Just as he’d done before, Kane followed the trio until they came to the docks. She led the girls to a small boat where a man was waiting. He spoke and Kane heard his French accent. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. This was it. These were the culprits. What now? If he went to notify Harvey, they might leave, then there was no telling what might happen to the girls. For the time being, Kane observed them.
Miss Wilcott grabbed the girls and took them below deck. Then the young lady took the same path back to the brick building. This time, she was quicker and appeared just a few minutes later with another pair of girls. He had time, hopefully enough, to find Harvey or another policeman to raise the alarm. He dashed down the street, knowing time was not on his side.
CHAPTER18
Heath rode up to the back of the Wilcott’s home, hoping to speak with Miss Wilcott’s maid, Hildie. He dismounted and went to the kitchen entrance and knocked. A footman answered.
“May I help you?” Then he recognized Heath. “Sir Heath.” He bowed.
“Is Miss Wilcott’s maid, Hildie, available? I must speak with her.”
“Yes, she’s here. If you’d like to come in.”
“I will wait here. I need to speak with her privately.”
The last thing he needed was prying ears from the servants. The sunlight faded from the sky. A moment later, Hildie, a woman who looked to be in her late twenties, came out.
“I was told you wanted to see me, sir.” She wrang her hands together.
“Yes, Hildie.” Heath motioned for them to walk to the other side of the back courtyard. “I wanted to ask you about Miss Wilcott.”
“She’s not here, sir.”
“I know. Her father said she was leaving for Paris.”
The maid nodded.
“How often does she go?”
“About every two or three weeks. She likes to go to the shops, but sometimes she doesn’t purchase anything. You know Miss Wilcott, she likes the finer things.”
“I know she does.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “But she doesn’t take you?”
“No. She said it's such a brief trip, only a few days at most, so she hires a maid at the hotel.”
“Do you know which hotel she stays at?”
“No, sir.”
It was a shot in the dark, but Hildie had given him useful information. Between that and her mystery man, Heath felt he was on to something.
“Mr. Wilcott said she is leaving today. Do you know when she leaves?”
“Not until later in the day. I don’t know why. I’ve told her it’s not safe to have the boat out at night, but she does what she wants.”
“Would she still be at the docks?”
Hildie thought about it for a moment. “Probably.”
Heath’s heart pounded in excitement. “Which boat does she take?”
“The Starfire.”
“Thank you, Hildie.”
If Heath could have run, he would have. Instead, he quickly made his way back to his horse, almost forgetting about his cane so he could increase his speed. There was time. If the boat was going on the evening tide, he should be able to make it.
Darkness encroached on the landscape as he closed in on the city. He navigated the streets, yelling at a cart that nearly overturned in front of him. When he arrived at the docks, he leapt off his horse and took one step before his leg nearly gave way.