Chapters (44)
- Title Page
- One: Into the Storm
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Two: London Calling
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Three: The Malignant Seven
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Four: Squirrels and Cats
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Five: Revelation
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- About the Author
“Interesting,” said Julian. He took the parchment from Matthew’s hand and studied it though Matthew had already deduced there was nothing more to be gleaned. “So … the Owl has been recruited to provide security for … what? A meeting at that house between the Prussians and our mysterious admiral?”
“It would appear so.”
“But … why would security be needed? The Owl likely provided the guard at the gate and other guards we didn’t see. Why go to all that complexity for a simple meeting?”
Matthew said the first thing that came to mind. “It might not be so simple.” He walked back out into the sitting room and regarded the bars of gold upon the floor. “They brought a lot of gold for a simple meeting,” he said quietly, his eyes narrowed in thought, as Julian joined him with the invitation still in hand. “I wonder … if the Prussians were not the only ones invited.”
“Meaning?”
“Oh, I don’t know, exactly. But the Prussians made a long and arduous journey bringing a satchel full of gold bars. With the Owl providing security, and that guard at the gate … showing his pistol to ward us off … it feels as if there’s something larger going on.”
“And what do you think it has to do with Cardinal Black and the book?”
Matthew nodded. “Now you’re getting somewhere.”
“Explain.”
Matthew turned to face him. “I may be wrong and it may have absolutely nothing to do with Cardinal Black and the book, but … the book would be of great interest—and worth—to many people in the underworld, and not just in England. Criminals, terrorists, assassins … even some heads of state might like to get hold of it, and certainly Fell’s name is known in those circles.”
“Agreed,” said Julian.
“I’m thinking that the Prussians have come here to buy it. The price is yet undetermined, which is why they brought all the gold bars. If that’s true, this must have been planned for many months. I don’t know how long it would’ve taken the Prussians to get here, but there had to be an exchange of messages that took a length of time, and arrangements to be made. This might have been Mother Deare’s task for over a year, to get everything planned for the attack. Then …” Matthew shook his head. “But I still can’t guess how our admiral got involved in this.”
“So you believe the book is in that house?” Julian asked.
“If not there, then somewhere near.”
“And the Prussians are expected at the house at seven-thirty two evenings hence to negotiate for the book?”
“If what I’m suggesting is a real connection, then yes.”
Julian said nothing more. When Matthew looked at him, he saw Julian staring fixedly at first the body of Count Pellegar and then dead strangled Baron Brux.