Page 28 of A Devious Secret

The round-faced man interjected, “I know where Benjamin Heathcote is.”

“Where?” Hawthorne asked.

“He is staying at a boarding house a few blocks over,” the round-faced man revealed.

“What boarding house?” Stephen inquired.

The man rubbed his chin. “The Canterbury.”

Hawthorne picked up the coins and handed them to the round-faced man. “Thank you,” he said. “You have been most helpful.”

Stephen pushed back his chair and rose. “Thank you, gentlemen.”

The balding man scoffed. “There are no gentlemen here.”

A burly man approached Stephen and grabbed his arm tightly. “It is time for you to leave,” he declared.

“Why?”

“We don’t take kindly to people asking too many questions,” the burly man replied as he started leading him away from the table.

Stephen jerked his arm away from the man. “I don’t need your assistance.”

The burly man went to open the door and ordered, “Get out, and don’t come back. Your kind is not welcome here.”

“I have no intention of coming back,” Stephen said.

After he stepped out, the door was slammed shut. Where was Hawthorne? The thought of Hawthorne being in the gambling hell without him did not sit well with him.

He opened the door and saw the burly man was still standing guard.

The guard narrowed his eyes. “I told you to stay away.”

“I am looking for someone.”

Taking a commanding step towards him, the guard said, “You are starting to make me angry, bloke.”

Hawthorne appeared behind the guard and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Stand down, Ronald,” he ordered. “I will ensure my friend will never return.”

“Your friend?” the guard asked. “You might want to pick better friends.”

Hawthorne grinned. “I was thinking the same thing,” he said before he proceeded to walk out the door.

The guard gave Stephen a menacing look before he slammed the door shut again.

With a look of disbelief, Stephen asked, “How is it that you are acquainted with the guard?”

“I make it my business to know everyone.” Hawthorne started walking down the pavement. “It would be best if you went home straightaway since it is getting late.”

“I want to go to the Canterbury,” Stephen said.

“Not today,” Hawthorne asserted. “It isn’t safe for you to be in this part of town at night.”

“But not for you?”

Hawthorne glanced over at him and replied, “My business is my own.” His tone brokered no argument.

Stephen was a wise enough man not to argue with Hawthorne, especially since he had helped discover Benjamin’s whereabouts. “Fair enough, but I intend to visit the Canterbury first thing tomorrow.”