Chapter Sixteen

SOME MORNINGS, THE town of Port Knot created its own mist as cold air blew in from the sea and dashed against the network of hot water pipes that crept across every building like copper vines. The mist would fade before long but for now it hid the harbour from Vince’s view. His whole world consisted of Bibbler’s Brook and the few roads around it. He’d had yet another sleepless night and wandered through town in a daze. A daze shattered when Felix charged around the corner and collided straight into Vince’s belly.

Felix staggered back, the sack he held over his shoulder slipping from his grasp and spilling its contents onto the wet cobbles. Withered carrots rolled and became wedged between stones. A few mushrooms tottered about while a small turnip made a break for it, rolling away down the road towards the harbour and, presumably, freedom. A passer-by, wrapped head to toe in fur to guard against the cold, curtailed its escape by stopping it with her foot. She handed it over to a grateful Felix before carrying on her way.

Vince stooped to help Felix retrieve more errant vegetables, but he didn’t speak a word. Felix avoided looking at him, his cheeks reddening like a slapped arse. He swallowed hard, as though trying to work up the courage to speak. “I’m… I regret speaking to you so harshly when last we met.”

It wasn’t what Vince had expected him to say. He grunted a response, then straightened up and thrust his hands into the pockets of his claret-coloured Watch greatcoat. “In a hurry?”

Felix brushed a little spot of mud from some celery. “Dahlia and I have decided to open up the Star for a show,” he said. “Tomorrow night, as it happens.” He spoke with a little smile.

Vince frowned down at him. The creases in his forehead tugged on the leather strap of his eyepatch. “That a good idea?” he asked. “Considering everything that’s happened?” His voice, usually harsh as falling rocks, had mellowed unexpectedly.

“I don’t see why not.” Happy to have cleaned the celery as much as he could, Felix dropped it back inside the hessian sack.

“Might not be safe,” Vince said. “Could be putting yourself at risk. Still don’t know what happened to your uncle. Might be best you stay low until we do.”

Felix shook his head and sucked in his lips. “I’ve been in Port Knot for a few days, if someone wanted to get me they’ve had ample opportunity. I need money. The Star needs money.” He held his hands wide open. “This is the only way I can think of to get it.”

“Still don’t think it’s worth it,” Vince said.

“Well, Commander Knight, it really isn’t up to you.”

“Commander Knight now, is it? Fallen so far out of your favour already?”

“What makes you think you were ever in my favour?” Felix asked. “Come along and you can keep an eye on me yourself. Or don’t,” Felix said, walking away. “That, at least, is up to you.” He stopped a few paces away. “I notice you didn’t say anything about putting Dahlia at risk.”

Vince stared at him without blinking. “Dahlia is not my main concern.”

The mist swallowed everything of Felix’s but the striking of his heels on the slick cobbles. Vince huffed and carried on his way but something made him stop. He pictured Felix in the Star, standing with trays of food and drink with no one to serve them to. He wondered what that would do to Felix, what it might drive him to. He ducked through an Entry and headed back up the hill towards Two Brothers Road.

He removed his tricorne and let himself into the offices of the Blackrabbit Courant. The reception of the newspaper building stood deserted. A counter stopped the public from wandering around but Vince flipped the hatch open and marched through. “Anyone home?”

The horological lift to his right clanked into life. “You’re not supposed to be back here.” Ms Emmeline Hawksmoor, in a pastel pink beaded gown, descended in the lift. When it reached the floor, she pulled the cage open and worked a lever on her clockwork wheelchair, thrusting her towards Vince.

“Thought you’d make an exception for me,” Vince said.

“Presumptuous of you.” She gestured towards a lime-green sofa. “What can I do for you?”

Vince sank heavily onto it. “Wondering if you might do me a favour.”

Ms Hawksmoor crossed her bare arms. “The last favour I did for you left me with a head injury.”

“Was hoping you wouldn’t bring that up,” Vince said, grimacing. “Not really a favour for me though. Know the Star We Sail By? Reopening tomorrow. Thought you might write about it in the paper. Give it a boost.”

Ms Hawksmoor raised a black eyebrow. “Why was it closed? The Star?”

