Page 36 of A Devious Secret

Hawthorne came to a stop in front of the door and said, “Let me do the talking.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I know how to deal with these people.”

Stephen went to open the door. “After you, then.”

After he followed Hawthorne inside the dimly lit entry hall, a man brushed past him and muttered an apology under his breath.

Hawthorne reached out and grabbed the man’s arm. “I do not take kindly to having my friend robbed.”

“I ain’t robbed anyone,” the man declared.

Hawthorne kept hold of the man’s arm. “I saw you take his coin purse from his left pocket.” He leaned in. “If you don’t give it back nicely, then I will have no choice but to make you.”

Indecision crossed the man’s face before saying, “You can’t blame a man for trying.” He extended a small leather purse to Hawthorne. “You should tell your friend to be more careful in these parts.”

Hawthorne accepted the purse before he dropped the man’s arm. “Go on, then.”

Stephen stared at Hawthorne in disbelief. “How did you know he robbed me of my coin purse?”

Hawthorne extended it towards him. “Just try not to stand out so much.”

Depositing the coin purse back into his left pocket, Stephen asked, “How can I do that?”

“I daresay that it might be impossible.”

A woman with silver-streaked hair and a pointed nose approached them. “How may I help you, gentlemen?”

Hawthorne stepped forward. “We are looking for someone.”

“Then you can just turn around and go out that door,” the woman said. “I am no snitch.”

“I didn’t imply that you were.” Hawthorne removed some coins from his waistcoat pocket. “I was just hoping you would point us towards the direction of Benjamin Heathcote’s room.”

The woman eyed the coins with interest. “There is no one here by that name.”

“Are you sure?” Hawthorne pressed.

With a frown, the woman said, “I know each of my tenants.”

Stephen spoke up. “The man that we are looking for is tall, dark-haired and he has a scar along his chin.”

“That would be Colin Staley,” the woman said. “His room is on the second floor; room twenty-two.”

Hawthorne handed the money towards the woman. “Thank you for your time.”

The woman deposited the coins into her pocket. “I don’t want trouble. This is a respectable establishment.”

“We just want to speak to him,” Hawthorne assured her.

“Then make it quick,” the woman said with a jerk of her head.

They headed towards the stairs and ascended them in silence. Stephen wasn’t quite sure what to expect when he saw Benjamin, but he was intent on asking him a few questions.

Hawthorne stopped by the door that read “Twenty-two”. He lifted his fist up and pounded on the door.

Stephen saw a shadow moving from under the door. He pointed towards it and Hawthorne nodded his understanding.

Reaching behind him, Hawthorne retrieved a pistol and moved it to his side. He pounded on the door again and said, “We know you are in there.”

A moment later, the handle slowly turned and the door opened partially, revealing a redheaded, petite young woman.

“Can I help you?” she asked softly.

Stephen stared back at the woman in surprise. “We were told this was Colin Staley’s room.”

“It is,” she replied. “I am his wife- Lavinia Staley.”