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“Maybe he would be safer behind bars,” Rose shrugged

Barnaby instinctively scoffed at the notion Given that Sayers had valuable contacts behind bars, he would ensure that Mainton was ‘dealt with’ even in prison It was no safer for a traitor in gaol In fact, Mainton wouldn’t be able to escape Sayers’ clutches even under aruard if Sayers had a ht Maybe Mainton was safer on the run Unfortunately, he was now a hunted man He was a veritable mind of information that was extremely valuable to the Star Elite, and soure out which situation was best

“Maybe you are right,” Barnaby murmured “However, he is a criminal and needs to be behind bars While he is free for now he has to live every day with the knowledge that Sayers, Chadwick, and others in Sayers employ, all want him dead He has to live with the threat that he could be found one day, and will inevitably be murdered”

“Not only that, but his sister will be h of a punishment on its own really, isn’t it?”

Barnaby lapsed into thoughtful silence while he thought about that He had to adht If only they could find out where Mainton was, and get there first they could ensure the man remained hidden, carried on with the life he had established away froh trouble for Sayers to focus his attention elsewhere It would be for Sir Hugo to negotiate soe in court when needed in lieu of a lighter prison sentence At least the Star Elite would get the valuable facts they needed to break the crime syndicate up once and for all

“Why were those men in the coal yard? I mean, it is miles away fro a valiant attempt to shake off the melancholy that had settled over her

“They are looking for Mainton,” Barnaby said simply “It was a mere fluke that you caht up with his traitors”

Rose hated to have to ask her next questions, but she did

“Are they likely to knoho you are, Barnaby?” Rose asked quietly

Barnaby thought carefully “I should like to say no, but in all honesty I aht now I have to be honest with you Rose, of late Sayers always seems to be one step ahead of us Since we arrested Chadwick’s brother a couple of ht was Sayers, we have always been one step behind the thug We just don’t seeet a lead, or a break, or a kernel of infor for Sayers to walk into a trap It is so frustrating but has happened so often that we have all started to look for a reason”

Rose thought about that but couldn’t offer hianisation was doing so couldn’t really offer any advice

“How anisation, is it very big?”

Barnaby grinned The transfor that it stole her breath She stared at him for a moment and watched the animation in his face in be he really cared about

“There are about thirty of us but the nuues havein the Shires The le and able to move up and down the country at will”

“Like this,” Rose sighed It was evident from the enthusiasm in his tone that he loved what he did