Pack of Trouble (The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Book 5)

by Liza O'Connor

  Jacko took the boy. “Fair enough. But I’m giving him to Davy and coming right back.”

  Waiting until his son was safely out of the alley, Xavier knocked on the door. An old woman opened the small door, and stared out. Upon sight of Xavier, her eyes rounded in fear and she slammed the little door closed.

  Xavier stepped back. “That’s Barnacle’s mother. Tubs, get us in.”

  Tubs rammed the door and it splintered apart. Somehow in the scramble that ensued, Stone managed to push in and locate the basement first. A few seconds after he disappeared into the dark hole, two gunshots rang out and then complete silence.

  Chapter 13

  “Vic!” Xavier yelled and disappeared into the mouth of hell. Tubs followed right behind him. Meyers brought up the rear, his lantern illuminating the multiple bodies on the stone floor.

  Stone knelt beside Barnacle while Xavier and Tubs flew to Vic, who lay like a broken toy, limbs at odd angles.

  “No!” Xavier cried. “You cannot die, not like this, not from the hands of an imbecile. I forbid it. ” He pulled her limp body against his and sobbed, “God, help me!”

  Tubs pushed Xavier back a bit and shoved his ear close to her chest. Before Xavier could even find the words to protest, the giant smiled. “Vic’s growling.” He moved back so Xavier could hear.

  Xavier wasn’t sure it was a growl, but it was a strand of hope, and that was all he needed. “Meyers, get Dr. Connors here at once!”

  Meyers nodded and flew up the stairs.

  Tubs moved to the other body, chained to the wall and felt for a pulse. “Ben’s alive too.” He then looked at Barnacle.

  Stone shook his head.

  “You sure?” Tubs challenged and checked the cretin for himself. He then returned to Xavier and Vic. “Bastard’s dead. One shot through the heart.”

  But there were two shots. Xavier searched for a gun wound. Stone approached. “His shot may have gone wide, having died while pulling the trigger.”

  Tubs checked the surrounded area and found a hole in the stonewall inches above Vic’s head.

  “It did,” he said. He then checked Vic’s head to see if the bullet had grazed her skull.

  “Vic’s got a bad lump on his forehead, but it appears to be from the fall.” He glanced at the steep stairs leading down to the cellar. He gently examined her arm, and the growling increased. “I think Vic got pushed down the steps.”

  Xavier cursed softly. “This is my fault, Vic. I should have sent the boy to Australia instead of Cambridge.”

  “You know this man?” Stone asked.

  “As do you. It’s Barnacle. The street urchin who used to watch houses for me.”

  “But he’s dressed as a gentleman.”

  “He’s spent the last six years in a boarding school and then Cambridge…on my dime.”

  “Why would he attempt to kill Vic and this other young man?” Stone asked.

  “Because there is something evil in the boy. His jealousy of Vic worried me, so I sent him away to school, thinking he’d forget about Vic and focus on his own good fortune.”

  “Wait, isn’t this the young man who takes your appointments?”

  “No. That’s Ben, the one chained to the wall. Evidently, Barnacle took a dislike to him as well.” Xavier pressed his lips to Vic’s forehead. “Hold on, pup. Connors is coming to the rescue again.”

  A faint tightening of her hand in his was his only clue she’d heard him, but it was enough to keep his hope alive.

  Stone knelt down beside Vic and frowned. “Are you certain he’s alive?”

  A loud growl emanated from her chest.

  The Inspector smiled. “I’ll take that as a yes, Vic. Hang in there and don’t go anywhere near a light.”

  Xavier stared at Stone. “Does the pup look ready to go anywhere?”

  “Connors told me when some of his patients come close to dying that they see a beautiful white light. But the ones who survived all decided not to follow it.”

  “Stay away from lights, Vic,” Xavier ordered. “That’s for bank tellers and claims assessors. You’d be bored stiff for an eternity.”

  Tubs moved to Ben and checked him for injuries. “I’m going to find Ben water. His lips have cracked.”

  Xavier nodded. “Vic would never forgive us if we allowed him to die now.”

  A growl seemed to confirm his observation.

