VIII

The Seed of Doubt

Lin froze, ducking behind the shrubs and the wrought iron gate. Rathbone was not alone as he lingered outside the opera house… too many walked about, and she knew there was no chance of revenge. Not yet. Curiosity took hold of her, and she soon slinked her way from the garden and hitched a short ride across the cobblestone drive until a shaded gnitch besides the building was near enough to sneak to. Their words were muffled for a long moment, and with careful stealth, she crept along the ground until her ear could catch the rebound of their conversation off the wall.

The words brought a frown to her face as she pondered them over… Rathbone had spared her life. Wu Chow had poisoned the blade… why did Rathbone not quip some proud remark for Wu Chow's strategy? Were they not working together? And what did fireworks have to do with anything? Lin blinked, absolutely lost on what to think. A shadow brushed past, and she melted back into the low nook of the building as Wu Chow passed her by. A gagging cloud of cigar smoke brought her to hold her breath. When she thought her face might turn blue and explode he finally stepped onto the street.

Lin took a deep breath, waiting a moment only for Wu Chow to be gone before she could steal a glimpse of the man she wanted so badly to murder. Wrapping an arm around the corner, she carefully brought her gaze around to find Lord Rathbone. But she was suddenly confused. He looked paler than usual, even sickly as he leaned against the wall… ruining his good evening cape. A hand pressed to his abdomen as he stared dumbly down to the ground.

She recognized shock, and the hypnotic state he was in. Even as the bell was rung and he looked up, she noted he was not seeing… As he disappeared into the wave of the crowd, Lin fell into the conclusion that by murdering for revenge would not be satisfying enough. She needed to know more.

Lin remained in hidden as she became swept up in thoughts recycling through her mind. Finally she stirred, the sound of steps clicking upon the dampened streets of a quieting night. A caped figure walked solemnly down the street. The man's gait was familiar, and it took only a beat before she emerged from her hiding place to stalk him.

For many blocks he walked alone, his face hidden beneath the brim of a top hat. The walking stick in hand was twisted between his hands as he pondered… Lin knew it must have been concealing a blade. He was a man of a guilty conscious, and only a brainless man would go wandering about London unarmed.

Slippers patted quietly along the street as she kept to the shadow, abruptly pausing when he finally stopped walking. Slowly she sank into the alley and pressed her back to the grimy wall. Faint steps grew louder. She held her breath. A shadow grew upon the ground and she readied herself for attack.

It happened so fast, a small gun aimed around the corner, and she grabbed hold of his arm, the gun firing off beside her ear, sending a bullet to tear through the alley behind her. Rathbone swung his arm roughly, throwing Lin back into the alley.

Having lost her balance momentarily, she popped back to her feet, ready for a fight when she realized he still had his pistol. Aimed and ready, he stared past the short barrel with narrowed eyes.

"Who are you?" He ordered, and she realized he could not see her in the shadow. Saying nothing, she remained defiantly still. He repeated his command, cocking back the hammer of the pistol, "I said 'who are you?'"

When she said nothing again, his aim hovered half an inch, firing just over her left ear. She jumped, letting out a cry of surprise. Rathbone's face lengthened a moment before he asked for clarification. "Not the keeper's daughter…?"

"Chon Lin." She corrected him.

A silent beat passed before a police whistle broke the quiet. Both their eyes turned to the street behind him. Lin turned on her heel, darting into the darkness. She gasped with surprise as an arm swung around her neck, pinning her against him. Cold metal pressed to her jaw then as he haughtily whispered into her ear, "Not a sound. Into that door…" He nudged her and they awkwardly walked to the doorway in the alley. Lin kicked it open, and Rathbone dragged her inside, kicking it closed behind them.

The metal against her cheek was growing warmer by the heat of fear flushing to her cheeks. The sound of voices echoed through the alley before they faded away… Lin winced with discomfort, being pinned back against his shoulder for so long. Her eyes were beginning to adjust, and she found the outline of the door and boarded window.

Finally he moved, shuffling them both towards the door, where he pulled back the pistol to grab her shoulders and twist her around to face him. A livid look upon his face brought Lin to quiver against her will. The pistol at his side remained lowered as he put only a foot between them.

"So you've come for revenge." He dryly noted.

Lin felt a lump grow in her throat as she watched him study her.

"Very well." He said, turning to inspect his pistol, un-cocking the hammer and then turned it around, nudging the butt of it into her arm. "Go on then. And make it fast. I don't like being kept waiting."

Lin jumped at the bump of the pistol into her arm and instinctively grabbed hold of it. Frustrated, she snatched it up and pushed the barrel into his chest. She hesitated, his frown deepened. Again she jumped at the feeling of a hand fold over her own. Her eyes widened as she heard him cock the gun for her.

Her hand began to shake. He stepped forward, pushing against the pistol until it was pinned between them. Lin's eyes lowered as her hair fell to curtain her face. She could see her father lying there under the shadow of the man before her. And no her father's murderer was assisting in her revenge. His face leered down to her until she could feel the brush of his breath through her hair. Tears stung her eyes. "Pull the trigger."

