Chapter 11: The Evil That Man Do
Patrick Doyle was at the site of the warehouse fires only two hours after receiving the news on the road to London from Swansea. The Irish smuggler had heard that his Lady was going to London to track some French spy name Martine. The biological father of the young heiress couldn't let his ignorant daughter find out about her lineage from that arrogant oaf. So, the tough seaman set out to find Martine first and kill the man before he could talk to his granddaughter.
Then only hours from London, a messenger with whom he is familiar is galloping on the road to Swansea with news from his London contacts on the fire. The rider recognizes the man for whom is message is intended, so he stops Doyle to give him the message.
Two hours later, Patrick Doyle is sifting through the wreckage of a burned out warehouse. The expert smuggler and thief can smell a torch job when he sniffs it. Add to the arid smell of blown gunpowder and it wasn't hard to ascertain what had been stored here.
The black Irishman was aware of every shipment made by Isles Shipping and knew of no major gunpowder or weapons shipment pending. So this had to be the work of smugglers, who were using Isles Shipping facilities. This was not good. The angry smuggler was going to have to report this to his Lady and tell her about how he had failed her confidence.
***SE***
Maura was scanning the stacks of documents mentally cataloguing their contents. She had four stacks, invoices, letters, notes and diagrams. Besides the arms that Jane recovered samples of there were invoices for dynamite, blasting caps and fuses. There had been 100 rifles and 250 pistols and over 10,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as 100 barrels of gunpowder and other miscellaneous materials.
The letters were from a contact in Dublin, Ireland. The weapons and explosives were to be delivered there within two weeks. The plan had been to smuggle the goods using Isles ships, since they are considered safe by the Crown and only lightly regarded as smuggling threats. Lady Isles was not happy that her ships were going to be used to thwart the Crown. Additionally she had to wonder if other ships were being so used elsewhere.
Other letters were to a contact in Isles Shipping, a clerk by the name of Windell Bartlett. Her Ladyship's former employee had been a busy boy. Bartlett was going to have to be located and questioned about how many other shipments made it to Ireland and maybe other destinations.
The diagrams were of the police stations and military posts in Wexford, the county seat of County Wexford. County Wexford, only three years earlier was the place where the Young Irelander started their ill-fated rebellion against the Crown. It has long been suspected that not all the rebels had been captured and transported. Lady Maura was going to have to have an immediate audience with the Queen.
Three other diagrams really horrified the honey blonde teenager, one was of Buckingham Palace. The second was of her manor in Swansea and the third was of her manor in Notting Hill. They obviously had been planning on attacking her here and still could be, since many of Martine's men escaped before they fired the warehouse.
From the notes, the intelligent noblewoman had been able to glean four safe houses for Martine's operatives to hide in London. His attempt in Swansea had used local thugs and not his personal bullyboys.
Twenty minutes after the young Lady left her study to await her friends, Hugh and Jane arrived. Both were covered with blood. Anxiously the frightened young woman rushed forward to ascertain the extent of their injuries. Jane held up her hand to forestall contact, as she ordered, "Don't get any blood on you. It ain't ours. It's Martine's blood. That is one tough old man. We worked on him for a couple of hours and we couldn't get any further information from him without killing the sumbitch."
Maura smiled and ignored the blood as she embraced her wayward lover. Tear ran down the tender Lady's cheeks as she whispered, "You scared me to death. Do not do that to me again. My heart cannot take the loss and you must watch your language, Jane.
The good news is the documents you recovered told quite a story. The bad news is we have a lot of work to do and very little time in which to accomplish it."
***SE***
Jane and Hugh listened quietly as the sharp businesswoman and intellectual reviewed what she had uncovered in the recovered documents. Hugh was the first to ask a question, "So, what's our first move, Milady?"
Lady Isles commanded, "Hugh, you have to locate Bartlett. You can take Jane with you. I have to talk to the Queen, which mean s I have to get an immediate audience somehow."
Jane suggested, "Bribe somebody."
The shocked and naïve noblewoman answered tolerantly, "Jane, you may be able to bribe some bureaucrat at the local town hall, but you cannot bribe a court official of Queen Victoria. It just is not done."
The jaded American laughed, "You are sweet and innocent, but, Honey, it's been my experience that almost anybody can be bought, sold or bribed."
Hugh nodded his agreement as he interjected, "Milady, she is correct. I think you might approach a clerk or minor official in the Chancellor's office and he might be able to do something to expedite an audience."
The idealistic noblewoman wasn't totally convinced, but decided the situation required at least the attempt. So the honey blonde teenager said, "Alright, we will make the attempt but how should I go about it?"
Hugh replied, "You need Patrick Doyle. If anybody knows how to make a bribe, he does."
Jane nodded her agreement with the statement and interjected, "Glad that's settled. So I can go after the safe houses."
Lady Maura was not happy and said, "I wanted you to go with Hugh. You do not know London and you cannot beat them all by yourself."
Jane smirked, "Sure I can."
***SE***
Patrick Doyle arrived at Isles Manor on Notting Hill the next morning. The former criminal would have gone the night before, but he had been on the road for four days and fatigue had overtaken him. So, the Isles Shipping Manager had postponed his journey to report his findings the next morning.
Paddy had not come to Isles Manor because his Lady had summoned him, but because of what he had found out at the site of the four warehouse fires. The fact that he was going to be summoned was merely a coincidence, though neither he nor his Lady believed in coincidences. However, the dark Irishman believed in luck.
It was lucky happenstance that he arrived that particular morning for his Lady was penning a message to him as he approached the main gate. After an exchange of greetings, the harried Lady related the information they had gleaned from the procured papers. Then the angry smuggler started, "I came to tell you that all four of your dockside warehouses were damaged in the fire and that one had been torched. Until this moment, I had no idea why it had been torched. Now, we know.
