{"id":56,"date":"2016-06-15T16:20:42","date_gmt":"2016-06-15T16:20:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/?p=56"},"modified":"2016-06-15T16:21:41","modified_gmt":"2016-06-15T16:21:41","slug":"broken-instrument-chapter-2-poley-mam-upshaw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/a-broken-instrument\/broken-instrument-chapter-2-poley-mam-upshaw\/","title":{"rendered":"(Broken Instrument) CHAPTER 2: POLEY: MAM UPSHAW"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/London_Hoefnagels_Map_of_1572.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-35 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/London_Hoefnagels_Map_of_1572-300x221.jpg\" alt=\"London_Hoefnagel's_Map_of_1572\" width=\"300\" height=\"221\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/London_Hoefnagels_Map_of_1572-300x221.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/London_Hoefnagels_Map_of_1572-768x565.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/London_Hoefnagels_Map_of_1572-1024x754.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/London_Hoefnagels_Map_of_1572-720x530.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He will build a career out of cheating, though all in the name of \u2018loyalty and behoveful service\u2019 to the State.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Reckoning<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charles Nicholl<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cAll I can say is what he told me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Robert Poley, short man, hard expression on his face, look in his eyes that forecast an explosion to come soon, dressed in brown and grey, made his way at a quick walk up the street. At his side was Ralph. \u201cSo tell me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He\u2019d used Ralph before, as muscle, at first. The bastard was big and broad, with hands like a smith\u2019s hammer, and he had no hesitation in dealing out the necessary violence. But men like that were three a penny in London. What made him so very useful to Poley was the bright intelligence that lurked in the eyes hidden behind the stringy black hair.<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The big man\u2019s voice rumbled. \u201cHe only got out of Antwerp with his life. Both Duclos and Horyncx were taken. And if it was that bad in Antwerp, he didn\u2019t want to risk Brussels. So he got himself across the Channel as quick as possible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Southwark was never quiet, not even at night. Taverns spilling sound as well as light from their windows and open doors, \u00a0groups of drunken men staggering from the landings on the Thames bank to the inviting bawdy houses well stocked with Winchester\u2019s geese, all these and more kept the night lively. Poley and Ralph kept to the side of the street, out of the foetid puddles that lurked unseen amid the rutted surface. Ralph ducked his head to near Poley\u2019s ear so that he could talk without shouting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI didn\u2019t bother to get any more from him. I planted him in a room, made sure he had sufficient booze to keep him there, and then came and found you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhere\u2019s the room?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ralph pointed. \u201cAt Mam Upshaw\u2019s, there ahead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cRight. Let\u2019s get this sorted. You handled this exceedingly well, Ralph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They hurried through the crowded and smoky common room and took the stairs without breaking stride. Ralph set a shoulder to a door and it flew open, revealing Liam rising up out his bed, mouth all agape, eyes all filled with fear. Ralph was across the room in two swift strides and had gathered up Liam by his shirtfront in one big hand. The room smelled of an unemptied chamber pot and was lit by the weak light of the moon coming through the small parchment covered window.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poley moved into the room behind Ralph and stood at the foot of the bed. \u201cNow then, Liam. What happened in Antwerp?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam\u2019s eyes swiveled madly between the big man effortlessly holding him and the smaller man at the foot of the bed. He was clearly unsure of whom to fear more. \u201cIt was bad, Master Poley, real bad. I was right there, at Horyncx\u2019s, getting the packet of intelligence he had for me, when they came in through the front door. No warning. Just BANG! And the door goes into flinders.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poley gestured at Ralph and Liam was lowered back onto the bed. Ralph stepped back and Poley moved forward, made his voice calmer and more reasonable. \u201cAwful news indeed, Liam. And I\u2019ll wager that\u2019s not all the intelligence you have to impart. What happened next?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam sat on the edge of the bed, stared at his boots, his voice low. \u201cI escaped out the back, running as fast as I could. I remembered what you had told me, what to do if things went cack-handed.\u201d He essayed a glance at Poley. \u201cI followed your instructions, Master Poley. Truly I did!