Page 84 of The Gift of Patience
“Luna here will follow anywhere Triton goes. She won’t give you any problems.”
It did not take them very long to reach their destination. They dismounted and left their horses at The Anchor, then took a ferryman took them across to The Golden Goose just south of the East India docks.
Devil went inside the tavern, and Ashley and Renforth followed inside to witness the reunion with his gang to make certain the man upheld his word.
Once they positioned themselves with a good vantage point inside the pub, Devil went to speak with the publican, then picked a table apart from them. He gave a little signal that he successfully sent the message, then kept to himself and waited.
It was over an hour before the others entered. To say there was a bit of a dust-up was putting it mildly.
“What the devil?” the man who had been injured by Fielding’s shot exclaimed as the barmaid put down pints for them all.
“Am I seein’ a ghost?” the one Ashley assumed to be Shorty asked.
Smith reached over and pinched Devil and got punched in the arm for his pains.
“Just makin’ sure you’re real,” he defended as he rubbed his sore arm.
“It’s me. Now quit your caterwaulin’ and sit down.”
“’Ow did you get away? I don’t believe fer a minute they let ye out with their good wishes.”
“Where is Billy?” Devil demanded, avoiding the question. Ashley had to admit he was playing his part convincingly.
None of them looked like they wanted to explain that they had lost his son. If Ashley had not seen the softer side of Devil, he would not have believed it existed.
“We don’t rightly know. ’E didn’t ride out with us when we came after you that day. We ’aven’t seen ’im since.”
“’Ave you checked back at Wapping?” Devil growled.
“Nay. If ’e went there, they will look after ’im. We’ve been waiting for this last job. There ain’t much ’ere for us.”
“Aye. The sooner the better and I can get to Billy.” He leaned in to speak quietly. “I over’eard it’s to be delivered tonight. We got to work quick. I just need to be certain the details ain’t changed. I sent word.”
“Might as well eat while we wait,” Shorty suggested.
“I could do with a nice pie an’ a pint,” Devil agreed and signalled the barmaid.
“I bet ye ain’t been fed right in prison.”
“Ye could say that.”
The barmaid came over and took their orders.
“Got your arm, did they, Floyd?”
“Shorty ’ad to dig the bullet out. Still can’t use me arm. Been ’avin’ to move cargo with one.”
“At least you still ’ave it.”
“Aye. Got a bit of infection now.”
“It were nice of you to try to rescue me.”
The barmaid delivered more pints of ale for each of them, which they quickly drained and called for another.
“We were tipped off by Daniels there.” Ashley took that to be the publican.
“Ye were?”
