Three years ago...

"Would it hurt your secret so much if I inquire about your father?"

The surprise in her eyes was evident although Ralph could not entirely speak for the short glint of something that crossed those beautiful globes. Her lips curled into an adorable, secretive smile.

He thought she would avoid the subject, but she shrugged and uttered, "My father is not very much like you, my lord."

"Then I am only grateful. I do not wish to be like your father. I wish to be something else."

He thought he heard a scoff escape her throat. "I meant like you and the rest, my lord."

"He is not a man?"

She obviously did not like the question. "No, he is a man in every way I can think of." Her eyes darted to the path that led back to the estate. Ralph almost panicked. Was she thinking of leaving? Her eyes returned to his. "One could say he is not as honorable."

"What does that imply?"

One shoulder lifted. "He stands on what he believes and most often they do not reflect that of many men."

"Hm. Your father is as interesting as you, I should say."

She chuckled and rolled her eyes. Did she find him pathetic? "My 'Pa could have you on your arse before you could relay such statement, my lord."

A woman who did not care to use vulgar words. Ralph was even more intrigued!

"Which makes him even more interesting."

"I do suggest you do not entertain the idea of wanting to be in his presence, my lord."

"Whyever not?"

The mysterious, mischievous smile returned. "Just because."

*****

Alex hurriedly pulled the curtain close and rushed out of the bedchamber to find Ralph.

He was making his way down the corridor, probably to find her, with a curious look on his face.

"Why were you laughing with—" Seeing the look on her face, he stopped. "What is the matter?"

Alex kept walking, grabbing his hand as she passed him and dragged him with her to the nearest door she found. It turned out to be another bedchamber.

"What in the hell—"

"Has he found 'im yet?" she asked, whirling around to face him. "Close the bleedin' door."

Ralph blinked in confusion. "Who—you mean the caveman? No, Cole is yet to find—"

"Nae, nae, nae!" she said, pacing around the small room, hands on hips. "We must leave town, guv."

"Yes, but we do not know where—"

"They know I'm 'ere, guv," she interjected.

Ralph immediately knew the cause of her alarm.

Before he could ask the question, Alex supplied the answer. "A man was standin' 'cross the street from me bedchamber merely moments 'go, guv. I'm tellin' ye, he was lookin' up at me—right at me!"

She was almost breathless at the last word, only to hold her breath much longer as she waited for Ralph's response.

What he did next was very instant that Alex was taken aback.

He grabbed her hand and rushed out of the bedchamber, shouting for the butler.

The man ran up to meet them down the staircase. "Prepare the other carriage," Ralph ordered, his voice cold and murderous.

"My lord?"

"What other carriage?" Alex asked.

"The other carriage!"

The butler jumped and rushed down the stairs.

"Where are we goin', Ralph?"

He looked like he could murder anyone. "Somewhere somehow safe."

*****

"It would be utterly foolish if we keep her in my apartment," Samuel said to Ralph merely half an hour later.

"I know. You are my best friend. They would know that I—"

"But I do have a friend that they currently believe to not be my friend," Samuel interjected in a suggestive tone.

Ralph's eyes narrowed and cleared as realization dawned on him. "Ah the very same one who took you to prison because of a squabble."

Samuel smiled and turned to face Alex. "He is not as dumb as we both think he is, is he not?"

"Aye, I agree."

Samuel turned to Ralph once more. "Go."

"You can't mean to take her—"

"Go, Ralph. My friend will fetch for her."

"Go, guv," Alex said. "We can't let 'em see ye with this friend, aye?"

Ralph hesitated for a moment. If they had been followed, no matter where Alex went now would be dangerous.

Alex saw his hesitation. Her eyes met his and she allowed a sweet smile. "Truly, guv, I'll be fine."

He had a sudden urge to take her back to Meriwether and risk having the place be attacked. At the very least, they would be at an advantage. But Meriwether was at the very least a day away and many bad things could go awry along the way.

Perhaps Wynne Hastings was the safer choice for now.

*****

Ralph went straight to Cole Devitt.

"Give me the files you have on every bloody Jeremy Briars."

"I am still going through every one of them. I promise to deliver—"

"No, we do not have time. I must be able to leave Wickhurst before they caught up with us. Should anything happen to the bandit, Cole—to Alex, I do not think—" He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "I just do not."

His brother-in-law stared at him and sighed. He looked at the stack of papers on his table. "Very well. We must continue this at our estate. A Town Guard cannot spend too long inside the office of the Leader of the Men of Courts."

*****

"Can't thank ye 'nough fer doin' this, guv," Alex said to Wynne as he guided her up the staircase of his apartment which was located not far from Samuel's.

"I do not have many people calling. My estate is the safest you can be at the moment, Miss Griggs."

"And can't thank ye 'nough fer what'ye did in prison," she added.

"It is of no bother, Miss Griggs."

"Please, guv, ye call me Alex."

Wynne Hastings merely looked over his shoulder with a faint smile on his lips. And then he continued his climb up the stairs.

He was an odd man, Alex thought, but not one that caused her alarm. If Ralph's best friend trusted him, then he must also be a good fellow.

"Please, if you need anything, do not hesitate to ring for a maid," Wynne said when they finally reached the small bedchamber. "But I am afraid I do not have spare dresses. You must be very uncomfortable—"

"Nae, I am fine," she dismissively said. "I've changed me clothes this mornin', guv. Nae need to have a dress."

Wynne's smile did not reach his dark eyes. In fact, Alex thought he found this situation awkward. It was apparent he was not accustomed to women's presence in his household.

"Thank ye, guv."

