"Mr Sheldon," Justin said, "tell my friend what you told me."
Mr Sheldon looked about. He sat back suddenly and Marcus would have urged him on, but a tavern maid approached the table, two ales in hand.
"Good evening, gentlemen," she said, setting an ale before Marcus, then going around William to place the other in front of Steven. She straightened, saying, "You have a choice of jackrabbit stew or roast pig."
"Jackrabbit stew, my girl, all around," Steven spoke up.
Marcus hid his surprise at hearing the guttural accent Steven employed and nodded to the girl in assent when she looked at him. She started for the bar at the back of the room and Marcus focused on William.
"Lad," he said in low tones, "proceed with your tale, if ye please."
William cast a nervous glance about the room, then leaned forward. "Your friend here," he nodded toward Justin, "promised the remainder of the fee."
"Aye," Marcus said. "Whatever he agreed to, you'll get."
"If you don't mind, sir," William said, "I'll have my payment now."
Justin pulled forth a small pouch and set it on the table. William reached for it, but Marcus laid a hand on his when it covered the pouch. "The money stays where it is until I've heard what you have to say."
William nodded, and Marcus withdrew his hand. William released the pouch and placed his elbows on the table. "There's a place up north, a hundred and fifty miles or so, Bainbridge Hospital. A month ago, a man incarcerated his wife there because she believes she was Cleopatra in a past life."
"And what makes ye think this woman is the one we are looking for?" Marcus asked.
"The description your friend here gave. The woman is dark haired, late twenties and slim of build. The man is much older and seems to fit your description. He's rich, sure enough."
William sat back and Marcus saw the tavern maid approach again, tray in hand with four bowls of stew on it.
She set a bowl before each of them and looked at the men. "Anything else?"
"That'll be all," Steven said, and hunched over his bowl. He began clinking the spoon loudly against the side of the bowl.
The woman turned as he took a hearty mouthful. William gulped a spoonful of stew. He chewed, his gaze following her until she was out of hearing range. He took one more bite of food as two men passed, headed for a nearby table.
William pushed the bowl forward. "As I was saying, the man is rich. He's left strict orders that no one is to visit his wife and she is to be kept under heavy sedation."
Marcus's hand balled into a fist and, before realizing it, he started to push to his feet.
Justin grasped his shoulder and shoved him back into his seat. "Easy there, my fellow," he said, his voice all amusement. "You would think it was your own wife there instead of—well"—Justin flashed a grin—"you know how it is, Mr Sheldon, when a woman cuckolds a man."
William nodded. "Indeed, I do."
"Seems the lady was burning both ends of the candle," Justin said. "It's my guess her husband is teaching the wench a lesson far beyond that you could serve up, my boy." He gave Marcus a hearty clap on the shoulder.
Marcus slumped back into his chair. "She didna' cuckold me," he muttered in a sullen a voice, and looked at William. "'Tis no' enough to be sure she's the one."
"She is the most likely one."
Marcus exchanged a glance with Justin. "What do you mean 'the most likely one?'"
"There's another woman, but she doesn't seem a good fit. A raving lunatic. Has nightmares about a child who was poisoned—"
Marcus started. Justin straightened and Steven dropped his spoon into his nearly empty bowl. William looked from one man to the other.
"Where is this woman?" Marcus demanded.
"Twenty miles outside of Boston in Danvers Sanitarium."
"Danvers?" Steven repeated in a loud voice.
Marcus shot him a warning look.
Steven lowered his voice. "That's an asylum for the criminally insane."
Marcus felt the blood rush to his head.
"What are her circumstances?" Justin cut in.
"Her father brought her," William replied. "She suffers from delusions that her child has returned from the dead." William shivered. "Most of the men working there fear her. There's nothing like the fear of the devil to put the fear of God into a man."
Or the fear of a courageous woman, Marcus silently added.
Marcus stepped from the tavern onto the dimly lit street between Justin and Steven.
Once out of sight of the tavern, Marcus looked at Justin. "I am the spurned lover?"
Justin grinned. "You weren't anything until I thought you would do poor William in."
"Who is this William?"
Justin gave a deprecating laugh. "A Boston law-enforcement officer."
Marcus addressed Steven, "What do you know of Boston law enforcement?"
"I don't know William, but many Boston police officers are in a position to know information like what he told us."
Marcus nodded. "Where does Landen Shipping hold its board meetings?"
"The Brill Building, downtown Boston," Steven answered.