Syd’s reaction was predictable. I braced for the volcanic eruption that I knew would follow Frank’s indiscreet remark.
‘Where are they? Let me at ’em! Their own mothers won’t recognize them when I’ve finished.’ He rounded on Frank. ‘And where were you when our Cat was bein’ done over, eh?’ He took Frank by the lapels and pushed him up against the wall. I’d never seen Syd so angry. ‘I trusted you to look after ’er!’
‘Syd, listen,’ I said, trying to pull him away, but I might as well have attempted to move a mountain. ‘He was out searching for Pedro. He couldn’t have done anything anyway. There were too many of them.’
Syd let go of Frank, still shaking with rage. Slowly, he began to calm down. ‘Sorry, Frank. I got a bit carried away.’
‘I understand, Syd,’ said Frank, tucking in his shirt. He had the rumpled look of someone who had been out in a strong wind. ‘I felt bad about it too when I got back. So did Charlie. They jumped her when she was on her own. But don’t worry about them. We’ll sort them out when the time’s right.’
‘Is that a promise?’ asked Syd. Frank nodded.
‘Let me know if me and the boys can ’elp.’
‘I will.’
Syd turned to me and, with a hesitant gesture, stroked my hair. ‘So are you all right, Cat?’
‘I’ve been better but I’ll live. The worst part is that the headmaster has written to Charlie’s mother, so I have to find somewhere else to hide.’
Syd scratched his head. ‘I could ask one of my boxin’ chums if they could find a place for you.’
‘Don’t worry about me: I’ve got a plan.’
‘Of course I worry about you, Cat. What do you expect? I s’pose you’re not goin’ to tell us what this plan of yours is?’
I smiled. ‘How did you guess?’
‘You ’ave a shifty look when you’re tryin’ to keep a secret. I’ve seen it before.’ Syd had surprised me. I had always thought him a bit slow to notice these things. ‘As long as it’s not dangerous, I don’t think I want to know.’
‘No, it’s not dangerous. In fact, I’m probably heading for the safest place in England.’
Syd gave me another appraising look then nodded. ‘All right. I trust you. You always seem to land on your feet so I’ve no reason to think you won’t this time.’
Charlie and Syd took this as the signal that Syd had calmed down and was safe to approach. Frank sat Syd in the best armchair, I took the footstool, while Charlie and Frank shared the bench which they dragged to the fireside.
‘So what’s the news about Pedro?’ Frank asked.
‘Well, that’s the rum thing. It’s why I come this evenin’. Joe finally caught up with Blind Bob this mornin’ but only ’cos Bob ’ad a message for ’im. That fleabag, Billy Shepherd, wants to speak to me. ’E says ’e ’as information about our Prince. Boil’s asked me to bring the boys to the Pantheon on Oxford Street tonight.’
‘What? For a fight? But the Pantheon’s a ballroom!’ exclaimed Charlie.
Syd shook his head. ‘Nah, not for a fight – not that we wouldn’t be ready for one if ’e offers – but to talk – man to man, ’e said.’ He leaned forward, lowering his voice. ‘I’ve ’eard that the Pantheon’s on the slide – no longer the place it was. Rumour ’as it that Shepherd bought a stake in it.’
‘Don’t tell me – he’s expanding his operations westwards,’ I said with a groan. ‘And who said that crime doesn’t pay? That’ll be a big step up from ruling the roost in the Rookeries.’
‘That’s right, Cat. Shepherd’s got a lot of money from somewhere lately – and he’s been buyin’ into businesses left, right and centre. Not in Covent Garden, of course.’ Syd gave a proud smile. ‘’E ’asn’t tried it on there, knowin’ what I’d do to ’im if ’e put a foot into my patch.’
‘And do you believe him – I mean, believe that he knows something about Pedro?’
Syd nodded. ‘Stands to reason, don’t it? I’d wager my next boxin’ purse on Pedro still bein’ in London. Shepherd might well know where ’e is.’
‘So, you’re going to meet him?’
‘Course. Got the boys waitin’ for me – we’re goin’ in style. But there’s just one thing that’s botherin’ me.’
‘What’s that?’
‘’E’s asked me to bring you along too.’ Syd sat back and looked at me, one eyebrow raised sceptically. ‘What d’you think of that?’
I was as suspicious as he was. Shepherd hated my guts. ‘It must be a trap.’
‘That’s what I thought, but Shepherd sent me this as proof ’e’s straight.’ Syd took out a leather bag from his pocket and placed it on the table. I opened the string and saw that it was full of guineas.
‘There must be one hundred pounds in there!’ I shook my head in disbelief.
‘Yeah, Cat. It’s a kind of ransom for you. If ’e tricks us, ’e forfeits this.’
Did Billy Shepherd hate me enough to lose a hundred pounds on me? I wondered. I doubted it. Billy loved money more than his own mother.
‘And there’s somethink else. ’E swore that ’e wouldn’t tell us nothink unless you came to the meetin’.’ Syd prodded the coins. ‘What d’you think, Cat?’
‘I don’t know. I don’t trust him.’
‘Course not. ’E knows that.’
‘She mustn’t go,’ said Frank quickly. ‘It smells bad to me.’
‘Stinks to ’igh ’eaven,’ agreed Syd. ‘But what about Prince? We’ll ’ave all the boys there – we’re more than a match for Shepherd’s gang of squealers and any runners that ’e might invite along. We can get ’er away if there’s trouble.’
I knew I didn’t really have any choice – I would never forgive myself if we passed up this chance to find Pedro. Billy probably knew that too.
‘Of course I’ll come,’ I said. ‘Can I borrow your cloak, Frank?’
‘But I’m coming as well,’ he said.
‘So am I,’ declared Charlie.
‘The more the merrier, as far as I’m concerned,’ said Syd.