The fact that they were able to accomplish so much under your watch is understandable. After all you have many differing interests to manage all around the globe. However, for it to happen under my watch is unthinkable. You have my most sincere apology for this lapse and you can have my resignation if you require it. The honey blonde teen laughed, "We have more important issues than who should have known what and when. It's obvious we need to change some things to keep this from ever happening, again, but that too is for another time.
At this moment, I need an audience with the Queen. It has been suggested that a bribe in the proper place might facilitate that audience. It has also been suggested that you might be the perfect person to know what to place that offer."
Doyle smiled, "As a matter of fact, I know the perfect place."
***SE***
After breakfast, Hugh had arranged for increased security at the Manor. The diagrams they had recovered were too complete and detailed to be other than an inside job. However, Hugh didn't have the time to investigate the matter. He had to find Bartlett.
The large bodyguard's first stop was at the Isles Shipping office where Bartlett had been employed. The big man asked to see the manager, who was not available, as he was out arranging for warehouse space to store incoming shipments, since the fire had damaged most their available storage space.
So, Hugh was forced to ask everyone that worked there if they knew where the former clerk lived. One of the other clerks informed him that the former clerk lived on Forcer Lane by Cheap Side. He didn't know the exact address, but it was more than he had a few minutes ago. So, the large bodyguard headed out to Forcer Lane.
***SE***
Jane rented a room in a boarding house across the street from the first safe house on her list of four. The intense American examined the protection for the place and found that they had two sentries on the roof of the building, two pair of roving sentries around the building and thirty-six pair of eyes within the building. They occupied the second and third floor of the five floor tenement building, which meant that civilians occupied the first, fourth and fifth floors.
Therefore, torching the building was out, beside it could spread to the other tenement buildings on either side. The observant Texan noticed that most of the noncombatants in the building worked at a textile factory three blocks from the rows of housing. In fact the two tenement buildings on either side of the target structure mostly lodged the same factory workers.
The workers gave the veteran hunter her entrance cover. The plan was dressed as one of the workers, the disguised fighter would mix with the returning workers and plod into the building with the ones returning home. Then, the fake wool worker would climb to the fourth floor and bluff her way into one of those apartments. From there and under the cover of darkness, the determined killer would repel to a third floor ledge and enter one of the apartment windows and kill everyone in that apartment as quickly and quietly as possible.
Jane had even identified which third floor apartment she would attack first. Each apartment was a room flat with three occupants, one stayed awake in a chair by only door into the room. However, the vigilant Indian fighter noticed one apartment was lax in its guardianship. Its occupants consistently slept during their watch. It had happened four of six times in their two hour watches without any reprisals. It was her best shot in.
With the worn clothing of a factory worker over her hunting outfit, which was fully accessorized , the confident warrior joined the trek to her target. As expected no one objected to her tagging along, after all they were tired after their twelve hour work day and what did they care. Without a single glance from the roving guards or the roof assassins, the fighting Texan entered the enemy safehouse.
***SE***
Paddy Doyle knocked on the expensive door of one Evert Vanderhoff, a Swedish merchant and one of the Chancellor's best friends. The two played whist with two other wealthy Swedish merchants every Thursday evening at the Fox and Hound Gentleman's Club. They let him win and the Chancellor's men looked the other way as they avoided paying tariffs on their imported goods, improving their profit margin.
The veteran smuggler was well aware of their illicit advantage and was going to use his knowledge to get the Chancellor to schedule an audience with the Queen with his Lady. A stiff and proper English butler answered the door. Lady Isles spoke, "I am the Lady Isles. I wish to speak to Mr. Vanderhoff. I have a very lucrative business proposition to discuss with him."
The butler opened the door widely to allow the famous and obvious wealthy Lady into the house as he said, "Please follow me to the drawing room, Milady."
The very formal man was not the least bit surprised when the young noblewoman was accompanied by three very formidable looking men, Paddy Doyle and two of his best associates. The tough Irishman was taking no chances with his daughter's safety. The experienced killer and thief had argued against his Lady exposing herself with so many after her, but the brave teenager refused to cower in her manor while others were risking their lives for her sake.
The house manager showed the party to a large room, luxuriously furnished with several couches and stuffed chairs. Finely woven wool tapestries lined the walls and a large portrait of a man and a woman hung over the large mantled fireplace. The fashionable Lady was show to one of the overstuffed chairs and asked, "Would Milady like some tea and biscuits?"
Maura answered politely, "That would be so kind and would you see to some cool water for my men?"
The butler smiled brightly. It was a delight to see that the lofty stationed young Lady was thoughtful and kind to her servants. Not all nobles were so inclined. The middle aged servant bowed in acquiescence and moved to announce his guests to the wealthy merchant and to get the necessary refreshments.
In short order one of the models for the large portrait over the mantel entered the room. The smiling blonde man beamed a bright welcome, "Good morning, Milady Isles, it is such a pleasure to finally meet my most successful competitor. My man says you wish to speak with me about some business arrangement. I know your people were seeking warehouse space and like my people told your man only this morning, all our space is being utilized at the moment, but should you require space in the near future, we would only be so happy as to oblige you."
The apparently arrogant tuff was gloating over the Ladyship's predicament had totally misread the purpose of this interview. So Paddy Doyle spoke to pop the puffed up dandy, "Milady, has not come here to barter with such an oafish commoner. She had come here to tell you she knows of your arrangement with Lord Truro and that she intends to make formal complaint before the Queen for unfair business practices.
As you know the Queen likes and admires my Lady and will listen and give much credit to her complaint. The Lord Truro will probably lose his office and you will be deported. However…"
The terrified merchant sat heavily on a nearby couch and asked, "What is you want?"
