A/N: Short chapter but I LOVE the suspense!
"You're sure that you've seen that little orphan brat, alive?!" A gruff voice broke the heavy tension of the fire warmed room. The smell of leather bound books and cloves was nauseating to the ratty man that stood at the door, his hat nervously clenched in his fists.
"Yes sir, Miss Hooper escaped the fire that killed her parents." The rat like man's name was Anthony Quickering. But to the underground network of criminals, he was better known as Quick Tony; infamous amongst the lower circles for petty crime and prostitution. His side line of loan sharking provided a ready income and a name for himself as the thugs at his command were often sent to some poor debt crippled family to collect.
But Quick Tony had never dealt with gentlemen before. He'd heard of the gentlemen who liked commoners to rid themselves of pesky problems like a maid that's suddenly pregnant, or a servant that's got a bit too loud for their station - those sort of things were just rumours.
Until he met the man before him. Two men in fact, they were both shadowed by the fire, their positions carefully planned to hide their identities. But he knew they were a father and son pair. Known only to him as M. Now if Quick Tony had been a learned man, or at least literate, he'd put the pieces together and work out who his employers were. If Quick Tony had dealt in these circles before he knew that no sane assassin worked for M as those they employed were often killed after the job is done.
"Her grave is empty, we have since checked." Quick Tony fumbled with the flat cap in his hands. "How would you like to proceed Sirs?" He didn't know where to look so he stared at the intricate swirl detail on the carpet.
"Father, we can be rid of her should Quickering find Lady Hooper within the next week. The colonel will take care of her." The younger of the two men whispered, revealing pale skin to Tony's nervous glances, pale skin with a shock of dark hair. But the man withdrew again and Tony's eyes darted down again.
"Mr Quickering." The elder voice turned Quick Tony's attention back to the shadowed armchair. "Find Lady Hooper."