  Tubs climbed the steps. His rumbling voice could be heard from above. “Thank God! They’re downstairs. I’m going in search of clean water. I should be back soon.”

  Xavier breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Connors and Meyers hurry down the steps. With reluctance, he stepped away from Vic, so England’s finest doctor could tend to her.

  Connors focused on Vic midway down the steps and the sight caused him to stumble. Meyer’s righted him from behind. “Easy Doc, we’ve more than enough down already.”

  By the doctor’s distress, Xavier was certain he thought Vic was long gone. “The pup isn’t dead. He’s growled several times, and even managed to squeeze my hand once.”

  Instead of looking relieved, Connors lips tightened into a thin line. He placed the stethoscope against Vic’s chest and listened. After an eternally long minute, he pulled back and shook his head.

  Vic had died?

  After he told the pup not to?

  Impossible.

  “The body sometimes makes noises in death, as the gases shift inside.”

  “No!” he yelled. “Vic squeezed my hand.”

  “Muscles contract,” Connors added. He placed the stethoscope upon her chest. “There’s no heartbeat.”

  “There has to be! Vic wouldn’t leave me. He wouldn’t! He can’t,” Xavier cried and buried his face against her stiff flat chest.

  Flat chest.

  He grabbed the end of the stethoscope and shoved the steel cup beneath the muslin shirt. “Listen now!”

  “Xavier…” Connors said softly.

  “Listen, damn you!” he yelled.

  Connors sighed and placed the stethoscope plugs into his ears. His eyes widened in surprise. “There’s a heartbeat.” Dropping the stethoscope back into his bag, he began to assess her injuries. As he felt for bone breaks on her arms and legs, a few growls emanated from her chest.

  “I know it hurts, Vic. But I have to determine the state of your injuries. However, feel free to growl whenever the pain becomes unbearable.”

  By the time Connors finished, Vic had growled eight times.

  “Well?” Xavier demanded.

  The doctor sighed heavily and met his eyes. “Let’s get Vic to my office and go from there.”

  “Would the hospital not be better?” Stone challenged.

  “If you wish him to die of infection, then yes, by all means.” He refocused on Xavier. “Vic needs multiple surgeries to reset bones. My operating room is far more sterile than a hospital.”

  Tubs returned with water in a pot.

  “That won’t help this time,” Connors said.

  The giant let the pot drop to the floor, splashing water on the stone. “You can’t save him?”

  “I may be able to keep him alive, but I cannot promise he’ll ever walk or be without pain again.”

  Tubs massive face wrinkled and shook. “You gotta do better than that.” He hurried over to Ben and yanked the chain out of the wall. He then handed the tankard he’d brought down to Stone. “Give the boy water, but don’t let him drink too much or he’ll just throw it up.”

  Stone looked to Connors who nodded.

  Tubs knelt down by Vic. “I’m not losing my only friend, so the doc is going to fix you up right and proper. I’ll make sure of it.”

  He then lifted her into his arms and carried her upstairs.

  Chapter 14

  Connors glared at Xavier, no doubt because a threat lay in Tubs’ words. However, Xavier didn’t give a damn. Saving Vic as an invalid in constant pain would be worse than losing her.

  He rose and followed the love
of his life. Connors had to do a hell of a lot better than he’d just promised.

  “Shall I have Ben taken to the hospital?” Stone asked.

  After a visual assessment of the boy, the doctor said, “No. He looks to be starved and dehydrated, but nothing more. Take him to his family. Tell them he needs water in small doses and nothing solid for the first day, only soup broths.”

  Jacko spoke from the top of the steps. “Fine plan, only Ben has no family. Take him to my house, Meyers. Alice will care for him.” He sighed heavily. “Had I searched for the boy a week ago, he wouldn’t be in this condition and Vic would be fine.”

  Xavier gripped his shoulder as he met Jacko at the top of the steps. “You can’t play ‘if only’ games. They will drive you mad. Believe me, I know.” He then hurried out, moving as fast as he dared in the filthy alley. Once he caught up to Tubs carrying Vic, he moved ahead. “I’ll get the carriage ready.”

  When Xavier opened the door of the carriage, he saw no child. “Davy, where is Cannon?” he panicked. Was he to lose everyone he loved in one fell swoop?