The delicate Lady smiled broadly and replied softly, "You will arrange a meeting for me with Lord Truro. The man hates women as you know and will not see me. You WILL arrange it. The meeting will take place her in one hour. Make it happen or you WILL suffer the consequences and should you think you can overwhelm my bodyguards and force your way from this situation. Be advised that I have forty men surrounding your Manor at this very moment. So you had better hurry and get this done before I finish my tea."
***SE***
Hugh had traced the former clerk to a rundown boarding house just off corner of Forcer Lane and Cheap Side. For a crown, the landlady escorted the dark bodyguard to the room where the villainess smuggler resided. The not so kindly old woman had told the imposing man that the wayward clerk was drunk in his room and had been on a two day bender.
The tough Welshman used the spare the key he had procured from the greedy landlady for an additional shilling to open the door to the dark, dingy and dirty apartment. The place had the smell of urine and stale ale. The one room residence had a small table with one chair and a small bed, which was presently occupied by a drunken former clerk. Clothes, papers, bottles and urine littered the floor of the room. Hugh was loathed to enter the place.
The giant bodyguard, not wanting to stay in the room any longer than necessary turned to the equally disgusted landlady and inquired, "Do you have a vacant room I can rent for a few hours?"
The enterprising older woman held out her withered hand in which Hugh placed another shilling. The money he had bribed this woman with, probably represent an entire month's rent for the whole building, but the dark bodyguard needed a quiet clean room in which to sober his target and then beat the necessary information from him. Inspired by the success of the information gleaned from papers recovered by Jane in their warehouse raid, the efficient Welshman gathered all the papers in the room, as well as the unconscious clerk before moving to a cleaner better lit room.
***SE***
Jane had forced her way into the apartment above the one she had targeted for entrance onto the third floor. The room was stuffed with a wobbly table and four well used chairs, there was one large bed surrounded by a several ragged curtains and two small cots next to the small stove in the room. Another stronger table with a neighboring pantry held a water basin and pitcher, four cups, four plates, three spoons, two forks and a pot of steaming watery soup. The tough Texan had obviously interrupted their dinner, so she said, "I want you to take your family to dinner. I want you to see a play or go to a music hall. I want you to be somewhere else for the next four hours."
The crafty American handed the surprised man a golden double sovereign and ordered him to, "Show your family a good time with that. Two more will be in your wash basin when you return."
The man made ten and six a week. The coin in his hand was nearly a month's wages and the promise of two like it was too much for the man as he said, "We'll do as ya ax. God bless ya mom. Me family'll say a prayer fer ya each night fer a fortnight, I swar."
The comparatively wealthy American accepted his thanks and rushed him and his family out the door. The veteran warrior had preparations to make and only fourteen minutes to do them.
***SE***
Lady Isles sat regally as she sipped on her never ending cup of rich Indian tea. The fact that the young noblewoman was awaiting a noble of higher station was not lost on her. By making the Lord Chancellor come to her, the regal blonde was demonstrating her superior position over his superior station.
Minutes before the menacing Lady's deadline, the High Lord Chancellor was led into her presence by the scheming Swede. Lord Truro spoke angrily, "How dare you command my presence. Lady Isles, I am the High Lord Chancellor, not some common street vendor to be dispatched for a farthing!"
The quiet and reserved teenager smiled sweetly as she responded, "As your time is to be valued higher than mine, I will get right to the heart of our discussion. I will require an audience with the Queen by five this evening or you will read in the Times about corruption in the High Lord Chancellor's office. Then I will have my audience with her Majesty to present evidence against you and your associates. I do have evidence by the way; I'm not bluffing."
The stodgy nobleman filibustered, "How dare you! Did you think I would sacrifice my family's honor in order to prevent some minor inconvenience for myself?"
Paddy Doyle interrupted by saying, "My Lord Chancellor, should the Queen hear of this scandal, you will lose your position as Chancellor at the very least. It is very likely, you will be sent to prison. Now let's stop mucking about when everybody in the room knows you're going to give the Lady what she desires."
The defeat Court official replied, "Be at the Palace by three."
***SE***
The Lady Isles wore her best gown and had had her corset tightened to the requisite 19 inches about her waist. The young teenager was not fully grown, but 19 inches was still a bit tight for the buxom blonde. However, Queen Victoria was a bit of a stickler on the subject and required all her Ladies in Waiting to adhere to the nineteen inch waist.
The honey blonde noblewoman was escorted by Lord Truro to the entrance of the Throne Room, where the Master of Ceremonies announced, "May it please your Majesties, the Lady Isles of Swansea."
Lady Maura walked boldly forward until she reached the appropriate distance from the twin thrones, where she stopped and curtsied to Her Most Royal Highness and her Consort. After being given permission to rise, the confident young woman said, "Your Majesty, if I could have a word with you in private about a matter of upmost importance and delicacy."
The Regal Queen asked, "What does the matter concern, Child?"
The honey blonde teen answered, "Louis-Napoleon."
With those words, the Queen shouted, "Sargeant at Arms, clear the court, except for my counselors and you had better summon the Prime Minister."
***SE***
Lord John Russell was a slim, slightly balding dark haired man, who loved wearing dark suits with broad bold silk cravats. Russell had been at odds with Henry Temple, Lord Palmerston, who was a staunch supporter of Louis-Napoleon. Recently, Lord Palmerston, who had been Foreign Secretary, had been forced to resign when he had recognized Napoleon's government following his coup with the permission of the Crown.
Lady Isles knew all this and was confident that Prime Minister Russell was going to enjoy her news, despite its serious nature. The energetic Prime Minister bowed to the Queen and turned to greet the young noblewoman next to him. The middle aged Lord took the young Lady's hand and kissed it, as he said, "I knew your father well. I have never met a finer or more noble man than Lord Isles. You have my deepest condolences. I'm sure you will uphold the highest standards by which he lived his life."
