The Troublesome Apprentice (The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Book 1)

by Liza O'Connor

  “Why did you say otherwise last night?” Xavier demanded.

  Vic continued typing and ignored his question.

  Xavier laughed. “Because you had not thought of it. It is only now, when you are typing your notes, that you realize your original assumption was false.”

  She hated he had so easily nailed the truth. Her only recourse was to continue typing.

  “It happens an assumption made on the spot will often be wrong.”

  “If you will recall, I did not want to answer your question,” she reminded him.

  “But I wished to display my fine pony for Stone to envy.”

  “I am not your pony.”

  “True. Ponies lack impertinence. What animal is stubborn, willful, determined, intelligent, disagreeable, and laughs at me? Ah…of course…shall I call you my jackass?”

  “Impertinent pup is preferable,” she declared and continued typing.

  Jackass, indeed!

  Chapter 24

  When Xavier arrived at four to the record’s room, his poor pup cursed the book before her. “Damn it all! There’s nothing to be found!”

  “It happens,” Xavier said.

  She stared up in misery as her eyes grew glassy. He feared she would never fine-tune this particular skill if she continued to fail at every turn.

  He approached. “What trails have you followed?”

  “I have come to a dead end on Girard Candor in the very same year Robert Conrad’s history begins. May I see the file Scotland Yard has on Robert Candor?”

  “There was no Girard Candor in the file.”

  Her hands raked through her short blond hair. “I’d like to see it all the same.”

  “To what purpose?”

  She slammed her fists upon the table. “To see how research goes when people actually do have a prior life.”

  Xavier rubbed the tension from her shoulders. “You cannot focus on the quantity of information you obtain, only on the thoroughness of your search. A great researcher leaves no pebble unturned.”

  “That is all very well, but right now I would like to see a life with actual pebbles to overturn.”

  “You are thinking Robert Candor and Girard are somehow connected, but it would be most unlikely.”

  She groaned and stared at him with pitiful eyes. “Please…I cannot do this anymore. I am going out of my mind. I am sorry to disappoint you, but if you do not allow me some respite soon, I will forever hate research with a passion.”

  “Without the ability to research, you will never master your occupation.”

  “Then please don’t make me hate a skill I so require.”

  Her misery caused him to relent. “All right, pup, we will call it an early day on your lessons and give you a treat.” He helped her return the dusty books to the shelves. Once in the carriage, he brushed her off. “By gads, did you wallow about the floor in search of clues?”

  “It might have been more productive than searching the books.”

  He leaned out the window and gave Davy the destination of Scotland Yard.

  She leaned her head on his shoulder and hugged his arm.

  Xavier smiled at his apprentice. The pup truly wanted to see the information on Robert Candor. Vic would soon realize Robert and Girard’s ages were too disparate to be the same man. However, on the positive side, she would see what information typically could be found through research and, hopefully, regain her incentive to master the skill.

  Upon request, Stone sent Sergeant Meyers to bring the files to the interview room. He rose and led Xavier and Vic down the hall to the room. “It’s as strong a case as we’ve ever made and if we could find the bastard, he’d hang for his crimes. Same with Kingsley, although he hasn’t near the quantity of murders to his name,” Stone said and they entered the room with a wood table, four wooden chairs and an electrical light hanging four feet from the ceiling by its wire. “Thanks to your assistance, Victor, we could soon have him.”

  Xavier covered Vic’s ears and glared at Stone. “I must insist you not compliment my pup. His head is far too swollen as it is.”

  “Not today,” Vic murmured beneath her breath and sat in a chair as Sergeant Meyers returned. Xavier smiled and took the box from the man and placed it before her. “I promised you a treat, and here it is. Tear about in this so you can appreciate the value of outstanding research skills.”

  Sergeant Meyers smiled at Xavier’s comment.

  Stone protested. “I must insist you not compliment my men either, for now Meyers will tell everyone the great Mr. Holmes has praised his work. The rest of the men will be sick with envy and my office will see no peace for months!”

  Xavier apologized and promptly rescinded his remark. The sergeant didn’t seem to mind in the least. He still walked two inches taller when he left the room.

  “Shall we leave your pup to gnaw on his toy?” Stone asked. “I’ve a fine bourbon in my office just waiting for someone to appreciate it.”

  “Well, I am certainly willing to give it a try.” Xavier replied before giving Vic a stern warning. “Do not leave the evidence, pup, not even for a moment.”

  “My name is Victor,” she growled.

  Xavier followed Stone from the room and closed the door behind him. “Sorry, the boy is out of sorts today. Unfortunately, his first two attempts at research has resulted in nothing but dead ends. Thus, he has received no gratification for all his dusty work.”

  “If it’s the case I think you have him on, I’m not surprised, but I must reiterate the potential risk you put him in, just by searching.” Stone went to his cabinet and retrieved the bottle of bourbon.

  “If I limited him to only my ‘safe’ cases, he would leave my service and no doubt show up here asking for more exciting work.” Xavier laughed. “Which must be your intention, but it will not work, Stone. You have to find your own protégé.”

