“Ah,” Fletcher said, “the Prodigal Dreadful.”
Brogan approached the throne and handed over the Dread Master’s letter.
Fletch read it quickly. To the gathering, he said, “Seems, mates, we’ve solved the mystery of why there’s been a call to quorum.”
A call to quorum. That explained why so many DPS members were present.
“The Dread Master summoned Mr. Donnelly here,” Fletcher explained to them all. “Which is likely why the Dread Master also sent me this.” He pulled another missive from his pocket, this one still sealed. He opened it and read.
Dreadfuls,
Today Brogan Donnelly returns among you, after having undertaken a task at my insistence. Doing so required a separation from the society, one he could believably ask for due to his longstanding concern about the deceit needed to maintain the secrecy required.
Whispers sounded all around the room. Eyes darted from Brogan to Fletcher and back.
His efforts saw Four-Finger Mike imprisoned, two influential men of importance and standing saved from a blackmail scheme, and the solving of a mysterious ring of extortion. But these matters all tie back to this organization. He took on this mission alone to protect all of you. It is time you returned the favor.
He remains a member, never having truly resigned. And it is for you to settle the question he has been asking for years.
DM
Fletcher tore up both the note he’d just read and the one Brogan had delivered and dropped the tiny pieces into a bottle. He would, without a doubt, burn the papers at the end of the meeting.
He motioned to Brogan from his position on his pseudo-
throne. “We’ve a quorum. Time to make your case.”
Brogan didn’t waste a moment. He rose and stood firm and confident in front of them all. “M’sister’s helped in far too many of our missions to not have pieced together some of the secrets of our society. Hollis Darby’s fiancée, Ana, helped us steal documents from Lord Chelmsford and, not too long ago, helped Hollis and Fletcher with a dangerous undertaking, which has left her with questions he’ll not have answers to. Chandan Kumar”—Brogan motioned to him—“has kept his activities with this society a secret from his wife for far longer than it is reasonable to ask. Doc’s nurses help his efforts on our behalf but can’t be told the whys or hows. This’ll grow more complicated as our families grow more numerous. My sister is no longer the only lass in m’life I’m having to hide my membership from. I can’t abide lying even more to the woman I’ll soon marry.”
A chorus of congratulations filled the room. Brogan hadn’t time for the well-wishes, though he was grateful for them.
“We’ve long spoken of forming a sister organization, one that can be involved to some extent in our activities, our philanthropies, and our missions. Doing so allows us to give our loved ones an explanation of our absences and efforts that’s neither a complete falsehood nor an utter refusal to give an answer. It must be done. We can wait no longer.”
“You have always been the most vocal about this need,” Hollis said. “I confess I hadn’t taken the matter as seriously as I ought before my Ana became entwined in the issue. It is stickier than I realized.”
Kumar rose. “I have children now, and I don’t care to spend the rest of their lives lying to them. Being able to tell them something—and something true, at that—would make a world of difference.”
“It’s risky,” Martin tossed back.
“I’ll not deny that,” Brogan said. “There’d be little point in pretending we’ve not argued this before. ’Tis also well known amongst us that something being risky doesn’t make it not worth tackling.”
“True enough,” Martin said.
Brogan fully expected a drawn-out debate; that had always been the result of raising this subject in the past.
Doc Milligan rose. “I have learned that Miss Sorokina, apparently soon to be Mrs. Donnelly, fought alongside our membership. She formed a coalition that stopped in its tracks a sinister plot hatched by this society’s greatest enemy. She offered us information and insights we desperately needed. She stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Móirín Donnelly, another who has offered us invaluable assistance, despite our lies to her. If we agree to the formation of this sister organization for her sake alone, we will still be more than justified in doing so, and we will yet remain indebted to her.”
For a moment, Brogan couldn’t respond. Doc had been beyond frustrated with him and had even denounced him for his defection. Was it possible Brogan had already been forgiven?
“Gentlemen, and lady”—Fletcher tossed a smile to Elizabeth—“this matter has to be settled.”
Brogan stood on the spot, tense and nervous.
“The Dread Master wishes to speak to this matter as well.” And Fletcher pulled out yet another sealed missive.
Their mysterious leader could vote on such a matter, his vote holding the weight of two of theirs. His opinion held great sway. The contents of that letter could make or break the proposal.
Fletcher read aloud.
Dreadfuls,
The proposal made regarding an additional branch of our society is incomplete.
Brogan held his breath.
Working with a sister organization whilst keeping the membership of that organization ignorant of our more dangerous secrets cannot happen without careful coordination. It is essential.
Should the matter carry, two Dreadfuls should be appointed to oversee this complicated coordination. By way of suggestion: Brogan Donnelly and Barnabus Milligan. Donnelly has the most passion for the enterprise, while Milligan has a ready reason to oversee philanthropic efforts and would not raise suspicions in the sister-organization membership.
The decision, as always, rests with you. My vote is in the possession of your figurehead. Consider wisely, but vote now.
DM
Fletcher lowered the letter. He looked at Brogan and Doc in turn. “Would the two of you agree to take this on should the proposal pass?”
Doc dipped his head. “I would.”
“Readily,” Brogan said.
“Well, then.” Fletcher tore up the letter, dumping it in the bottle with the other fragments. “We have heard Brogan’s reasons. We have once more admitted the risk involved. And we have the Dread Master’s thoughts. It’s time this matter was decided once and for all.”
Brogan’s heart seemed to seize. This was a long-awaited moment of truth.
“All in favor, let it be known.”
Hands were raised around the room. Brogan scanned quickly, looking for any that were not in agreement. He didn’t want the group to fracture; he would rather step away than stop them from doing the important work they did.