.

  “Curly, you interested in earning a pound?”

  A pound was worth twenty shillings. He’d be able to pay Conrad off and still have fifteen shilling. “Yeah.”

  “I want you to watch the apothecary’s back door. If anyone comes, leave without being seen, flag a carriage, and hurry to this address. Tell anyone who works there what you’ve seen.”

  “Then what?”

  “Then go spend your pound.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Yeah, but it could be awhile before someone shows up.”

  Curly shrugged. He didn’t have anything better to do, and besides, he owed Jacko one. “I’ll do it.”

  Jacko handed him a slip of paper. “That’s the address you are to report to.”

  He lit a match and read it then his eyes widened. “I’m working for Sherlock Holmes?”

  “Yes, but don’t tell him you’re working for him…or call him Sherlock Holmes. Either will set him off.”

  ***

  Having solved a serious flaw with this sudden retreat before the case was solved, Jacko hurried back to the carriage and climbed in.

  “Who was that?” Vic demanded.

  “A fellow who tried to kill me today. I asked him to watch the alley.”

  Tubs frowned. “You sure that’s wise?”

  “He’s quite reliable. He served under me when I was a captain.”

  “When you were a pirate, you mean,” Vic challenged.

  “Why are you so surly?” Jacko snapped.

  “Because I can’t seem to solve this case! And I’m cold and hungry, which wouldn’t bother me if I was getting closer to the truth. But, how will I face Pete, when I’ve got nothing that will put either of Maggie’s murderers in jail?”

  Ben nodded. “He’ll be devastated. He thinks you’re the smartest person in the world. After all, you found Mr. Thorn when an entire army and Scotland Yard couldn’t.”

  “She did have help,” Jacko growled. Why was it people only remembered Vic’s contributions to their cases?

  “He’s right. Without L’il Pete, I would have never found Xavier,” Vic replied.

  Having heard enough, Jacko slammed his fist upon the roof. “Davy, stop the carriage. I want out.”

  “Out where?” Vic demanded.

  “Just out. Clearly, I’m not needed.”

  “Of course, you are. You have many skills that no one else possesses,” Vic said.

  “Name one,” he challenged, not because he didn’t believe it, but because no one in the carriage seemed to think he had value. He’d spent the last year and a half on Alice’s estate being bloody useless. He needed to know his skills were still needed here.

  “You saved Alice’s mother. Nobody else here had the many skills that took. I couldn’t have done it because I still don’t know how you got in, and believe me, I’d been all around the place.”

  He noticed Vic nudged Tubs then the big fellow added, “I couldn’t have done it for a whole bunch of reasons. Too big to sneak in, the attic wouldn’t hold me, and no one would willingly follow me out.”

  Jacko smiled at Tubs for his honest evaluation.

  “I couldn’t have done it, either,” Ben stated. “Because no one has taught me how to do anything other than disguise myself as a dirty street kid.”

  Vic patted Ben’s knee. “Don’t worry. Next time we have to steal someone from Bedlam, you can dress up as a young dandy and we’ll check the place out together. Then I’ll let you cause the riot while I retrieve the person.”

  And just like that, Vic took away his value. “You just stated you haven’t a clue how to get in!”

  “I don’t, but I expect you to show me before you return to the countryside.”

  “I will not.”

  “Then I’ll have Xavier show me,” she snapped.

  “If Xavier wanted you to know, he’d have already shown you,” Jacko replied. God, he sounded like a petulant child even to his own ears. He thumped on the carriage ceiling. “Davy, stop this damn carriage and let me out.”

  The carriage continued moving.

  “I think Davy’s gone deaf,” he muttered.

  “No, he’s just following orders,” Tubs replied. “Mr. Thorn wanted all of you back.”

  “I’m sure he only meant Vic and Ben.”

  “No, he specifically included you.”

  “He said that?”

  Tubs nodded.

  “You aren’t just trying to make me feel better?”

  “Nope. He wants you.”

  Jacko leaned back and closed his eyes.

  Xavier still needed him.

  “Jacko,” Vic spoke, ruining his moment. “Were you under the impression you haven’t been missed since you ran off to have babies? That is far from the truth, you know? There have been many cases we could have solved faster if you’d been here. If Xavier seems a bit put out with you, it’s because you left us with a gap in skills we couldn’t fill.”

  He wasn’t ready to forgive Vic just yet. “Evidently, my skills aren’t so valued. You credited an eight-year-old boy for being critical to saving Xavier, but everyone appears to have forgotten my contributions to the case.”

  “No one has forgotten. Without you I wouldn’t have acquired a map of doctors who would not report knife wounds.”

  His frown deepened. The map was Xavier’s, not his.

  “And even when I found the right doctor, I was unable to make him show me where he’d put Xavier. Yet, for you, he gave it up at once. And then when we entered, had you not been there, I could have been shot by Tubs.”

  “No chance that was happening,” Tubs objected.

  Vic gripped the giant’s hand and he huffed. “Well, maybe…”

  Jacko softly laughed. Poor fellow was so in love with Vic that he’d lie to please her. He decided to return the favor. “You could have taken us both out, Tubs, which w
as why I was so worried and dare I say, aggressively rude to you that day.”

  Tubs shrugged his massive shoulders. “I understood your position.”

  The carriage pulled to an abrupt halt, almost tossing Jacko and Ben into the seat with Vic and Tubs.

  “Davy!” Vic yelled.

  Davy opened the door and snapped, “Everyone inside.” His glare focused on Jacko, as if expecting trouble from him.

  Once they entered Thorn’s Private Inquiries, Davy locked and bolted the door. “Tubs, you should come up. I ‘spect Xavier will want to be carried down to his office.”

  “Carried? What’s happened?” Vic flew up the stairs without waiting for an answer to her question.

  ***

  Now Vic understood why they had been called back. While she was wasting her days playing shop girl, something terrible had happened to Xavier. Damn it, she should have never left him. He performed so much better when they worked together. They both did.

  She tripped three times on the damn skirt she wore before reaching the top of the landing. Bursting into their room, she stopped in shock. Never in all the time she’d known Xavier had he gone to bed at six in the evening. And his clothes looked several days in the wear.

  She pounced upon her side of the bed, ripping his shirt open so she could press her ear upon his chest to ensure he was alive.

  A groan and an indecipherable mutter responded. Vic glared up at Tubs who had followed her in. “What’s happened?”

  “Someone tried to poison him.”

  “Get Dr. Connors.”

  By this time Davy and Ben had crowded in the room, as well.

  “I took him straight to Dr. Connors, minutes after he was poisoned,” Davy said.

  “Well, bring Connors here now. I want a full report.” Her eyes narrowed when she sensed Davy wasn’t going to obey her. “I’m warning you, Davy. Bring Dr. Connors here, or I’m hiring my own driver.”

  Even though she’d been making this threat several times a month for years, this time she meant it, and Davy stiffened at her words. The pain of betrayal shone in his eyes. “I’ll get him now. Tubs, don’t let anyone leave ‘til Xavier wakes up and talks to them.”

  Tubs’ eyes held such disappointment. Once Davy left, she tried to defend her threat. “He constantly ignores my orders.”