"A man very similar to the one you describe approached me with an interesting financial opportunity," Adam said with the air of one shrewd investor to another. "Mentioned your name. Thought I'd inquire into his references, as it were."
Caroline made a note of the fact that Adam could spin a web of fiction as easily as she did.
McDaniel brightened. "He offered you a similar proposition, I take it? Shares in a mining company?"
"I'm looking into it," Adam allowed. "But, to be frank, he did not show me any actual stock certificates. That worried me somewhat so I have been reluctant to hand over my money."
"Odd. He certainly had no hesitation in presenting me with a certificate."
"I wonder if I might have a look at them," Adam said. "Just to see if they appear legitimate."
"Don't see why not. Jones said not to talk about the project with anyone who was not involved in it. But in view of the fact that you are considering the same investment, I can't imagine that he would object to me showing you the shares."
"Thank you," Adam said.
Mr. McDaniel heaved himself out of his chair with the aid of a cane and tottered to the desk in the corner. He unlocked a drawer and withdrew a sheet of heavy paper. Adam crossed the room to examine it. Caroline followed quickly.
The stock certificate was an impressive-looking document with a light blue background. It was decorated with flamboyantly executed lettering that read Drexford Co. and featured a vignette of a mine, complete with miners and their tools. The detail was very fine and the printing was superb.
"It certainly looks genuine," Adam said, casually handing the certificate to Caroline. "What do you think, Mrs. Fordyce? As one who is involved in the world of publishing, you are more expert than I in such matters"
Mr. McDaniel looked anxious as his precious certificate was passed to a third party. She gave him a reassuring smile and quickly held the document up to the light.
Amid the flourishes, curls and fancy work, she could clearly discern the small figure of a griffin entwined with the letter B.
"The printing is quite elegant," she said, giving the certificate back to Mr. McDaniel.
"What did Mr. Jones tell you about the firm?" Adam asked.
"The company owns a gold mine somewhere in the. American West," McDaniel said, relaxing now that the certificate was safely back in his hands. "The founder died be-fore he could begin operations. Left everything to his heir, a young man who is determined to open the mine and make it productive"
"But the heir requires capital to finance the expenses involved in starting up the mine, correct?" Adam asked.
Caroline could hear the grim edge on the words but Mc-Daniel was oblivious.
"Precisely." McDaniel bobbed his head with a sage expression. "Can't go wrong with gold, I always say."
"Words of wisdom, sir," Adam said. "I shall certainly give close consideration to the investment. I appreciate your assistance."
"Not at all, not at all" McDaniel tucked the certificate securely back into the drawer. "I must say, I was somewhat skeptical when the spirit advised me to be on the lookout for Mr. Jones, but when he showed up the very next day I realized that the medium was the genuine article."
"As genuine as that stock certificate you just put into that drawer, Mr. McDaniel," Adam said.
TWENTY-FIVE
It was after five by the time Mr. McDaniel ushered them out of his house. A thick fog was closing in fast, leaching the light from the fading day. Adam could feel the angry tension shimmering through Caroline. Her shoulders were rigid.
"Well?" he prompted. "Did you see a mark on the certificate?"
"Yes. I can describe it to Mr. Spraggett. But he will have left his office for the day. I will not be able to talk to him until tomorrow."
She fell silent.
"Try not to take this matter to heart," he said after a while. "It is certainly not your fault. There was nothing you could have done to protect Jones's victims."
"All three of them are going to lose their money."
"Caveat emptor. Anyone who is foolish enough to take financial advice from the Other Side—"
"Rubbish. That is very easy for you to say, sir, but Miss Brick, Mrs. Trent and Mr. McDaniel lack your financial skills. You know very well that none of them can afford to have that gold mine investment fail."
"It will be a great hardship on them, no question."
A hansom cab clattered past and disappeared into the log. Awareness shivered across the nape of Adam's neck. The sensation was one he recognized all too well. He had experienced it often enough in the old days when he had been in the business of selling other people's secrets in narrow lanes and dark alleys. The survival instincts that he had learned as a youth persisted within him still. It required a great deal of discipline to fight the urge to look back over his shoulder.
"You saw their homes," Caroline continued, voice ringing with the force of her feelings. "It is obvious that they are all barely getting by as it is. I do not want to think about what will happen when they discover that they have been duped. They will be devastated."
"Very likely," he admitted.
He turned his head partway toward her, bending for-ward slightly, making it appear that he was paying earnest attention to Caroline's conversation. Out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed a shadowy figure in the fog.
Caroline raised one gloved hand. "We must do some-thing, Adam."
He almost smiled. "By we, I conclude that you mean I must do something?"
"Ideally, of course, that dreadful Mr. Jones should be forced to reimburse his victims. But if that does not hap-pen, we cannot let those poor people lose everything."
"Do not concern yourself, Caroline." He risked another glance and saw that their follower was still there, still maintaining the same distance. "I will see to it that Brick, Trent and McDaniel get their money back, one way or another."
She tilted her head slightly. Beneath the brim of her clever little hat he could see that she was glowing with approval.
"Thank you, Adam. That is very kind of you"
"I can only hope that Jones's list of financial victims is not long."
"I wonder how many people he has fleeced with those worthless mining shares."
"Caroline, we have a small problem."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Someone is following us."
"What?" She tried to stop and spin around.
"Keep moving." He used his grip on her arm to force her to continue forward. "Do not give any sign that you are aware of him."
"Yes, of course." She continued along the pavement, walking at her usual brisk pace. "Who do you think is back there?"
"I intend to find out"
He studied the mist-shrouded street for a moment, looking for a place to set a snare. The houses along each side of the pavement were placed side by side with no convenient walks or paths between them. The best option was the small park. The fog would provide a convenient veil.
"Here is what we will do," he said to Caroline. "Listen closely and do exactly as I say."