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poley laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. \u201cI have no doubt that you did. From first I met you, I knew that you were someone who would keep his blood cool when everything went to hell. So where did you go to from Horyncx\u2019s?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI wove through the back alleys and then through the crowds. I wasn\u2019t followed; that I\u2019m sure of. But it was no matter. I arrived at Duclos\u2019 just in time to see him taken away in chains. When I asked a fellow in the crowd, all curious-like, what was this man\u2019s crime, some heretic printer or the like, he answered that he was an English spy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo now I was terrified, Master Poley, I truly was.\u201d Liam swallowed hard and his gaze flitted between Poley and Ralph. \u201cI know I was supposed to go on to Brussels and meet up there with him that you call Adonis, I know I was. But it was like the last time when the Inquisition came through. And you know I lost some of my mates over there when they was taken into their prisons. So I couldn\u2019t do it, Master Poley, I just couldn\u2019t. I got myself back across the Channel just as quick as I could.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poley looked considering down at Liam and stretched out the moment. Just as it looked as if Liam was going to babble something more in his own defense, he ran his hand through his hair. And at that signal, Ralph moved the interrogation along. His rumbling grind of a voice sounded almost consoling. \u201cCan\u2019t ask for more than that, can you, Master Poley? All in all, sounds like Liam here, did the right thing, got out with his news and bollocks intact. Had he not scarpered, we might have been kept ignorant of all the those goings-on even longer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam nodded his head so fast, snot flew from his nose. \u201cThat\u2019s it! That\u2019s why I came back and didn\u2019t go on to Brussels!\u201d He gazed at Ralph with a look so pathetically grateful, disgust almost overwhelmed Poley\u2019s anger. None of his feelings touched his face or voice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cThat\u2019s a good point, Ralph. Liam has indeed brought us worthwhile intelligence. The Spanish have taken two of my agents and I need to start finding out how that happened. So, to work.\u201d He gestured to Ralph and turned to go. \u201cSorry about bursting in like that, Liam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThink nothing of it, Master Poley! It is no matter! I\u2019ve given you every right to be angry at me, fleeing Antwerp as I did, without completing my mission.\u201d Relief clogged Liam\u2019s voice, thick and glutinous.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was with no little flare of sadistic humor that Poley stopped halfway to the door. He spoke without turning to look at Liam. \u201cOne last thing troubles me, though, Liam. Perhaps you can set my mind at ease. And that\u2019s why you didn\u2019t come and tell me right away? Why did I have to come to this Southwark hole and winkle the tale out of you myself?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI was so very afraid!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poley\u2019s teeth flashed unseen in a grin of mirthless satisfaction. \u201cYes, I can believe that. But afraid of what, Liam? Or afraid of whom? You\u2019re safe here. No chance of the Inquisition capturing you in London.\u201d He turned to look at Liam. \u201cSo why did you not follow instructions and come to me right away?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There wasn\u2019t much light, but enough for Poley to see Liam swallow convulsively and sweat to break out on his brow. \u201cI swear, Master Poley, I swear. I was just afraid. I was going to come to see you but I just needed to get my courage back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou\u2019re lying. About what, I don\u2019t know. But there\u2019s something that you\u2019re not telling me.\u201d Poley turned his gaze to Ralph. \u201cHurt him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam wailed and tried to cast himself out the window. Ralph effortlessly grabbed him and bent one arm up behind his back. Liam screamed and pissed himself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTake this the fuck outside.\u201d The voice came from behind Poley and made him turn with a snarl. When he saw who stood in the doorway, he quickly made the expression on his face more agreeable. It was the big man holding the lit taper who drew the eye first but he was just one more big bastard that Ralph could easily sort out. No, Poley immediately drew his mind away from violence because of the woman standing in front of the ox. Mam Upshaw tapped a gnarled oak club into her palm, small piggy eyes steady and cold above a delicate mouth, graying blond hair escaping from underneath her bonnet. A ferocious pair of tits strained the front of her dress behind a stained apron.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It wasn\u2019t the club or the ox in the hall, who looked to be Danny, one of her many sons, that stopped Poley from launching into a high handed shit fit. Here in Southwark, Mam Upshaw was a person of consequence, gnarled fingers into many pies. Piss in her soup, he could count on any number of obstacles in his way, the next time he had to work south of the river.