Page 29 of A Devious Secret

“I am unable to go tomorrow morning so it will have to wait until the afternoon.”

Stephen stepped over a dog carcass in the street. “I will go alone.”

“You won’t get past the front door without me,” Hawthorne said. “Trust me, you don’t want to go traipsing through this part of town without me.”

“I don’t traipse,” Stephen muttered.

Hawthorne stopped on the pavement and put his hand up. “I will help you find Benjamin, but it will be on my terms.”

“What does that mean?”

“You will see.” Hawthorne lowered his hand as a hackney came to a stop in front of him. “Take the hackney home and I will send word about tomorrow.”

Stephen glanced around and saw men loitering outside of buildings. They were all watching them with particular interest that caused him to be concerned for Hawthorne. “Are you sure you will be all right?”

“Yes. You do not need to concern yourself about me.”

Knowing he was fighting a losing battle, Stephen shouted up his address to the driver before he opened the door. “I wish you luck.”

Hawthorne took a step back. “I don’t have time for luck.”

As the hackney pulled away from the pavement, Stephen watched as Hawthorne stepped into the alley, disappearing into the shadows.