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Reggie’s eyes opened, then widened as he saatching hi tied around his led to free himself from the ropes around his wrists and feet When that failed, he kicked at the coach door As Miss Atwater scooted to the other side, I brought the heel of ret it”
He tried speaking through the gag I dug my heel in harder “Do not test my patience” I leveled , cousin You h to be heard by anyone other than me, I’ll kick your teeth out Do you understand?” I asked, enunciating each word clearly
For the first tiie’s eyes
I hated resorting to violence, but Mr Bell’s life depended on my cousin’s silence Bell told us that if thewas amiss, if he suspected Isaac at all, he’d likely try to kill him
I refused to have anyone’s death on my conscience, especially Mr Bell’s Not that I orried the le-handedly taken down both Reggie and his accomplices and recovered the stolen Grey Ghost in the process What we hadn’t recovered was the stolen treasure, but Mr Bell assured us that it was only a matter of time
I looked out theIsaac Bell stepping out of the tavern, looking veryto portray A swarthy dark-haired man followed him out, and the pair walked in our direction
When they reached the coach, Isaac rapped on the door, calling out, “Apparently, this inald Oren They’re insisting on seeing him Now”
Miss Atwater and I exchanged glances She lifted her hand as though holding a glass to her lips
She was as brilliant as she was beautiful I realized, though, that to allay suspicion, such news of Reginald’s intoxication would sound better co that she should respond
She hesitated but a second before leaning toward theand pulling the curtain open just enough for the pair outside to see only her “He’shad a bit much to drink, but I’ll see if I can’t rouse him”
“Thank you,” Mr Bell said He stepped back fro a bland smile
The otherto see, but she closed the curtain “This better not be some trick,” he said
“I assure you, it’s not,” Isaac said
Usinga reminder about the loss of his teeth if he soand dragged hi of the coach as I forced , “Be careful”
Miss Atwater pulled the curtain for him to look out