Page 96 of The Ambiguous Enigma of the Hunted Lady
“I confess.” Leah smiled. “I wish to kiss you, but we cannot take our eyes from our mark.”
“I wish that myself.” Kenneth grinned, sliding his free hand over to touch hers. Both of their eyes remained forward.
They heard the sound of a few muffled voices coming from the street directly behind them but were afraid to look away from Cornelius.
“You go.” Leah whispered. “I'll watch him.”
“Very well.” Kenneth squeezed her hand. “Be careful.”
“You as well.” she squeezed his hand back, and then he was up and gone.
Leah listened as his footsteps faded away behind her, and she squinted to keep track of Cornelius. He was walking all the way to the end of the pier, and she had to move forward to keep track of things.
Moving the way she knew how, Leah crept some half way up the pier, skirting between shadows and patches of cover. She could see him clearly, standing at the edge of the dock, looking wistfully out at the sparkling, grey water.
Where is Riphook?She glanced rapidly behind her but could see nothing.And where is Kenneth?
Then she saw the prow of a small skiff gliding over the river.The bastard's on a boat!Riphook was piloting the small craft, alone, smiling his bright, terrible grin. Riphook moved to pull the skiff up alongside the pier, and it looked as if Cornelius was positioning to hop onboard.Leah realized that Cornelius was about to get away cleanly, and so she began to sprint straight towards him.
Abandoning the cover of shadow, Leah committed her full speed towards Cornelius and Riphook.
I have to stop them escaping, whatever the cost. We are so close! Riphook is right there!
Her heart pounded within her chest as she tore down over the wide wooden planks, thundering along with her heavy footfalls. They could hear her, see her even now, of that she had no doubt.
All I have to do is capsize that boat.
“Stop!” Cornelius brandished a sleek pistol and pointed it straight towards her, clicking back the hammer.
Leah froze. The gun loomed toward her as she skidded to a halt, some ten yards away from Cornelius. At this range, she had no doubt he could put a bullet in her. She had to be very careful.
“You didn't think any of this was going to work, did you, Miss Benson?” Cornelius cocked his head.
“Ha! Shoot her dead!” Riphook cackled from his boat. “Troubling wench! Shoot her dead!”
A gunshot cracked out from the blocks just North of the pier.
“Looks like my boys are havin' a bit of fun,” Riphook jeered.
Where the devil is Kenneth?
* * *
Kenneth followed the sound of what appeared to be some sort of confrontation.Is that Winchester's voice?Someone was arguing.
Kenneth rounded a corner to find two large men blockading a carriage which he recognized to belong to Judge Roberts. Kenneth's heart soared when he saw the coach, knowing that the plan would work.
But these two men that stood between him and the carriage presented a different problem. They were tough, one could tell by the way they carried themselves in combination with the visible scars and tattoos that accompanied a long time at sea.
They were big, brawling, seaman types, and they argued menacingly with the Marquess through the carriage window.
“I tell you again, gentlemen.” the Marquess sounded stressed and fearful. “I am here with His Honorable Magistrate Roberts, and you are impeding a Royal investigation, good sirs! Now if you do not make clear the way, I shall be forced to take further action!”
Good for him, taking a stand. It is good to see so much life in Winchester, life besides parties, that is.
“And I'm tellin' you again.” the gruff thug shot back. “Road's closed. Whole pier's closed. Now you all best get this out of here beforewehave to take further action.” The thugs chuckled to each other, and Kenneth could see the Marquess growing desperate.
“Gentlemen.” Kenneth announced, stepping out of the shadows into the center of the street. “What seemed to be the issue?”
