Fur and Fangs: The Evie Chester Files: Case Three by Nita Round

Author:Nita Round [Round, Nita]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pink Tea Books
Published: 2021-01-11T16:00:00+00:00

16

Charlie drove them around to the back of the house in Blest Hill. Evie shuddered as they drove through the gates into the courtyard. She had so many memories of this place, and few of them were good.

Around the gate and the courtyard, quite a few people had congregated in small groups. They were beggar gangs for the most part, and although Evie couldn’t identify any one person or group, she recognised the slouch and stare of people who lived in the shadows of the street. These were the sort of people who'd hunted her when she’d escaped Godwyn Bethwood the first time.

Evie shivered, barely able to control the fear that rose inside her chest and squeezed her heart.

Mr Wiggins strode across the yard to meet them, and Evie wanted to sink into the upholstery where no one could see her. Hesta reached out and grabbed her hand.

“It’s all right. I’m here, and no one will harm you,” she whispered.

“Good morning, miss,” Mr Wiggins said. He froze when he saw Evie. “You? What the hell are––”

“You know who I am,” Hesta interrupted.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Good. Since Evie is my friend and business partner. You will accord her the greatest respect.”

“Yes miss Bethwood.”

“Then I’m here to see Mr Grobber. Is he here?”

He took a step backwards. “Yes, Miss Bethwood, he’s inside. We’ve been told to expect you.”

“Good. Show us the way.”

“Yes, miss.”

Mr Grobber sat at the kitchen table with his feet on one of the chairs.

“Visitors,” Mr Wiggins said. He stepped to one side so Hesta could follow him in.

The chairs grated across the flagstone floor as Grobber jumped to his feet. “Miss Bethwood, Miss Chester. Good to see you. Take a seat.” He made a show of cleaning off the chairs before they sat.

Evie sat, but Hesta stood behind her, her hand on Evie’s shoulder.

“Wiggins, go get Finn, Farik, and Fallow,” Grobber said.

“What strange names,” Hesta said.

“They’re the kings of the three beggar gangs. We were still negotiating business,” he said.

“And what were their demands?” Hesta asked.

“They want one schilling for each king and one copper a week for each of the gang members,” he said. “They’re thieving scum and need a kick up the arse to put ‘em in their place.”

“Violence is not always the answer. Let’s see what they have to say,” Hesta said.

When the beggar kings joined them, Evie was shocked to discover the leaders were no more than boys themselves. One of them may have been Florie’s age, if that. They each had dark hair, grubby complexions, and the insolence born of a hard life. She knew that look.

“Finn, Farik, and Fallow,” Grobber introduced them, pointing to each in turn.

“You’re all younger than I expected,” Hesta said.

“Yes, miss. When we get too old, we can’t do what we do.”

“Finn, is it?” Hesta asked.

He nodded his reply.

“What is it that you do?”

He sniffed and wiped his nose along his sleeve. “We beg. We find stuff out, we nick stuff, and we find things.” He chinned towards Evie. “We find folks who dunna wanna be found.

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