Nonchalantly, a cloaked figure sipped coffee in the darkest corner of the tavern. She was sure Howe meant to attack the heights. She just did not know when, or with how many troops. She needed to find that out before going to General Washington so he could prepare. In truth, she hopped Howe would just leave quietly. However, she doubted it.
Patriot sat next to her, daring the officers to come closer to her with his eyes. He whined quietly in the back of his throat.
The British officers who sat in the tavern seemed to know as much as she did. This was frustrating. Howe was up to something, but he seemed to be the only one who knew what. He was getting too clever for his own good. Fortunately, he would have to tell someone, and when he did, the Shadow Fox would hear of it.
She downed the rest of the fowl-tasting coffee. Well, sitting around here was getting her nowhere. Besides, a tavern such as this was no place for a lady. Chuckling to herself, she rose to her feet—
—Then quickly sat down again. Agent Chaplen and Captain Long had just sauntered in. This was not good. She could not become tangled up in a fight with either of them at the moment. She had more important things to do. General Washington was counting on her.
The pair sat down directly in her way. If she so much as blinked, Chaplen would spot her. If he spotted her, this whole game would be over. Midnight was still testy about her new shoes. Robyn had left the horse in her stall in the barn. The mare would not be here to save her this time. Without her trusted horse, the Shadow Fox was outnumbered and trapped. True, she had Patriot with her, and the small dog was brave and loyal, but he could not easily kick a man in the head with his flailing paws. She would just have to sit as still as possible and hope Chaplen left soon.
A quarter of an hour passed. Robyn resisted the urge to fidget. Patriot blinked patiently. Chaplen and Long chatted cheerfully, apparently enjoying a night off.
Another quarter passed. Robyn’s nose itched up a storm. She squirmed slightly. Patriot perched silently beside her. Long finished off his second mug while Chaplen stirred his tea.
A third quarter passed. Robyn was about to scream. Patriot regarded the world through sleepy eyes. Finally, the two men stood, and Chaplen tossed two coins on the table. Suddenly, Robyn felt a tell-tale tickle in her nose. The men turned and began to leave. She held her breath. They were very close to the door. Robyn sneezed. It wasn’t a small sneeze. It was the sneeze to end all sneezes.
Chaplen and Long spun around. Chaplen grinned. Long looked confused.
“Well, well, well. What have we here? A little fox?”
Robyn sniffed delicately. “I seem to be allergic to you, Mr. Chaplen.”
Honestly, “Mister?” No one called him that except for idiots like Robyn Rivers. “Indeed? What a pity. You almost sat ‘unnoticed ‘in that corner for forty-five minutes.”
The Shadow Fox frowned. There had been something in his voice.
“Oh, do not kid yourself, my little fox. We knew you were there the entire time.”
“What?!” She could have fidgeted that entire time?
Chaplen’s smile was more than triumphant. “Oh, yes.”
“Why did you not try to capture me?”
“What fun would that be? Besides, we only had to keep you occupied.”
Robyn’s eyes narrowed. “So that Howe could inform his officers of his plan to take back Dorchester Heights without worry of my hearing.”
“Ah, very good. You are somewhat clever, after all. However, I believe this time, it is you who has been, shall I say, outfoxed.” His grinned widened as annoyance showed plainly in the line of the Shadow Fox’s mouth. “You are free to go, now.”
Robyn stomped past him, Patriot followed her, tail waving in the air. As she went, Agent Chaplen gave her a patronizing pat on the head. “A good night to you, my young fox.”
Long watched the boy and dog leave. “Why did you just let him go, sir? You had him trapped.”
“Yes, but now he is angry. Now, he needs to prove that he is cleverer than I. Now, he’s going to do something foolish.” Chaplen grinned wolfishly. “Besides, seeing the look on his face is worth chasing him a while longer. I am so close to discovering his identity. I just need a few more pieces, and the conundrum that is our young fox will be solved.”
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The title of this chapter amuses me. Honestly, Robyn, take some lessons from Patriot and sit still. Yeesh. And what are you doing calling him "Mr. Chaplen," eh? You're gonna give yourself away if you keep that up. Just warning you. I just now realized the manners of Agent Chaplen's speech are very complicated, indeed. Oh no! Is he going to figure out "the conundrum that is our young fox?" It's possible. It's probable! Tune in next to see: Ben gets new clothing! What? I don't know. Finals. They eat your brain. This time next week, I will post from the couch in the living room of my home. This makes me so happy! Oh, and we only have about ten more chapters to go! Yikes, that's scary. After this one, we have one last escapade, then the big finish! Yay! But will Robyn and her cohorts live through it? I dunno, things are looking kinda bad for Ben..... (dramatic music!)
See ya'll next week!
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