I Kissed a Rogue (Covent Garden Cubs) by Shana Galen Read Free Book Online Page B

Runners? It is revolutionary France all over again!”
    “What reason do the Runners have for making inquiries about Mr. Fitzsimmons?” Lila asked, smoothing over her father’s outburst.
    “The Runners were hired by a man whose identity they did not wish to reveal to look into a spate of burglaries in the homes and offices of the enemies of Mr. Fitzsimmons. It seems in the last six months or so, anyone politically opposed to Fitzsimmons has become a target for burglary. Key papers and private correspondence are taken along with valuables. I must admit, I find it strange that a common rook would want papers and correspondence. Most of them cannot read.”
    “Surely you do not think a member of the House of Parliament has been breaking into homes and pilfering them.” The duke leaned on his palms.
    “Of course not. He wouldn’t have the skills or knowledge.”
    “But the men who abducted me would,” Lila said quietly.
    “Yes. The Runners are investigating possible connections between Mr. Fitzsimmons and several gangs in the Covent Garden area, including the gang I think responsible for Lady Lila’s abduction.”
    “Good. The Runners should earn their pay for once,” the duke announced. “If that is all, then—”
    “Forgive me, sir, but that is not all. In all likelihood, Lady Lila witnessed the murder of a prominent member of Parliament. Let us assume for a moment, Mr. Fitzsimmons paid Beezle, the leader of the Covent Garden Cubs, to crack the houses and offices of his enemies. Last night, their agreement went terribly wrong, and Beezle or another member of the gang murdered Fitzsimmons. That’s a capital crime. The gang members involved will surely hang.”
    “I imagine they might hang for any number of their offenses,” Lila added.
    “Yes, but they haven’t been hanged because they haven’t been caught. You, Lady Lila, witnessed the murder. That puts you in danger because Beezle—if it was Beezle—knows you saw him. He’ll want no witnesses because, mark my word, Beezle does not intend to hang.”
    “Then we send Lila to the country after Rose’s wedding.”
    “And what makes you think Lady Lila will be safe in the country? Moreover, what’s to stop Beezle from attempting to kill her while she is in London?”
    “No thief would be so bold,” the duke declared as though he had any knowledge whatsoever concerning the matter.
    “These men are bold and growing bolder still.” Much of that could be attributed to the reluctance of men like the Duke of Lennox to sanction a metropolitan police force in London. There weren’t enough Charlies and Runners to catch the criminals, much less prevent or deter crime. Assaults, rapes, thefts, and now abductions were on the rise and had reached new heights.
    “But that is not my only concern,” Brook said.
    “You are certainly full of them tonight.”
    “Yes, Duke. My other concern is that perhaps Mr. Fitzsimmons was not working alone. Yes, he has standing and power as a member of the Commons, but there are many other men with much more clout than he.”
    “Bosh!” the duke said. “This is pure conjecture.”
    “Even so, I’d like to hear what Sir Brook has to say,” Lila added, her voice quiet.
    Brook inclined his head toward her. “My question is why would Beezle—or whoever was behind the murder and abduction—kill Fitzsimmons? After all, with Fitzsimmons dead, the source of revenue dries up.”
    “And you think someone else, someone with more power than Fitzsimmons, ordered him killed?” This came from Lila, who sat forward as she spoke.
    “I think it highly likely Fitzsimmons either discovered something he was not supposed to or outlived his usefulness, and Beezle was paid to dispatch him. Only the promise of more blunt than the gang made cracking houses would entice Beezle to cut off his revenue source. Whoever paid Beezle to do it must have been wealthy.”
    “Which means I am still in danger,” Lila said, twisting her hands