Twincy Quinn and the Eye of Horus Part One (15 page)

‘
I want full protection for this exhibition. I will blame every
single member of Scotland Yard if anything happens to my
artefacts,’ the lord looked straight at me as he spoke, and I
imagined that even if an explosion went off just behind him, he
wouldn't turn around.

I didn't
answer. And I wasn't going to answer unless I received a direct
question. Because, God dammit, I wasn't in a position to answer. I
was a single detective, and I could not and would not promise this
overblown Lord every single resource the police force had. His
exhibition was a non-event. He was bringing stolen goods into the
country, and though they sparkled and were littered with fine gems
and gold, other things were going on. Kidnappings, crimes, murders,
burglaries. That mattered, because stopping crimes kept people
safe. Lord Ridley's exhibition did nothing but offer a simple and
quickly forgotten distraction.

‘
I am organising this exhibition at considerable personal
expense,’ the lord said, emphasising the word
considerable.

I didn't
react, and I wasn't going to react to anything the lord said. I
would stand here and maintain the same dutiful position of respect
that I had learnt in the army, and that was it. And when it was
over, I was going to turn around, and I was going to ignore every
single thing that the lord had said.

‘
Can I have your assurance, Detective,’ Ridley said, his
indifference obvious, ‘that you will do everything you personally
can to ensure the safety of my exhibition?’

It was a
question. He expected a response, and I had to give one.

‘
I will do everything I can in my position as a detective and
in accordance with the dictates of the law to ensure no crimes are
committed,’ I said, diplomatically.

It was true. I
hadn't lied, but I certainly hadn't given Lord Ridley any assurance
that I would personally do whatever it took to keep his precious
stolen objects safe. What I had said was that I would stop all
crimes. Because I was a police officer, and that was what I was
commissioned to do. I also had a hierarchy of responsibility. If I
saw somebody stealing into the museum, ready to smash their way
through Lord Ridley's collection, yet I also witnessed a kidnapping
taking place, I knew which one I would attend to.

‘
Very well,’ the lord said automatically, probably not even
hearing, let alone processing what I’d just said, ‘then there is
another matter I would like to discuss with you.’

I clamped down
hard on my jaw to stop myself from reacting.

Though it did
seem stupid of Lord Ridley to ask me all the way out here just so I
could give him an assurance that I would personally do everything I
could to protect his upcoming exhibition, I didn't like the look in
Ridley's eyes.

‘
The reason I asked for you personally,’ Lord Ridley shifted
forward on his chair, and for the first time he no longer seemed
intimidating, though that did not mean for a second he appeared
friendly in any way. No, right now he appeared colder, because he
was looking at me with what one could only term as a categorically
calculating glare.

I was being
sized up, judged, and I didn't know why. But in that moment I got
the horrendous feeling that Lord Ridley was after something, and he
wanted to use me to get it.

‘
I have heard from your Inspector that you are the man
currently in charge of investigating this terrible spate of
kidnappings. Is that correct?’

A flicker of
cold warning escaped across my chest, sending a shiver over my
shoulders. I contained it, and hid the move with a slight stretch
as I straightened my back and stared at him evenly. I offered a
curt cough. ‘That is correct.’

Lord Ridley
nodded, yet not once did he take his eyes off me.

‘
I see. Excellent. Then have you heard the latest
news?’

I looked at
him. I tried not to make my eyes narrow in confusion, but I
couldn't stop them from flicking down. ‘Sorry?’

‘
About Elizabeth Fairmont? She rescued herself, saved herself
from her kidnapper, and has finally returned to tell us what foul
devil is behind these kidnappings.’

I didn't know
how to react. I had questioned Elizabeth Fairmont myself yesterday,
and I knew for sure that Lord Ridley was well-connected enough to
know I had done so.

‘
I will take your silence as a yes. You may be wondering how
this information came to light?’ That keen gaze of his narrowed and
I wasn't ashamed to say it made me give a deep swallow.

