Read Against the Brotherhood for Free Online

justice in the world. I’d stop at the Grand or the Empire.”
    “Who would not?” His question required no answer, and I did not venture one. “Do me the honor of telling me why you are in London,” said Vickers languidly.
    I knew better than to be too easily drawn in, and so I shrugged my shoulders. “Naught that would interest the likes of you.” It was a surly response and should have got me a sharp dismissal, but it did not. I noticed that Vickers had caught sight of the tattoo on my wrist and I turned my hand as if to conceal it.
    “Now there you are wrong,” said Vickers. “I suspect you are in need of work. Am I right? Some way to line your pockets with the coin of the realm. If your complaints are not an excuse for idleness.” He did not wait for my answer. “And under the circumstances, I should think you would seek to engage the support of anyone who could be of assistance to you.”
    “But what would you want with me?” I asked it with a sense of coldness spreading through me; he surmised something because of the tattoo, and expected that I would grasp his meaning and share his purpose.
    When Vickers looked at me this time, I felt a vileness about him that shook me to the roots. “Any number of things. I have my uses for such as you, as well you know. If you are suitable to my purposes. Which I will determine when you answer the questions I put to you.”
    All of Mycroft Holmes’ warnings, which I had thought overblown, now came back to me, and I realized that if anything the gravity of the situation had been underestimated. I lowered my head in order to avoid that baleful gaze. “I’ve had some hard times,” I admitted, striving to maintain the demeanor required.
    “So I assumed,” said Vickers with a trace of amusement. “If you will be good enough to inform me of the nature of your difficulties, perhaps we can come to some agreement on a means to alleviate the most pressing of them.”
    “And what would a man like yourself want to do it for?” I demanded, making sure there was enough of a whine in my voice.
    “I have my reasons,” said Vickers, and again, I felt a cold grip me in leaden fingers.
    “It’s been hard, sir,” I told him, keeping my eyes averted. “I can’t find employment, not as I’m qualified to do.”
    “And what might that be?” The question was made lazily, as if it had little or no significance to Vickers.
    “I’ve been factoring for mercers and cotton growers, sir,” I answered at last. “Dealing mostly with the Egyptians and the mercers around the Midlands; Birmingham and Coventry and the like.” That was plausible enough, and I knew sufficient amounts about the brokering of cotton that I could answer most inquiries about it and sound credible, thanks to a cousin who had made a respectable fortune in the business.
    “Are the mills doing badly?” asked Vickers as if disinterested. “I was unaware of it.”
    “They’re doing all right,” I said sullenly, and continued on as if I could not stop myself from reciting the whole of my misfortunes. “But a whole lot I brokered, the Egyptians wouldn’t make good on the delivery, and I lost my commission and the mercers won’t trust me. None of them will let me in the door.”
    “How unfortunate,” said Vickers blandly.
    “If my half-brother can give me a place, I’ll be off to Norfolk in a couple of days. I can be of use to him, for all he deals in is wool instead of cotton.” My confidence did not sound convincing, luckily. “Edward Montjoy, in Norfolk. You may know of him?”
    “I haven’t the pleasure,” said Vickers, on the edge of boredom.
    His eyes flicked over me. “But if you have hope of a station in Norfolk, why do you come to London?”
    I glanced around furtively, as if I feared we would be overheard.
    “It’s my father’s damned will. He left everything in a muddle, and I hoped I could straighten it out, so I wouldn’t have to depend on my stepbrother at all, but could set up