Scotland Hard (Book 2 in the Tom & Laura Series) (23 page)

27.
      
Getting Closer

James Saunders walked into the hotel lobby after a fine breakfast, spoiled only by the presence of Mick and Joe. His two henchmen had woken up miserable and upset, seeming to find the Scottish air not to their liking. It was bad enough travelling with them in the first place, but now Saunders found it was like minding children.

With luck, the receptionist would know where the young spies were heading to next. Saunders was still hoping against hope that they did not know it was Lord McBride who had bought Tom and Laura.

“Good morning to you, sir,” Fiona McDonald said politely as Saunders approached her desk.

“I was wondering if you could help me. My friends, the Smith’s were staying here yesterday. They were taking two young lads to their aunt. Unfortunately, I need to contact them urgently and I don’t have their forwarding address.”

Fiona smiled at Saunders. “God bless those two little boys, scamps indeed unless my eyes have deceived me. Their aunt is going to find them a handful and no mistake. It was so kind of Mr. and Mrs. Smith to take them all that way out of the kindness of their hearts. And we must not forget Mr. Smith’s sister’s role in this endeavor.”

“Quite so,” Saunders told her, putting a warm smile on his face. “They do many good deeds in our little community and taking those boys up to their aunt is just another expression of the love of God they carry in their hearts. However, it is quite important that I speak to them as soon as possible on an urgent family matter.”

Fiona looked disturbed at this news. “I do hope they have not suffered a bereavement. I lost my ain mother only last year and I have still to fully recover from it.”

“It is a private matter,” Saunders replied gently. “But if you can help in any way…?”

Fiona gave forth the very news that Saunders had been dreading.

“They have gone to Laird McBride’s estate. Apparently, the boys’ aunt works there. I gave them directions for the train journey myself.”

Saunders curtailed the impulse to punch the woman in the mouth and instead rubbed his clenched right fist with the palm of his left hand. He forced a friendly smile back onto his lips.

Fiona continued to ruin his day.

“The Laird was in residence in the hotel that very night with a number of guests. He left with his party just before the Smith’s asked me for directions. He might have given them a lift in his private train if he had known where they were going. Laird McBride is known for his warmth and generosity.”

“My men and I will be booking out of the hotel this morning,” Saunders told Fiona through gritted teeth.

“I hope that your stay was a good one and that everything met your satisfaction, sir?”

“The lack of bedbugs was entirely satisfactory,” Saunders said as he signed the book.

When Saunders, Joe and Mick walked out of the hotel towards the railway station, Fiona rang a little hand bell and a small man wearing a porters uniform appeared from a room at the back and walked over to her.

“Tell the maids to remove the bed sheets immediately from rooms 15 and 44 and then to clean the rooms especially carefully. The English gentlemen staying in them may have brought bedbugs into the hotel.”

“Aye, that would be just like the English, bringing their heathen bugs into bonnie
Scotland
,” the man replied contemptuously.

“Would ye be part of the McBride party?” the man in the ticket office asked after
Arnold
asked for rail tickets to the McBride estate.

“I’m sorry,” Cam broke in before
Arnold
had the chance to say no. “We might well be, could you explain what you mean?”

The man looked exasperatedly at
Arnold
, as if blaming him personally for
Cam
’s unwarranted interruption.

“Are ye part of the party of new recruits for Laird McBride’s factory on his estate?” he said, as if explaining to a young child.

Cam responded before
Arnold
could answer.

“Yes we are. My brother Arnold has been recruited to work for Lord McBride. He has received a First Class Honors Degree in Engineering from
Cambridge
University
. Since our mother died last month;
Arnold
is the sole breadwinner in our family and we are in desperate need of the money.”

“My condolences for the loss of your mother,” the man said respectfully. “I expect looking after such a large brood must have put a great strain on the poor woman.”

“She was run over by a
London
tram,”
Cam
said straight-faced, unable to resist embellishing the story. “We had to have a closed coffin at her wake as the tram wheels cut her into three pieces.”

Daisy choked as she tried to stop herself from bursting out laughing and
Arnold
had to pat her back quite hard before she recovered.

“I did not mean to cause any distress,” the man said quickly, thinking Daisy was upset.

“Daisy was very close to our mother,”
Cam
said confidentially to him.

“Aye, daughters often are,” the man agreed.

“Oh no,”
Cam
continued in a somber voice. “She was quite close to Mother when the tram struck. Mother’s blood splashed all over her frock and she had to run to stop Mother’s head from rolling away down the cobbles.”

Daisy wailed, turning her laughter into the nearest appropriate sound. She doubled over in silent heaving laughter, unable to compose herself.

The man in the ticket office ignored the normal rules for checking on passengers to the McBride estate, as he was desperate not to set Daisy off again.

“There is no charge for your tickets. The Laird’s estate is footing the bill. You’ll find your train waiting on platform three.”

