Mac prayed for patience. “I know a lot has happened in the past twenty-four hours, and even I don’t know everything. You may think you have a good reason to hate me, Caroline, but this isn’t the time to discuss it. Someone’s life is at stake—more than one person’s life—and—”
“It’s Perry, isn’t it?” Caroline clutched Mac’s arm. “Is he in trouble? I knew it. I knew something was wrong, but he wouldn’t tell me at the ball, and after Liam—” Her flush was visible even in the dim predawn light. “Liam has turned against him. I know he needs my help. Last night I found some of Papa’s old clothes and snuck out to find him. There were men watching the house, but I got past them and—”
As if things couldn’t get any worse. “Caroline, I can’t talk to you now. You have to go home. It could get very dangerous here.”
“I know.” Suddenly she seemed like a much older woman, calm and competent and grave. “I was wrong about a great many things, but I’m not wrong about this. Everyone has told me what I must do and how I must behave. But now I’m old enough to make my own decisions.” She hesitated. “I don’t know who you really are, and I’m not sure I like you, but you’re not afraid to do things, no matter the risk. Liam wouldn’t stop you. Now he can’t stop me. And you can’t send me away.”
Mac scrutinized the beautiful, feminine, obstinate features under the hat brim. The features weren’t Sinclair, but the spirit was—a spirit Mac hadn’t really perceived until now. Or maybe she hadn’t known where to look.
Something had changed in Caroline almost overnight. This wasn’t a spoiled child standing here, or a frivolous airhead, or a wild imprudent girl intent on ruining herself. This was a young woman who was finally figuring out what she really wanted.
Great-great-grandma was destined to become a reformer and suffragette—who was to say it wouldn’t begin here? And Caroline wanted to help Perry, the man history said she was supposed to marry.
“If you’re going to come with me,” Mac said quickly, “you’re going to have to stay down and be quiet. Don’t do anything reckless, or you could endanger everyone even more. Stay with me. Agreed?”
Caroline grinned—no simpering smile but a fullblown flash of white teeth. “Agreed.”
Mac peered up Grant Avenue. Already the sky was beginning to brighten, and God only knew what had happened during the precious minutes they’d been standing here gabbing.
“We’ve got to find out where they went,” she muttered. “They could be anywhere.”
“I think I might know the direction Perry was going,” Caroline volunteered. “I saw him in a closed carriage outside my house just as he was leaving. I followed him here, and I was beginning to—”
Mac didn’t let her finish. She gave Caroline a little push in the direction of the street. “Show me! And don’t do anything stupid. Go!”
Caroline began to run with surprising speed in her oversized men’s clothes. Mac stayed on her heels, casting a small and desperate prayer heavenward.
If you’ve got a few extra Sinclair guardian angels up there, Homer, send ’em on down.
* * *
“Run, Chen! Save your niece while you can!”
Chen hesitated, and Liam knew the man was torn between his loyalty to Liam and fear for the girl shaking in his arms. Chen had never lacked for courage. But in the end he did what he had come to Chinatown to do—save Mei Ling. The man hadn’t asked for Liam to get involved, but he had the sense to take help when it was offered.
“I’ll hold them off here,” Liam shouted. “Get her to safety!”
Chen ran, urging his niece along beside him. Liam steadied his pistol, turned back the way they had come, and waited for their pursuers.
The streets and alleys of Chinatown were still strangely quiet, even so soon before dawn. Its people knew there was trouble this bright autumn morning, and they were going to avoid it—they, who usually suffered the most from the tongs’ criminal activities.
But this time the tongs weren’t hunting one of their own. Mei Ling’s kidnapping had been a ruse. Chen had come alone to save her, refusing to involve his employer, and if it hadn’t been for Bauer’s watchfulness the kidnappers might have had to wait some time before Liam walked into their trap.