Durant Residence
Paris, Kingdom of France
Simone Thibault tiptoed toward the rear entrance of her decrepit accommodations, noting with a snort that the two men supposedly guarding them were asleep at their posts.
Though the annoying dog wasn’t.
It growled at her, waking Jeremy.
Perhaps that’s why he felt he could sleep.
He groaned as he stretched, then finally took notice of her as her hand reached the door. “Where are you going?”
“To take care of my business.”
His eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
“To drop my knickers and rid myself of last night’s feast!”
Jeremy blushed. “Oh, umm, I’m sorry.”
“Go back to sleep, I’ll be a while.”
He grinned. “I’ve been there, but I should get up.”
“Nonsense. You were up all night keeping us safe. Let us keep watch during the day.”
Jeremy nodded, getting comfortable again, his eyes already drooping. She stepped outside, the outhouse to the left, attached to the rear of the building. She opened the door and stepped inside, making quick work of it, then left as quietly as she could, closing the door gently. She rushed down the alleyway and into the main street that passed in front of Thomas’ home, spotting a boy of a questionable sort.
“Lad, come here.”
The boy approached with the wariness of one with experience on the streets. “What do you want?”
“I have a job for you, if you’re interested.”
The boy’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “If there’s money in it, I am.”
“There is.” She dropped a coin into his palm, and his eyes widened. “I need you to go to the Swan tavern. Do you know where it is?”
The boy’s head bobbed vigorously, his eyes still glued to the coin. “I used to live near there before my grandmother died.”
“Excellent. Go to the bartender, and tell him Mrs. Thibault sent you, and that I need Enzo to come back with you.” She pointed at the ground floor of Thomas’ building. “I need you to bring him to that old shop, understood?”
The boy nodded. “Tell the bartender at the Swan that Mrs. Thibault needs Mr. Enzo to come back with me.”
“Perfect! And when you return, there will be two more of those,” she said, pointing at his clenched fist containing his down payment.
His eyes shot wide like saucers. “Yes, ma’am!” He sprinted in the opposite direction, and she hurried back to her uncomfortable prison before someone checked on her, a smile spreading across her face.
As soon as Enzo arrives, things will change.