  The inspector smiled and handed Xavier a drink. “I envy you, unencumbered by politics and the niceties of such matters as warrants and due cause. I cannot even fire a member of my staff without cataloging all improprieties, procuring a mass of evidence, and taking statements from half the population of London.”

  “Found your leak, did you?” Xavier asked.

  “I’ve known my leak. I just didn’t want to believe he would sell information to criminals. I thought he only leaked to those above my head, not below as well.”

  “Politically connected?”

  “Nephew of a member of Parliament. I knew he was bad news when on his first day he arrived two hours late. I have yet to convince him starting time is before noon.”

  “Ha! Victor failed to show up until 4:30 in the afternoon his first day of work.”

  Stone shook his head. “I find that hard to believe, for I’ve seen you fire boys when they were one minute late.”

  “Well, they were imbeciles, and I used their tardiness as an excuse. However, when investigating Maddy’s death, I discovered Vic possessed an amazing intuitive skill. He also proved to be an excellent partner when he stayed quietly in the closet up to the point the damn fool suddenly had a gun in hand, pointing it straight at me.”

  “Victor was there?”

  “Yes. I instructed him to stay put until I told him otherwise. I had also told him to remain quiet, which he faithfully obeyed up to the critical point when he sniffled once. The moment the bastard turned to the sound, I shot him.”

  “You should have told me he was there,” Stone snapped. “We spoke of highly confidential matters.”

  “Which his aunt protected. He had a right to hear the truth. Your secret is safe enough, Stone…and I am very glad I brought him along, for it saved me a bullet. The man’s aim was all too steady for my liking.”

  Stone took a sip of the bourbon and smiled. “So the boy was up all night with you on the case, and you expected him to show up to work the next day, which was a Sunday.”

  “Of course.”

  “You’re damn lucky he showed up at all and didn’t conc
lude you were an unreasonable madman and find other employment.”

  “Not a madman, just a man who demands competence. Which reminds me, I was wondering if you might have a firearm to sell me. I gave Vic my backup.”

  “Has he had any training?”

  Xavier laughed and told Stone about their visit to the lodge.

  The Chief Inspector shook his head. “Now, you see, once again I envy you, Xavier. I wouldn’t dare take such a risk, for if discovered, it could mean my job. However, you do as you damn well please, knowing the worst you’ll get is a slap on the hand.”

  Xavier smiled. “I’m sorry, Stone, but I refuse to take you on as a partner, for if I did, you would leave this post and they’d probably promote the leaky fool into your position.”

  Stone sighed. “There are times I am tempted to walk away and start my own business.”

  “My advice—become a very rich man before you do. You’ll spend the first two years building a reputation and gathering a base of clientele who won’t pay their bills. If you expect your hard work to support you, you will be sadly disappointed.”

  “But you do well enough.”

  “I suppose, and I expect to do better now Vic demands payment of the first consultation upfront. Speaking of which, I believe it is time to retrieve my pup, for he becomes an absolute terror when he gets hungry.”

  Stone laughed. “I am beginning to wonder who is training whom?”

  “I wonder that myself, at times.”

  One of Stone’s men interrupted their discussion to let him know they had arrested the suspect on a major case.

  The inspector rose. “I need to observe the interrogation.”

  “Go on. I’ll gather my pup and get him fed. Shall we leave the file in the office?”

  “Can’t risk it. I’ll send Meyers to take it back to the file room,” Stone said and hurried down the hall.

  ***

  Vic smiled the moment Xavier entered the room. She couldn’t wait to share her discoveries.

  “You’ve cheered up. I expected to find a hungry, ill-tempered pup, and instead I find one who appears to be gloating. Perhaps Meyers accidentally left his lunch in the box and you are no longer starving?”

  “No, I’m famished, but the opportunity to gloat is overwhelming my need for food just now.” She showed him how the disappearance of Jerrold Candor matched with Girard Candor and the disappearance of Robert Candor matched with Robert Conrad.

  “And the woman?”

  “I’m not certain…perhaps she died…or simply lives under a different name. The coincidences are too marked. Robert Candor last resided in Edinburgh, Scotland. Robert Conrad first appeared in Dalkieth, just outside of Edinburgh. Jerrold’s last sighting occurred at the port city of Dunbar, where he could have caught a boat to France.”

  “There is no certainty in circumstances, but it is worth investigating,” he agreed. “However, until we have something more concrete, let us not mention this to Stone, for it will only upset him.”

  “But why? We may have found his killer?”

  “And it is a man he cannot touch. There is no situation more repugnant for an honest policeman.”

  His response depressed her. “Then we are probably wasting our time, for I am certain they are the same people.”

  “I respect your intuition, Vic, but we need to obtain proof first. Right now, we do not have sufficient evidence to share this with anyone, not even our client.”

  “Will we travel to Scotland? I’ve never been there and would greatly enjoy the chance to see it.”

  “No. I have a Scottish contact who will investigate.”

  “I would not mind going,” Vic assured him.

  He squeezed her shoulder. “I see your eagerness, but I need you here. Besides, when dealing with foreign countries it is always better to use a local investigator. People are more likely to talk to them.”

  “Scotland is not a foreign country,” she reminded him.

