Rookery ~ Assassin's Creed Syndicate

Chapter Forty One

We reached the train and Evie confronted Jacob with a letter. He had left it on the train after intercepting it while I was in France. I read the letter over his shoulder while he read out the main points.

" 'Dear Mr Starrick. Men hired. Strike tomorrow. Disraeli's death will stall Corrupt Practices Act indefinitely. Gladstone will be far more pliable. May the Father etcetera, etcetera... - B' So Starrick's got his finger in politics, has he? I need to enter this Sinopean Club and find out who 'B' is." He folded the paper up and hid it beneath a high pile of books beside the desk.

"Tread delicately around Parliament." Evie commented from the corner of the room. She had her nose buried in a book.

"As if I don't usually."

"Your indiscretion at the Bank of England caused British currency to nearly collapse." My eyes widened and I chewed my nails.

"It did?" I questioned.

" 'Nearly' is the operative word." Jacob smirked. "Speaking of collapses, what of the key you found that unlocks very little?"

"Henry took it for research. I am very confident that the vault is ours."

" 'Nearly' ours, Evie. 'Nearly'." She rolled her eyes at her brother then lowered her book to look towards me.

"Carina, would you like to come work with me today? I am meeting Sergeant Abberline later on to discuss something which has been worrying him. It would be nice to be able to catch up with you on the way." I nodded with a grin.

"Of course. I would love to see Freddy."

~~

We took a carriage to the destination of our meeting with Freddy and spoke about France the entire way. She informed me that all of the money I had earned had now been spent on our equipment. All that was left was money for rent, uniform repairs and food.

We pulled up outside a crowded street. Evie, immediately becoming suspicious, stopped the horse and hopped off. I followed after her and we weaved through the crowd to reach Freddy.

"What has happened?" Evie asked. Freddy grabbed her by the sleeve and dragged her away. I was walking slowly behind them.

"Your brother!" He then faced me. "Your lover!"

"What's he done this time?" Evie and I said at the same time. I supressed a laugh at that.

"The newspapers are all over Twopenny's murder." He scoffed. "And, if that weren't enough, someone has stolen the currency printing plates. Was that also Jacob's doing?" I waited for Evie to answer since I hadn't been in London to know.

"I doubt it."

"Now, no one trusts the Bank, or England's currency. There will be inflation. Riots. Manufacturing will jump to America for the cheap labour. In short, Britain is done for." Evie pinched the bridge of her nose.