Lord Russell was nothing, if not the finest of politicians, but the Lady Maura was equally adept, as she replied, "Thank you for sympathy and let me say my father talked of you often and not only as an ally, but as a friend. It saddens me to come before you in my widow's weave to speak of treason and treachery to the Crown by a person in my employ, as well as agents for Louis-Napoleon."
Now, the young woman had the veteran politician's interest. The patient man waited for the young noblewoman to continue and for the next forty minutes, the delicate honey blonde related her tale. The intelligent young teen showed her evidence and told the Court of the contents of the destroyed warehouse and the reasons behind the resent fires on the Thames.
The Queen sighed as she looked her Prime Minister and said, "We have to know if this Martine was acting on his own or under orders from Louis-Napoleon. Lady Isles, you say that the man has been questioned with great vigor and refuses to talk."
Lady Maura bowed her acknowledgement of this truth, as she replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I am confident that the individuals that endeavored to get the information used every means at their disposal to ascertain the answer to that very question. I was told that the next step to getting that answer might kill the elderly man."
Lord Russell was a man of law, not of violence and torture, but this was a serious matter and therefore he commented, "I think we need to have our own people question the man. Lady Isles, could you see that the man is delivered to the Tower immediately? I will see to his reception."
Lady Isles bowed deeply and responded, "I will do as you ask. However, no disrespect intended, your people are novice compared to the person I had do the interrogation. She is an American Indian fighter from the wilds of West Texas. She learned her techniques from the Comanche Indians. I doubt your people have had such rigorous training."
The Queen seemed delighted as she beamed, "Do you mean you employ an untamed American cowboy? That sounds interesting, we must meet this person. Do bring her day after tomorrow. We would also like to chat her up on her interrogation and her insights on the status of the slave situation in America."
Maura bowed her acquiescence, but regretted exposing Jane's identity. The young noblewoman did not know how her wild lover would act before her Queen, who demanded the strictest of protocols. However, there was little the young teen could do, but comply with the wishes of her Queen.
Lord Russell asked, "Where is this American at this moment?"
The concerned young woman confided, "I am not quite sure. The plan was for my man Hugh to question the traitor Bartlett and for Jane to destroy the French safe houses. I would imagine, she is engaged in destroying the first as we speak."
The outraged Prime Minister exclaimed, "One woman against so many trained French operatives, how can she possibly accomplish such a feat on her own?"
Maura was very worried over her girlfriend's fate, but she also knew of her wild Texan's capabilities, so she replied, "Lord Russell, Jane Rizzoli is a force onto nature. It is my understanding that she killed her first Indian when she was ten. This is a person, who has lived in the wilderness on her own for years. I would be more concerned with how much of the city she will damage in her attempts to destroy these safe houses."
The concerned Lord responded, "Still in all, I will dispatch soldiers to find her and assist her in her endeavors."
***SE***
Jane stood on the ledge outside the window of the French soldier's room. The window was open to let cooler air into the hot room. The day had been warm and humid and the room needed some fresh air. The convenience of the open window was anticipated, but not expected.
The dark warrior waited silently until the occupant in the chair by the door was nodding. With a blade in each hand she was momentarily silhouetted in open window. It would do the dozing guard no good as her blade sailed across the room embedding itself in his throat. A gurgling sound was all that he could manage before he choked on his own blood.
The men sleeping in the cots took less effort. These men would not survive a day in the Western American wilderness sleeping so soundly. With her other knife the Texas warrior slit their exposed throats without effort or remorse. These men were a threat to her Maura and that was not to be tolerated.
Now with a base of operation, the veteran fighter was going to launch her attack on the remaining five rooms on this floor.
***SE***
Hugh half dragged and half carried the semi-conscious Bartlett to the fresher room. It was furnished just like the Bartlett room, but was clean of any urine smell. The large Welshman dropped the groggy clerk onto the room's cot. On the nightstand was a pitcher of fresh water, which he picked up and poured over the face of the ale soaked man.
The grimy balding clerk choked a protest, "What the bloody hell are ya doin'? Leave me be. Haven't ya and that American whore done enough to me?"
The menacing hulk loomed over the smaller man and replied, "Bartlett, you will answer my questions truthfully or you are going to start losing body parts. Do you understand me?"
The frightened man went numbed with fear, as the giant bodyguard removed three knives from coat pockets and placed them reverently on the table he had pulled by the cot. He repeated his question with the same implied threat, "Do you understand me?"
The terrified clerk could only nod his acknowledgement before the dark protector asked, "How many shipments did you make for the Frenchman Martine? What were in those shipments and where were they bound? You need to know this, we have documents in our possessions that link you and Martine in a scheme to smuggle arms into Ireland. That my friend is treason and the only way you are gonna be able to avoid the big drop is tell me what I need to know. Then it will only be transportation to some wilderness colony."
The horrified clerk realized he had been caught and was desperately trying to think of way to lie himself out of his troubles, so he said in hopes of delaying for time to think, "What are you talkin' about? I only arranged for a Frenchman to come to London secretly? What shipments?"
Hugh shrugged and took a knife and jammed it through the man's right thigh, as he said, "Wrong answer."
***SE***
Jane opened the door to the room quietly and only a crack. There seemed to be no one in the hallways. The efficient killer pulled her used blade from the man slumping in the chair and lowered him to the floor. It would do for the man to fall with a thud from his seated position at the wrong time.
After cleaning the blade with his clothing, she put the blade between her teeth, while sheathing her other weapon. Then softly the veteran Indian fighter eased herself into the hallway. With three rooms across from her and one to either side, the experience warrior chose to attack the room directly across from her beachhead.
