19
They were going to go to report to the others, but what surprised her more they were outside of the house of Lords. She knew she could not go in there she was a woman and they were not allowed. He helped her down out of the barouche and led her up the stairs and they went to a little building and through a door that seemed to be hidden if you did not know what you were looking for you might overlook it. He led her through a maze of offices and ended up in a room with The Duke of Windom and a small woman who looked more like a young girl. Simon did the introductions.
"Lady Hartford this is Clara Howard the Duchess of Surrey code name Themis. She is here to assess your skills. I have decided over the objection of your Uncle to enlist you into service to the crown. Your code name will me Praxidice goddess of judicial punishment and the exactor of vengeance."
Johanna curtsied to the Duchess and then sat in the offered chair Simon pointed to.
"Is that how you see me as someone who delivers punishment and extracts vengeance?"
"No, I see you delivering Justice and I think Praxidice is a noteworthy name. What did the two of you find out?"
Johanna looked over at Jensen who nodded to her letting her know she should be the one who gave the report.
"We found out that Lady Everleigh at five saw the murder and violation of Genevieve Kingston. A few months ago, she overheard her brother Nesbit talking with Richard Moss and they were talking about how easy it had been to get away with murder and the abductions she said they were laughing about it. From what I learned from going to Madam Ransoms was Moss is hiding something on his property. He is always checking one of the guest's rooms and there is something hidden either under or in a tree on his property. I personally think we need to pull in Thomas Canton he seems to be the weakest link of the four. I think we need to act rapidly so they can not destroy any evidence."
Simon was waiting for Clara to weigh in after all she was the expert in analyzing these types of cases. She was quiet for a while before speaking.
"I think her assessments are all correct on the steps that need to be taken. I do not think waiting to go to Moss's will benefit anyone. I think she is correct in getting Thomas Canton in and see if you can break him. I think a few minutes with say Blue Beard or Charming, or even The Sparrow you might get what you need."
Simon laughed they were all scary but the one he would not want to cross ever, would be Marzanna the woman was deadly. Her father had trained her from a young age to be a killer and she took to her lessons well.
"I will send Hermes to go and bring him back. Once we have talked with him we will head out to Moss's estate with a group of agents and see what he is hiding."
Johanna smiled at the Duke he was good at giving orders, but she was sure he had forgotten someone.
"Do not forget Warren Landers he is involved with this as well."
Clara stood up smiled at the young girl who was not much younger than Clara herself four years to be exact and started to walk out the door.
"Simon I think you have found my replacement I think she is just as good as I am if not better only time will tell us that. You can call me if you are ever in need of my services but, as of today I will be off to raise my children and spend time with my husband who I absolutely adore."
Then Clara walked out of the door leaving the three of them alone. Simon called for Standish to send a message to Alex or Hermes rather that he needed to go and pick up Thomas Canton and act with all due haste. An hour later Alex arrived with Thomas Canton and waiting for him was Charming. Alex laughed to himself since Wayne did not get his name by being charming in these situations he was the lack of charm under the circumstances. Jensen and Johanna stayed behind the doors so he would not see them after all he had seen Jensen at Madam's before and they did not want him to put two and two together and come up with Jensen was Jack Billings.
Wayne sat across from Thomas Canton who was not sure why he was even there no one had told him anything. All he knew is a Duke came with a soldier and they requested he come with them. He said no he did not want to go but the soldier pulled a gun and told him it was not an option.
"Do you know who my father is?"
Wayne did in fact know who Thomas Cantor's father he was the Viscount of Beesands, a man who in most people minds was a miserable old man who saying was disagreeable was saying that Christmas happened in December. It is something that never had to be stated.
"As a matter of fact, I do. Should that mean anything to me?"
"My father will have your head and serve it to the king. If you know him you know he is friends with the King."
Jamie better known in service as Magiorix or to the whole of all England as the illegitimate Grandson to King George IV whom he was very fond of walked into the room.
Thomas grew pale his trump card he had always used was now trumped after all there were very few people who the king cared about more than his grandson and his in-laws.
"What is it you want from me?"
They both could hear the resignation in his voice. Wayne was grateful he had thought to call Jamie in. They had just arrived in town from his home in Scotland with his wife and children. Wayne answered the question.
"I want to know about something you and your friends did back thirty-four years ago."
Thomas scoffed.
"When I was fifteen? How am I supposed to remember something that happened when I was a child?"
"I am sure this is something you would not soon forget. Let me refresh your memory."
It was the year the schools were sending students home on weekends because of skirmishes. There were four third year boys who were playing near the Thames with a little girl wearing a cream-colored dress with a baby blue sash. Do you need me to go on or do you remember?"
Thomas was not stupid unless they were there they should not have that information unless one of the others talked. It had been too long somebody who witnessed the incident would have come forward long before now.
"I do not know what you are talking about."
Wayne slammed his hand on the table scaring Thomas.
"You do not then let me go the four boys then each took turns violating the young girl. Then when they were finished with all their fun they threw her in the Thames where she drowned. Now do you remember?"
This man seemed to know too much one of the others must have talked. He knew it was not Moss they had been together last night. It could be Landers, but he did not think so since he had been with him till wee hours of the night and he was the one to make sure he himself did not talk. It must have been Nesbit who else could it be. Maybe if he offered the information about Trudy and Nesbit he would be the one who received a deal and got off with a slap on the wrist.
