An Unsinkable Love - By Terri Benson Page 0,77

an assumed name weeks ago, as soon as they returned from Europe, anticipating the need for a private sanctuary. He'd avoided using the building until today and was certain he could keep Bree hidden here indefinitely if he was careful. Then, when the excitement died 246

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

down, he'd take her to the city where it would be easy to conceal her until she was sufficiently under control. A smile lit his face. I might even be able to come up with some way for Malcolm to take the blame for her disappearance. He enjoyed the thought until a sharp heel skewered his instep.

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247

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

Chapter 39

Malcolm peered into the darkness as the speaker stepped closer. It was the red-headed man from the train station who'd accused Eldon of murder. At the time, he had been sure the man was insane. "What do you want?"

"'Ere, now. That's no way to talk to the only man who can help you and the miss, now is it?"

"Bree? You know where she is?" Malcolm eyed him closely.

There was no proof the man hadn't taken her himself. Maybe Eldon wasn't even involved.

"That's the name. That's what 'e called her. The pretty Irish lass from the station. Aye, I know where she is. And I know the bloke what's got her. He's a killer, he is. She don't have no chance if'n we don't help her right quick-like."

Malcolm stared hard into the pale eyes glinting in the low light. Dunson? No, wait, Dunby. Fred Dunby. With no real choice in the matter, Malcolm said, "Get in. Where are they?"

"You don't need the car. They's down there, in a carriage house." Fred jerked his thumb over his shoulder.

Malcolm steered to the side of the road and switched off the car. The other man started down the dark alley at a good clip and Malcolm hurried to catch up. He stayed a step or two behind, still not entirely convinced of the man's innocence.

"How do you know they're here?" he asked suspiciously.

"Shhh," Fred said, finger to his lips. He pointed to a weathered story-and-a-half structure. The lower side window was barred and dark, and the upper gable end a solid wall 248

An Unsinkable Love

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with worn fish-scale shingles. "I been doggin' him ever since I saw him at the station in New York. I was out there at the house watchin' when he followed the girl in the big car tonight. I wanted to find out what he was up to. Then I come across the dead fellow in the road and the big bastard lit out with the girl. He drove the blue car in there, with her. I heard her scream."

Malcolm stiffened. "What happened? What did he do?"

He felt rather than saw the man shrug. "Dunno. I heard a slap and mumbling and cursing then they went up some stairs. But I know what he's capable of. I watched him shoot an officer on the Titanic without even blinking an eye. He would'da killed me too, if I hadn't let him in the lifeboat. He said Timmy told him the other blokes found different lifeboats, but seein' how they didn't hardly let any men in the boats, and I ain't been able to find Timmy, I been wonderin'

about that too."

The memory of the Titanic officer who'd been shot, and the two bludgeoned men he'd found nearby—one a steward, the other a crony of Eldon's—flashed in Malcolm's mind. Then there was Carlisle. Fear for Bree and fury at Eldon's lethal bent sent adrenaline roiling though his veins. Malcolm reached for the door.

Fred put his hand on Malcolm's arm. "It's locked. I already checked."

He tested the latch anyway. Through a narrow gap between the doors, he saw a chain and padlock. He walked over to the corner and peered around—another barred window. As he turned back, his jacket snagged on a piece of 249

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

metal. It was one of three heavy iron hinges pinning the door at the corner of the building.

Malcolm smiled grimly. He jogged silently back to the car and retrieved the custom-made toolbox from under the passenger seat. Back at the coach house, with Fred breathing nasally beside him, he used a big screwdriver to lever the pin out of the lower two hinges. He couldn't reach the topmost one, but when he tugged the doors below the metal flanges, he found the old wood rotted at the bottom. The two of