Page 34 of Eight for Losing, One for Loving

“Bleedin’ ’ell, we weren’t getting much of a look in as it was, when we was takin’ all the risk and—”

“And do you wish to argue with me, Edgar?” the voice was harder now, a dangerous edge to it.

Edgar fell silent.

The vicar shook Leo’s arm, and he belatedly remembered he was half smothering the fellow. He removed his hand, and Harbottle gave a quiet crow of triumph.

“I told you!” he whispered. “Didn’t I tell you?”

Leo nodded. “You did, sir, and I thank you,” he said, wondering what to do. If he went in and dealt with the remaining two men and took them unawares, his odds might be better, but Burt could still escape with Mau. No, better to deal with Burt first and get Mau. He’d send the vicar back to the inn with him whilst he dealt with the other two villains.

“Stay here,” he told the vicar. “I’ll deal with Burt first and get Mau.”

To his relief, the vicar nodded his agreement with no argument, so Leo set off in the direction Burt had taken.

There were no windows in the shed, and no openings other than the door Burt had gone through, but it was ill fitting and Leo looked through the gap. Burt stood looking at a metal cage, holding out what looked like a strip of rind from a slice of ham. He dangled it through the thin bars of the cage and dropped it in.

Leo’s eyes settled on Mau with a rush of relief, seeing his feline friend look as hale and hearty as always, if not as content. Mau’s tail gave a twitch that Leo knew well boded ill, and he stared at the piece of rind in disgust. His yellow eyes lifted to Burt, such a look of contempt burning there that Leo almost laughed.

“Well, it’s all you're getting,” Burt said, sounding nervous all the same. “So eat it or don’t. You can starve if you prefer.”

Mau hissed, and Burt yelped, taking a hasty step back.

“Well, it ain’t my fault,” Burt protested. “Weren’t my idea to take you. Worst thing we ever done, if you ask me. I told Edgar it were a mistake, but he don’t listen to me.”

A low growl came from the cage, and Burt turned hurriedly to the door. “Ain’t natural,” he said, clearly shaken as he pulled it open. His face was a picture as he saw Leo standing there, and for a moment his mouth opened and closed like a fish. Leo grabbed him by the throat, covered his mouth with his free hand, and marched him back into the hut, kicking the door shut behind him.

“Good evening, Burt,” he said conversationally. “I’m afraid you have got yourself into a bit of trouble. Mau there is a dear friend of mine, you see, and I want him back.”

Burt made a strangled sound, but Leo was not yet ready to let him speak.

“If you are sensible and don’t make a fuss, I’ll tie you up nice and tight and there will be no need to cause you any er… harm,” he said, giving the fellow an insincere smile that suggested he was very willing to cause him harm if he decided to give making a fuss a go. “Then you can tell your brother you fought back as hard as you like, if you can make him believe that.”

Burt made muffled squeaking noises, his eyes growing wide.

Leo tightened his grip. “Are you going to behave, Burt, old man?”

Burt nodded vigorously.

Leo narrowed his eyes. “Don’t try my patience. You’ll get one chance.”

Burt nodded again and Leo removed his hand from the fellow’s mouth.

“Don’t ’urt me, sir! It weren’t my idea, I swear it. It were all Edgar’s doing, ’im and that bleedin’ snooty arseh—” Burt exclaimed the moment he could speak.

“Shut your mouth,” Leo growled at him. “Sit down there,” he added, pointing at the floor. Burt scrambled to comply, dropping to the dirt floor, and Leo looked around the shed, spying some coarse lengths of thin rope in a tangle in the corner. Snatching it up, he freed enough from the knot to secure Burt’s ankles and wrists before untying the kerchief around the man’s neck and using it as a gag. Only then did he turn back to Mau, opening the cage.

“All right, Mau?” he asked anxiously, praying there was no damage he could not see.

Mau stalked out of the cage, sent Burt a derisive glare, and then looked up at Leo.

“Miaow!”

As complaints went, it was eloquent, and Leo swept his cat up, hugging him tightly.

“I know, old man, I’m sorry. Truly, I am. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. Chicken for dinner every night for a month, how’s that?”

Mau made a grumbling sound but licked Leo’s ear so he hoped he might be forgiven in time. Leo glanced at Burt to see his expression was one of horror behind the gag. He snorted. Poor Burt seemed to think Mau really was the devil’s work. Perhaps he believed he was Leo’s familiar. Setting Mau down on the floor, Leo turned back to the door.