Chapter 54-- Ensnared

As darkness began to cloak Boston, Jack Richards and Jacob Sumpters strode up to the two men at the jail. Jack saluted. “We are here to relieve you.”
The men groaned and stretched their legs. “It’s about time you showed up.”
His companion turned to him. “To the tavern?”
“Aye.” He nodded to Jack and Jacob. “Good night.”
Jack and Jacob groaned and waved. Once the two men were out of sight, they looked at each other. “That was easy,” Jacob murmured.
Jack nodded. “The difficult part is yet to come. Should we send Patriot in?”
Jacob shook his head. “Agent Chaplen straight ahead.”
The man strode up, and they stood to attention. “Evening, soldiers. Anything interesting happen, yet?”
“No, sir.”
Chaplen glanced around. “Believe me, it will before the night is up. Keep a sharp lookout.”
“Aye, sir.”
Striding in, Chaplen regarded the dozing jailer with distain. “Wake up you fool.”
The man snorted a bit, but did not awaken. Chaplen rolled his eyes and strode down the corridor. He passed the large cell and leaned against the wall opposite it, next to the smaller cell.
“Well, Master Rivers. It would seem your friend does not think your life more important than his.”
Robyn shuffled a little so that Chaplen could not see her very well.
Ben stood, pushing the black cloth in a pile near the flask. “As he should.”
“What kind of selfish fool puts himself above his friends?”
“You know very well that he does not.”
Agent Chaplen grinned. “Precisely. I would have you know your sister is very worried about you. She flew into my study this morning like a mad bird.” He sighed, pleased with himself, and the anger on Ben’s face. “He will come to rescue you. If he does not, he will turn himself in. Either way, he will lose, and he knows it. Now, if you just told me his name—“
“Never.”
Chaplen shrugged. “So be it. I will find out tonight, anyway.”
His taunting effectively complete, Chaplen spun on his heel and left.
“Bird jokes. Honestly,” Robyn muttered.
~~~~~
Once Chaplen was out of ear and eye shot of the two men outside, they whistled for Patriot. The dog came, wagging his tail. Jack jerked his thumb in the direction of the door. Tail waving in the air, the dog entered the jail like he was king of all Boston.
Jack chuckled. “I think the Shadow Fox is rubbing off on that dog.”
Jacob grinned. “Probably.”
Jack sighed. “Chaplen gave me quite the scare. I was sure he would recognize us or the Shadow Fox, and the game would be up.”
“You can thank Sovay and her handiness with that stage makeup.”
Jack nodded. “Where did she learn that?”
“Her mother and Mrs. Rivers were actresses in a traveling troupe before they married their husbands.”
“Interesting.”
“Personally, I am glad Chaplen came now instead of while he was getting Ben out. That would have been a mess.”
~~~~~
Patriot trotted cheerfully up to Robyn. She ruffled his ears through the bars. “Good boy.”
She reached into her shirt and pulled out the knife she had hidden there. For once she was glad for her feminine figure. Reaching through the bars, she began to very carefully pick the lock. She had practiced this all day until she was able to easily pick the lock in a few minutes. She was rewarded with a click. Swiftly, she slipped out and shut the door behind her.
The others in the jail gave her an annoyed look. “Here, boy,” one of them said. “Why not let us out, eh?”
“Sorry, not today.”
She slipped down the corridor to the sleeping jailer. Grinning, she pinched the keys from the dozing man. Triumphantly, she returned with the keys.
“You are an idiot.”
Ignoring him, Robyn unlocked the door to Ben’s cell.
Seeing two former prisoners free and walking around, the other men in the jailhouse began to complain very loudly. Soon, it escalated to the point where they were yelling for the guards, the jailer, and anyone else who would hear them.
Quite fed up, Robyn yelled, “Silence!”
Shocked that such a small person could make such a loud noise, the group quieted.
“Now, the jailer is drugged and the guards are not really guards. They do not care. Now, if you wish to feel the sting of my knife, you are welcome to scream to your heart’s content. Savvy?”
The men nodded.
“Ben, cloak, please.”
Ben handed her the black cloth. She donned it. Nodding to herself, she marched towards the door, Ben and Patriot following. Ben glanced at the sleeping jailer. It seemed Robyn had been dipping into his sleeping drafts again. As they approached the door, Patriot froze. The pair stopped.
“What is it, boy?” Robyn whispered.
Patriot sniffed the air, then growled.
Ben and Robyn exchanged a look.
Robyn drew her knife. “There’s nothing for it, Ben.”
“No, you can hide—“
“No. I am not letting you face whoever is out there by yourself. We are doing this together.” She put a hand on his shoulder. “As brother and sister.”
He nodded. “Seeing as I cannot dissuade you. Patriot, stick close boy.”
They nodded to each other. Suddenly, they burst out of the jail. Redcoated arms grabbed at them. Robyn whirled around, stabbing with her small knife. Ben kicked and punched, but to no avail. Soon, they were both firmly held. Robyn squirmed in the grip of two soldiers.
Agent Chaplen clapped. “That was a truly brilliant plan. Such a pity I noticed that those two were not on list of men I picked for the job.” He nodded towards Jacob and Jack, who were being restrained by two soldiers. They were both gagged so they could not call out a warning.
Robyn stopped squirming. “You have what you want, Chaplen. Let these three go.”
The man sighed and shook his head. “Unfortunately, I cannot do that. I could have if you turned yourself in. However, these men were caught aiding you. I cannot simply let that slide. No, I will have to hang all four of you.”

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Clearly, I am running out of chapter names.
Sorry it's late. It's been a lame week.
See you next week.