Again I didn't
know how to react, so I simply settled for a short nod.

‘
Of course you are, well I can confidently tell you. You see,
Detective, I am a man of many interests, many resources, and many
contacts. I also have a talent for hearing things. Fairmont is a
good friend of mine, and when I found out about this sorry tale, I
immediately went over to his house. His daughter felt she could
confide in me, and as soon as she did, I immediately used what
resources I could muster to find everything I could about this
Twincy Quinn woman.’

If I had not
known how to react before, I certainly knew what to do now, but I
had to stop myself with every scrap of control I could.

I wanted to
laugh out loud, perhaps I also wanted to slap my side, and wipe a
fake tear from my eye.

Was I expected
to believe that? Not only did it sound ridiculous, but Lord Ridley
obviously looked as if he were lying.

Of course I
couldn't show I knew this. Instead I remained where I was, and
settled for a move halfway between a nod and a slight shake of my
head.

‘
Detective?’ Ridley shot me a questioning look, apparently
expecting more of a reaction.

‘
Yes, Lord?’

‘
I need you to do something for me,’ again he did not blink
once as he locked me in that gaze.

I,
unfortunately, blinked, and it was a rapid, rather startled
affair.

For all the
indifference I wished to hold towards men like Lord Ridley, I was
currently in a significantly compromised position. I could hardly
shout and swear at the man, turn around, and tell him to jolly well
sod off. Not only would the inspector promptly fire me, but a man
like Lord Ridley would easily have me destroyed. Not physically: I
doubted the lord was ever so obviously brutal. He would do it
socially, politically, and economically.

So yes, I felt
a little like shaking in my boots.

‘
I need you to solve this case, for me personally. Too many of
my friends have been affected by this. Too many families have been
torn apart. I need you to find that woman,’ Lord Ridley brought one
of his large hands off the desk and pointed it directly at me. It
was a strong move, and it was backed up by the hard edge to his
glare.

I couldn't
help but narrow my eyes. ‘You have my assurance, as does the rest
of London, that I will do all I can to solve this case as quickly
as I can. I have begun investigating this Twincy Quinn woman,’ I
managed, a little annoyed when my voice shook slightly, yet at
least I was telling the truth, ‘and when I have anything, of course
I will act, within the dictates of the law,’ I added.

I wasn't sure
why, but in that point in time I felt I needed to emphasise that
fact. Whoever this woman was, and whatever she was truly
responsible for, I was going to deal with her exactly as the law
told me to.

And whatever
Lord Ridley really wanted, well, I wasn't going to help him, not
unless somebody tied my hands, chained me up, and forced me to.

‘
It would be somewhat of a personal favour to me,’ Lord Ridley
continued, as if he hadn't listened to a word I had just said. ‘As
I said before, these crimes, this horrendous activity, must stop.
And this woman must be brought to justice. For that end, I am
willing to help you in any way I can. Through my business
associates and my operations I come in contact with a great deal of
information,’ he gestured with his hand, his fingers dropping open
slowly as he still held me in that powerful gaze, ‘these were the
same resources I used to track down so much information on Twincy
Quinn so quickly.’

I tried hard
not to snort. So much information, including her waist
circumference. Just how exactly had Lord Ridley come up with that
one? Was it a guess? Or had he known her personal tailor? A tailor
for a so-called ragamuffin woman?

‘
I see,’ I said, hoping that was a sufficiently neutral
statement to continue the conversation without landing me in any
more hot water.

‘
I am willing to open these resources up to you. If you have
any questions, if you would like to know any information, or if you
come up with any clues as to her whereabouts and activities,’ the
lord added, and just for a moment I fancied his eyes sparkled. It
was not a charming move however, as they did not sparkle with any
form of friendliness or cheer. It was something else, something
akin to greed. ‘You must come to me with them, and I will use what
I can and do what I'm asked to help you solve this
case.’