The wily Texan had examined the door to her new room and knew that the door jams were flimsy and old. They would give with only minimum force, but it was too soon for such a noisy action. The cagey American had also examined the locks and knew that one key fit all. It provided little security for the tenants, but made it easier and cheaper for the owners.
Using the key the wild teenager had recovered from her dead roommates, she quietly unlocked the opposing door. Jane pulled another knife from its sheath, while keeping the first between her teeth. Then quietly and gently the veteran killer turned the door knob and when the door lost all resistance, she burst into the room and a well practiced stroke she impaled the man sitting by the door through the eye with her blade.
With a twist she removed her weapon and gingerly helped the dead man to the floor. Neither of the room's other two residents moved, as they slept the sleep of the dead.
***SE***
Hugh left the knife protruding from the injured man's thigh with blood oozing slowly from the freshly administered wound. The big man said, "That wound looks serious. If it isn't treated soon, you could bleed to death. Now let me ask you again. How many shipments did you make for the Frenchman Martine? What were in those shipments and where were they bound?"
Pain was pounding through the weak man's brain. The sheltered clerk had never really experienced any real level of pain before and was not liking the sensation. The pain made it difficult to concentrate on fabricating a plausible lie. Additionally, the city man was worried about bleeding to death and wanted the foreign metal removed from his leg. However, when the slight man attempted to remove the blade, he was prevented from doing so by the tall bodyguard, who said, "I wouldn't do that. You will bleed out faster if you remove that blade. Now, answer my questions or feel the second blade."
Not wanting to injure himself further, the wounded clerk moaned, "Please, don't hurt me anymore. If I talk, they will kill me."
Hugh laughed, "Believe me. They have their own problems right now."
***SE***
Jane just finished cleaning out the fourth room as quietly and efficiently as the first three, when things took a terrible turn. The pragmatic American knew that there were no coincidences in life, but there was luck. For most of her life, luck had been the wild Texan's best friend, but this time luck had betrayed her.
As the effective killer cleaned her knife for the umpteenth time this night, the door to the room opened and two stunned men returning from their guard duty stood outlined in the light of the open doorway. They stood rigid in hesitation for only a moment but it was long enough to find out that a blade had grown in their respective chests.
Again in shock, they hesitated a second time, long enough for the veteran killer to cross the room and slice their throats. Now, the efficient warrior had to hurry. The other guards were going to notice their relief soldiers were not arriving.
No longer in stealth mode, the human weapon launched herself at the last two rooms on this floor. Using her foot, the tall Texan kicked in the front door and slashed the throat of the door guard, who jumped from his chair as the mean American charged into the room slicing the stunned guard across his throat.
As his body thudded to the floor, the two sleeping men startled awake. The two Frenchmen were dazed and unable to identify their danger until it was too late. Both me were downed by a thrown knife puncturing their chests.
The chaos in the room had alerted the three men in the other room, who were greeted by stinging gunfire as they charging out of their doors. The prepared warrior empty two of her LeMats into the three Frenchmen, who died without finding out what was going on.
With her cover blown and an army of fighters charging this floor, the battle hardened fighter went out the window of the third floor apartment. From its ledge, she dropped to the second floor ledge. From there the tough Texan dropped to the street below the tenement.
The wily American knew that they would see all the dead bodies and would be scrambling to remove all trace of their stay and flew to a new location. Jane rounded the corner and waited to follow the desperate fugitives to come flying out the compromised tenement. The wily Italian's plan was simple, as the rats left the sinking ship, Jane would follow them to the next location.
***SE***
Bartlett had trouble focusing past the pain, but strength born of desperation had a hold on him as he explained, "Three months ago, a man named Reilly came to me with a proposition. If I could arrange to ship a crate to New Orleans, he would pay me twenty pounds sterling. I accepted.
Then it was five crates to New Orleans. Then it was a ship load to New Orleans. Each payment was bigger. I didn't see any harm with shipping things to American, but a month ago, things changed. I was asked to ship arms to Ireland. At first, I refused, but they said if I didn't they would inform her Ladyship of my activities. So, I change my mind.
I have a book hidden under my mattress with all my transactions. I kept close records in case I got caught, so I had something to bargain with."
It was abundantly clear that the greedy clerk had not been spending much money on his residence, so Hugh asked, "Where is all the money?"
The pain had yet to override his avarice, so he replied, "I gambled it away."
Hugh immediately dismissed this explanation as out of character. Not convinced by that lie, the dark bodyguard grabbed the knife in Bartlett's thigh and gently twisted it. The pain from that action was enough as the twisted man screamed, "In my books under the bed between the pages in ten pound notes."
The sharp protector tied each of the broken man's wrists to a leg of the cot before leaving the room. The big man locked the door as he left and strode down the hall to Bartlett's room. The tall bodyguard took a deep breath and held it as he entered the rancid dwelling. Desperately trying to hold his breath as much as he could, Hug retrieved the record book and the books containing the money."
***SE***
Lady Maura left the throne room with Prime Minister Russell, who had dispatched a squad of soldiers to return Martine and the other prisoners for further questioning. The fashionably dressed young Lady didn't fail to notice her director, Patrick Doyle, had disappeared. The dark Irishman was supposed to have waited for her return from the throne room and escort her home.
Her three bodyguards and carriage awaited, but Doyle was no where present. Slightly miffed and very curious the honey blonde noblewoman asked, "Where had Mr. Doyle gone?"
The head of her protection team replied, "He did not say, Milady, but he left this letter."
The agitated Lady tore open the note and read:
Milady,
I have just received news of a second shipment leaving tonight on an Isles shipping clipper. I have gone to intercept it before it leaves port. Additionally, I have gone to see if our guests have any other surprises we do not know about.
