disappear into the shadow of his shop front. The movement was almost instinctive, but Perry knew it for what it was, the butcher was avoiding taking part in the hue and cry, probably for fear of having to leave his stall unattended. Of course, Perry did not need to take part as he was on official business and had now gained some very useful leverage over his target. As he watched the woman get up, he saw the butcher come forward to help her, no he was not being helpful, he had just switched the meat he was about to sell the woman with a closed parcel instead. So that was his game, take advantage of the disruption to cheat someone. He was not surprised to see the woman targeted in this way, after all, Perry had read and heard many accounts of this. What was a greater shock being the failure to chase the thief. If the thief was not caught, the butcher could be placed on trial in his place. The idea of catching the butcher in the act of cheating a customer was pushed into the back of his mind as he thought of the opportunities that had now arising to pursue the butcher.
Perry decided to retire to a tavern to ponder this delicious turn of events. He would await the outcome of the hue and cry and then make his move, knowing that the opportunities open to him were now far greater than he had previously anticipated.
Almost a week passed as Perry considered his options. He was not his usual decisive self. The temptation to confront Butcher was almost overwhelming, aided by what he had seen in the market place, he would have the opportunity to bring the man down. Unfortunately, the thief had been caught, so this would reduce the leverage he had gained when he observed Butcher failing to take part in the chase. However, it would still be severe enough to damage the trader's reputation in the community and such harm could encourage Col to share all he knew about his gang so that they could all be rounded up.
Perry had also been pursuing various leads around the city. He tried to get the other butcher, Williams, to take part in the scheme he was building. Williams was not prepared to take part. He seemed to run his business very carefully, and had probably reported the approach to Butcher, in all likelihood, he was part of Col's system. However, Williams had given him some new information about the next expected delivery. Information had been sent ahead that a cartload of barrels of salted pork had been purchased from a castle on the coast. The load was too big for just Col Butcher to shift through his own shop, so he had started to arrange to spread the goods across his usual network. Williams was clearly hedging his bets, perhaps he felt he could step into Col's shoes when the gang leader was brought down, but likewise, his information would cause no harm, and be deniable, if Perry could not act on it.
Perry had waited all day for this delivery. It had not materialised and he was wondering if Williams had got cold-feet and let Butcher know about the possibility of a trap. Maybe Williams had even been informing on instruction from Butcher, there had been no deal, and it was all a big trick to misdirect the carniter. The more Perry thought about this, the more convinced he was that he was being distracted. Perry swore that once he had got Butcher, he would go for Williams, he was not prepared to be made out to be a fool.
The other leads he had pursued had led to nothing of significance. He looked into his sixth ale of the evening. Perry had been in the tavern all of the evening, but was drinking slowly, even though the ale was weak. He had been sat with his thoughts as most of the community knew who he was by now and even though he worked for their good, he was an outsider, an officer of the court, and therefore suspect. He had passed few words with the people around him. Col Butcher had been in the tavern earlier and Perry had tried to listen in on Butcher's conversation,
Perry decided to retire to a tavern to ponder this delicious turn of events. He would await the outcome of the hue and cry and then make his move, knowing that the opportunities open to him were now far greater than he had previously anticipated.
Almost a week passed as Perry considered his options. He was not his usual decisive self. The temptation to confront Butcher was almost overwhelming, aided by what he had seen in the market place, he would have the opportunity to bring the man down. Unfortunately, the thief had been caught, so this would reduce the leverage he had gained when he observed Butcher failing to take part in the chase. However, it would still be severe enough to damage the trader's reputation in the community and such harm could encourage Col to share all he knew about his gang so that they could all be rounded up.
Perry had also been pursuing various leads around the city. He tried to get the other butcher, Williams, to take part in the scheme he was building. Williams was not prepared to take part. He seemed to run his business very carefully, and had probably reported the approach to Butcher, in all likelihood, he was part of Col's system. However, Williams had given him some new information about the next expected delivery. Information had been sent ahead that a cartload of barrels of salted pork had been purchased from a castle on the coast. The load was too big for just Col Butcher to shift through his own shop, so he had started to arrange to spread the goods across his usual network. Williams was clearly hedging his bets, perhaps he felt he could step into Col's shoes when the gang leader was brought down, but likewise, his information would cause no harm, and be deniable, if Perry could not act on it.
Perry had waited all day for this delivery. It had not materialised and he was wondering if Williams had got cold-feet and let Butcher know about the possibility of a trap. Maybe Williams had even been informing on instruction from Butcher, there had been no deal, and it was all a big trick to misdirect the carniter. The more Perry thought about this, the more convinced he was that he was being distracted. Perry swore that once he had got Butcher, he would go for Williams, he was not prepared to be made out to be a fool.
The other leads he had pursued had led to nothing of significance. He looked into his sixth ale of the evening. Perry had been in the tavern all of the evening, but was drinking slowly, even though the ale was weak. He had been sat with his thoughts as most of the community knew who he was by now and even though he worked for their good, he was an outsider, an officer of the court, and therefore suspect. He had passed few words with the people around him. Col Butcher had been in the tavern earlier and Perry had tried to listen in on Butcher's conversation,
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