She could not hold her breath any longer and shakily gasped, releasing the pistol and fell into a sob, sinking against the door. Rathbone snatched the pistol, pocketing it as he roughly grabbed her arm, holding her from falling.

"All this way for nothing," He quipped bitterly, yanking her up higher in an attempt to make her look at him. "Why would you stop now? Stop that crying!" His voice rose, though he was quick to hush himself once more, "I'm interrogating you – look at me!"

Lin raised a hand to brush under her nose before she urged herself to look past her dark strands. Her breath shuddered out a single word. "…Why?"

"Why what?" He snapped.

"Why did you have to kill him?"

For a moment he said nothing, "You wouldn't believe me if I said it was not exactly how I intended it."

Lin's cheeks flushed with anger, "THEN HOW WAS IT SUPPOSED TO BE?"

"Lower your voice!" He hissed at her, digging his fingers into her arm. She winced against the door, turning her face away as he spoke on. "The dagger was poisoned was it not?"

Lin didn't answer.

"Was it not?" He asked louder. Finally she nodded. "If I intended to kill I would have slit his throat from ear to ear. Quick. Effective. I'd meant to give the man a chance because this was not my idea in the first place. Wu Chow wanted his blood, and I obliged… He didn't tell me the damned thing was dipped in some fatal solution!"

Lin could no longer see through the blur of tears, or the hair that stuck to her face. "LIAR!" She screamed out, moving to hit him with fists, only to be weakened and overcome with sobs.

Her knees buckled, and Rathbone looked down with disbelief as he only barely held her from the ground. She sobbed into his sleeve, gasping and questioning unfinished thoughts in Chinese.

Awkward. Rathbone looked around the empty room, noting it had once been some storage space for an out of business shop. "Come on," He pulled her arms until she came back to her feet, "Over here." Huffing, he shifted her toward a small crate and let her drop to a seat. "Tell me something truthfully." Lin made an effort to dry her face as he let go of her arms and moved to kneel in front of her. His expression was not soft. "Are you here in the name of the Emperor?"

Lin shook her head. "No…" She said in a small voice.

"But they know you're here."

She nodded, eyes lowered.

Rathbone pondered a moment, looking toward the doorway to the rest of the building.

"You're not working with Wu Chow?"

His attention snapped back to her, as he immediately scoffed. "What? That's absurd…" With a defeated nod, his shoulders dropped. "Yes, but not for long if I can help it. The man has me in his coils and I'm…"

"Trapped." Lin finished.

A strange look crossed Rathbone as he looked to her and nodded.

"I remember him many years ago. He used to blackmail many of the guards. He tricked many to try and steal the Imperial Seal. He would do anything to get it."

"Then I suppose if it wasn't me it would have been some other he would have chosen."

Lin looked up, watching him stand and pace along the splintered floor. "What would you do?"

Running a hand down his face, he shook his head, turning to continue his pace. "I don't know yet."

"What does he plan to do?"

He stopped, looking to her with impatience. "If I tell you anymore you will probably never go away."

Lin frowned, popping up to her feet with stubbornness. "I will not go away until I know. I must get the Seal back and avenge my father."

Studying her, he narrowed his dark eyes, "You're really not going to give into any other alternative are you?"

"Such as?"

"Such as trusting someone else to return the seal?"

"Such as you?" She asked, "I don't trust you." With that last said, she stepped past him and aimed for the door to the alley. Lin pulled at the handle, only to find the door slam closed before she could fully open it. A gloved hand firmly pressed against the flat of the door lingered over her shoulder. She frowned back to him, "Let me go."

"Not yet."

Lin said nothing, patiently waiting for him to continue.

"You're a very odd woman to be taking on the job of revenge. In most cases, it's a man's duty…" A beat of silence passed as his eyes trailed down her face, unspoken thoughts lingered in his eyes before he spoke again in a resolved tone. "Very well. If you really want to be rid of Wu Chow and retrieve the seal then you may meet me at my home in three days. You better arrive quietly, I don't want a scandal."

Lin blinked at him with disbelief, "You… you would help me? You know where the seal is?"

Rathbone nodded, "I have it."

"You…!"

Raising his free hand, he silenced her and continued speaking, "I have it, if that is any comfort to you. Consider yourself lucky Wu Chow does not have it yet or if ever. For this purpose, I believe it is the only reason I am still alive. Once Wu Chow is forever gone, I swear on my word as a gentleman, and I am a man of my word… that you shall be the only one to take back the seal."

Lin's lips twitched up, threatening to grow into a smile when she suddenly frowned at him. He smirked at the change. "Why should I trust you?"

"Can you think of a more efficient way to get to Wu Chow?"

"No…"

"Neither can I. We're both in a mess, and this is the only way. I trust you know where I live…" His hand slipped free from the door as he stepped back, gesturing she was free to go. "Three days now. I'll be waiting."

Lin took a moment to watch him carefully, noting his almost pleased smile before she yanked the door open and vanished into the alley.