Phoebe halted. John Stafford had known her father was a spy for the Crown? She remembered vividly the one and only meeting with Stafford five years ago. She had shown him her father's letter, insisted she wouldn't leave until he read it. He had acquiesced, but his agitation after he'd read the letter made her think he couldn't even speak the name of a traitor, much less abide the company of his daughter. Stafford, for all his civility, had been austere, advising her to accept things for what they were. But all the while he'd known…
A moment later she finished the letter, ending with;
At the age of thirty-six, Mason Wallington became a fugitive. When no trace of him was found, he was thought to have perished.
Phoebe drew in a shaky breath, set the letter aside and began the next one.
July, 1824
Four years have passed since Mason Wallington was branded a traitor. Despite Sidmouth's orders that I forget the matter, my conscience demands I act. Whether guilt or innocence is the result of my findings, I shall, as always, record all matters true and faithfully. I begin with Wallington’s superior, Lord Niles Mallory.
Phoebe reread the name: Niles Mallory. At last, she knew the identity of her father’s direct superior.
August 1824
Lord Mallory, member of the House of Lords. Resident of London. Married, one child. Wife died in 1819.
Two months, and my investigations yield no derogatory reports about Lord Mallory. Surprising, considering the devils that surround him in the House of Lords.
January 25th 1825
While I have yet to discover the significance of the meeting I observed tonight, I cannot deny the excitement I feel. Tonight, Mallory left his home at about eleven o’clock and visited Lord Harrington, a man whom I had not observed in Mallory’s company before now. Mallory stayed but a few minutes, then set out, despite the late hour, straightaway to a residence in a neighborhood in the docks.
Though I have no previous knowledge of the place, I was quite familiar with the man who lived there: Peter Jenkins, a former law enforcement officer who made a name for himself as a thief, liar, and suspected rapist. He was eventually discharged for taking bribes.
The meeting between him and Mallory lasted three quarters of an hour. From there, Mallory went directly home.
January 30th 1825
A quick investigation proved that Jenkins hadn't changed. When in the employ of the London magistrate, Jenkins consorted with criminals who were involved with everything from blackmail to black market French brandy. Dealing with a man like Jenkins called for drastic measures. I would chance no discovery before my investigations bear fruit therefore; for the first time in my career, I stepped outside the law.
Disguised, I hired two felons from the docks, and accosted Jenkins in a side street not far from his home. My cohorts and I had only just thrown Jenkins against the wall when he began to blubber that he would repay the loan. All he needed was a little more time. I realized he had mistaken me for the owner of one of his gambling debts, and demanded to know when I might expect payment. Jenkins blathered on about how he had landed a big ‘fish,’ and would that next day receive an advance that would more than cover his current payment.
The man is a coward at heart and it was easy to force from him the name of Mallory as his client. I insisted on knowing what Lord Mallory would want with a river rat like him. I nearly gave myself away when he revealed that Mallory had hired him to discover if any trace of Wallington could be found.
Phoebe’s breath caught. Lord Mallory was searching for her father. Her heart pounded as she read on.
On the surface, it seemed a simple enough matter. Despite Jenkins’ unscrupulous nature, he was a superb investigator, which made Mallory’s choice understandable. Oh, how I wanted to believe Mallory planned to right matters. Yet, that special sense, the sense which every investigator must have to survive, screamed with that his motives were not altruistic.
When I questioned Jenkins as to why Mallory hadn't gone to a legitimate Bow Street runner, Jenkins said Mallory didn’t want a particular member of the House of Lords to learn of his inquiries. Jenkins denied knowing who the man was and I realized he must be telling the truth. Why would Lord Mallory reveal this information? However, I recalled that Lord Mallory had once gone from Lord Harrington's home to see Jenkins, and I wondered if Lord Harrington wasn't the man from whom Lord Mallory was hiding his investigation.
Phoebe paused and searched her memory, but found no recollection of a Lord Harrington. She put the question to the back of her mind and read on.