Page 11 of Her Majesty's Necromancer
"On this occasion."
"Do you want to find out what I learned or not?"
"Go on."
"It may not be much, but the robbers spoke about playing dice at The Red Lion. I only know of one Red Lion tavern. It's in Kentish Town."
He tapped his finger on the doorknob. "I know it."
"One of the robbers was named Jimmy. Unfortunately that was all the groundskeeper learned."
"It's more than I discovered."
I waited but he said nothing more. "A simple thank you will suffice. There's no need for any grand praise this time."
"Thank you, Charlie. But next time you plan on interrogating someone, take me with you."
"Since I don't plan on interrogating anyone, that won't be necessary."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
"Will you go to The Red Lion and look for Jimmy and his friend?"
He nodded. "I'll go tonight. I need to know for certain whether they're robbing the graves for medical reasons or…something else."
I supposed he would use his usual method of interrogation on the boozers. I doubted my methods would work in a tavern full of men anyway.
I crossed over the threshold into the corridor. I decided it was best not to ask him why he'd killed the man named Gurry, or about his family. Things were tense enough between us as it was.
"I'll see you soon for training," I said.
"Not today. I have too much work."
"Oh." I tried not to sound disappointed, but I wasn't successful. "Tomorrow, then."
He nodded. "Thank you, Charlie," he said as I turned to go.
"You've already thanked me."
"Once wasn't enough."
***
"Go to bed, Charlie," Gus said when I yawned into my hand of cards for the fourth time. "You've lost the last five rounds."
I tossed the eight of diamonds onto the table. "I'm not tired."
Cook snorted. "Are you waitin' up for Seth or Death?"
"Neither!" I threw another card down.
Gus slid it back to me. "It ain't your turn."
"Might not be back hours yet," Cook said as he added another card to the small pile.
"Do you know who he's seeing?" I asked. "Seth, not Fitzroy." Lincoln had gone to The Red Lion to see if he could learn something about Jimmy and his friend. Seth was visiting the same widow he'd called upon several times over the last few weeks. All he'd told me was that she was wealthy, attractive and restless. I wasn't entirely sure what restless meant, but from the smile he sported every morning after he visited her, I had an inkling.
Gus shrugged. "Lady Harcourt?"