Your obedient servant,
Patrick Doyle
The frustrated teenager handed Lord Russell the hesitantly penned letter, which he read quickly. A second shipment of which furious Lady knew nothing meant another traitor somewhere. The powerful noblewoman knew what she would have to do, as she said, "My Lord Prime Minister, it is obvious that my company has more than one traitor in its ranks. I give you my solemn oath that I will ferret them out and dispose of every traitor."
Lord Russell was once again impressed by this fiery young woman with so much wealth and power, yet so much humility. The seriousness of the matter was not lost on her, nor did she shirk her responsibility in it. The young noble had not sought to hide the matter from the Crown, nor did she try to shift blame for the lax in security within her company. Many older nobles would have tried to cover up things or blame an underling. Not Lady Isles, instead she has taken responsibility and gone about correcting it. So the impressed nobleman replied, "I think we need to dispatch a squadron to help Miss Rizzoli dispatch those safe houses. There may be several we do not know about."
Maura agreed and the Prime Minister ordered a squadron to go to the first tenement on the list of four.
***SE***
Jane had followed the retreating group of twenty men through the streets of London until they entered a ruin down warehouse on the Thames. It had not been touched by the recent fire, but age and disuse had decayed it, until it was no more than a leaky roof with four drafty walls.
The soft footed warrior circled the warehouse and peered inside. It was poorly lit, but she could see that blankets and cots litter the floor. Additionally there appeared to be a small cooking area. It was still summer and heat was not going to be a problem. Without other civilians to worry about and the disorder coming from their rapid change to this location, the veteran fighter knew she had to keep pressing them.
So without any attempt at stealth, the deadly killer pulled out two of her loaded LeMats and kicked in the back door. Firing the deadly weapons from the hip, Jane shot everyone that stood between her and the front door.
Martine's men had travelled through the City unmolested and had reached what they perceived as safety. The enemy had gathered together to receive instructions and were unprepared for the sudden attack. The disorganized circle was in chaos as several men dropped to ground bleeding as bullet after bullet entered their private space.
Before they could react ten men were down. Five of the others ran for the front door, while the other five just threw up their hands. Jane didn't have the time nor the wherewithal to handle prisoners, so the efficient warrior shot them. It was not very sporting, but this was war and her resources were limited to her eight pistols, four knives and two tomahawks.
Only one man made it out the front door before the others were dispatched. The experience warrior had no mercy in her. These men had declared war on her lover and so they had earned no quarry. Taking an unused pistol from her belt the crack shot took aim and shattered the man's knee as he ran down the street. Without pausing to see if there was any wounded the menacing figure strode over to the wounded man on the street.
The ominous fighter loomed over the howling man on the ground. With no forgiveness in her heart, the lethal killer stepped on the enemy's wounded knee and pressed hard before she said, "Tell me what you know."
The man screamed in pain, but told her everything he knew. The frightening American strode away with everyone on the streets hiding, praying she wasn't there to find them.
***SE***
The squadron of soldiers had reached the first house, only to find several policemen there. Apparently they were too late to help. The entire third floor was littered with bodies and witnesses had seen several others fleeing in the night.
Without any clue as to where the portentous Texan had gone, the lieutenant of the squadron ordered them to the second site on the list. When they arrived they were confronted by a tall brunette wearing rawhides and with guns strapped everywhere. The menacing figure asked, "Y'all chere to hep? Iffin y'all're not, jest stay out of the way."
This second location was an abandoned gristmill with rooms in back for workers. The haughty lieutenant replied, "We have been dispatched by the Prime Minister to assist a Miss Jane Rizzoli in apprehending or dispatching French operatives spying in London. Are you Miss Rizzoli?"
The lovely, yet deadly young woman smiled a very beautiful and disarming smile, as she responded, "I should smile. I be her. Iffin, y'all ere chere to hep. Then, this'll be easy. What be y'all's name?"
The experienced soldier answered, "I am Lieutenant Arnold Havenshem of the Queen's Royal Guard. Tell me what you would have us do and I will direct my men accordingly."
The veteran leader's smile broadened, this man was a good leader. He was cooperative, but wasn't going to relinquish control of his men. The experienced warrior liked this man. So the intimidating brunette replied, "Y'all go out front and I'll flush 'em from the back. It'll be like shooting fish in a barrel."
The indignant Lieutenant responded, "Madam, I have been order to capture these men if necessary."
The wily Texan said, "Lieutenant, we have two more of these sites to weed out. Do you have the manpower for prisoners? We have no choice. If we had more men, then we could spare a couple to handle captives, but we don't. So, we have to deadly and efficient. We let the police care for any wounded enemy we leave behind, but we can't worry about them. We have to worry about us. Not only can't we take prisoners, we can't afford to have any of our people wounded."
The veteran officer saw the logic in the young woman's reality and accepted it. He also noticed that her folk some accent had disappeared. Lieutenant Havenshem dispatched his men into an arrangement to fully cover the front door, as Jane went around back to flush her quarry.
***SE***
Lady Maura returned to the Manor and found no one had returned. The young teenager had not eaten since leaving for the Palace and was ravenous. The hungry noblewoman ordered a meal and went to the empty dining room to eat and worry alone.
***SE***
Hugh dragged Bartlett to the warehouse where he had left Martine and the captured sailors lock up and in the care of the doctor he had hired. When the big bodyguard arrived he found only dead bodies and a distraught doctor. The shocked Welshman asked, "What happened?"
A haunted look was fixed on the man's face as he answered, "I don't know. I went out to get some more laudanum and when I returned I found this. Why did you have me treat them, only to kill them?"
The worried protector replied, "Doctor, I had nothing to do with this and the Lady didn't order this done. Frankly I have no idea who did this or why. We have to go. Whoever did this might come back."