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A short bow and he strode forward. \u201cMistress Upshaw, I beg your pardon for this disturbance. I would not have conducted my business here, but I am charged by the Privy Council to get to the bottom of this matter.\u201d He rubbed his fingers together. \u201cThis will not take long and I am certain that those in Westminster to whom I report would be greatly appreciative of your understanding.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap, tap, tap, went the club. No hint of give in her voice. \u201cWho the fuck are you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI am a humble servant of her Majesty.\u201d Poley tried to assume an appropriately humble mien, hard to do with his humors roiling with anger and impatience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cEasy to say. Hard to prove. What stops me from calling the Watch and having you all taken from here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poley thought from a moment. He didn\u2019t want to use this name, but he saw no other choice. \u201cMeg will vouch for me. She and I have done business and she knows whom I work for. You know Meg, I\u2019m sure.\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAye, that I do. And I know that she\u2019s not a name to be mentioned lightly. If I ask her about you and she finds out you\u2019ve been bandying her name about, you\u2019ll be fed to the pigs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poley made one last effort to gather up his quickly fraying patience and kept his voice level. \u201cI know that. You know that. So why don\u2019t you accept me as who I say I am and let me get on with my business?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Danny made to move forward. \u201cLet me thump him, Mam. I\u2019ll knock some truth out of this lying buggermaster.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ralph was suddenly at Poley\u2019s side. \u201cYou can back off now, my son. You and me, we\u2019ll let the wiser heads talk this through. Nothing is solved by us getting all violent-like.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mam Upshaw\u2019s hand on Danny\u2019s arm forestalled his rush to come to grips with Ralph. \u201cWhat makes you think I give a fuck?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSurely you do not wish to be an enemy of her Majesty? You may think that her writ does not run into these corners of Southwark, but I assure you, it does.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A calculating look. \u201cAye, true enough. But I\u2019m going to need something for my trouble, beyond just the words of some pursuivant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Poley had an immediate vision of the few coins in his purse and Mam Upshaw\u2019s likely reaction if he were to offer them to her. And besides, he wasn\u2019t going to pay some raddled Southwark hag for the privilege of doing his business. \u201cDo you think that I carry coin on me when coming this side of the river to do my business? Do I look like I was dropped on my head as a babe? Get me some paper and ink. I\u2019ll write you out a note that you can take up to Westminster to get redeemed for coin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPen? Ink? A note?\u201d Mam Upshaw\u2019s voice became more venom filled with each word and her knuckles went white where she held the club. \u201cYou\u2019ve got some fucking cheek, you piece of shit. You come to my house, cause trouble, then try to buy me off with some promise of jam tomorrow? Now who looks like they was dropped on their head? Aye, you work for Westminster, sure enough, no one else would be so stupid as to suggest such a thing.\u201d She spit on the floor in front of Poley\u2019s feet. Danny dragged up an inarticulate growl from deep inside his chest, the urge to damage whoever caused his Mam this kind of upset clear on his face. This caused Mam Upshaw to go from anger back to calculation. Nothing to be gained in causing trouble for someone working for the powers up in Westminster. Her face screwed up sour. \u201cFine. Do what you needs must. But try to keep the noise down and if you kill him, do it out back. Don\u2019t leave me with a corpse on my hands.\u201d She turned to go, chivying Danny in front of her.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam let out a wail and stretched forth his undamaged arm. \u201cPlease, Mistress! Have mercy! Succor me, I beg of you! In Christ\u2019s name do not leave me here!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She ignored Liam; glanced back over her shoulder to Poley with a face like flint. \u201cI said, keep the noise down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ralph grabbed Liam by the throat and muscled him against the wall. \u201cYou heard the lady, whoreson. No talking less asked a question.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam gabbled so fast spittle sprayed on Ralph\u2019s face, who took it unblinking. \u201cI swear, I swear, I swear it\u2019s like I said, it\u2019s true, true&#8230;\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ralph laid a hand almost tenderly on Liam\u2019s face, palm closing the working jaw, the horny thumbnail coming to rest right at the edge of his eye. \u201cLiam, Liam, Liam. Do you think that I\u2019d even stop to think about taking your eye? Gouging it clean out of your head and wiping it on the coverlet? Do I look like the kind of cove who\u2019d lose even a wink of sleep over that? And would I stop at one eye?