Wynne blinked and cleared his throat. He made an awkward step back. "O-of course, Miss Griggs—Alex."

Alex grinned at him. "Ye rest well, guv. Ye call me if yer in trouble."

It took him a moment to realize she was jesting and he chuckled. "Good night, Alex."

"'Night, guv!"

Alex closed the door and was about to turn around when she changed her mind and locked it from the inside. She crossed the dimly lit room and sighed. Wherever Ralph was now, she hoped he was safe.

*****

"We have been through all these for hours," Ralph said, voice strained with frustration. "Surely this Jeremy Briars would be easy to find." He checked his watch. "She had been in that place for six hours now. We should find something soon or I will have to fetch her. I cannot trust Hastings. Alex can slap the soul out of him without much effort. How could he bloody protect her from anyone stronger?"

His brother-in-law did not respond as he was frowning down the same papers he had been reading for over an hour now.

"This does not seem correct," he murmured.

"What is?" Ralph asked, suddenly on his feet to join his brother-in-law behind his desk.

"When I first read this, I thought nothing of it. I was looking for a case often related to bandits, nothing like the one this man came in for."

"What was he charged with?"

"Murder."

"It is not common for bandits to commit such a crime, yes, but it is not unheard of, Cole."

"Yes, but this Jeremy Briars was released not because he served his sentence."

"He was exonerated?"

"No, he was guilty of the crime. He confessed to it."

Ralph frowned at Cole. "I do not follow."

"The Men of Courts was given order to completely drop the case."

"That can be done?"

"Apparently, at that time, yes."

"But who could bloody order the Men of Courts to do that?"

Cole looked up from the paper. "The League of Founders."

*****

Alex was walking down the corridor. It was not dark. In fact, rays of light were shining through all the open doors that lined the walls.

She felt happy, she was certain of it. And she was also nervous.

Where was she going to?

Was appeared in front of her with a big smile on his face. He was dressed smartly.

She thought she asked him where they were going. His answer was inaudible.

Alex frowned as Wax turned around. He stopped when she could not follow. He motioned with his hand and head, urging her to follow him. They had to go now.

Someone was waiting for them.

Alex tried to take a step but could not. She looked down and found she was wearing a beautiful white gown. Gasping, she looked up to ask Wax if she was getting married but the man's face had changed.

Alex blinked and realized she was face to face with the same man who had been standing outside her bedchamber earlier that day. His eyes were dark, evil.

Then suddenly she could not breath.

Alex woke up from her dream only to realize that she could not scream. Someone was on top of her in bed, pinning her, rendering her motionless.

Her scream was muffled by the hand covering her mouth and nose.

"Shh," hissed the stranger above her. "Do you think us stupid, wench?"

Alex's eyes widened. Who was this man? How did he find her?

"We've been lookin' for you. Now, now, stop struggling."

Alex, for the first time since this all started, felt powerless. The man was large enough to overpower her.

And she was losing air.

He was here to kill her!

*****

"What could push the League to give such an order?"

Cole shook his head. "The only information I can think of is that the man could have given the League information which they found very useful. His release was a product of a negotiation."

"And what could a man, a bandit, like Jeremy Briars know that would be useful to the League?"

"This happened before I was posted in Wickhurst. We could ask my wife but she too does not have entire access to all information in the League." Close closed his eyes and pressed the bridge of his nose with two fingers, a sign that he was thinking.

"If this Jeremy Briars is the caveman we are looking for, then he would have stumbled upon something in the Dark Forest, activities that he may have come to be aware of."

Cole's shoulders stiffened and he opened his eyes. "Of course! The slave trade." He studied the papers once more. "Records of the slave trade activities changed around the same time Jeremy Briars was released."

"Whatever Briars told the League provided the foundation of their suspicions on Osegod. Back then, should the League have known that one of the Leaders was involved in the slave trade, they would have gone to such great lengths to acquire more information and secure an arrest. Bloody hell, if we are correct, the man had been evading the League for years!" Ralph paused as more questions came to mind. "But if the caveman gave the League information of anything transpiring in the Dark Forest, why have there been no arrests? Why is the slave trade still very much active?"

Cole shook his head, his eyes wide with excitement. He jumped to his feet and went to a nearby cabinet. He took out a set of keys and opened the door to reveal hundreds of files.

Ralph watched in anticipation as his brother-in-law perused through stacks of what he thought were files of everything related to the illegal slave trade, the very same case he had been working on with Margaret in private.

He pulled out papers, explaining, "Merely years after my father's death, I discovered his secrets."

"What secrets?"

"These are the compilation of my father's exchange with Osmund Trilby who was by then a Town Leader, and some other unknown individuals."

Ralph tried to hide his surprise. Although he was aware that Cole was working on the slave trade, he was not aware that the man's deceased father had been involved in the illegal activities. Tonight was not the time to ask questions. He hoped though that they would have another chance to talk about this revelation over a nice bottle of brandy. "Here!" Cole said, carrying a piece of paper to Ralph. Ralph read it.

Party plans changed, location no longer desirable. Path is dangerous for the horses. We shall have to find a better road. Burn invitations and notify guests. Will send new ones very soon.

"The party is the exchange, the horses the slaves and the guests are the buyers."

Ralph's jaw tightened as he looked at the date on the note.

"My father received this note precisely merely days after Jeremy Briars was released."

"Bloody tarnation," Ralph cursed under his breath.

"They must have led the League to believe that the operations were halted or transferred to another location."

"And they came back years later when it was safe again," Ralph muttered under his breath before he turned to Cole, more so alert and focused than ever. "Where is this Jeremy Briars now?"

Cole checked the records. "Willowfair."