He looked down at his hands and shirt then grimaced. “You’re probably right.”
“I’m afraid that happens when you pass through the haze that hovers over most of the larger cities.” She gestured to the cabin. “There’s a mirror inside one of the cabinet doors directly behind the wheel. There should also be a container of water and clean towels.”
“I don’t like the idea of you wandering about the port without me. There are more people here than I care for.”
“It’s always crowded this time of day.” She patted his chest. “I’ve filled out many port documents. I promise it will only take a few moments.”
He frowned. “Which building is it?”
She tipped her head in the direction of the busiest building. “Just there.”
“The one with all of the notices posted along the front wall.”
“That’s the one.”
“Very well. At least take a couple of your automata with you.”
She held open the pocket of her skirt. “As if I could leave them.”
“All right. Just hurry.”
“I will.” For a moment she thought he might kiss her. But that would be highly improper in a crowded area. Still, she practically skipped down the ramp in her giddiness. Just before she merged into the congestion of people on the pier she glanced back. Sure enough, he was watching her.
How long had it been since someone other than Mrs. Ellison worried about her well-being? Peter cared about her but he treated her as more of a peer than a sister. Not that she would tolerate any hand-holding or pampering from him.
As expected, the paperwork only took a moment to complete. It was always the same three questions about where they came from, what goods were they bringing in, and when they expected to depart. When she finished she pushed her way back through the crowd to the Valkyrie.
She glanced through one of the cabin windows before opening the door to make sure it was safe. In the short time she’d been gone Nathaniel had managed to wash up, don a clean shirt, and slip his jacket on. From the expression on his face she could tell his investigator persona had been restored. Part of her was disappointed. The other part was intrigued. After all, his serious “I’m working” side was, well… appealing.
“That didn’t take long,” she remarked as she entered the cabin.
He tugged on his sleeve as he faced her. “I’m afraid your towel is worse for the wear now though.”
She shrugged one shoulder. “That’s what it’s there for.”
“Everything go all right with the port office?”
She went to the cabinet to gather her things. “Of course.”
“What did you tell them was the reason for our visit?”
She waved her hand to dismiss the question. “I told them I had a shipment to pick up.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.” She pulled her reticule from one of the compartments then went to the cabinet that held the mirror and washbasin. “Do you mind if I take a moment to clean up also?”
“No. Go right ahead.” He gathered his hat and cane. “Would you like for me to wait outside for you?”
“Not necessary.”
He blinked in surprise.
“I don’t plan to change clothes, only wash the soot off.”
He drew close and touched the tip of her nose. “But you wear it well, my dear.” He winked then added, “I’ll wait right outside anyway.” With a flip of his wrist his hat landed squarely on his head. The roar of the crowded pier flowed in when he opened the cabin door. He stepped outside and closed her in once again.
Using one of the clean towels she washed her face and hands then neatened her hair. She gave her blouse and skirts a quick inspection and decided they would be passable for strolling about town. Her skirt had enough material to pass for a walking dress even though it was actually a split riding skirt. Normally she would have worn trousers to captain the ship but her worry that Nathaniel would have been scandalized had won out.
In truth, she had probably not given him enough credit. After all, his mother’s behavior didn’t necessarily reflect his thoughts.
She pinned her hat in place then slipped into her own jacket.
“Come along Squeaks. Nid, you too.” She held her reticule open for her pets to climb in. “Wings, you and Hopper keep an eye on Valkyrie for me.”
Wings spread her wings and bobbed at her in acknowledgement.
She opened one of the upper cabin windows so her pets could slip in and out if they needed. “I should think we’ll be back before dinner.”
She joined Nathaniel on deck and locked the cabin door behind her.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“I believe so.” She took his offered arm.
“Will the Valkyrie will be safe?”
She nodded. “Yes. We have an agreement with some of the dock personnel. They keep an eye on all Panhurst ships that come in to make sure they aren’t tampered with and to minimize stowaways.”
“How reliable are they?”
“Well, we don’t expect them to act as security only report to the captain if anyone suspicious has been near the ships. More of an alert that we need to check and re-check before departing.”
“Ah.”
“The dock workers don’t want the ships tampered with any more than the captains or owners. It’s too dangerous. One explosion or collision in the port could set off a chain reaction that any of them could be caught in.”
“I hadn’t thought of it in that way. That actually relieves my mind.”
She patted his arm. “So where are we headed today?”
At the entrance to the port he waved down a hackney.
“To Queens Street. I had thought we could do a bit of shopping.”
She frowned at him. “You must be joking.”
“Not at all.”
When the hackney came to a stop, he negotiated with the driver then helped her up. She waited until he was settled then pinned him with her stare. “Shopping? I know we didn’t come to Edinburgh to go shopping. What are you up to?”
“Nothing at all,” he said with false enthusiasm.
Squeaks scampered out of her bag and ran across the seat. She climbed up onto Nathaniel leg and watched him.