As they started to leave, the Queen's guard arrived to see the carnage.
***SE***
Jane stealthfully entered the mill through the back door. The wily Texan saw a stack of rotted grain sack, dry and decaying from age. Using her tender box, the cagy American set fire to the rancid stack of decaying burlap. To avoid the smell and smoke, the veteran fighter raced out the back door and waited. It didn't take long several men in only their underwear staggered out of the smoke filled mill.
They were met by bullets flying from the deadly brunette's twin Le Mats. Rifle fire could be heard from the front of the building as men fell to the ground bleeding at the feet of the merciless Texan.
***SE***
Hugh and the doctor explained what they had seen, while the doctor patched up the leg of the wounded clerk. The tall bodyguard explained, "This is the traitor that has been using Isles Shipping clippers to transport illegal goods. These men were sailors we used to track the shipments and the man on the cot was the Frenchman we believed to be the ringleader. However, that may have an incorrect assumption. From the looks of this room someone else is involved or maybe even running things."
The commander of the guard responded, "Why would he kill his own men?"
The veteran protector answered, "To prevent them from talking."
***SE***
Reinforcements arrived at the third safe house. It seems that the Lieutenant had a conscious and though he saw the pragmatism of taking no prisoners, it went against his grain. So he had dispatched one of his men to get reinforcements.
Now with three squadrons of Royal Guards, Jane had the manpower she needed to overwhelm a target. The roving guards of the tenement building were quickly arrested. There was no saving the roof lookouts, who were shot by two pairs of Royal Marksmen.
The soldiers entered from the front and back doors and matched smartly up the stairs and down the halls. After bashing down the doors and arresting the occupants, the trained warriors rounded up the prisoners and bound them together.
Four men were detached from the war party to march the prisoners to the gaols. Jane gave the Lieutenant the final location and left it in his more than capable hands. The weary leader asked, "Where are you going? I don't know you well, but I know you enough to know you have something else on your mind."
The dark teenager smiled, "I got further information from a man I questioned. It seems there is a second shipment that we didn't know about. I am going to stop that shipment."
***SE***
Patrick Doyle had ten men with him. The idea was to use his authority to order the ship's captain to stand down. The men were there to insure that the captain obeyed that order. The head of all shipping in the Isles Empire was recognizable to all of the company's ship captain and this ship captain was no exception.
When Captain Howard saw the tall former smuggler approaching, he ordered the gang plank hoisted. He was ordering his ship to sea, when a hole appeared in his chest and the sound of a large rifle boomed through the night. The Captain collapsed. A second bullet with its accompanying sound hit the sailor at the wheel. Everyone on board the ship stopped moving and dove to the ground cowering behind something in an attempt to conceal themselves from the booming rifle.
Doyle boarded the ship and ordered his men to seize everyone. He was accompanied below deck with two of his bullyboys and found that for which he was looking, Franchot Rambault, a French bourgeoisie and a known supporter of Louis-Napoleon. The man lay dead on the bed in the captain's quarters. He had killed himself, by jamming a knife into his throat. He died horribly and without revealing his purpose if his activities were sanctioned by Louis-Napoleon.
Doyle searched the cabin and the man's belongings and found a few papers and a large sum of British paper money. A search of the captain's belongings revealed he had many of these ten pound notes in his possession. The bribe had been his death sentence.
At that moment, the author of that sentence entered the cabin, Jane Rizzoli. The tall Texan saw the body and cursed it. They weren't going to get any answer from him.
***SE***
Jane looked about the room and commented, "There's something wrong. This ain't rat at all. If you were gonna kill yourself, would you stab yourself in the throat like that. I mean wouldn't you at least make sure you opened your jugular?"
Doyle responded, "He was in a hurry. He heard the shots and then had to act quickly."
The veteran hunter shook her head negatively and replied, "No, still don't make no sense. How did he know we war winning? Jest as easily his people could have been getting away. Thar had to be someone in chere who done the killing to make this guy look like the boss. Thar's somebody else on this ship. We need to go alookin in the hold."
The tall Irishman thought about the logic of her argument for a moment and decided it made sense, so he answered, "Okay, I'll keep a man here to make sure nothing leaves this cabin and in case this someone comes back for something."
With one of Doyle's men the two warriors left the cabin in search of the missing boss.
***SE***
As the three hunters moved toward the hatch for the upper hold, Jane had a question, "There are two holds, right?"
Doyle responded, "Yes, both accessible by the hatch on deck. The hatch for the lower hold is directly below the hatch for the upper hold. That way you can lower supplies and cargo by block and tackle into the holds."
Then the wily fighter queried, "Is there another access?"
Doyle thought for a minute and cursed the oversight, as he ordered his man, "Go to the crew's quarters and guard the crew access to the upper hold. Block the entrance as best you can and then make sure no one gets out."
As the man raced back toward the crew area to accomplish his task, the two remaining hunters strode toward the hatch covered hold. Jane asked another question, "How do you normal get down?"
The former smuggler was quite conversant with the ways of a ship and replied, "You would climb down the cargo net or use the crew entrance. The crew entrance is a small stairwell, easily defended. I think we need to go down the hatch opening."
Jane thought for a second and could see no way that climbing down a cargo net was any safer, so she said, "Climbing down a cargo net will leave anyone doing it very exposed. I think we need to go down by rope. I propose we take the lines for lowing the cargo net and slide down them into the hold."
Doyle shouted, "Man the blocks men. I want to be lowered into the hold."
***SE***
Jane put on thick rawhide gloves and took the rope and jumped into through the hole in the hatch and slide down the rope into the dark hold. Once the experienced warrior reached the ground she drew two of her pistols and waiting on Patrick Doyle.