The man passed over five tickets hurriedly. Cam and
Arnold
helped a bent over Daisy out of the office while Ebb and Tricky followed behind them, looking more than a little bemused at the antics of the adults.

“Camilla Burns, don’t you ever do that again without giving me advanced notice,” Daisy demanded as soon as they were outside. “When you put in the bit about the mother’s head rolling down the street I thought I was going to die trying to stop myself laughing out loud.”

“You have made everything so complicated,”
Arnold
complained. “What shall we do if that man reports us to the people organizing this train?”

“I hope he does,”
Cam
said unrepentantly. “What better reason could we have for going to the estate than joining McBride’s workforce? I shall expect you to play along with this story from now on
Arnold
. I don’t know what you are complaining about; I just gave you a degree from one of the most prestigious universities in the world.”

“Yes you did, didn’t you? A degree in Engineering,”
Arnold
hissed at her furiously. “What do I know about engineering?”

Camilla dismissed his concern with a casual wave of her hand.

“You are a male, you played with toy trains as a child, I am sure. What more can there be to it than that? What is an engineer, but a boy who never grew up?”

“Are you part of Laird McBride’s party?” an officious young man with a clipboard asked as they descended the ironwork footbridge onto Platform Three.

Cam jumped in again before
Arnold
could reply.

“Yes,
Arnold
Smith, and family.
Arnold
has been awarded a first class degree in engineering from
Cambridge
.”

The man looked down at the list of names on his clipboard. He ran his finger over the list three times.

“You aren’t on here. Who recruited you? Was it Angus McKinnon?” he asked suspiciously.

“Yes, that was the man. He promised
Arnold
great things if he came,” Daisy interjected cheerfully.
Cam
glared at her, but said nothing.

“Angus is always forgetting to send in his paperwork,” their interrogator said, clearly annoyed. “I’ll write you in at the bottom of the list. This train is going directly to the estate. The Laird has chartered it for that very purpose. Everybody on it will be joining the workforce. We have been recruiting heavily over the last few months.”

The five clambered onto the train and found an empty compartment.
Arnold
glared at
Cam
as soon as they sat down, mainly because her idea was working out so well for them.
Cam
smiled sweetly back at him.

The train had barely started to pull out of the station when a harassed looking man in his middle twenties opened their compartment door and helped a young woman carrying a baby through it.

“You don’t mind if we join you?” he asked somewhat desperately. “We were late reaching the train and it seems to be full.”

“Please join us,”
Arnold
offered graciously. “Ebb, Tricky, go and sit on the other side with
Cam
and Daisy.”

It was a bit of a squeeze in the small compartment, but they all found somewhere to sit.

“I do apologize for not formally introducing us,” the man said once they were all sat down, “If I may do so now?”

Arnold
nodded in a friendly fashion.

“I am Josiah Green and this is my wife, Elsie, and our daughter Jane, though she is a little young to be introduced to anyone as she is only six months old. I am a carpenter by trade and have recently taken up full time employment with Lord McBride. We hail from the city of
Birmingham
where I was born and took my apprenticeship.”

Cam gave
Arnold
a hard look as he stood up to make his side of the introductions. This was moment where it was important he lied convincingly.

“I am Arnold Smith and this is my spinster elder sister, Camilla, and my younger sister Daisy. The two boys are my younger brothers, Ebenezer and David, though we always call David, Tricky. I have a …,”
Arnold
paused in embarrassment at the lie he was about to tell and then continued quickly before Cam could butt in. “A degree in Engineering from
Cambridge
University
. I am also taking up employment with Lord McBride today, which is why my family and I are on this train.”

“A first class honors degree,”
Cam
said gloatingly.

“I am truly privileged to meet you and your family, sir,” Josiah said, sounding a little awestruck. “I have always been fascinated by the science of steam engines and there are so many questions I would like to ask about them. I have never been able to grasp the difference between heat and temperature, despite all my readings on the subject and I am hoping you might be able to explain it to me?”

“Perhaps if you tell us what you know, my brother will be able to give you further explanations where required,”
Cam
said smoothly.
Arnold
was already looking worried.

“I have read Brewer’s Guide to Science and he talks about the caloric theory of heat flow as proposed by Carnot, a Frenchman I believe. That is, as I understand it, that there is a chemical of some kind that conveys warmth from one substance to another. But I have also recently read the Scotsman, James Prescott Joule’s claims that heat and work are one and the same thing, and that one may be readily converted into the other. I have certainly felt the heat generated on my lathe when I have been cutting wood. Which of the two theories do you believe to be true?”

“If it is a question of whether a Frenchman or a Britain is more likely to be correct in any matter of science, I think we can have no doubt that our own James Joule’s theory is correct,” Arnold said decisively. “As you have said, you have felt his effects in action yourself.”