  “I got him up here with Pete,” Davy called down.

  “Good, keep them,” he said.

  “Is Vic alive?” Pete asked, suddenly by his side.

  “Yes.”

  “Then why are you so sad?” he challenged.

  He rubbed the boys’ head. “There is a big difference between alive and well. Now go help Davy with Cannon. He can’t drive the carriage and hold the baby at the same time.”

  “That would be a very bad idea,” Pete declared and scampered up the side of the carriage with the agility of a monkey.

  Sudden a shrill voice cut through the air. “Peter! What are you doing atop a carriage? Get down at once.”

  Xavier groaned at Claire’s horrible timing.

  “And what are you doing with a baby? Come down here!”

  Pete remained by Davy. “It’s my little brother, Miss Claire. I’m allowed to hold him.”

  “Atop a carriage? I should think not.”

  “I’m his big brother. I’m allowed to hold him anywhere. It’s my job!”

  Xavier appreciated the boy’s quick thinking. “Claire, this is none of your concern. Please cease making a scene and leave at once.”

  “Oh, I’ll leave all right. This is just further proof that Jacko is unfit to raise a chicken, nevertheless children.” With an arrogant toss of her head, she briskly walked down the street, thankfully, never looking to her left, where Tubs stood holding an unconscious Vic in his arms.

  Xavier opened the carriage door and climbed in so he could assist getting Vic inside. He sat on his pup’s side, providing his lap as her pillow while Tubs and Dr. Connors squeezed in on the other bench. Jacko joined his son on the driver’s seat. “To Connors, Davy,” Xavier called out.

  He didn’t have to wonder if Pete still had his son, the boy screamed at the top of his lungs the entire way. On the bright side, it gave pedestrians fair warning of the fast moving carriage.

  Once inside his surgical room, Dr. Connors ordered everyone but Xavier out. All but Tubs complied.

  “Thank you, Tubs, you can go,” Connors snapped.

  “All the same with you, I’ll stay.” He then focused on Xavier. “He shouldn’t be cutting to set bones. He should be able to do that by feel. And if he can’t, I can.”

  “You can set bones?” Connors challenged.

  “I’ve set my own all the time, and I can clearly walk and they don’t hurt, so I’d say I do bones really well.”

  “Yes, your nose is inspiring.”

  “My pa kicked me in the face when I was three. Nobody set that one ’cause I hadn’t learned how yet.”

  “Enough!” Xavier snapped. “Connors, will you at least allow him to try? Tubs has never once overpromised on something he says he can do.”

  “He can try setting the right leg. If he can’t, I’ll repair it surgically.”

  Tubs grabbed Vic’s leg, pulled, causing her to growl, then released it.

  “Damn it, Tubs! I didn’t mean now! Turn around while I get Vic’s pants off so I can see to the damage you just did.”

  Tubs glared at him. “I didn’t do no damage. I set the leg like it needed. There’s no reason Vic has to suffer pain while you undress him. He don’t need to be naked to set bones.”

  Once the pant leg was cut off above the injury, Connors examined the bone. He continued to feel the leg until Xavier lost patience. “Connors, what is your finding.”

  He stepped back and shook his head. “The leg is so well set that I can barely detect the break.” He focused on Tubs. “Have you ever set an ankle?”

  Tubs nodded. “Takes longer, due to all the little bones, but I can do it.”

  Connors pointed to the bones he believed were broken.

  After doing his own feel, Tubs added, “There’s another one further down.” He closed his eyes and allowed his fingers to see for him.

  Vic growled.

  Xavier petted her forehead. “Turns out we can add bone setting to Tubs’ long list of valuable skills.

  A faint smile came to Tubs’ lips. “Just one more Vic, then your ankle will be good as new. He pulled the pup’s ankle, earning a loud growl before he declared it done.

  Connors checked at once. “This is amazing. I’ve never known anyone who could set bones this well.” He then smiled at Tubs. “Can you set a wrist?”

  “Of course he can,” Xavier stated and patted Tubs on the back.