Trixie snorted. “Apparently Squeaks has taken a liking to you.”
“She has good taste.”
“I’m beginning to question that,” she mumbled.
He leaned closer. “I need for you to trust me for a little while. Can you do that?”
She gazed into his eyes. She didn’t need to think about it. She trusted him. Far more than she should. After all what did she really know about Nathaniel? Most of her knowledge came from memories or things she’d heard from other people. Yet her heart and her instincts said she could depend on this man. That he was there to help her and he would protect her if he could.
“Yes. I can do that.”
He reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“That doesn’t mean I have to like being kept in the dark,” she added.
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t expect you to.”
While he was distracted, Squeaks dashed into his jacket pocket. Trixie smiled, but didn’t mention anything about him having a passenger.
When they arrived at their destination, Nathaniel exited then helped her down. He paid the driver then offered his arm to her. They strolled along the bustling sidewalk as if they were simply enjoying an afternoon out. Finally he stopped in front of a milliner’s window.
She raised a brow in question. “Needing something for a lady friend?”
“Hardly. Do you see that building just there?” He pointed to the image reflected in the storefront glass.
“Yes.”
“The one I need to go in is just on the other side of it. I won’t get away with taking an escort of any kind inside so I thought you might spend an hour or two shopping. My treat.”
“You’re offering to pacify me with gif
ts? How very bourgeoisie of you.”
“Consider it a healthy alternative to breaking and entering.”
She harrumphed. “Anything in particular I should buy while I’m here?”
“Whatever your little heart desires.” He slipped a handful of notes into her reticule.
“I could use a new wrap.” She tapped the side of her jaw. “Perhaps something in black?”
“Pink would be far more appealing on you.” He raised her hand to his lips but instead of kissing the top he turned her hand over and he pressed his lips to inside of her wrist.
Trixie’s heart flip-flopped in her chest and her lips parted on a gasp.
His lips twitched. “Stay out of trouble. I’ll meet you shortly.”
She stood shock still as he hurried across the street. She rubbed her wrist where it still tingled from his touch. When she looked up he had blended into the crowd and she couldn’t easily pick him out.
Oooooh. He was a devil.
And he knew exactly how to distract her.
10
The Edinburgh intelligence office was hidden beneath a seemingly innocuous space. If observed for any time, one might think the building housed a gentleman’s club or perhaps a series of bachelor apartments despite the accounting firm occupying one end. Knowing a direct and honest approach would work best, Nathaniel accessed the RIO through the middle entrance.
An older scholarly gentleman looked up from his desk in the foyer. “May I help you, sir?”
“Good morning. I do hope I’m in the right place. My friend, Mr. Glastone, told me I might locate a few of my colleges here.” Nathaniel touched the pin he wore on his lapel that signified him as a Royal Intelligence Officer.
“It’s very likely sir. Your name is?”
“Nathaniel Dennison.”
“And what brings you to our fair city, Mr. Dennison?”
“I’m in the process of developing a business proposal, but need a little help with some of the details. I had hoped some of my Edinburgh colleagues might have some information that will point me in the right direction.”
The man left his pen in the crease of his book and stood. “Perhaps I can help you find some of your colleagues, Mr. Dennison.” He waved Nathaniel toward the door at the end of foyer. “Right this way.”
The man pulled a key from his waistcoat and unlocked the door. He knocked twice, paused, then once again. The sound of a bolt sliding to one side echoed through the heavy wood then the handle turned and the door opened. On the other side lay a narrow hallway. The walls and ceiling were lined with dark wood panels. A guard stood at attention by the door. The man said to the guard, “Alexander, this is Mr. Dennison from the London office. I’m going to escort him to the records room. I should only be a moment.”
The guard said nothing. He didn’t even twitch in acknowledgement.
Nathaniel’s escort pressed a hidden notch in one of the panels, opening a second door. This door led to a large, brightly lit sitting room. The dark wood and masculine setting were typical of any gentleman’s club. There were small groupings of chairs scattered about the room. Some were paired with a table or free-standing ash tray. At this hour it was no surprise to find only a couple of people in attendance.
He followed his escort through two more doors, down two sets of stairs and a long hallway. By his estimation, they were beneath the street he had crossed when he left Trixie.
“How long have you been with the organization?” Nathaniel asked.
“Twenty three years. And you, sir?”
“Five.”
The man glanced at his pin. “And already a senior investigator?”
Nathaniel shrugged. “I have a knack for puzzles.”
“Hmmmm.”
They turned left at the end of the passage way and the man used his key to open yet another heavy wood door. “George, this is Mr. Dennison from the London office.”
The man working at the desk spun his wheelchair and faced them.
Nathaniel’s original escort continued. “He is working on a case and would like access to our records. Would you be so kind as to assist him?”
“Delighted,” George remarked.
“I will leave you in George’s capable hands so I can return to my desk out front,” Nathaniel’s escort said.
