Page 100 of A Devious Secret

A serving wench walked up to the table and placed three tankards down in the center. Haddington removed a coin from his pocket and extended it towards her.

“Will there be anything else?” the serving wench asked.

As he reached for his tankard, Haddington replied, “Not at this time.”

The serving wench fluttered her eyelashes. “It would be no trouble to stay with you and keep you company.”

“No, thank you,” Haddington replied as he brought the tankard to his lips.

A disappointed look came to the serving wench’s face. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me,” she said before walking away.

Stephen picked up one of the tankards and took a sip of the tepid, watered-down ale. It wasn’t the worst drink he had ever had, but it was close. He wanted to ask Haddington about being called “Daventry”, but he knew that he wouldn’t get a straight answer.

Hawthorne leaned over the table and asked, “Do you see Benjamin?”

Stephen’s eyes roamed over the room but he saw no sign of Benjamin. “No, he is not here.”

“He might be in the back.” Haddington turned his attention towards the door along the back wall. “That is where the rebels meet.”

“Do you think Benjamin is involved with rebels?” Hawthorne asked.

“I don’t rightly know,” Stephen replied. “There was a time when I would have said no, but now I don’t know what he is truly capable of.”

Haddington shoved back his chair and rose. “Come along,” he ordered. “Keep your mouth closed and do precisely as I say.”

Rising, Stephen placed the tankard down and followed Haddington. He wasn’t sure what Haddington intended to do and it worried him.

Haddington stopped in front of the back door and rapped it four times. Then he paused before repeating it.

The door opened a crack and Haddington leaned closer to say something. It was too loud in the tavern for Stephen to hear what had been said.

After a long moment, the door opened wide, and Haddington stepped through it. He gave Stephen a pointed look, indicating he should follow.

Stephen stepped into the dark room and saw the worn drapes had been pulled closed. A fire was in the hearth and a lone candle sat on each of the six round tables.

His eyes perused the room until they landed on a man that was sitting down, his back towards him. His long brown hair was tied with a string and he was wearing a green jacket. There was something familiar about him.

“Do you see Benjamin?” Haddington asked.

“Possibly.” Stephen pointed towards the man. “Do you recognize him?”

Haddington shook his head. “I do not.”

Stephen walked along the back wall until he saw the profile of the man’s face.Benjamin. As he put his hand up to get his attention, Benjamin turned his head and met his gaze. Panic registered on his expression.

Benjamin shoved back his chair and ran towards a side door, throwing it open.

Without the slightest hesitation, Stephen chased after him. He wasn’t going to let Benjamin go until he answered a few questions.

Stephen raced into the alleyway and came to an abrupt stop. He wasn’t sure which way Benjamin had gone and the only sound was a cat meowing in the distance.

“Blazes,” he muttered under his breath. He had been so close to finally getting the answers he sought from Benjamin.

He had just turned around when he heard the sound of a pistol cocking.

“Turn around, slowly,” the familiar voice said.

Stephen put his hands up and did as he was instructed. He saw Benjamin stepping out of the shadows with a pistol in his hands.