Chapter 112
How to Tame My Beastly Husband — Chapter 112. Jack (3)
Annette waited patiently for him to continue, but Jack glanced at Celestine for permission first.
“Perhaps it will surprise you to learn,” he began, basking in the tremendous revelation, “that Ben March said that his patron was the King. His Majesty, Selgratis, the King of Deltium!”
Jack seemed disappointed with their reaction.
“And what happened to Ben March afterward?” Annette asked, breaking the silence. “Do you remember the last time you saw him?”
The opportunity to talk a little more was some consolation to Jack.
“I’m not sure, maybe six months ago? He looked very strange that day, nervous and excited. He finished gambling early, and I heard when he left, some strange men were waiting for him in a nearby alley. That was the last time I saw him.”
Six months ago. Maybe that was the day before “coachman Ivan” kidnapped Celestine. He had colluded with knights from the palace to plan the abduction, which surely meant the King was behind the affair. Only Selgratis himself would be able to command the obedience of knights.
But Jack was not done.
“The last time I saw him in person,” he said, with a broad smile. “But my colleagues say otherwise. You know there are many establishments, and dealers will frequently move from one casino to another. I hear all sorts of rumors. For example, about a scruffy-looking man who recently started frequenting Gruti 4.”
“What about him?” Annette asked automatically. She had a few guesses. She had been unable to find any clues about Ben March herself, despite considerable effort.
“Well, I don’t know that you would know this, but Gruti is a very dangerous place. Lawless. It’s a favorite hangout for Deltium’s criminals, they pack the place like rats,” he said, grimacing. “Of course, that means the casino is always crowded, and one of the dealers there mentioned one of his new customers, which sounded a lot like one of my old regulars. Who do you think it was?”
He paused, pleased. Jack had been a dealer for a long time, so even far-flung Gruti still fell within his information network. As long as Ben March kept gambling, Jack could find information about it.
“…I see. Gruti 4.” Annette nodded and turned away. As far as she was concerned, this was all the information she needed, and Celestine followed her out of the basement, with Jack’s anxious shouts rising behind them.
“Hey! Wait, what did I do wrong? Can’t I go? I told you everything I know, let me out of here! Please?”
But Celestine only slammed the basement door shut again and covered it with the tapestry. She did not seem to have any immediate plans for his release.
Fortunately, the basement was thoroughly soundproofed. Though Jack’s shouts continued, the moment she shut the door, the silence was complete. No one would ever know he was down there.
“What do you think, Lady Annette?” Celestine asked. “Was anything I showed you useful?”