Running a hand through his hair, he wondered for the twentieth time if he should go to Dr. Berking’s office. She would be furious if he interrupted the meeting, but there might be something wrong. Still itching with indecision, he walked down the hall.
Alexander first went back to Dr. Maxwell’s office and knocked again, wondering if she was inside, silently fuming or even crying. He knocked again, then tried the door, which was unlocked. Wondering if he was about to be scolded, he walked inside, eyes adjusting to the darkness. Just as he reached for the light switch, a click went off next to him. The sound rooted him to the spot. A soldier, even one long out of service, never forgets the sound of the safety of a gun being cocked.
CHAPTER 20
Saffron sat, numb with shock and self-loathing, wondering how she could fix what she had done. She knew that Berking was lying, and the inspector himself had said Maxwell was no longer under arrest. But her confession might muddy the waters long enough for Berking to finish out his scheme and make his escape.
“Up you get, Miss Everleigh,” demanded Berking, his voice gruff. With a bruising grip, he forced her to stand.
“Where are we going?” Saffron asked as he dragged her out of the room. She almost didn’t want an answer.
“We’ll just pop down to Maxwell’s office.”
Saffron stumbled slightly when they reached the hall. “Why are we going to Dr. Maxwell’s office?”
“We need to collect your things, of course.”
She prayed that someone would be out in the hall, but she was disappointed. The hall and the stairwell were silent and dark.
Was Alexander still there?
Saffron tried to think of a way to get to him, but Berking’s grip was strong on her arm. If she called out, Berking might panic, and who knows what he would do to her then. He might just be walking her to the room for her things and would then let her go. After all, she’d done what he’d asked. But why risk her going to the police immediately? No, he would likely keep her somewhere safe until he sailed away. But what would happen to her in the meantime?
Bone-shaking fear wracked her body, weakening her knees. Two weeks of being stashed away by Dr. Berking? She’d never survive that. She’d have to risk calling out for Alexander. Mustering a breath to scream, it withered into a whimper as Berking jerked the door to Dr. Maxwell’s office open.
Saffron and Berking stood in the doorway, staring at Richard Blake standing behind a seated Alexander, a pistol trained at the back of Alexander’s head.
All the dread she felt at her own situation drained away. “Alexander?” she whispered.
He said nothing. His eyes, one swollen and purpling, swept over her, then to Berking.
“You missed our meeting this afternoon, Miss Everleigh,” Richard Blake said, quiet and cold. He nodded to the chair next to Alexander. “Have a seat.”
She sat.
“Sure this is necessary?” grumbled Berking as Blake handed him a length of rope.
“It is,” Blake replied, wincing as he pressed his finger to his mouth and frowned. His face, too, was bruised. His lower lip was split and swollen, and his left cheek was darkening. Alexander must have tried to get away from him.
Berking tied Saffron’s wrists together behind her and then bound her to the back of the wooden chair. The rope bit into her skin, ensuring she had no space to wriggle her wrists. The remaining rope secured Alexander. When Alexander resisted Berking’s touch, Blake sighed impatiently and turned the gun on Saffron, who felt her heart stutter in response. Alexander stilled, his dark eyes on the gun.
“What’s going on?” Saffron said, again trying to hide the fear in her voice. This was difficult, as her whole body was trembling.
“I don’t care for your interest in the poisoning of Mrs. Henry,” Blake said calmly, the muzzle returning to Alexander, though he faced her. “Between you and Mr. Ashton, you’ve poked around just a bit too much for my comfort. Berking, lock the door.” He tossed Saffron’s keys to him.
“How did you get my keys?” Saffron asked.
“They fell out of your bag yesterday. That’s how I decided, you know, when I found you following Berking and me yesterday. Breaking into Berking’s office, Miss Everleigh, so sloppily done, leaving hairpins on the floor. Mr. Tummel even saw you and Ashton dashing out of the building like lovers into the sunset. And lurking in the stairwell … It didn’t look good for you.” Blake smoothed a hand over his tie, the nondescript gray matching his slightly rumpled suit. “And Mr. Ashton, going into to my office. I nearly fell over when I was told a young man of your description needed to be let into my office to retrieve forms.”