Allison; Taking Control

Chapter 40

At length, Peele did in fact arrive, but through a back passage leading out of the kitchen to the outside which neither Allison nor James had managed to notice. This was due in part to the fact that the door was made to look like a wooden wall panel with small shelves on its inside. It had also been partially blocked by fallen sacks, baskets and kitchen implements which had been strewn about during the fight. The Councilor strode through the door behind a half dozen soldiers who pushed aside the debris, ran and grabbed the two assailants under their arms, and pulled them back outside, both still unconscious and with their feet dragging.

“Take those men to the fort for questioning!” he commanded the redcoats as they dragged their quarry outside. “Have them locked up until they can be seen to!”

When the soldiers left, Peele looked around the room, aghast.

“My God! What in blazes happened down here?”

“Suffice it to say, sir, that when we cornered the suspected poisoners in this kitchen