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam rolled his eyes towards the threatening thumb but was so terrified that only mute whines dug their way out of his throat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYour days are about to become as dark as your nights, Liam, unless you answers Master Poley\u2019s questions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLiam.\u201d No response from Liam, his gaze still trapped by Ralph\u2019s threat. Poley made his voice louder, sharper. \u201cLiam!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam pulled his eyes away from Ralph\u2019s thumb and fixed his gaze on Poley. His voice was barely a whisper, clotted with tears and pain. \u201cI swear, Master Poley, I swear, I swear&#8230;\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnd I don\u2019t fucking care what you swear, Liam. I want to know the truth.\u201d Poley leaned back against the wall opposite and folded his arms. He gestured with his eyes and Ralph released Liam\u2019s face and moved a little way from Liam. \u201cLet\u2019s start at the beginning. Did you get the packet of intelligence that Horyncx was to give you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam said nothing for a few heartbeats, just stood there, rubbing his face where Ralph had placed his hand, smearing snot and tears across his blotched face. Ralph made a low noise in his chest and began to move forward. Liam jerked his hands down. \u201cNo, no. No, Master Poley, he didn\u2019t have time to give it to me. He was saying that it contained the most important intelligence and then he went to fetch it and then the door came down and then I ran.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat\u2019s what he said, precisely? The most important intelligence? Think hard, Liam, remember it clearly. Is that what he said? Was there anything more, anything at all?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnd then he said something else, as he was leaving the room, to go into the back, something like intelligence this pure could only come from one place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis is good, Liam. You\u2019re doing brilliantly. Now we come to the matter of you arriving in London. Why did you not come directly to me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam clutched his arms around himself and huddled inward, looked at the floor, his voice a low mutter. Poley leaned close, straining to hear over the sound of a drunk outside the window professing in song that his love was pure and like unto a summer day. The fa-la-la chorus was interrupted by the sound of spewing. \u201cI came into Southwark late. I had landed at Gravesend and rented a nag. I thought not to disturb you until the morning. I admit it, I was reluctant to come to you with such bad news.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poley kept his voice low and nonthreatening. \u201cI understand. By my count, that was two days past. What stopped you from coming to me the next morning? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis man. I was coming to see you, I was, just past the Bridge, when two bravos came up beside me and pushed me into an alley. They was much like him.\u201d A flicking glance towards Ralph underneath lowered brows. \u201cThey leaned in close, on either side, and said someone wanted a word.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ah. The shape starts to become clear. I thought there was something missing in all this. Someone stirring the pot. I\u2019ll have you, you fucker.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cAnd who was that someone, Liam?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSome gentleman. Not too fancy, but had money, you could tell. Didn\u2019t like putting his feet among the filth in the alley.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poley kept his voice even, so as to not have Liam lose his new found composure. \u201cNow that\u2019s a nice bit of recollection. Well done. What did he look like?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA bit taller than me. Blonde. One of those little beards. Nice clothes. Two rings.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWould you know him again, if you saw him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAye.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnd what did he say? Why did he have those two pieces of muscle nab you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe said it would be best if I were to clear out of London, go somewhere else, maybe Bristol, and leave my current employment far behind me and forgotten.\u201d Liam straightened and life entered his voice, though he still did sniff back blood. \u201cWell, I told him that my employment was none of his concern and who the fuck was he to tell me what to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cGood man!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, he didn\u2019t take to kindly to that. He had those two oxen give me a right thumping. Not used to the business, though. Was not used to seeing violence done right in front of him. Saw that in his eyes. Then he bent down to where I was kneeling, cradling my cods, said that I was employed by a mindless git &#8211; his words, Master Poley, his words -\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poley nodded in understanding and gestured for him to continue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEmployed by him who played at spies but was no match for someone superior in all ways. And since I was employed by one such, that made me less than low. But even one as low as myself was worthy of mercy and so he was being merciful and sparing me and giving me the chance to leave with my life.