“It has,” Fletcher said.
Gemma marked that off. “And the coffins have been made?”
“Oi, and with the marks on the lid telling Stone and me where to pound in the coffin nails.”
From what Gemma had explained, that part was crucial, as her design ensured not all the nails pounded through the lid connected with the wood beneath.
“And the nails you’ve got are the short ones I told you to get?”
“We measured five times,” Fletcher said. “They’re what you sent us out for.”
Some of the nails would have to make contact with the frame, otherwise they risked the lids sliding off when they were carried into the hearse.
“And the notches carved on the inside?”
“Deep enough to feel but not so obvious they’ll be seen,” Fletcher said.
The notches, Gemma had explained, would indicate where the nails holding the lid down were at. Barnabus and Gemma would use jemmy bars to pry the lids open from the inside, but theywould do so in utter darkness. They’d not only waste time prying the lids if they didn’t know where they were secured, they also risked cracking the wood. Nothing could look amiss when the coffins were carried from the hearse to the chapel and then to the churchyard, or her family would spot it.
“And the jemmy bars?”
“Will be placed on your right side,” Fletcher said.
Gemma nodded and breathed and gave every indication of reassuring herself. Without every adjustment she had specified, it would be impossible to get out of the coffins without help. Kumar would not be able to stop the hearse to assist them without giving away the entire thing.
“What else?” Fletcher asked.
What else?Barnabus had all but memorized the list himself. So much depended on getting every detail correct.
“The crinoline barriers for placing over us in the casket?” Barnabus asked.
“All right-tight.” Fletcher nodded. “And the blanket to go atop them and the flowers for going atop that.”
Gemma motioned with her chin toward the small posy in a cup of water that Fletcher had brought with him. “We’ll need a far-sight more blooms than that.”
“There’ll be plenty,” Fletcher said. “It’s all arranged.”
Gemma tapped her lead pencil on the table nervously. “When the hearse reaches the church, if all’s not gone to bits, you and the other pallbearers will pull out coffins that look exactly like they did when you slid ’em inside. They’ll feel heavy on account of the sandbags—” Her eyes pulled wide.
“Kumar’ll have them waiting in the hearse for you,” Fletcher assured her.
Gemma checked that off her list. “The coffins’ll feel heavy as you carry them inside the church for the funeral. They’ll be watched; no chance they won’t.” She had attended a lot offunerals, very few of which she had actually been invited to. Some of the stories she’d told Baz of her childhood would haunt him the rest of his days.
“By the time you come back out, we’ll be out of the hearse and slipped off. Once Kumar signals it’s safe to do so, ’course.”
“Do you know where you’ll pike off to?” Fletcher asked.
“The Dread Master suggested we come back here first,” Barnabus said. “That’d give us time to fashion workable disguises and choose a final destination.”
Fletcher gave them a look that could not be interpreted as anything other than grief. “We’ll miss you two when you’ve hopped the twig. But you’ll be safe.”
Gemma nodded. “And so will the rest of London. No one’s candle will get snuffed because we’re being looked for.”
“I wish I could thank Brogan for taking charge of the safe houses when I went invisible,” Barnabus said. Brogan wasn’t one of the few being told that the wake and burial was a ruse. He felt bad about that.
“He’ll look after ’em well,” Fletcher said. “Already let me know Serena was safely moved to a different spot and she ain’t worrying herself into the grave anymore.”
Barnabus was relieved to hear that’d been managed. “She endured a lot at the Mastiff’s hands and still helped Ana and Hollis last year when they were trapped. She even sent us word in time to save Martin. I hope Brogan can find a means of helping her get out of London. It’s the only way she’ll be safe from the Mastiff’s revenge.”