The Silver Coin Read Free Page B

Cunnings—the one person who could identify him—then vanished.”
    “Webelieve he killed Cunnings,” Marks amended, scratching his head. “The killer was never found, nor was any proof of his identity.” Seeing the anguish on Breanna’s face, he felt a pang of guilt. “But, yes,” he conceded, “we’re pretty sure Cunnings’s murderer was the same man who took a shot at your cousin.”
    “And I maimed him.”
    Marks’s lips thinned into a grim line. “I understand why you’d think this message was from him. Maybe it was. Fine, it probably was. The question is, what can we do about it? We couldn’t find him three months ago. What makes you think it’ll be any easier to find him now?”
    “The fact that he’s surfaced.” Breanna gripped the folds of her gown between her fingers, an earnest pucker forming between her brows. “Sir, I don’t work for Bow Street. I’m not presuming to tell you how to do your job. But isn’t it possible this man dropped out of sight long enough, not only to wait for your investigation to die down, but to give his wound time to heal? That he’s only now able to resume his work? His note certainly makes it sound that way.”
    “I agree. It does sound as if he was waiting to be up to snuff before he contacted you. But that doesn’t mean he’ll be any easier to catch than he was before. Think about it, my lady. Paid killers don’t operate out in the open. Nor do they advertise in newspapers to find clients.” Marks flipped his notepad shut. “What’s more, they don’t take jobs without monetary compensation— majormonetary compensation. With your father in Newgate, no one’s interested in paying this assassin to kill you or your cousin. So why would he take the risk? Why would he chance getting caught in exchange for nothing? He wouldn’t.”
    “My instincts tell me otherwise.”
    “No rudeness intended, my lady, but I’m in the middle of some pretty ugly murder investigations. I can’t abandon those cases in favor of yourinstincts.”
    Breanna made a frustrated sound. “I realize that. I’m not asking you to abandon anything. I read the newspapers. I’m aware of how busy you are. All I’m asking is that you probe this matter a bit—perhaps after hours.” She pressed her lips together, squaring her shoulders in that regal way she had. “I’m sorry if that sounds presumptuous. But remember, mine isn’t the only life that’s at stake. My cousin’s is, too. I’m sure her husband, Lord Sheldrake, would appreciate any assistance you could provide in eliminating a potential threat to his wife.”
    Lady Breanna’s pointed comment wasn’t lost on Marks. He knew damned well who the Marquess of Sheldrake was, how prominent he was in London business and society. He also knew he was the “Lockewood” of the House of Lockewood—the most influential merchant bankers in England, maybe even in the whole damned world. Not to mention that the House of Lockewood was the very place where Cunnings, Sheldrake’s right-hand man, had been murdered. Murdered because he’d been instrumental in an ugly plot that sacrificed lives and undermined the marquess himself.
    Yes, if the assassin truly had resurfaced, Sheldrake would definitely want him found, want all the loose ends of the nightmare tied up. Most especially because the assassin’s target had been Lady Anastasia Colby, now the Marchioness of Sheldrake. And everyone knew how much Damen Lockewood adored his new bride…
    Hell, Marks thought, eyeing Lady Breanna with a kind of grudging respect. This woman wasn’t only resilient and beautiful. She was smart, too.
    “All right.”Hegave a terse nod. “I’ll do some checking—as much as I can given what’s going on here. I’ll start with the messenger service that delivered the package to your home. After that, I’ll review the details of Cunnings’s murder. Maybe I can turn something up.”
    His tone said otherwise.
    “Perhaps if you speak to Mr.