Thirty-seven? I said, not even trying to hide my disbelief. I never knew there were that many still alive, running loose in the world!
I told you, said the Regent, smiling easily.
It s my job to know everything and anything that matters. Because you never know when it might come in handy Can t hold out much hope for contacting most of them. Too busy with their own little schemes, which my people are, of course, keeping a careful eye on And I really don t see how Crow Lee could have suborned any of them without my agents knowing.
You didn t know about Miss Mitchell, said Molly. And she was right under your nose.
True, said the Regent. Very true. I ll have my people reach out to the rogues, Eddie, but
Yes, I said. But.
Some of them might talk to my people, where they wouldn t talk to you, said the Regent. And I ll approach the more cautious ones through a series of cutouts, so they won t know who s asking. Might learn something useful Anything else I can do for you while you re here?
Yes, Molly said bluntly. Do you know where my sisters are?
The Regent blinked a few times at the sudden turn in the conversation, but he recovered quickly. Isabella and Louisa? Can t you just contact them yourself?
Normally, yes, said Molly. We re very close. But for the moment they ve both got their auras turned off.
The Regent looked at me. Does that mean anything to you?
Not a thing, I said. And I know better than to ask.
Oh, good, said the Regent. It s not just me, then. He looked at Molly. The last I heard, which I ll admit is some time back, because it s never easy keeping up with any of the infamous Metcalf sisters Isabella was busy investigating an ancient set of stone catacombs deep underneath the Sahara Desert, while Louisa had brought something interesting back from her investigation of the Martian Tombs.
Really? I said.
As far as we can tell, yes, said the Regent.
If you ever find out how she got there and back, please tell me. We d really love to know. It seems she took whatever it was she found down to the Black Heir Headquarters, down in Cornwall. They specialise in the study of things left behind after alien contact: bodies, tech, altered people the usual. Louisa wanted her big find studied by the big man himself, Professor Nightshade. A very impressive mind, by all accounts. Haven t heard anything about Louisa since. I can put in a request for information direct from Uncanny to Black Heir, but they ve never been big on sharing. If Louisa brought them something important or valuable enough, they d never even admit they d seen her. She could be sitting right there in their office when the call came in, and they d still deny they d even heard of her.
And Louisa would just go along, said Molly, nodding grimly. She d think it was funny.
The Regent looked at her thoughtfully. To be honest, my dear, if your sisters don t want you to know where they are, there s probably a good reason for it. Good for them, anyway.
Are you getting worried about them? I said to Molly.
Just a bit, she said, frowning. This isn t like them. We never avoid each other just because we re doing something we think the others wouldn t approve of. Hell, usually we d insist on bragging about it, just to make it clear we won t be told what to do.
Do you want to take off on your own? I said quietly. Go look for them, make sure they re okay? I don t mind.
No, Molly said immediately. That s sweet of you, Eddie, but I won t leave you. Not when you ve so many enemies around you. You need someone close you can depend on.
She didn t look at the Regent when she said that, but I knew what she meant. Molly has never trusted anyone in the family except me. And maybe Uncle Jack. I looked at the Regent, who was politely pretending he hadn t understood anything he d just heard.
How long do you think Crow Lee has been planning these attacks against the Droods? I said.
He s always been one for taking the long view, the Regent said judiciously. Miss Mitchell being a very good example. How long did he invest in turning her, just for the one day when she might be useful? God alone knows how long he s waited for the whole Drood family to be vulnerable.
So it is possible that he could have made contact with the Original Traitor, I said. Who could have sold the family out for any number of reasons that made sense only to him Uncle Jack told me it was the Matriarch before Martha, Sarah, who gave the order to let the Loathly Ones into our reality, to support the Allies in World War Two. Thus setting things up for the Hungry Gods invasion farther down the line And that she only did that because she was strongly advised to. By someone close to her
Sarah was responsible for a lot of bad decisions in her time as Matriarch, said the Regent. And it was her dying so suddenly and unexpectedly that made my Martha the Matriarch at such an unusually young age.
Molly leaned forward, suddenly fascinated. How, exactly, did Sarah die? You said an accident, earlier. What kind of accident?
She fell down some stairs, said the Regent. And then he stopped abruptly and we all looked at one another. The Regent looked genuinely upset. There was no one around. She just fell. She was found dead at the foot of a flight of stairs. Broke her neck. Even Drood armour can t protect you from accidents if they re sudden enough. As far as I know, it never occurred to anyone to check if her death was anything other than an unfortunate accident. But now I have to wonder
If her neck was broken before she fell, I said.
How far does all this go back?
It s getting so you can t trust anyone, said Molly.
The Original Traitor is supposed to have killed other Droods and taken over their identities, in the Past, I said.
Like an Immortal? the Regent said immediately.
Except that this is one Drood being replaced by another, I said. I have to ask, Grandfather: Did you have any Shadow or Uncanny agents inside the Hall just before it disappeared? People inside the family who reported to you?
No, said the Regent.
But then, you would say that. Wouldn t you? said Molly.
You ve already admitted you had contact with Uncle James and Uncle Jack, I said. So you could keep an eye on me.
The Regent grinned at me, entirely unabashed. Good to see you re paying attention, Eddie. There are certain high-up individuals within the family, who are still willing to talk to me. But only from a distance, and only on personal matters. No one in the family would share family secrets with a rogue Drood. No matter who I used to be.
Can you assist us against Crow Lee? I said bluntly.
Not officially, said the Regent. Uncanny can t be seen to move openly against such a man of substance. Not while he s still connected to so many important people in the government. And especially not when there s a Funding Review in the wind.
That s what happens when you get in bed with the Establishment, Molly said sweetly. Someone always gets screwed.
You have to give some to get some, the Regent said vaguely. Can t afford to rock the boat just at the moment. But I m certainly not going to get in your way. And I can tell you where to find him. He s currently taking his ease just down the road at his Very Private, Very Members Only club. The Establishment Club. He also has a country manor house down in Surrey. I can provide you with a map. And directions. And full details on all the hidden traps and pitfalls surrounding his extensive private grounds. Once you re inside, I m afraid you re on your own. I ve been trying to get one of my agents inside for years without success. I can t be seen to assist you publicly, Eddie, but I can cheer you on from the sidelines.
He s just down the road? said Molly.
The Most Evil Man in the World is just hanging out at his club?
Do you by any chance have an armoury here? I asked the Regent.
He grinned broadly. Funny you should ask