\u201d Liam raised his gaze to look directly at Poley. \u201cTo tell the truth, Master Poley, I think he was fair cracked. Almost like one of them preachers who get all invaded by the Spirit, like. Or maybe a crazed dog. His eyes were flat stones, nothing behind them, and his voice was all trembling. By that time I was more scared of him than of the bravos.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnd then he said that all my employer had built up was to be torn down and that he was the Samson who did it. What just happened in the Low Countries was just the start of his successes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHe did say that? He knew about my agents being taken and he took responsibility for it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAye. Just as I related. Well, I slobbered out something fearful and agreeing, didn\u2019t take too much acting on my part, I\u2019ll tell you that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, I\u2019ll wager it didn\u2019t.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo he had his men give me another kicking, then minced out of the alley. By that time I didn\u2019t know what to think, so I hid out in the Alsatia liberty. All this is much above my head. I just wanted to hide until it all passed. I was there when your man found me. He can tell you that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnd so he did.\u201d Poley moved away from the wall and towards Liam. He clapped the man on the shoulder, getting a small piece of satisfaction from the way he cringed from the hand. \u201cYou did well, Liam, in observing that man and telling me what he told you. This is valuable intelligence that you\u2019ve brought me.\u201d Poley moved away from Liam and towards the door. \u201cNow get the fuck out of London.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam\u2019s face became a study in incomprehension and fear. \u201cBut why, Master Poley? I told you everything I know! I did, I swear it, everything, every last word!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI know and I don\u2019t care. You\u2019re a worthless little shit and I can\u2019t use you anymore. Now take that fucker\u2019s advice and go to Bristol or someplace. I see you in London again and I\u2019ll kill you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As Poley left the room with Ralph following, he heard Liam break into a torrent of abuse aimed at Poley. Liam\u2019s imprecations and insults faded away as Poley and Ralph clattered down the stairs and into the clamor of the main room. Poley ducked a nod to Mam Upshaw on the other side of the room as he and Ralph passed through and out onto the street. She spit on the floor in response.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWith Duclos and Horyncx gone, I have only one intelligencer left in the field. And I need to know if he\u2019s been taken and, if not, why not?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis is the one you call Adonis?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAye. I need to send someone across the Channel and I need to do it right quick.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI can think of someone. But you\u2019re not going to like it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOh, and are you under the impression that there\u2019s any part of this that I do like? Go on, say your name.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou need someone you\u2019ve worked with before. Someone slippery yet knowledgeable enough to ferret out what\u2019s going on in the Low Countries. And he\u2019s close at hand.\u201d Ralph tilted his head in the direction of across the river. \u201cVery close at hand, in fact. And undoubtedly willing to listen to any offer you might make.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The name that Ralph suggested rose through Poley\u2019s mind like a bubble though a puddle of spew. \u201cYou\u2019ve been hit on the head one too many times, that can be the only reason why you would suggest I go to that fucking cunt. You are correct in saying that I have worked with him. And that is why I will never go to him with something like this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ralph shrugged. \u201cYou know who I\u2019m talking about, then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poley swore impotently under his breath. \u201cOf course, I fucking know who you\u2019re talking about!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>He will build a career out of cheating, though all in the name of \u2018loyalty and behoveful service\u2019 to the State. The Reckoning Charles Nicholl &nbsp; \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cAll I can say is what he told me.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Robert Poley, short man, hard expression on his face, look in his eyes that forecast an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions\/58"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jasonbrezinski.com\/novels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}