Delaney was baffled by the dismissal.
"But I'm paying you a fortune!" She snapped, her frustration boiling over. "I have the money!"
"You have gold," Grist corrected. "Hawksley has power. There is a difference."
He pointed to the door. "Go on now. Before someone sees you here."
Delaney went to three more investigators.
The third one, a man named Mr. Angus, actually laughed in her face.
"You want to investigate Lord Hawksley?" Angus cackled. "Why don't you just set yourself on fire? It would be quicker."
The fourth one didn't even let her finish the sentence. As soon as she said "Kingsley," he shut the door in her face.
The fifth one was a woman. Mrs. Pringle. She looked kind. She listened to Delaney's story. She looked at the gold.
"My dear," Mrs. Pringle said softly. "I have children. If I take this case, they will be orphans by the end of the week."
"Is he that powerful?" Delaney whispered. Her voice trembled.