Vince fiddled with his cap. “Didn’t you hear? Landlord went missing. Nephew has taken it over.”

“And the Watch is investigating?”

Vince nodded. “Not here about that though. Felix Diamond is a good lad from a bad family. Deserves a chance at success. Thought you might be able to help.”

Ms Hawksmoor lifted her chin. “What’s in it for you?”

“Nothing. Honest.”

She tilted her head.

Vince exhaled. “One Diamond gainfully employed is one less Diamond for me to worry about.”

FELIX CARRIED ON to the Star, hoping the quivering in his stomach would settle down once he was inside. He couldn’t believe he’d said it. About Vince Knight. To his face, no less! He had braced himself for a response and hoped he’d have a chance to duck or run away. But he hadn’t needed to. Vince had just continued to frown at him. Felix thought back to what Tenner had said. What if Vince and the Watch did put people off from coming to the Star? Felix couldn’t afford to lose custom. But then what was to stop the Diamond clan from taking over? The longer Uncle Gregory remained missing, the braver the Diamonds became. Only the threat of Uncle Gregory returning made them hesitate. Having Vince and the Watch in the Star would buy Felix more time but at what cost? Not for the first time in his life, he wondered what Uncle Gregory would do.

Dahlia was waiting for him. “What do you think?” She indicated to the tiara studded with emeralds on her head. “I was going to wear it tomorrow night. They’re fake, of course. But enough to fool the uneducated, don’t you think? Oh, before I forget, here.” She presented him with a list of names. She had approached some of her more creative friends and offered them a spot on the stage.

“I don’t know any of these people.” He carefully set down the sack of vegetables, hoping to avoid another gaolbreak.

“I didn’t think you would,” Dahlia said. “I’m just letting you know we’ve got some interest. Everyone on the list is going to bring someone with them.”

“Hardly enough to fill the place.”

Dahlia snatched the list from his hand. “It’s a start, isn’t it? And it’s more than you’ve brought in.”

“I was busy checking ale barrels for rats and lice all night,” Felix said. “And lugging them up from the cellar. I haven’t missed doing that, let me tell you. I don’t remember the hatch being so tight.”

Dahlia giggled and pressed his generous stomach, causing it to wobble. “You’re bigger than you used to be, remember.”

“Oi, enough of that, you,” Felix said. “I’m a ship’s cook and a good cook has to taste his food.”

Dahlia hugged him tightly. “I’m just teasing, I love you like this, all cuddly and warm.”

“Get off,” Felix said, laughing. He opened the sack of vegetables at his feet. “I’ve got some provisions at the market.”

Dahlia peered into the bag and pulled out a greying leek. “Nothing but the finest for the customers of the Star.”

“This is all we can afford,” Felix said. “And with the right amount of salt and pepper, no will notice. I’ve got some chicken bones to make a broth too. We need to make as much money as we can tomorrow night.” He hadn’t told her about borrowing money from Mr Marwood. He planned to pay him back from the opening night’s takings. All being well, no one would ever know he’d borrowed it in the first place.

“What happens afterwards?”

Felix heaved the sack of vegetables over his shoulder once more. “We’ll just have to wait and see how the show goes.”

THE MOON HAD freshly risen when Vince spotted Tenner rifling through a coin purse and heading towards the Salt Pocket alehouse. Vince followed along, sticking to the shadows and doorways. Tenner’s eyes were still puffy, his snub nose still marked with a red cut. He held his side as he walked, as though nursing a bruised rib or two. When he thought no one was watching, Tenner stopped and held out a hand to steady himself against a wall for a moment. Then he steeled his nerves and ducked into the Pocket. That was all Vince needed to be certain Alma Diamond was inside too. Tenner was the unofficial protector of the now-head of the Diamond clan. He was there to take the lumps and administer the beatings, a role Vince himself had played for someone else, once upon a time. He idly wondered if Tenner would ever be able to escape the role others had placed him in.

Sandwiched between two derelict houses on the west side of town, the Salt Pocket lived up to its name by being a tiny tavern popular with sailors. The Pocket was also a popular haunt of the Diamond family. Vince concealed himself in the shadows of a nearby Entry. He wondered if such a tactic would be possible in the glare of Sorcha and Iron Huxham’s street lamps. He’d supported the idea but right then he could have been easily swayed against them. Darkness had its uses.