  Xavier laughed. “Which proves to me you’ve never been there. You aren’t going—end of discussion. Now, here is the sergeant to take back your toy so we can see to your feeding.”

  “I should warn you, this amusement you have set upon—pretending I am your dog—is wearing thin.”

  “Dog…by no means! You haven’t the experience. You are nothing but a young pup, still bouncing about thinking the world is very much to your liking. As an old dog who has seen the worst of life, I advise you to enjoy this stage, for it only goes downhill from here.”

  What disturbed Vic most about Xavier’s response was his sincerity. Once they were in the carriage, headed to her house, she risked a clarification to his discontentment. “It is not I who has sent you downhill, is it?” she asked, her voice so soft that when he did not immediately respond, she wondered if he had heard her. The thought also crossed her mind he had heard, but did not respond because the answer was yes.

  Finally, he replied, “You did not send me downhill, only made me see what direction I traveled. You are rather like the arrival of the sun after a cold wet month of rain. The warm sunshine reminds you how dreary your last month has been. I believe I was becoming something of a curmudgeon before you arrived. So if my newfound humor annoys, you must toughen your skin and learn to endure, for I’m inclined to enjoy my sunshine as I can.”

  Vic grinned. “I’ll survive.”

  Chapter 25

  Gregory did not seem in the least put out when Xavier announced he would remain for dinner.

  “We will always set a place for you Mr. Thorn,” Claire said. “You are not obliged to stop working and come to dinner but, rest assured, when time allows, you will be welcomed as family.”

  “I cannot feel like family when you insist upon the formality of calling me Mr. Thorn. Why, even my employees do not call me such.”

  Vic did not like the warmth and admiration in Xavier’s and Claire’s eyes. She stared at Jonas, expecting to find outrage equal to her own. To her annoyance, he showed no concern whatsoever that his beloved flirted with another man. What on earth is wrong with him?

  “Is there something you require, Vic?” Claire asked.

  “No, I just thought perhaps Jonas should be consulted before you willy-nilly invite people to eat at our table any time they please.” She hated the surliness in her voice. It made her sound petulant.

  “Are you saying you would prefer I send Xavier off without dinner?” Claire challenged.

  Everyone, including Xavier, stopped and stared at her. Fortunately, his eyes sparkled and the corners of his mouth tugged upward before he covered his amusement with a napkin and a cough.

  While she resented him finding it so amusing, she was glad he had not misunderstood and thought she did not wish him to dine with them. “I am saying no such thing, Claire. I am the one who invited Xavier to dinner…” She frowned when she realized she had not actually done so. “Or would have, had he not declared his intention to remain before I had the chance to ask him.”

  “Then I don’t understand why you are upset,” Claire said.

  “It is my place to invite Xavier, not yours. You have your friends. Do not presume ownership of mine as well. Now, enough said on the matter. Let us change topics.”

  Xavier coughed again and turned to Claire. “I daresay I should work on the boy’s manners as well as his skills.”

  “You?” Vic sputtered. “You work on my manners! You’ve the worst manners of anyone I’ve ever known.”

  Gregory walked behind Vic, pulled her up by the arm, and escorted her from the table. He did not release her until they reached her quarters.

  “I cannot believe you are sending me to my room at my age,” Vic protested.

  “I am shocked I still have to,” Gregory replied. “Now, what has come over you?” He pressed his hand on her forehead.

  “I’m not sick. I just didn’t like Claire and Xavier flirting with each other. Claire has her own lover. She’s no right to Xavier as well.”

  Gregory sat down.
“Now I understand.” He shook his head and sighed. “You have fallen in love with Xavier Thorn.”

  She sat down beside him and nodded in agreement. “I didn’t plan to do it, but it’s not possible to resist such perfection.”

  Gregory choked.

  His reaction shocked her. “You don’t think Xavier the most perfect of men?”

  “The man is rude, arrogant, and completely insufferable.”

  “On the outside, perhaps he is, a little. But inside, he is utter perfection.”

  Gregory took her hand in his. “I hope you are taking precautions.”

  “Precautions?”

  “Not to have children.”

  “Oh…I won’t allow that to happen, you can rest assured. No matter how much he wishes to.”

  “He wants children? For what purpose? He works day and night. Now I am utterly convinced he’s not the man for you.”

  “No, you misunderstood. He still thinks I’m a young man. What he wishes is to make love to a young man and, naturally, I’ve declined.”

  Gregory frowned. “But you have stayed at his house overnight.”

  “Nothing happened.”

  “Nothing?”

  Damn, she hated the way Gregory could sniff out a half-truth. “We slept in the same bed and snuggled a bit…”

  “You snuggled in his bed, and he still thinks you’re a young man?” Gregory asked in disbelief.

  “It was very respectful snuggling,” she assured him.

  Gregory sniffed as if he smelled manure.

  “Honestly, Gregory. While he does desire for our relationship to be physical, he has accepted my position in the matter. He understands I’ve a secret preventing us from going any further. He is satisfied with what we have.”

  Gregory considered this. “If Xavier prefers young men, you are right to allow matters to go no further. However, if that is his preference, why on Earth did you object to Claire being nice to him? There’s no confusion as to her gender.”