Page 119 of Unmasking the Diamond
“I can, and I will,” Alcott said, continuing down the long corridor. “Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Tell me where my sister is.”
Mr. Bancroft furrowed his brows. “I assure you that your sister isn’t here.”
Alcott retrieved his pistol and spun back around. “The hard way, then.”
At the sight of the pistol, Mr. Bancroft’s eyes grew wide. “You mustn’t brandish a weapon in here.”
Alcott aimed the pistol at Mr. Bancroft. “Tell me where my sister is.”
Sweat pooled on the man’s forehead. “My lord, do be civil.”
“I am past the point of civility,” Alcott shouted. “This is your last chance.”
“I… uh… don’t know all the patients here,” Mr. Bancroft stammered.
Alcott didn’t look convinced. “I thought you did. After all, you were certain that my sister wasn’t among your patients.”
Mr. Bancroft swallowed and reached for a handkerchief. His hands trembled despite the cloth. “The owners bring people in at all hours. My job is just to ensure they remain here.”
“You mean as prisoners,” Alcott said.
“No, as patients,” Bancroft insisted. “This is an asylum, not a prison.”
Luca moved to stand at Alcott’s side. In the corridor, the light fell in a pale band. The air felt damp, uninviting. “You said you have six patients, did you not?”
“I did say that, yes, but I—” Mr. Bancroft stammered.
“Then perhaps we should look for ourselves,” Rupert suggested. “Where are the guards?”
“We do not have any guards,” Mr. Bancroft revealed. “It is just me.”
The man’s response churned Luca’s stomach. No staff, no people to account for those within, only one man left to shepherd whatever horrors the owners chose to deposit.
Luca let his temper sharpen. “What it looks like to me is you keep prisoners here until they meet their fates. How many people have died from influenza here?”
Mr. Bancroft’s mouth dropped open. “I do not know what you are insinuating.”
“You know exactly what I am insinuating,” Luca countered. “These poor people are kept here until you kill them.”
Lord Matthew sputtered indignantly. “What?!This is the first I have heard of this.”
Luca frowned. “Spare us the dramatics. You knew exactly what you were doing when you had your wife committed here.”
“No, no, no… I would never have had her committed here had I known—” Lord Matthew attempted.
“Enough!” Alcott shouted. His voice carried down the corridor and left no room for evasion. “Where are my sister and Lady Matthew?”
Mr. Bancroft glanced back at the main door like a man weighing the chances of escape. “I… uh…”
Rupert moved to stand behind him, blocking his retreat. “Do not even think about running,” he stated. “If you do, I will gladly shoot you.”
Mr. Bancroft’s shoulders slumped. “Follow me,” he said, his voice resigned. “But I should warn you that the owners should be here any moment.”
“I do believe we can handle them,” Luca responded.
As they followed Mr. Bancroft through the dark, narrow corridors, Luca found himself growing increasingly anxious to find Charlotte. What she must have endured in a place like this. He couldn’t even fathom it.
Mr. Bancroft halted at an iron door and shoved the bolt aside with a grating sound. “The person you seek is in here,” he said, his voice wary.
