“My name is Kane Badgely. This is Caroline Hearst. She is a teacher at the girls' orphanage. We wanted to ask you a few questions about some of your workers.”
Bruce put down his papers. “Please come in and take a seat.” He settled back in his chair. “Now, what questions did you have?”
Kane glanced at Caroline, who nodded for him to continue. “Recently, a handful of girls have gone missing from the orphanage. I made inquiries and was told there might be an issue here, with young female workers missing as well. Is that true?”
The man’s gaze darted around, before he closed the door. “Yes, it’s true. Over the last six months, we’ve had over a dozen girls fail to show up for work. It’s like they just vanished.”
“Is that normal?” Caroline asked.
“It’s not unusual for one to leave without notice here or there. Some quit, others leave for other cities, or run off with a beau, but not this many. I’ve tried to keep it quiet; I don’t want people to get the wrong impression about the factory.” Bruce leaned forward. “We try to take care of our workers, more than some places, believe me.”
“Do you have any suspicions as to why this is happening, or if anyone is behind it?” Kane thought it was too much to be coincidence. Girls missing from the factory, plus the orphanage. It all added up to a serious problem.
“About what age are the girls who have gone missing?” Caroline’s question brought Kane out of his thoughts.
“If I remember correctly, they were all young, less than eighteen or so.”
“Any family? Obviously, all my pupils at the orphanage have no one.”
Bruce shook his head. “That I could not tell you, but no one has come asking me questions, if that helps.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bruce.” Kane extended his hand.
“Will you let me know if you find the girls?” Bruce asked as he took the extended hand. “It’d be nice to know they didn’t come to any harm.”
“I will, sir.”
Caroline said her farewell, and they left.
“What do you think?” Caroline asked the moment they stepped out of the factory. “Do you think it’s connected to my missing students?”
“I don’t believe in coincidence. They’re all the same age, possibly with no families to look for them. They are the perfect targets, but for what?”
“It’s horrible to think there are people out there kidnapping girls.” She turned to Kane. “That’s the only explanation. Why else would so many leave?” Caroline grasped Kane’s arm. “What are we going to do?”
“Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.”
“Do you think Mr. Bruce is involved?”
“I don’t think so. He appeared genuinely concerned about the missing workers.” But Kane wouldn’t cross anyone off the list of suspects since there wasn’t much of a list to begin with.
Kane escorted Caroline back to the orphanage. By the time he left, it was later than he thought. On his way to the stable, he noticed a girl, about eighteen, walking down the street. Something about the girl struck Kane, so he watched her. She walked up to a building where a few men were loitering outside. After speaking to one man, she took his arm and headed into the nearby alley.
Prostitution.
Could that be the girl’s fate? But he had asked around at the brothels. He’d even paid a few ladies for their information, knowing most would not be forthcoming. All the women he’d spoken to said there were no new workers lately.
It was late, and Kane’s mind was scattered in a hundred different directions. He would start again tomorrow after a good night’s rest. As he neared Stokesby, he wondered if Heath had had an enjoyable lunch. Probably not, from the last look Heath had given him as he’d ridden away.
Kane entered through the kitchen after handing his horse to the groom. It wasn’t so late that the servants had retired.
“There is a plate in the stove for you, Mr. Badgely,” Mrs. Baum said from her seat by the fire.
“Thank you.”
He grabbed the plate and attacked the food like he hadn’t eaten in days. After he ate, he went to the study, hoping to get a small drink before settling in to bed. It startled Kane to see Heath sitting on the sofa. A soft snoring echoed in the room. Was he asleep?
A closer inspection showed an empty glass on the table. Heath’s jacket was tossed over the sofa, and he’d undone the top buttons of his shirt just enough that Kane saw a sprinkle of dark chest hair. He looked peaceful. Kane sat next to him, careful not to disturb Heath.