A Gift for Guile (The Thief-takers) by Alissa Johnson Page A

nudged Samuel aside—honestly, did the man have to approach every situation with intimidation?—and leaned down a little, hoping to put the child at ease.
    “Do you remember me, Henry? You brought a note to me on Tuesday.” She pointed down the street. “At the old clothes shop.”
    The boy’s expression turned wary as he squinted for a clear look at her face. “Maybe. I brought a note to a widow Tuesday.”
    Samuel nudged her back. “Do you know where to find the man who gave you the note?”
    “Maybe.”
    “Two bob if you take us to him.”
    Henry shook his head. “Not worth me skin, sir.”
    “Is the man not to be trusted, then?” Samuel asked.
    “He’s not a bad sort. But his friends…” Henry finished the thought with a hitch of one bony shoulder.
    “Would you lead us to him for a half crown?” Esther offered.
    Henry thought about it. “I got a name.”
    A false one, no doubt. Esther suspected he wouldn’t offer the real one for a fortune. Not if it meant putting himself at risk.
    “I’ve an idea. I need…” She dug through the bag at her waist and found her small notepad and pencil.
    She tore out a sheet of paper, scribbled out a hasty note, and showed it to Samuel.
    Pddy station. 5:00 p.m. Wed. I will be alone.
    He snatched it out of her hand. “No.”
    She snatched it right back. “Yes.”
    “No.” He reached for the note again.
    She lifted the note up high, realized how ridiculous that was, and stuck it behind her back instead. “Yes. We can discuss the particulars of it”—she bobbed her head sideways at the boy—“ later .”
    “There will be no discussion.”
    She hitched up a shoulder. She was going. And so was he, with any luck, but if he didn’t wish to discuss it, all the better for her.
    Turning to the boy, she folded the note in quarters. “How does this sound, Henry? I will give you a crown to deliver this note to the man. If he follows the instructions inside, either I or this gentleman will meet you here one week from today at three o’clock in the afternoon and pay you an additional sovereign.”
    The boy’s mouth dropped open at the exorbitant bribe, but he quickly snapped it shut again. “I can’t make him do nothing. And how do I know you’ll make good on your promise?”
    “You can’t, and you don’t. But you’ll have a crown regardless.” And a much better chance at an entire sovereign if he delivered the note. All at little to no risk to himself.
    The boy took a quick nervous look down both ends of the street, then held out a grubby hand. “Let’s have it, then.”
    She handed him the note and reached into her bag for the coin, but Samuel stopped her with a shake of his head.
    “Wait.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out four shillings. “Do you have one more?”
    “Whatever for?”
    “Just…” He wiggled his fingers.
    She gave him a shilling, which he passed off with the others to the boy.
    Henry tucked the note and coins away, gathered up his wood and blade, and dashed down the alleyway.
    Next to her, Samuel shifted his feet restlessly.
    “You want to follow him,” she guessed.
    He grunted, which, on this occasion, she took to mean yes. She had half a mind to follow him as well, but a boy like that would slip through a window or door the moment he suspected he was being followed.
    “Why did you do that?” she asked Samuel as they turned to leave. “Give him five shillings instead of a crown?”
    “Because there’s likely someone with whom he is obligated to share some portion of his income for the day, if not all of it.”
    “Oh, I see.” By giving the boy several coins instead of just one, Samuel had given him a chance to keep at least some of the money for himself. “I told you,” she said, smiling at him as they turned to leave. “Not such a hard man.”
    “You are not meeting that man at Paddington station, Esther.”
    “Very well, I take it back,” she grumbled as they steered around a set of carts. “You’re like a