This brought an appreciative laugh from Josiah and the other adults in the room.

“But I still cannot grasp the difference between Heat and Temperature,” Josiah continued when the laughter had died away. “Perhaps you could explain?”

28.
      
Plots

“Now then you two, bide with me here a wee while as I need to speak privately with you,” McBride told Laura and Tom as everyone stood at the end of breakfast.

“I’ll bring them along to your laboratory soon enough, Gordon, dinna fret yourself,” he said to Kemp, who looked as though he was waiting for Laura. Kemp nodded and turned on his heels to walk smartly out of the room,

Lord McBride looked Tom and Laura up and down as if seeing them for the first time.

“I had you come down here to see how you would behave. The guests at my table have no idea at all that I purchased you, Mr. Carter, at an auction and have borrowed Miss Young from the Hungarians. My guests think you have been sent here by MM1 in response to my requests for further magical assistance.”

“They would not have believed us if they were innocent, and if they are guilty it would have served no purpose,” Laura responded curtly. “Do not take us for fools, Lord McBride.”

“And what possible use would I have for fools?” McBride answered calmly, undisturbed by Laura’s tone. “I would not have paid good money for a Healer if I did not have great need, and I would not involve myself with kidnappers and Hungarian spies in the first place if I could have obtained the services of a Class A legitimately.”

“I thought I was only along so that you could control Laura,” Tom stated coldly.

“Aye, that was in my thoughts too. However, I have two sick men that you might be able to heal and that would be a bonus and no mistake.”

“And I suppose you purchased
Alice
because of your love of telepaths,” Laura said sarcastically.

For the first time, McBride looked irritated.

“I buy whatever I need to achieve my purpose. You would do well to remember that, lassie.”

“Well, this has been an interesting conversation. We must do it again some time,” Laura said. She began to walk towards the door.

“Do not rile me, lassie, or your young man here will feel the taste of the whip.” The sudden menace in McBride’s voice startled Tom. It was as if someone had thrown a switch and the man turned into someone else, someone decidedly less friendly.

Laura turned to face McBride showing no anxiety on her face.

“Then what exactly do you want of us?”

“I shall take you to Gordon’s laboratory in a few moments. He is in charge of the preparation of the material. You will meet a man there, Giles Summers. He is a Grade 1 Spellbinder who has been assisting us in our work. He will direct you on specific details on the tasks we require of you as a Spellbinder.”

McBride turned to face Tom. “Giles is sick and you, boy, will see if you can heal him.”

“And if I choose not to assist you in your endeavors?” Laura asked, her blue eyes suddenly looking as cold as ice.

“Then we shall see how many stripes I have to put upon your young man’s back before you deem to change your mind. I ken that healers cannot heal themselves and I should tell you that we only have a Grade 4 healer on the estate. You know how healers are in demand for the armed forces and I could get no better.”

Laura said nothing, but she gave a small incline to her head, which McBride took as evidence that she understood her choices. The three left the dining room and began the long walk through the castle to Kemp’s laboratory.

Michael Hart approached the reception for Military Magic Department 2 with a certain amount of trepidation. It was his wife, Ethel, who had put him up to it and he was already regretting agreeing to her ever more strident demands.

Ever since the strange telegram arrived, telling them that Tricky was safe she had been nagging him to go to MM2 and find out what was going on. The long period when they had heard nothing from Tricky had been disheartening enough, but now to be informed he was safe, but travelling with agents of MM3… Well, it was enough to turn his wife’s hair white with worry.

He took off his cap as he entered the large and grand lobby that served as a reception area for Military Magic. Ever since Tricky was found to possess magical talent, Michael had worried about the possibility of having to come down to this building. It was like visiting a police station, only much worse.

“Excuse me, miss,” he said to the stern looking woman at the desk, “I’ve come about me boy like, Tricky…, er I mean David Hart.”

The woman’s eyes widened for a second. When she pulled herself together she stood up and came to his side.

“If you would care to come with me, sir,” she said quietly. As Michael followed her out of the room, he wondered if this was a normal treatment for visitors. The journey was complicated and took them to another floor and a different part of the building. Eventually, he was deposited at a luxurious office where a kindly looking woman sat behind a desk.

“Michael Hart,” the woman who had brought him said quietly and then left him standing there as though that was explanation enough.

“Good morning,” Belinda said in a kindly manner and stood up from her desk. “I apologize for the mystery, but all will become clear very shortly. If you would care to come with me to Sir Ernest Trelawney’s office? He has been looking forward to meeting you ever since the role of your son in this affair became known.”

Belinda led a very confused father into an even more luxurious office where Michael saw a thin elderly man in elegant clothes sat behind an impressive mahogany desk. Trelawney stood as Michael entered and ushered him to sit in a stuffed leather chair on one side of the coffee table. Michael had never sat in such an elegant chair before and he worried that his trousers might leave marks on it. Trelawney sat in a chair on the other side of the table.

