Page 24 (1/2)

Sykes scoffed "You know everything about everybody You knohere she be or how to get word to her Tell her to leave my boys be She can take as an wiped his roughened hand over his cracked lips "I’ll tell ’er"

"See that you do I’d hate for anything unpleasant to happen to her"

Before Feagan could issue his own dire warning, the lass "Ah, Frannie, Frannie, Frannie What kind of trouble are ye getting into now?"

Bringing the hood of her cloak up over her head, Frannie walked through the streets of her youth It was early enough that revelers were still about, late enough that the prowlers and prostitutes were beginning to poke around She wondered what Greystone would think of her if she brought him here, if she showed him exactly from whence she’d coentle the hidden dagger for comfort, she shouldered her way by hiain stop her

"Actually I a a rather large felloith big hands that are very good at squeezing things, such as your neck, so you ht want to let me pass"

"Haven’t seen him, but I’d be happy--"

"Ah, there he is Excuse me" She hurried on, but theto est fellow she kneas Bob Sykes, and she certainly had no desire to cross paths with hih the crowd, she stayed alert, always conscious of ni of any value when she caly strong--fingers tug her into the alleyway She had her knife halfway out of its scabbard when she recognized her abductor "Feagan"

" ’ello, Frannie darling"

"You startledfer ye" He dragged a small, spindly lad forward "Master Charley Byerly"

She hadn’t seen Feagan in years Seventeen, to be precise His hair was no longer the vibrant red of hers His face was more wrinkled Somehow she’d expected hiaze between the two She despised that she didn’t trust Feagan His looks ed, but she was fairly certain that his character was carved in stone, never to be altered "How did you knoas in search of orphan boys?"

"I ’ear things"

Frannie crouched in front of the lad "Hello, Charley I’ive you a hoan slapped the boy’s head "Wot I’d tell ye, boy? Mind yer an a mulish look

"Have you a ht ’ian protested

"Charley?" Frannie prodded

"Got nobody Don’t need nobody"

Frannie took the lad’s hand She didn’t want to stay in this area any longer than necessary "What do I owe you, Feagan?"