  Tubs set Vic’s right wrist, then the forefinger. “I hate to ruin the muslin, but there’s a good chance he’s got problems on his shoulder, given the damage to the elbow and the forehead.”

  Xavier located scissors and cut the muslin, ignoring Vic’s growls. “Hush,” he warned. “It’s better to lose one garment than to suffer a lifetime of pain.”

  The growling stopped.

  While Tubs checked the shoulders, Connors checked the ribs.

  “His shoulders look fine,” Tubs said.

  “As do his ribs,” Connors added.

  “Then you’ve fixed my pup?” Xavier asked, unable to believe she’d been so easy to repair.

  A loud growl emanated from the patient.

  “Vic says not yet.” Tubs felt about her neck and then jaw line. “Here’s the problem.” He looked at Connor. “I can do this, but I need him to sit up. Is that okay with you?”

  She tried to get up on her own, but Connors yelled at her to stop. “For the love of God, we just set those bones! They are not ready to be used yet.”

  Xavier gripped her beneath the arms and brought her to a seated position. Tubs slipped behind her, ran his arms beneath her armpits and grabbed her jaw, pulled and let it pop back into its proper place.

  “Bloody hell, that hurt!” she yelled.

  “Sorry,” he muttered and stepped back.

  “I’m not mad at you, Tubs. I daresay I liked this a lot more than surgery that hurts for months.”

  “Then you are no longer in any pain?” Connors asked.

  After she pointed to her left pinkie. Tubs felt about and then pulled and released. She sighed with relief. “No offense Connors, but I’m going to Tubs for all bone setting.”

  “Tubs and I should work in unison, because you still need casts for your left ankle and leg, right leg, both lower arms, and your left wrist, plus splints on two fingers on your right hand.”

  She looked to Tubs. “Is that true?”

  He shrugged. “Sounds like a good idea. I never did, but then I couldn’t afford a doctor. But it hurts like hell to walk until the bones heal and if you don’t step just right, they’ll go off and then you have to reset the bone, and for some reason that hurts a lot more.”

  “It’s because it’s no longer a clean break. The bone has partially healed,” Connors explained. “Thus, you are tearing bone from bone, and honestly, I don’t know anyone who can do that or bear the pain of having it done, other than you apparently.”

  Tubs grimaced and looked
at Vic. “It does hurt, so you should probably listen to the doc and wear the casts.”

  She glared down at the remnants of her muslin shirt. “And now how am I to get home?” she demanded.

  “Is that allowed?” Xavier asked. Given Connors’ bleak attitude, he never even contemplated he’d get his pup back so soon.

  “I have to cover him in casts, which will take several hours.

  Vic glare at her muslin garment now destroyed beyond ruin. “That gives you time to go to my tailor and tell him you want one made like this. And make sure he understands this one was made when I was in a different country. I don’t want his feelings hurt.”

  “And what about my feelings?” Xavier snapped. “You have put me through bloody hell today!”

  “And my day was such a delight?” she challenged. “What with your deranged former street urchin kidnapping Ben and tossing me down a flight of stairs onto a stone floor. Do you know how hard stone is?”

  Xavier burst into laughter at her question and covered her face with kisses. “I will take the muslin and acquire you a new one as long as you promise to follow Connors’ requests in the meantime.”

  She stroked his chin, despite the pain it caused her. “I am sorry to have given you such a fright. Oh and if you see Meyers, tell him the jewelry store on St. George Street is selling the cut down jewels from the thefts.”

  Tubs snorted. “Tell him his thief is named Wiggles and can squeeze through places you wouldn’t think a man could fit. However, knowing the man running the racket, he’s probably got two or three other thieves working as well. That way they can alibi each other out.”

  “And the jeweler’s name?” Xavier asked.

  “Fields…only I don’t want credit for helping on this. I’d promised Wiggles I was only interested in finding the blond haired gentleman.”

  “How did he know where I was?” Vic asked.

  “Because you ran from the shop. Wiggles had been sent after you to retrieve whatever you stole.”

  “But I didn’t take anything.”

  “Trust me, that wouldn’t have stopped him from retrieving everything of value on you. The man has a sixth sense when it comes to things of value…rather like Jacko, only he’s not as nice.”