"Can we make a deal?"
Wayne laughed he was expecting this, and he was willing to spare this piece of filth and get the rest of the men who hurt these girls.
"I will guarantee you will not see the gallows. I will not guarantee that for your mates."
Thomas looked at his folded hands for a long time. He had used his father's influence and these men did not even flinch and they even brought in the grandson to the king. He had no option if he wanted to have a life and not and end at the end of a rope. He took in a deep breath and let it out every so slowly and started to tell his tale.
"We were young and stupid barely ten and five each of us. We wanted to take a flyer, but we could not get into the places since we were not old enough. We all picked out a girl who we would like to share intimacy with, but we made rules they had to be at least fifteen and not someone just off the street it had to be someone befitting our stations and class."
Wayne saw Jamie's hands clench. He was not doing much better, but he also knew you could catch more flies with honey than you would with vinegar. He placed his hand on Jamie and he calmed down. Thomas had not even noticed he just went on with his tale.
"I had a crush on Genevieve Kingston, and she was our first attempt to go through with our plans. I did not know the rest were all going to take turns at her and I certainly did not know they were going to throw her in the river. I have lost so much sleep over finding out that she was terrified of water the guilt I have felt has been overwhelming."
Jamie stood he was going to do some damage if he did not get out of the room he had done what he needed to do and that was let the man know his father's connection to the crown would not save him. Jamie thanked the lord up above that it would not. Jamie left. Thomas stopped his narrative to wait for Jamie, but Wayne assured him he was not coming back. Thomas asked for a drink of water and someone brought it into them. He took a drink and then continued.
"I was not a part of the others in the respect I did not take turns at the girls. I did go with them and I did help to abduct them, but I never touched another one no matter how many times they had been offered. Over the next week the others thought to make a more elaborate plan of getting the girls and keeping them, it just so happened at the time both Nesbit and Richard had found secret rooms in their London homes. I do not know for sure if Richard already had known about his, but Nesbit had just stumbled upon his secret room. They made another agreement and that was they would take a girl a week and place her into the secret rooms so they first took Clementine for Richard it was not hard for us to coax her there since she also had a crush on him. She has been up in the tower for so many years now Richard needs her he cannot seem to be able to let her go to be honest I think he genuinely loves her. He has been able to have the kids they had together raised by his wife who cannot have any children they have tried for years."
Everyone listening was stunned at this news Clementine was still alive in a secret room. They needed to hurry him a long they needed to know about the other two and then go and rescue the poor girl in the tower. Thomas continued never noticing that Wayne seemed to be getting a little more agitated with each passing word he said.
"We took Trudy next she was the one Nesbit wanted he was able to keep her for a little more than a year before she died in childbirth. We all went and buried her in the forest of the family estate he did not want her buried in London. Evidently she loved the country and he wanted her where she would be in peace."
"What happened to the baby?"
"The baby was given to an elderly couple that had connections to Nesbit's family they were childless, and they were so happy to have a sweet baby girl."
"Where can this child be located?"
"He placed her with a good family, and she married a Baron. I think the Baron's name was Hew Hamilton Dalymple her name was Jane. Then there was Marsha that is not who Landers wanted he wanted Holly George, but she did not meet the rules that had been put into place. Instead he chose Marsha Winchester, who he had a fondness for, but it was plain she was not the one he wanted. I think when She married Burkhart Landers went mad. Anyway, Marsha was not long for this world she died six years later when Landers beat her to death after Holly George announced she was marrying the heir to the Dukedom of St. Helen."
Wayne knew Holly would blame herself for the girl's death and would inform all who heard of it that it would not be shared with her Matthew yes Holly no.
"Where is she buried?"
"Well to be honest she really has not been buried properly Landers brought her out to Moss's estate and they stuffed her into this hole in the tree. They had always planned to go back and bury her, but time just escaped us, and she was left there."
"Is that all your tale?"
"It is and it is the truth I tell you. Do not believe the others since they never once felt guilty for what we had done as I have."
Wayne stood up and was about to leave the room when he thought to ask after the Marquis of Newbury's sons and how they died. Thomas Laughed.
"You know about those two as well I see. Richard smothered one of his brothers in his sleep. And a short time later the other brother was thrown from a horse, the thing is he had a bit of help from Richard who spooked the horse by firing a pistol, and having a trap set for when the horse went wild."
Wayne walked out of the door to a group of people who all had different ranges of emotions. He walked over to Simon and Victor.
"Which one of you want to write up the warrant for the Marquis?"
Simon noticed Wayne was grumpy and he laughed when Jennifer was the one who let them know what was bothering him other than Thomas's tale.
"That was to easy, you wanted to break a few bones Luv?"
"He would have deserved it. I was hoping for at least a finger smashing or something but once Jamie boy came in the fun to be had was over."
They all laughed at Wayne and then Johanna went up to her Uncle and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"I think there will be plenty of fun to be had at the Marquis home will you be able to wait that long."
Wayne smiled at his niece. She made him proud she reminded him so much of Mary it made him want to cry.
"I can wait I think I will be going to find Warren Landers myself and give him a taste of what poor Marsha went through before she died. Also, If I hear of anyone telling Holly she was the desired target you will also feel my wrath. You can tell Matthew but do not stress Holly with such news she will only blame herself for Landers miss deeds. "