Jacob Frye x Reader

Chapter 42 - Triple Theft

"Oh, you wouldn't, would you? What about your bird?"

"It's not building anything. It just is, my dear." It wasn't long before we came upon the National Gallery. "I dare say I shall never tire of the National Gallery."

"Why does Starrick interest himself with art?"

"He's hired a fiendishly talented woman, one Hattie Cadwallader, to procure works for him. She has excellent taste."

"We're kidnapping her for the sin of being Starrick's collector?" I ask as I dismounted the carriage. "Bring your carriage around and wait for the cargo. I shan't be very long." I searched around the National Gallery for any clues about Cadwallader's location. "Someone around here must know Miss Cadwallader..." I happen to spot a girl and decided to ask her if she knew anything. "I'm looking for Miss Hattie Cadwallader."

"Ain't seen her...I knows what she's been up to, though." The girl replied.

"And what's that?"

"Prigging art, sir. She pinched a statue not far rom here."

"Now where is that statue..." I muttered out as I looked around. It wasn't long until I found a pedestal missing its statue and approached a boy who was nearby. "Hey, smallie! Know anything about what happened here?"

"I saw who pinched it, sir." The boy replied.

"Miss Cadwallader?"

"She hides sown the sewers, sir."

"Of course it's sewers." I shake my head and found the entrance to the sewers where I found Cadwallader and the hidden statue. Making sure that she doesn't notice me, I walked up behind her and grabbed her from behind.

"Tell Mr. Starrick his next delivery is on its way, and tell him that I'm growing tired of these working conditions." Cadwallader said.

"Wasn't Starrick who sent me." I said.

"Then who?"

"Maxwell Roth sends his regards."

"Oi! Leave off, or you'll be sorry!"

"Shh..."

"Take your hands of me, sir, or you'll be sorry!"

"Hush, madam." I managed to successfully bring her to Roth without alerting anyone.

"Why, Miss Cadwallader! What a pleasant surprise!" Roth said.

"You'll be hearing from Mr. Starrick, Roth!" Cadwallader said.

"Ha! I look forward to it!" Nothing more was said as I shoved her into the carriage and took the reins once again.

"Why the Alhambra?" I asked along the way.

"Every good criminal needs a place to invest his ill-gotten gains. And what's better than distracting the world with a little light entertainment while you do so?" Roth replies.

"Oh, come now. You can't tell me you don't enjoy the triumph of a well-received play? The plaudits and praise? The reviews?"

"I enjoy being entertained, Jacob! If one of the productions pleases me, I am over the moon. The theatre is in my blood. As you so astutely discerned, theatrically is...something of a Roth specialty." It wasn't long before we reached our next destination; St. James' Park. "Ah, the park. The dwelling place of Starrick's head of security, one Benjamin Raffles. Those who cross him tend to disappear without warning."

"Sounds like we'll be fast friends."

"Be careful. His guards are never far away." I dismounted the carriage, infiltrated the park and grabbed Raffles from behind.

"What the meaning o' this?! Did Roth send you? The villain!" Raffles said.

"You have your villains mixed up, Mr. Raffles. The man you work for is the real villain here." I replied.

"Let. Me. Go!"

"Keep your voice down."

"Guards!"

"Quiet, Mr. Raffles." I brought him to the carriage with no trouble.

"My most fragrant Raffles! How very good to see you again!" Roth said.

"Go to hell, Roth!" Raffles said.

"It's into the back with you, then." I shoved Raffles into the back and took the reins yet again.

"Who is this Lewis that works for you?" I asked.

"Ha! A bit of an odd fish, isn't he? Came to me a few years past." Roth replied.

"He's very solemn."

"But always so polite! And he has many other talents."

"Who am I looking for?"

"Chester Swinebourne. A copper by day and snitch by night. Remove him from the pack and you cut Starrick's ties to the police force."

"Must be good at what he does to keep the charade going for so long."

"He is indeed, my boy." We reached Scotland Yard within a few moments.

"All these bobbies give me gooseflesh." I said.

"Welcome to Scotland Yard." Roth said. This one was a bit trickier, but I managed to infiltrate Scotland Yard and grabbed Swinebourne from behind.

"Huh?! What?!" Swinebourne said.

"Now, now, Swinebourne. Let's not make a scene." Jacob said.

"You're not going to get away with this!"

"Oh, but I am."

"Where are you taking me?"

"A friend would like to say a quick how d'ya do."

"Cease and desist."

"Hush." I brought Swinebourne to the carriage.

"Chester!" Roth said.

"Roth? It's been a while." Swinebourne said.

"You really let yourself go. Shame. Now, it's into the back with you!" I shoved Swinebourne into the carriage and drove it to the delivery point at the Thames. There, Starrick's henchman were brought aboard a boat.

"Excellent work. Do come find me at the Alhambra. I have more amusements planned for us!" Roth said. Before he could board and sail away, I couldn't help but speaking up.

"Roth, that woman who was with you..." I don't know if it was my imagination or not, but I thought I saw a hint of a smirk on his face.

"Ah yes, the mysterious woman who was with me the other day. Quite lovely, ain't she?"

"I bet she is. I tried speaking to her before we met up, only it wasn't quite what I expected."

"Oh?"

"Well, I left her on the couch, so she could rest up and..." He interrupted me before I could say anything else.

"Jacob, my dear, you sly dog."

"What? No that's not..." I couldn't say anything else as he simply boarded the boat and sailed away.