“Not sir. Call me King. Excuse me.” He turned and fled the room. He needed fresh air and sunlight and space. Not to mention, if he stayed much longer, he might take off his waistcoat or his boots.
Neither fresh air nor sunlight awaited him outside. The air was stagnant with the scent of coal and cooking onions. The fog had lifted somewhat, but the day was still gray and dreary. Joshua stepped out a moment later and stood beside him.
“What do you want?” King said, tone surly.
Joshua shook his head. “You said you wanted me to fetch the surgeon.”
“Right.”
“That was a nice—”
King held up a hand. “Don’t say it. I’m not nice. I don’t do nice things.”
“Understood.” Joshua nodded. “Where do I go to find the surgeon?”
“I’ll tell you, but first, we need to have a chat.” King looked at Joshua. “About Lizzie.”
Joshua’s eyes went blank just a moment too late.
“Don’t pretend you weren’t thinking of taking this opportunity to go see her. I was a boy of—How old are you?”
“Thirteen.”
“I was thirteen once. I spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about girls.”
“Lizzie isn’t just any girl.”
“No, she’s the one the gang leader, Ferryman, has his eye on. I know you want to help her, but right now, you need to keep your brother and sister safe. Making this gang leader angry will put them in danger.”
“You’re one to talk. You’re the reason Archie is hurt, and our tavern was all but destroyed.”
King hadn’t expected that response, and he’d certainly never expected a thirteen-year-old boy to speak to him in that tone of voice. He glared at the lad, but Joshua just glared back, all but daring him to do something.
“If you are so worried about my family, you shouldn’t have put us in the position of not being able to pay Ferryman.”
King’s anger at Joshua’s tone faded. “What’s this, then?”
“You think you know so much, but you don’t know anything.”
“Tell me, then.”
“We have to pay taxes to Ferryman. Everyone in his territory pays him taxes, and if we don’t, he levies a fine.”
“What sort of fine?”
Joshua shrugged. “Depends on the business. I’ve seen him burn them down or come in and allow his boys to take whatever they want. Sometimes he beats the owner bloody. If it’s a woman…” He trailed off.
King clenched his hands. “Has he ever touched your sister?”
“No, but he’d like to. He’d like to get his hands on me and Georgie too. Bring us into his gang. Vi has been late paying the government her taxes before, but she always pays Ferryman on time.”
“So he’s a bully,” King said. He knew something about bullies, having been one himself. He looked back at Joshua. “Let me tell you something about bullies—they inspire loyalty out of fear. There’s no question in my mind if this Ferryman catchesyou with Lizzie, he will hurt you or even kill you. It scares anyone else who might challenge his authority.”
“I don’t want to challenge his authority,” Joshua said. “I just want to help Lizzie. You know what’s coming for her. She’s my friend. I have to help her.”
King blew out a breath. Joshua was looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes as though King could help him, as though he was some sort of savior who could stop a gang leader and save a young girl’s innocence. He wanted to tell Joshua he had it all wrong. King couldn’t even help himself, much less this Lizzie.
But how was he supposed to say that when Joshua was looking at him with those eyes?
