The Telltale Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

weapons. I refuse to allow this man to bully me…bully us. Drex and I will be married as planned. Then we will go rescue Tommy. You and I can do this, Edmund. You know it to be true.”
    Edmund took a step back and his face underwent a drastic change. His eyes hardened, he thrust his chin out and his lips narrowed. “You are right, Cam. Nugent Templecombe is nothing but a fop and a bully. We can take Tommy back. He says he has hired a terrible man, an assassin, but there will be only one of him. Nugent is no match for you, much less both of us.”
    The wedding went off as planned taking only thirty-five minutes. After they were married, the three of them went to the lab in the Nichol. Hidden in an underground chamber were enough weapons and ammunition to take on an army. Cam had modified the newest machine gun. She’d added a gas-powered lever action to what was basically a Browning machine gun creating a more powerful weapon that could fire six hundred rounds per minute. The first model she’d experimented with had been bulky and heavy. The final product was lighter, she could handle it, and it had a pistol grip which made it easy to fire. She gave one to Edmund and one to Drex, and then for herself, she took two German machine pistols she’d modified to fit her hand.
    Outfitted with machine guns and hand guns, the three climbed back into Drex’s carriage and headed for the Hellfire Club. “It’s not enough for us to go in with pistols blazing,” Cam said as they rode in silence through the morning traffic. “We need to have a plan. Drex, you and Edmund know this place. Is there any way to get in secretly?”
    Drex nodded. “I am embarrassed to say I do. Nugent liked me to patronize his establishment and made it easy for me to slip in and out. When I was sliding out a backdoor, your friend Tommy stopped me and showed me how the sex slaves managed some small amount of freedom. I doubt if Nugent is aware of this entrance.”
    Cam nodded. “Leave it to the servants to know more than their masters about most everything.”
    When they reached Bennett Street, Drex told his driver to go to the next street over and turn left on Piccadilly, then left again on Arlington. This brought them around to the rear of the block. The driver stopped and they climbed out. Cam felt stupid doing this in her gown. The cloak she wore over it hid her holstered pistols but she felt awkward and the gown kept impeding her rapid forward progress. She finally stopped. “Edmund, do you have your knife.”
    â€œCertainly.”
    â€œThen cut the skirt and bustle off this ridiculous dress.”
    Edmund sliced off the skirt and her bustle leaving Cam in a petticoat that covered her to her knees. Satisfied, and more able to maneuver, she followed Drex to a back alley. Behind a container for kitchen waste was a small door obviously installed in the building for removing trash from the kitchen. “Through here,” Drex said.
    Cam stopped him. “You two go in through this secret door. I am going up.” She pointed to a balcony three stories above their heads.
    â€œYou cannot be serious, my dear,” Drex said. “That’s three stories up. I won’t allow it.”
    Cam pulled his head close and kissed him. “You can’t stop me, my darling. I know what I’m doing. It would be folly for us to put all of our eggs into one basket.”
    Edmund stepped forward. “Let her, Duke. She’s been climbing buildings all her life.”
    Drex rubbed his hand over his eyes. “I feel like it is my fault we are all in danger. If anything happens to you, I will tear this building apart with my bare hands.”
    â€œIs there a way into the club from Madam Fouchet’s?” Edmund asked.
    Drex hung his head. “I’m ashamed to say there is and I know of it.”
    Cam laughed. “Do not be ashamed, my darling, men have needs. I am not unaware