It took me a
second, and unfortunately I reacted on instinct: I shook my
head.

Because I
suddenly realised what he was asking. He wanted me to reveal and
share the facts of my ongoing investigation with him. He was flat
out telling me that if I found anything at all on Twincy Quinn, he
wanted me to tell him what that was.

As soon as
Lord Ridley saw me shaking my head, I saw a challenging, deadly
gaze seize his expression.

I eagerly put
my hand up. ‘I simply mean I hope not to bother you.’ I covered my
tracks quickly.

‘
Not at all, not at all, in fact I insist upon it. There is too
much riding on this; London has been affected too deeply by these
horrendous crimes. I am in a position of power,’ he patted his
chest, the move slow and ordered, obviously designed to catch my
eye and to emphasise his words, ‘and I have a responsibility to use
those resources. Scotland Yard does wonders, but it can't do
everything, and it can't go everywhere.’

My eyes
narrowed as my brow crumpled at that. It was meant to be able to go
everywhere, and it was meant to be able to do everything. But
reading between the lines, I fancied I understood what Lord Ridley
meant, and I fancied I understood more than he intended me too.
Lord Ridley had access to people and resources beyond the law. Well
I knew he went on extravagant missions to steal artefacts and
resources from other countries, but perhaps he did the same in fair
old England. What was I thinking? Of course he did the same. Yet
perhaps his activities bordered far closer to illegal than I had
once imagined.

‘
Come to me with what you have,’ the lord now rose, but before
he walked out from behind his desk, he rested his hands on it,
curling his fingers up into fists and tapping them lightly on the
leather inset in the beautiful mahogany masterpiece.

‘
I will address this case to the best of my abilities, and draw
on every resource I can,’ I added, to mollify the lord.

Once again I
hadn't exactly said I would help him, and I knew I would never,
ever reveal the ongoing facts of a case with this man. Yet right
now I simply wanted to appease him so I could get out and get on
with my day.

A day which
had just taken a strange turn. For if the lord was to be believed,
and I was interpreting his strange behaviour correctly, he was far
more interested in this Twincy Quinn then I had initially given him
credit for.

When I had
heard of his bizarre account yesterday, I had no context within
which to understand it. I had simply assumed that the lord, for his
own reasons, had manufactured an outlandish lie. Perhaps it was
publicity, perhaps it was a distraction. Perhaps several weeks down
the line it would turn out to be nothing but an advertisement for
his upcoming exhibition. The Lord and his main benefactor, Doctor
Elliot Esquire, were very skilled when it came to manipulating
situations to their favour.

And yet now it
appeared the lord had far more interest in this woman than I had
previously imagined. Why else would he call me here, and outright
tell me I had to share the facts of my case with him?

Just who was
she, and why did Lord Ridley, of all men, want to find her so
desperately?

Feeling
extremely uneasy, yet at the same time awash with expectation and
energy that wanted to see me run off into the streets to actually
solve this case, I followed the lord out of the room and out of
those large ornate doors.

‘
Come to me with whatever you can, and I will help you solve
this case,’ the lord said as he turned to face me. He was close,
and he looked across into my eyes.

We were
roughly the same height.

But I did hope
that that was where our similarities ended.

From his
mannerisms to his morals, the lord was a different creature,
perhaps a beast, if you went in for imaginative, colourful
language. Or rather, plainly a monster.

Again he was
trying to intimidate me, yet at the same time it was clear he
wanted to appear like my friend.

Taking a step
back, to reassert my personal space, I afforded him a low,
respectful nod, said good day, and proceeded to walk away.

The butler
quickly found me before I could wander into any sensitive rooms and
find evidence of the lord’s nefarious activities, and escorted me
out of the house.

When I was
finally outside, I couldn't help but take a deep breath of air.
This far out, it was clean, and I could smell the scent of rain not
too far away.