“I'm sorry. ”
Her shoulders fell. Sometimes it felt like she was fighting a losing battle. “No matter. I'll stitch them for you—”
“Don't be mad at me, Miss Marjie. I was just trying to help, really I was. ” She stilled. “Help what?”
“Well, I knew you've been sad about Davie. And I thought… “
“What did you think?” she asked, her every nerve thrumming with alarm.
He froze, eyes widened like a deer scenting danger.
“Answer me, Padraig, and don't think I won't tweak that ear of yours again. ” She reached her hand out, waggling her fingers menacingly. “It stands out like a flag in the wind, just begging to be—”
“I'll tell, I'll tell! I went down to the docks is all. I was careful!” he added quickly, seeing the scold in her eyes. “I just asked some questions, you know, of some of the other lads. ”
“I told you to stay away from there. After Davie… “ She tapered off. Her legs felt weak, and she was glad she was seated. If any harm came to any of the other boys in her care, she didn't think she could survive it.
And then fear flicked into hard panic. When had Paddy gone to the docks? What if she'd been discovered? She dreaded the thought of what would become of her if Archie or any of the other Saint Machar folk got wind of her traipsing around the docks in men's clothing.
Paddy chewed thoughtfully, and the look on his face went from worried to thoughtful to confident. He swiped his hand across his mouth, wiping away the last of the pastry crumbs. “What questions?”
“What?” She focused, unwilling to lose the upper hand in the conversation.
“You said you had questions for me. ” He lifted his chin. “And so I said, what questions?”
“Changing the subject, are you?” She pursed her lips, fighting not to smile. He certainly was one of the brightest boys she'd ever met. “Deft
ly done, Paddy. I've always said you're a canny one. ” He raised his brows, still waiting for her to answer.
She took a deep breath, conceding. “Fine. We shall address my questions first. But don't you for one moment think I'll forget about this business with you down at the docks. ” She waited for him to nod wary agreement, then continued, “I came to ask you once more about the morning Davie disappeared. If you remember anything. ”
“I told it all, Miss Marjie. I seen him with the other lads in the alley,” he said, repeating by rote what he'd told her a dozen times already. “They'd worked a bit of rawhide into a ring, and they'd gotten some sticks, and were having a game of quoits. And then I seen him later. With… “ His voice tapered off, cutting his eyes shyly to hers.
“I know it. You saw Davie with me. He disappeared just after he'd been with me. ” Pain lanced her, and she pushed it away. There must be something from that day she'd missed. Some clue. She leaned down, taking Paddy's hands in hers. “Think on it, sweet. For me. Think on it one more time. Was there anyone strange? There'd have been the other lads. There'd have been a few folk like me. There would've been market hucksters. Some dockmen, mayhap. But anyone else? Do you recall anyone strange?”
He scrunched his brows in deep and apparently painful thought. “There was one man. I didn't think on it then… “ A man. It couldn't be so easy. Her heart beat faster nonetheless. “What makes you think on it now?”
“Well, I seen him yesterday. At the docks. And I remembered him from that day with Davie. ”
“What made you remember?”
He pulled his hands from hers and stared sullenly at them, flexing and fisting them in his lap.
“Paddy?” She knew boys well, and she knew this one was holding something back. “What aren't you telling me?”
“Well… “
He picked at the skin around his nails, and she reached for him again, squeezing his fingers to quiet him. “It's all right, Paddy. I won't be angry. Please, though. You must tell me. ”
“He looks like all the other men. Just some middling lord. But then I saw the coin purse tied at his waist. And I remembered, I'd seen him that day, too, the day Davie was took. I didn't do nothing wrong,” he added quickly. “I swear it. But even if I don't do no cutpursing no more, don't mean I don't have eyes, and this were a big, brown pouch, sure filled with coin. I saw it that day, and I saw it again yestreen. I'd swear it was the same man, both days. ”
“What'd he look like?” she asked steadily. Energy crackled to life, zipping up her spine and to her fingertips.
She was onto something. Paddy was a sweet boy, and he'd turned his life around, but he had seen some tough times and had a nose for trouble like no other.
“He… “ Paddy shrugged. “He looked like other men. ”
“He looked like other men,” she repeated. “So, an average-looking man? Was he the one who hit you?”