Druid's Daughter Read Online Free

the cobalt eyes
raised to hers were bleak with despair.
    “We gambled and lost. The Commissioner received a second
note requesting another five thousand pounds. One of Jamie’s curls was
enclosed. The note instructed us to leave the money at the same specified tree
in Hyde Park. The time frame was more appealing. After the scoundrel picked up
the package and verified the contents, Jamie’s release would follow in only ten
minutes.”
    Morgan leaned over the desk, resting on her hands and said
nothing. She knew the Commissioner and his Chief Inspector must have considered
every possibility and yet made a deliberate choice to take the chance.
    “Of course you posted men to observe.”
    Dellafield gave a short bark of a laugh.
    “We posted ourselves. We’re the best, aren’t we? We’d
planned to grab the messenger as soon as he made the pickup. Unfortunately our
nearest cover was too far away. The blackguard who picked up the money wore a
mask.”
    Dellafield got up and began pacing the room, staring at the
floor as he strode.
    “He didn’t stop to count the bills, just slipped into the
bushes so fast we got only the impression of a middle-sized man. He wore a big,
concealing cap pulled down over his features, although he appeared clean-shaven.”
    Dellafield sat down at his desk, his intense eyes fixed
bleakly on her. “I’m a powerful runner and I tore after him but he’d gotten too
large a start. We’re worse off than before. Now the villain knows we won’t pay
up so easily a third time.”
    Morgan twisted her hands in her lap, her heart aching at the
thought of the young boy in such evil hands.
    “I called you in to see if you’ve had even a glimpse of
something possibly helpful to us.”
    He didn’t try to hide a supplication that almost cracked
Morgan’s heart. She’d already surmised this man wasn’t quite the unfeeling and
cold-blooded aristocrat he appeared. His suffering eyes betrayed him to be a
caring and passionate person. A confirmation she cherished. She’d think later
about why this was important to her.
    “You’re dreadfully worried about something you haven’t told
me that made you call me. What has you so fearful?” she asked.
    Dellafield snorted. “You certainly seem to be able to read
me more easily than anyone except my mother. All right. I’ll tell you exactly
what I fear, although it’s not the usual subject for a young lady’s ears. Our
villain may think it too dangerous to exploit the Commissioner again. I fear
Jamie might be sold to an overseas slave market. He’s a most appealing child.”
    “Dear Goddess of us all,” murmured Morgan. “I never imagined
such wickedness. I’d already determined to see you today. Although I don’t know
if what I have to tell you will help.”
    She chewed on a knuckle before she continued.
    “A startling picture appeared to me during the night. I’m
not at all sure this has anything to do with Jamie, but I knew I should tell
you.” She took a deep, reinvigorating breath. “As clearly as I can see you, I
saw a bar in a tavern. The bar itself was a dark polished wood and was
semi-rounded, a kind of half circle, which must be unusual. No people appeared
in the picture. A door on each side of the bar was painted a bright blue.” Her
voice slowed down as she continued. “That’s all, I’m afraid, but I could see
every detail clearly. I could even see the white painted door handles.”
    Dellafield said nothing and she lowered her head in
disappointed rejection.
    “I don’t think that’s much help.”
    “We’ve nothing else to go on.” The Chief Inspector showed no
emotion in his graven face. “Nothing at all. We must try to make some sense of
this. Let me call in my sergeant.”
    Sergeant Shriver snorted an uncomplimentary sort of grunt
when his Chief Inspector described the tavern just as Morgan described it to
him.
    “Sure and I know the place well, Chief. It’s down on the
docks, a really disreputable hole. Called The Blue