Page 40
His instincts regarding people had kept him alive through years when mistakes would have been expensive, and while Judith Finch could certainly deceive—she had already proved that—there had been no performance when she spoke of the Bell family. He knew sincerity when he heard it.
Therefore, he reflected, he now possessed a suspect who might not be guilty of the crime he was investigating, but who had nevertheless built a channel through which information left Blackthorn.
That channel could be compromised. Worse than that, her own activities might provide excellent cover for the actual source or be used to incriminate her.
“This has become inconvenient,” he said. “Yesterday, I suspected you. Today, I understand you sufficiently to make suspicion more complicated.”
She stared at him. “You are very strange. I begin to understand why Colonel Renforth sent you away from London.”
He grinned.
They reached a fork in the road, and Judith pointed towards the left. “That way returns to Blackthorn.”
“And to the right?”
“The border.”
Baines looked north. “How far?”
“Not far.”
“Tempting.”
“You have been in Northumberland one day and already wish to flee England?”
He turned Lucifer left, and Judith followed.
The mood between them had shifted, not resolved, but altered enough that Baines could no longer pretend he regarded her in quite the same fashion. She remained a suspect; a woman who admitted sending information through an undisclosed route qualified impressively for the role. Yet he found himself more concerned with protecting her from the investigation than exposing her, and that was a thoroughly dangerous inclination.
When Blackthorn came into view, Judith spoke again.
“You will report me, I presume.”
Baines considered lying and decided against it. “I must report what is relevant.”
Her expression closed at once.
“However, I am not yet convinced your correspondence is the source we seek.”
They entered the stable yard, and Baines dismounted before coming around to her side. Judith looked down at his offered hand.
“You know I can dismount unaided.”
“I do.”
He did not withdraw his offer. She hesitated before placing her gloved hand in his.
He steadied her as she came down, and for one moment she stood closer than either of them had intended, near enough that he could see the darker ring around her irises. They were grey-green. He did not back away.
Her breath caught very slightly, and then she stepped away. “Thank you.”
He left her with the groom and went directly to his room, where he sat at the small writing desk and drew out a sheet of paper. Renforth required a report.
Baines stared at the blank page.
How much should he say?
He dipped the pen.