“Thank you.”
“So what can I help you find, Mr. Dennison?” George asked.
“I need everything you have on scientists or inventors who have disappeared in the last ten years, whether we conducted a full investigation or not.”
“Hmmm.” George furrowed his brow. “I believe Mr. Morris looked into something along those lines about two years ago.”
“Did he find anything of interest?”
“Wouldn’t know. He never had a chance to finish it. He died in a carriage accident.”
“What happened to his case files?”
“They were packed up by his superior. Any open cases would have been reassigned.”
“Do you know who would have taken that case?”
“Don’t know that there was an official case made of it. As I recall he was following a lead to see where it might go.” He shrugged. “You know how those go. Some pan out, others not.”
Nathaniel nodded. “I do. Don’t suppose his notes were kept?”
“They were indeed.” George wheeled himself to the wall lined with drawers. “I like to keep a file on each of our officers.” He rummaged in one of the drawers then pulled out a packet of documents and notebooks. “Here we are.” George pointed to a cleared off place in the middle of a row of shelves. “This is everything that wasn’t part of an active case.”
Nathaniel flipped through the pages of handwritten notes. Some had been made to resemble entries in a journal. Others appeared to be random thoughts. Almost all of the recent notes mentioning missing persons had a short series of numbers and letters scribbled above them.
“George, do you have any idea what this is?”
Nathaniel pointed to the strange notation when George wheeled himself over and peered at the page.
“That is probably one of our dead case numbers.”
“Can you show me where to find it?”
“That will be in the back.” George led the way deeper into the file room where row after row of boxed files were stored. “Ah. Here we are.” George pulled one of the boxes forward on the shelf. It was the only one in that area without a layer of dust.
“I’m guessing Mr. Morris returned to this box more than once?”
“Yes, actually.”
“May I?” Nathaniel gestured to the box.
George scooted back to give Nathaniel room. “Go right ahead. Any idea what you’re looking for?”
“Not immediately, no. Still trying to determine what Mr. Morris’ line of thinking was with his notes.”
“May have been nothing.”
“Maybe. However, I like to be thorough.” Nathaniel opened the box and revealed multiple files. Each one had been labeled with a different name. Perhaps a series of missing people?
“You’re welcome to move the box to the table where you were working.”
“I will if I feel I need to dig into it deeper. Mostly, I just want to see if there is any commonality in the files.”
“Ah. Well, I’ll leave you to it then.”
Nathaniel murmured this thanks as he dug into the files. As soon as George scooted away, Trixie’s mechanical mouse climbed out of his pocket. The tiny mechanical ran down his sleeve and onto the edge of the box. He too peered down into the contents. “What are you doing here?” he whispered.
Nathaniel shook off the notion that the mouse might answer and continued digging through the box. The files had been labeled with names. Some he recognized but couldn’t place where he knew them. He made notes in his book of those that stood out. Trixie’s pet leapt forward and sniffed the air around one of the folders. When it disappeared between the tabs of one Nathaniel pulled it up to review.
Thomas Alexa
nder Wadeworth.
Trixie’s father?
Nathaniel opened the folder wider and scanned the documents. He found a report on her father’s disappearance, including information about the wreckage. There were enough details about the wreckage that Nathaniel wondered if it had been fully investigated. And if so, why had it not been assigned a case number?
Trixie’s pet tugged on his sleeve. When he glanced down, the creature ran deeper into the pile of documents.
Nathaniel went back to reading the report.
Trixie’s pet once again tugged on his sleeve then ran down into the folder.
He didn’t have time to play games. He needed to finishing reading then get back to Trixie. He dug along the side of the box feeling for the mischievous little imp. Instead, of the mechanical toy he found something square and flat lying flat on the bottom, beneath the standing folders.
He carefully worked it out from under the folders. It was a book of some kind. It had several scratches and had been smudged with soot. Despite its somewhat abused condition, the lock remained intact. The monogram on the spine read “TAW”. Thomas Alexander Wadeworth. Was this the journal Trixie needed?
The mechanical mouse glanced at the book then up at him expectantly. “All right,” he whispered then slipped the book into his jacket pocket. As he finished flipping through the files his new little friend climbed back into his pocket. Nathaniel noted a few more names then returned the lid and pushed the box back into place.
He checked Mr. Morris’ notes one more time to ensure he’d missed nothing. When he could glean nothing else, he returned the documents to the file and collected his hat and cane.
“Would you like me to return Mr. Morris’ file to its place?” Nathaniel asked as he approached George’s desk.
“Not necessary. I’ll take care of it,” George assured him.
Nathaniel handed the file over.
“Did you find what you needed?” George asked.
“I’m not certain. I made note of a few things to follow up on when I return to London.” Nathaniel extended his hand. “I appreciate your assistance, George.”
“You’re very welcome. And good luck with your investigation, sir.”
London Calling Page 33