After a few seconds, the veteran warrior heard a loud thud as the former smuggler's feet touched the ground. Doyle took a lantern from his belt and lit it with some embers from his tender box. The lantern was place on the ground to give some dim light to the dark cargo area, but not enough to give away their position.
It wasn't long before the pair encountered some resistance. Several shots attacked a position over ten feet to the pair's left. However, the pistols had just shown the two veteran killers positions. Jane recorded where the pistol flashes originated and fired two quick shots in that direction. Her aim was true as she heard the sound of a bullet hitting a man followed by a large thud of a body hitting the ground.
The pair of gunmen worked their way through the cargo area firing at targets when they were sure the Frenchmen were hiding. Finally they made their way to the door that led the crew's quarter. The door was ajar and the man that Doyle had sent to cover it lay dead just beyond it. Their target had gotten away.
***SE***
Hugh was the first person to return to Isles Manor. He had desperate news about Martine and the other prisoners. Someone, who had known where the prisoners were being kept, had killed them. There had been no evidence or clue as to whom that someone was.
The honey blonde teenager was worried about her girlfriend and curious about the whereabouts of Patrick Doyle, who seemed to have disappeared. After hours of worry, the two authors of that worry entered the manor. The quiet and demure Lady rushed into the arms of her American lover and cried tears of relief.
Jane didn't quite know what to do, except hold the weeping young noblewoman. Unsure of what to say to calm her young lover, the dangerous American said, "Huh, I'm fine… not a mark on me… we cleaned out all four safe houses. The last two were all done by the soldiers. There were plenty of captives to question. They might have some answers."
The relieved honey blonde teen simply cried harder. The young woman had realized how much she had been concerned. The timid brunette stroked her young friend's hair, while Doyle, Hugh and the servants looked on in embarrassed concern. Finally, Doyle suggested, "I think we all need a meal and then some rest."
Lady Maura released her death hold on her lover, but then gasped her hand tightly, intending never to let it go. The bright Lady ordered, "Serve dinner and some chilled wine. I am positive everyone could use some spirits after the day's long ordeal."
Jane had not realized how hungry she was until dinner was mentioned. It was after nine p.m. and she had not eaten since breakfast. In the wilderness, the veteran hunter had gone days with no more than hardtack and jerky. However, like all hunters, the young woman ate when the opportunity arrived.
***SE***
Jane staggered up the stairs to find a hot tub awaited her. A shy honey blonde, who held the dark brunette's hand tightly, said, "I thought you could use a hot bath."
Moved by the act of kindness and by the realization that the bright young heiress was right, the wild Texan pulled the lovely girl into her arms and kissed her with all the passion that was in her soul. When the pair broke free of their kiss, the ominous American asked, "Do you think you could scrub my back?"
The excited noblewoman replied with a wicked smile, "I will scrub more than that."
***SE***
A naked Texan sat in the steaming copper tub, sighing as the pains of all today's action drained from her body into that hot steaming water. Through the heat of the water a shiver of delight overcame the young teenager as a light touch of a wet soapy rag rubbed across her back. It felt so good.
As the cloth rubbed the hardened muscles of her back, a clothless hand squeezed and kneaded the tired muscles of her shoulders and neck. A soft moan of pleasure escaped the tense American's mouth to the immense satisfaction of the honey blonde teenager doing the rubbing."
Encouraged and emboldened by her lover's purring response, the beautiful Lady dropped the cloth and began to massage her lover with both hands. It felt so good that Jane purred, "That feels so wonderful, but if you keep that up I won't be able to finish my bath."
A smiling heiress replied, "Well then, let us get you clean, so I can soil you properly."
***SE***
A clean sapphic goddess arose from the soapy water. The bronze body of the lean Texan glistened from the soapy water that cascaded down her lovely form. However, not all the moisture that flowed down her legs was from the soapy water. The sensations were still new and still very intense in the inexperienced brunette. The veteran warrior could face fifty armed men and not feel an ounce of doubt or fear, but before this small demure young woman, she was helpless.
A soft terry towel rubbed her back and slid down her hard muscles. Maura hand fell off the towel and started caressing the tall Texan firm smooth bottom, the stimulated teenager purred, "You seemed to have lost your towel."
A wicked smiled etched the young teen's face as she responded, "I have not LOST a thing. I got rid of it. It was interfering with my hands."
The excited American whirled around and captured the honey blonde's lips for a prolonged kiss. Then the fiery teenager mewed, "How about we finish this in bed?"
***SE***
Maura's hands were roaming down her intense lover's taunt stomach when she noticed a huge black and blue mark covering half of it. Sensing more than seeing the wince when her hands grazed the spot, the young Lady asked, "How did this happen?"
The bruised fighter chuckled, "I let one of those tuffs get in a lucky blow. I was busying fighting three of them when one tried to stop me with a wooden plank. He used it wrong or I could have been in trouble. Hell, I get worse than that when I'm wrassling a longhorn to the ground."
The younger woman was a bit confused as she asked, "What is a longhorn?"
The shocked Texan smiled as she answered, "You buy them from me all the time. Where do you think all that beef comes from? Texas cows have long horns that can fight off a grizzly."
The concerned honey blonde offered, "When we get back to Swansea, I will show you a Hereford and you will see where we get our beef. Meanwhile, let me get some liniment to treat that bruise."
The intense brunette snuggled closer and whispered, "Honey, I got more bruises than that one and they will all heal on their own. They always have. I need healing of a different sort from you and I need it now."
The rich and power noblewoman purred, "I love it when you get all demanding. It is so refreshing from all the groveling I have withstand every day."
The independent American chuckled, "Poor little Lady…I know you don't like being a noble Lady and all, but it beats being one of the poor. Not that someone like you would stay poor long."
Maura snickered, "Enough talk and more action."
Jane just smiled, "I'm game."