He didn’t have to wait long before Alma Diamond appeared with Tenner in tow. She wore her usual fuchsia tones, with this particular garment decorated in a pattern of rose and black swordfish. She pulled on a pair of satin gloves and set off along the cramped road.

“Alma,” Vince called out in his gruffest voice.

She stopped dead in her tracks and squinted in the wan moonlight.

Vince stepped forward, keeping his back to the moon. “Need a word.”

“The widow Knight.” She tried her best not to appear surprised. “Can this wait until morning? I have plans for the evening that don’t include being harassed by a coarse-faced ox.”

Tenner stiffened up behind her, lifting his chin and balling his fists.

“Private word,” Vince said.

Alma cocked her head to one side. “Go on, Tenner. I’ll catch up.”

Tenner took a step closer to Vince. “But—”

“Go on,” Alma repeated. “The widow Knight won’t lay a finger on me. He wouldn’t dare.”

“Run along, boy,” Vince said.

Tenner gritted his teeth and did as he was told.

When he was out of sight, Vince lowered his voice. “Need to ask about Gregory.”

Alma stepped onto the path. “I rather thought you might.”

“No secret his disappearance has been good for you. Put you up at the top of the family ladder.”

“That wasn’t a question,” Alma said.

“Tell me what happened last time you saw him.”

Alma snorted. “That wasn’t a question either, you shambling oaf. The last time I saw Gregory was the day before he disappeared. We quarrelled over… Well, it’s none of your business.”

Vince set his balled fists on his hips and drew breath.

“Fine.” Alma held up her gloved hands. “I asked Tenner to…monitor some competitors of mine. They were planning to hold a card game and, from what I’d been told, they weren’t planning on inviting me. I happened to mention this in passing and Gregory took exception.”

“Gregory didn’t want Tenner to do it?”

“Oh no, Gregory wanted Tenner to beat them all black and blue. As a warning about what happens when one tries to muscle in on Diamond territory. Cards are our business. You know they say that’s where we got our name from? Our great grandfather practically invented the art of card palming. Or so they say.”

Vince couldn’t care less. “Heated argument, was it?”

Alma laughed again. “Not so heated it came to blows, no. Or to murder. Arguments among family are hardly exceptional, now are they? Then again, maybe you don’t know. It’s not as if you have much family to speak of, is it?”

“Have some,” Vince said. “Treat them better than you treat yours. Think Mariette Baxter would agree with me.”

In a flash, all cordiality—insincere though it may have been—dropped from Alma’s eyes. She all but snarled at him. “Mariette had it coming. She thought she could breeze in and use my family as her own personal guard. My stupid brother Billy had his head completely turned by her. Imagine—she really thought she could take on your gangs at the time!” Alma’s teeth flashed and her fingers curled like claws. “I may not like you, but I’m no fool. I could see what she was doing. Mariette Baxter was ambitious to a fault, she wanted to oust your lot and take over your territory. The Diamonds survived as long as we have because we stayed out of your way. She would have ruined my family.” She took a few steps along the path to gather herself, then turned back. “Does Felix know you personally ran his parents off the island?”

Vince dropped his fists.

The cold smile returned to Alma’s rouged lips. “Did you tell him how I came to you that night? How I was the one who warned you what his parents were planning?”

“Felix won’t hear it from me.”

Alma’s tongue poked into her cheek. “Well, well. So you’ve taken it upon yourself to protect him in more ways than one. Or so you’d have us believe.” She took a step closer to him. “You might have pulled the wool over the council’s eyes, but I’ve seen you, Invincible Knight. I’ve seen the real you. The one you’re hiding beneath that uniform, that veneer of respectability.”

“Knew me at my lowest point. Point where I gave in to my base urges. Not the same man any longer.”

Alma licked her teeth. “I’ve seen you soaked in blood and knee-deep in the broken bodies of those who’ve crossed you. You haven’t changed. You’re not capable of it.”

Vince lifted his chin. “Better hope I have. For your sake.”