“I shall bring some tea for us, sir,” Belinda said and vanished back the way she had come.

Trelawney smiled at Michael in a warm and kindly manner. “This must be confusing for you. I know this might sound like a strange request, but would you mind telling me how your son came to be known to Military Magic.”

“Of course, my lord,” Michael said quickly. “I’m sorry if Tricky ‘as been making a nuisance of ‘imself, it’s in the boy’s nature, sir.”

Trelawney stopped Michael’s rush of words with a calming gesture.

“My name is Ernest and I would be honored if you would use it. Would you have any objection if I was to call you Michael?”

Michael shook his head, astonished that a knight of the realm would want to be on first name terms with him.

Trelawney looked gravely at Michael.

“Your son, David, who I believe everybody calls Tricky, is not in any trouble with me, though he is putting himself in grave danger for Her Majesty as we speak. He is a brave and loyal young man. For reasons I will explain soon; I would like you to tell me his story. How he came to the notice of Military Magic and who came to visit you?”

Michael felt worried on the news that Tricky was in some sort of trouble, just as Ethel had feared, but he felt he had to follow the gentleman’s instructions before asking further about his son.

“’E did the tests like everybody else, but we’ve known ‘e ‘ad gifts from when ‘e was three or four years old. E’ could always find anything lost in the ‘ouse. ‘E could see what was inside drawers without opening them.

“Mister Snood came to see us about six months ago. ‘E said Tricky ‘ad unusual magical skills and that meant ‘e ‘ad to go to a special school, and that we might not ‘ear from ‘im for a year or two. His mother, Ethel my wife, that is, was very upset by that and she said, begging your pardon for my language, sir, that Military Magic could rot in ‘ell before she would allow them to steal our child away from us.”

“Mister Snood said ‘e understood her worries, but such children as Tricky were important to the future of the Empire, and that ‘er Majesty and
Prince Albert
‘ad approved this school that Tricky would go to. ‘E said that ‘e would guarantee we would ‘ear from Tricky within the year. Then ‘e gave us fifty pounds. Not that Ethel wanted us to take ‘is money, but fifty pounds is over two years’ wages for a man such as me, sir.”

Michael took a deep breath before continuing. Belinda arrived with a tray and she served tea for the three of them while Michael collected his thoughts.

“It was another man came to collect Tricky for MM2. ‘E said ‘is name was Mister Smith, sir.”

“Could you describe him for us?” Trelawney asked. “Later on that is, not now.”

Michael nodded. He could see Mister Smith in his mind’s eye with no trouble at all. This man had taken Tricky away from them and he would never forget what he looked like.

“Then we got a telegraph message, sir. First people in our street to receive one, we were. It caused a bit of a commotion when it came, I can tell you.”

Michael reached into his pocket and held out the telegram in question. Trelawney took it from him and scanned it. He passed it over to Belinda who read it before returning it to Michael.

“Well Ethel said ‘that’s strange like’ and that I should go to MM2 and ‘ave it out with them, as it was clear that Tricky were at no special school like we’d been told.”

Trelawney gave Michael a sober look.

“Tricky was taken by criminals who had managed to worm their way into Military Magic. One of them is a man I would have trusted with my life,”

His eyes had taken on a bleak appearance that made Michael fear for his son’s life.

“We discovered that this man was a traitor and followed him to a house in Crouch End. When he left, we raided the house using a contingent of the Navy. Officers we could trust were not a part of this conspiracy.”

“The people are being held under house arrest, though I must confess we have not yet managed to get any of the ringleaders to talk. However, a maid has proved very helpful to us and has been much more forthcoming. She identified your son as one of the people held in the house and she knew he met up with our agents. She had hidden a program from the auction they held, which allowed us to identify the people being sold.”

“They sold our Tricky?” Michael asked in outrage.

“No, he managed to escape before the auction took place.”

“That sounds like our Tricky, sir,” Michael said with quiet satisfaction.

Trelawney nodded.

“Your son has joined up with my agents, who are seeking to rescue some of the people sold in that auction. We believe they are now in
Scotland
. However, we must act cautiously so as not to alert the man we are following or any other traitors working in Military Magic.”

“That is why we made arrangements with reception for you be brought straight to me should you come here, to prevent anyone in Military Magic being alerted to the fact. Can I trust you and your wife to keep our secret, Michael? I promise to make sure you are kept informed of any news we receive on your son. It is terribly important that no one finds out about this.”

There was only one thing on Michael’s mind.

“Tricky is all right?”

“He is with three of my best agents. They will look after him and keep him safe.”

“They may find that our Tricky is the one keeping them safe. ‘E’s a sly one, ‘e is.”

“You may well be correct. But so long as they all are safe, I care little for which of them brings it about.”