Page 89 of Juliet's Touch

“Get Abigail there safely,” Fletcher said, “and you can stay for three nights. After that, I expect you to head back to London. I need your assistance with another case. This time, I’ve dug up a privateer with a surly attitude and a plethora of weapons.”

For a moment, Eric wondered if Fletcher was referencing another of Chesterhill’s by-blows but pushed the thought to the side. First, he couldn’t care less about Chesterhill’s bastards. And second, he had other, more pressing issues to focus on.

“I always wanted to see a Kraken and an octopus.” Stilts bounced on his toes, almost hitting his head on the ceiling. “Oh, mermaids…”

“Both of you keep your hands off of Abigail,” Fletcher grumbled.

“You are safe with us, Miss Abigail. After this —” Stilts slid his gaze over the disastrous room “—I’d protect ye with me life.”

“We will treat ye like a lady, we will.” Curly crossed his heart.

“Tell Billy the plan and ask him to get money from my safe,” Fletcher said. “He’ll know how much to give you. See that Abigail has a new dress and new shoes. Once she arrives at the inn, she can borrow anything she needs from my sister.

“Abigail, do not stop to pack anything or say goodbye. Once I alert the magistrate, Mr. Fielding’s men will be looking for you. Just get the blunt and leave the city immediately.”

After Eric saw Chesterhill’s solicitor, perhaps there would be enough to pay Fletcher back.

“Aye, aye,” Fletcher’s sidekicks said in unison.

“Come on, miss.” Curly held out his hand, palm up, inviting Abigail to walk in front of him.

Instead, she ran to Flynn and threw her arms around his neck.

Tears dripped from Flynn’s eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t do a better job of protecting ye,” he said.

Eric swallowed the lump in his throat. This was so unfair. If he’d just had a few more days, he’d have purchased her freedom. And if he’d had tonight, he would be the one responsible for the villain’s death.

Abigail withdrew from Flynn’s embrace and rushed to Eric. She leapt into his arms.

“I’m so sorry, Abigail,” Eric said. “For everything.”

“You were a good friend, Eric. I’ll miss you.”

“But now you are going to be a maid in a respectable seaside inn,” he said, trying to cheer her up even though he couldn’t help but think that in a few more days, she would never have had to work for anyone unless she wanted to.

Abigail backed away from Eric. “In case I don’t see her, tell Auntie Athena that I love her.”

Eric nodded.

“Take good care of him,” Abigail told Juliet as she passed by her.

“Good luck, Abigail,” Juliet said.

“Don’t torment my mother and keep your hands off my sister,” Fletcher called to his goons.

“Got it, your kingship,” Curly called over his shoulder.

“I’m gonna be too busy swimming like a merman and searching for me lady love,” Curly said with a doff of his cap.

And then Abigail and her unlikely, but seemingly sincere, protectors were gone.

“Get out of here, Stone,” Fletcher said. “Make sure no one sees you leave. I’m going to get the magistrate and bring him back here. And I’m going to reach out to my old reporter friend, Nicolas Wentworth.”

“Thank you,” Eric said.

“Yes, thank you,” Juliet added.

Eric placed his palm on the small of Juliet’s back as they followed Flynn through the archway. Eric was almost to the broken door when he recalled that Fletcher had said he had news.

“Wait here,” he told Juliet and Flynn.

He retraced his path to the main room. Fletcher’s arms were crossed over his chest, and he was frowning at the corpse.

“Fletcher, you said you stopped by The Pink Petal to deliver news, but you never said what that news was,” Eric said.

Fletcher strolled around the room picking up Abigail’s slippers. He pressed the souls in the blood, then, taking his time, he made a trail of bloody footprints. He studied his handiwork, then bobbed his chin as if satisfied. Again, he meandered the room, depositing the shoes where he’d originally placed them. Meanwhile, Eric fought his irritation because he needed to get Juliet to safety.

Fletcher finally looked up from his fabricated crime scene. “I wanted to let you know that after we parted last night, I found the man who murdered your mother.”

For the millionth time that morning, the wind was knocked from Eric’s lungs.