LITMIR.BIZ

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claimed the armchair to her left. Edwina made a spirited bid to commandeer the satchel, but in that, she didn’t succeed. Royd had taken possession and stared her down. Then he leaned forward and spread the satchel’s contents on the low table between the twin sofas. “There’s no sense attempting to discuss anything while each of us knows only bits of the whole. I suggest we each take a portion of these documents, read and assimilate, then pass what we have to the right. Once we’ve all absorbed what’s been sent, we’ll see what we can make of the current situation.”

      No one argued. Royd divided the papers into six roughly equal piles, distributed them, and they settled to read.

      Silence descended, broken by the rustling of papers and the occasional “humph.” Accustomed to reading screeds of reports, Isobel reached the end of her pile first. She sat and let all she’d learned settle in her mind—like a jigsaw for which she was still missing too many pieces to even guess the shapes. Robert raised his head and tidied the stack of papers on his knee. Like her, he said nothing; from the slight frown on his face, she suspected he was adjusting some view he’d previously held.

      Aileen was the last to finish her documents—which included Robert’s journal. She humphed and passed her pile to Robert. They all handed on what they’d read, received the next batch from the person on their left, and settled to read again.

      By the time each of them had read all the documents, the afternoon was well advanced. Edwina rang for tea, and Humphrey and a footman brought in trays loaded with two teapots, cups, saucers, and plates, and a selection of cakes, including a heavy fruitcake sufficient to satisfy manly appetites.

      Royd waited until the ladies had sipped and nibbled, and he and his brothers had demolished the fruitcake—and their minds had had at least that much time to absorb all they’d just taken in—before, with the documents once again piled on the satchel before him, he said, “We should summarize what we’ve learned to this point, revised in light of what Caleb has sent.”

      His brothers nodded. The ladies directed alert gazes his way, but didn’t speak.

      Good.

      He set down his teacup. “We now know that three instigators—for want of a better label—living in Freetown devised the scheme. Somehow they learned of a deposit of diamonds deep in the jungle. It doesn’t matter how they learned of it, only that they did. Consequently, they set up a mine to operate in secret—presumably to avoid all fees and excise and any government intervention. Also so they could use slave labor, thus increasing their profits.”

      “That much seems clear,” Robert said. “We know that Muldoon, the naval attaché, and a man named Winter, who has access to mining equipment and supplies, are two of the three instigators.”

      “And the third,” Declan stated, an edge to his tone, “is someone on the governor’s staff, but as yet, we don’t have a name.”

      Royd nodded. “Initially, Lady Holbrook was a player in the scheme—whether by choice or under duress is immaterial as she’s taken herself out of the picture.”

      “Just as well,” Edwina muttered direfully.

      “In order to establish the mine,” Royd continued, “the instigators needed capital, so they contacted people willing to finance illicit ventures. The captives call that group ‘the backers,’ and there are several of them—how many we don’t yet know. The backers are most likely in England, and they are the ultimate perpetrators, as it’s unlikely the scheme would have come to anything without their support.”

      He paused, then went on, “Dreaming up villainous schemes is not a crime. Putting them into action is, and enabling such an action is equally a crime—arguably a greater one. As the backers are presumably wealthy men well able to finance such a scheme, it’s likely the bulk of the profits is flowing to them—which is raising the ire of the government, for various pertinent reasons.”

      Robert made a derisive sound. “The government had to make all sorts of reparations after the Black Cobra incident last year. In the aftermath, they made slews of rash promises, as governments are wont to do, assuming any repeat of a similar nature would be too far in the future to trouble them. Instead, they’re now facing a different but equally horrendous situation likely to stir the public to anger, scorn, and protest.” Robert met Royd’s eyes. “Given the current state of the government, given the dissatisfaction with the monarchy, they can’t risk another situation where the public sees them failing to act against perpetrators who are wealthy and influential.”

      Royd nodded. “Judging by the tone of Wolverstone’s communications, the government is exceedingly keen to have this scheme dismantled, the captives restored to the bosoms of their families, and the villains—instigators and backers alike—brought to justice. I’ve a strong suspicion my orders will focus on that last item, but once there, I’ll be in charge and, as usual, we’ll do things my way.” After a moment, he went on, “Our priorities should be, first, to rescue the captives and get them to safety, second, to dismantle the scheme—we don’t want it starting up again later—and third, to gain evidence to convict the backers.”

      Firm nods and murmurs of agreement came from the others.

      “Aside from all else,” Declan put in, “said backers are almost certainly here and not there. The best evidence you’re likely to get will come from the three instigators, and we’ll be seizing them anyway. Once they’re shown the noose, I imagine they’ll be only too happy to implicate the backers.”

      Robert grunted. “I can’t imagine there’ll be any honor among such vermin.”

      Again, all agreed.

      A moment’s silence followed, then Royd shifted in his chair. “Returning to the mechanics of what happened in the settlement, a local priest, Obo Undoto, was involved in helping a group of slavers identify adults from the European population with skills needed for the mine. As with Lady Holbrook, we don’t know whether Undoto was willing or acting under duress, and given Caleb’s success in eliminating the slavers entirely, at this point, we can ignore Undoto. By removing the slaver Kale and his men, Caleb has disrupted the supply of slaves to the mine and, from what Aileen had earlier learned, also the delivery of mining supplies. While those at the mine have alternative routes for delivery available, it will take time for them to realize they’ve lost Kale completely and put new procedures into place.” He paused, then added, “Having no immediate supply of new captives will increase the incentive to keep those they have in good health.”

      “Which can’t hurt,” Aileen put in.

      Royd nodded. “Viewed from all angles, Caleb’s action in eliminating Kale’s gang in the manner he did was inspired. As he himself wrote, not having to guard against the slavers supporting the mercenaries at the mine will be a significant advantage when it comes to seizing the compound.”

      After a moment, he went on, “To return to how their system operated—Undoto identified the adults, and Kale and his men kidnapped them and transported them to the mine. Acting directly, the slavers lured children into becoming captives, too. Although a heartless and ruthless man, Kale treated his captives well, apparently under orders from the mercenary captain actively overseeing the mine.”

      “The major cost in running the mine would be the mercenaries,” Robert said.

      Royd considered the papers piled before him. “The mercenary captain is called Dubois. In taking the compound and freeing the captives, he will unquestionably be our biggest obstacle.”

      Declan had tilted his head the better to study Royd’s face. “You’ve used the terms ‘we,’ ‘us,’ and ‘our’ several times. Does that mean you intend us”—with his gaze he included Robert—“and our crews to be actively involved in your leg of the mission?”

      Royd met Declan’s gaze, then his lips curved. “Did you expect to remain here and enjoy”—he waved—“the social whirl?”

      “Good God, no!” Declan looked appalled. “But I wasn’t sure if our ships would

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