Jasper held a stern finger to her nose. “You—stay—here. Don’t you dare move! I’ll get Jem.”
Merinda was in the midst of an angry spew of a sentence, but Jasper was long gone. She looked furiously about her as the crowd fled the warehouse. One man tripped outside, hand pressed to bloodied face. It seemed hours since Jasper had left. When all of her pent-up energy seemed to have nowhere to channel, she furiously tapped her heel.
She squeezed her eyes shut a moment and only opened them at a man’s voice. Not Jasper but… but…
“I have something of yours.” Merinda opened her eyes and saw Benny.
Carrying Jem.
What air she was choking through the smoky haze left her.
“Is she dead?” Merinda cried. For, indeed, Jem looked very dead, her hairline clotted with blood.
“She’s just unconscious,” Benny said. “Look, there are footmarks—she narrowly avoided being trampled on. I thought it safer to get her out by whatever means possible rather than waiting for the medics to arrive. Come.”
He led her away from the warehouse and to a quieter side of the alleyway. He tipped over a crate with his toe and set Jem gently on it, still keeping hold of her lest she topple over.
Merinda squatted down beside her and looped her arm around Jem’s shoulders. Jem mumbled something incomprehensible before her head fell on Merinda’s shoulder.
“My friend’s almost crushed, and we never did find your wretched cousin!” Merinda hissed.
“He’s not here. I arrived an hour before the rally, and I investigated.”
“Did you think he would just saunter in with everyone?” Merinda spat incredulously.
“Yes,” Benny said assuredly. “I did. Because he’s too smart to skulk around at the back in the shadows where the police will be. I also checked the basement and the attic. I did a thorough search. He knows it’s better to hide in plain sight.”
Jem stirred and slowly opened her eyes. She blinked up at Benny and then Merinda. “W-what happened?”
“All Hades broke loose, Jemima,” Merinda said.
Jem tried to sit up straighter and couldn’t do so without a wince.
“Easy,” Benny said. He took a clean handkerchief from his vest pocket and pressed it against her forehead.
“Merinda!” Jasper’s voice cut through the noise of horse hooves and police whistles.
“Over here!” Merinda yelled, her voice scratchy from the smoke.
Panting and soot-faced, Jasper jogged over. “I c-couldn’t find… I… Jem!”
Jem gave him a bleary nod.
Jasper exhaled. “I looked everywhere. You’re hurt!” He dropped in front of her. “How bad is it?”
“Superficial,” Benny said as Jasper rose. Benny extended his hand. “Benfield Citrone.”
“Jasper Forth.”
They shook hands.
“I found the young lady almost trampled by the crowd. I was able to return her in one piece to her friend, thank God. I closely inspected the wound and found it to be just a scratch, a result of some sort of blow that knocked her unconscious. I doubt she’ll even require stitches. She’ll be just fine.”
Jasper gave a half smile. “You must have medical training.”
Benny shrugged. “It’s required in my field.”
“And what field is that?”
“Jasper, Benny here should be under no scrutiny from you. Come, I know that tone.”
“You know each other?” Jasper looked between them, startled.
“I had the recent privilege of making Merinda and Jem’s acquaintance when… ”
“Benny’s a client,” Merinda said.
“Who calls you by your given names?”
“I am looking for my cousin,” said Benny. “I trailed him as far as Toronto and reached a dead end.”
“And you were here tonight because…?” Jasper asked, narrowing his eyes.
“We thought his cousin might be here,” Merinda said quickly, answering for Benny. “But he wasn’t.” She sighed. “Can this wait? I must get Jem home before she starts drooling on my shoulder.”
“Merinda, I would not drool on… on… ”
“Hush, Jemima. You sound woozy. Jasper, is that fellow Jones around here? Your new officer?”
“He is. But he is required at the scene.”
“I can find us a taxi.” Benny stood at attention and looked about.
“I doubt you’ll be able to find one amidst this chaos,” Jasper said. “And anyway, cabs rarely just swing by this part of town.”
Benny’s face lit up. “Might one of your mounted officers permit me the temporary use of a horse? Only to see the young lady to safety. That way Merinda can stay here and investigate.”
Jasper was not amused. “Pardon me?”
“Oh, Jasper, give the man a horse. I have it on good authority he is an expert rider.” Merinda had no such authority, and Jasper’s raised eyebrows told her he knew as much.
“This is absurd,” Jasper said. “No. No. Step back, Mr. Citrone. This is a respectable married woman who will not just be passed into the arms of a stranger. Merinda, I thought better of you.”