Seducing the Ruthless Rogue Read Online Free PDF Page B

side causing him difficulty.   He followed at a slower pace.   By the time he made it out the door, John was doubled over at the end of the block.  
    “Gone, sir,” he heaved.   “I had ‘im in my sights and then he just disappeared.”
    “That’s all right, John.   Let’s return to the house.”
    “I’ve never seen someone fight quite like that,” John said.
    “It had a feel of the Orient.   The person was very light on his feet and used our own weight and momentum against us.”
    “Did he take anything?”
    “I don’t think so, but I won’t know until I have gone through everything.”
    “Should I send for the Runners?”
    “No.   I think we will keep this between us for the time being.”
    They made their way back to the house, and John saw that everything was locked up.   Mack went to his study and sat at his desk.   He used the candle to light a lamp and turned it up so that he could see better.   Mack walked across the room and folded back the rug on the floor.   He found the loose board and wiggled it free.   There were three long pieces of paper rolled into tubes.   He untied the first one and unrolled it.   Before him lay the coastline of Europe with various markings.   The others were similar.   These were the maps that had been scattered about the study earlier when Miss Graham had intruded on his solitude.   They were still safe.   He released a pent up sigh.   Several packets of paper lay tied up with rough string as well.   He replaced the maps and the board, then spread the rug back in place.
    Mack returned to the desk and the open drawer that had once been locked.   The intruder must have picked the lock.   He pulled out everything from the drawer and laid it all out on top of the desk in one stack.   He then spent the next two hours going through each and every piece of paper.   Mack placed the pieces of paper in various stacks but found nothing missing.   He put everything back in the drawer and shut it.   He would have to see about having the lock repaired.
    Mack stood and scrubbed his face with his hands.   Something was going on, and he did not like it.   He paced the floor trying to work everything through his mind.   Who had been in his house and what were they looking for?   His pocket watch chimed twice.   He stood in the middle of the room and slowly turned, studying every facet, looking for any and all clues.   Nothing.   Whoever had been here was extremely adept at what they were doing.
    He blew out the lamps and left the room.   Mack made his way down the hall and up the stairs to his room, entered it, and shut the door.   He felt like things were out of his control, and he hated that feeling.   He despised not knowing what was going on in the War Office, not making the decisions.   Mack ripped the cravat from around his neck and slammed it onto the dresser.   He undressed before crossing the room and slipping between the covers.   He could not sleep for listening for every creak, so he ended up spending the rest of the night with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.
    ***
    Cassie lay in her bed replaying every event of the night in her mind.   What had gone wrong?   She had not expected him back so soon and that had been her fault.   She would have to make another foray into Director McKenzie’s private quarters.   Cassie had just managed to master the lock and slip open the drawer when he walked in on her.   One thing was certain, the maps were not in plain sight, but she felt certain they were there.   A quick glance told her they were not in that drawer.   She flipped over onto her stomach, her long, blonde hair trailing off the bed.
    “What am I going to do?” she asked the room at large.
    Now the occupants of the house would be on full alert.   Should she beg Chang to join her?   No.   He would not approve of what she was doing.   He would want her to go to someone that could help, but she had no one to turn