By Grace Alone (The Death Dealer Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

her shoulder.
    Ridley shrugged it off. “They should have done him in when he patrolled around the Emerald Rose. You know they almost did! Fool got lucky, though. Well, his luck won’t last forever.”
    “They tried more than once, Miss Hunewn,” Sergeant Moore said, and Ridley stopped her pacing.
    The threats and insults all died in her throat and Grace felt her own face grow hot in embarrassment for her friend’s loose tongue.
    “Too bad they didn’t finish the job,” Ridley finally muttered. She stormed past him, bumping his shoulder roughly as she reentered the tavern.
    “Charming,” he said, and moved closer to Grace.
    “You won’t get much information from her or Thom.” She bent down and righted the bucket, unsure what else to do. She felt awkward in the presence of the sergeant when she had been asked to trail him less than a day ago.
    “I don’t expect I will. I’m actually looking for information from you.”
    Grace backed herself into an empty stall. The action was that of a nervous girl, a girl who was probably hiding something, so she tried to calm herself. It didn’t do to look guilty. Inside the stall, she picked up Mayhew’s abandoned shovel.
    “Me, sir?” She made a silent plea, hoping he would just think she was intimidated instead of trying to hide something.
    “And Jim and that saucy girl, Rosemary, too. Marcus Hunewn has spent years at the Angel. You all know more than you think.”
    “Sergeant Moore, I don’t think it’s wise for me to gossip or speak against my betters,” she tried to deflect him. It was safer than telling the truth. She could play the naïve, bewildered barmaid and he’d go away.
    “Betters? You’re Rogue Lane’s noblewoman. I wouldn’t exactly count Marcus as your ‘better’. And this isn’t gossip…a guard is dead and those responsible need to be punished.”
    “You wouldn’t be here if Constable Taylor had killed the Atkins brothers.” She groaned inwardly and bit her lip. Even as she spoke, she knew it was a mistake.
    “Excuse me?” Sergeant Moore didn’t look angry, but rather taken aback.
    “If Taylor had murdered them, no one would care and justice wouldn’t be done. The Guild wouldn’t attack the Guard in retaliation; Marcus would never allow it. He’d be furious, sure, and maybe send out an army of cutpurses, but he’d never endanger his men like that. But Taylor would walk away with his mates clapping him on the back.”
    “Are you defending their actions?”
    She tightened her grip on the shovel. Her knuckles were bone white. “No, but they are men the same as Taylor and they shouldn’t be hunted like animals. Adam and Harris should be pulled into the magistrate’s court. Justice should be done, but not the street justice currently in play, and certainly not torture by vengeful guards.”
    Nathaniel rubbed his chin. “Why do you think I’m searching for Harris?” He closed the gap between them and leaned up against the stall, looking in at her. “If Marcus finds him, Taylor’s ghost will hunt these streets looking for justice.”
    Grace couldn’t be sure how much the guard actually believed about what he said because his face was an unreadable mask. “If the Guard finds him, he’ll be tortured.”
    He shrugged. Grace wanted to see Harris stand before the magistrate to receive his fair punishment. Men like Marcus and Sergeant Moore shouldn’t be the ones doling it out. “I don’t know where Marcus is.”
    “Well if you hear anything, please get word to me.” He bowed his head and walked back out.
    Grace let the shovel drop to her feet. Trouble was closing in all around her.
    ~*~*~
    Grace put a platter of fried fish before Thom. He looked unnatural and uncomfortable in Marcus’s seat. The evening regulars of the Angel had picked up on the tension between Thom and Ridley and decided to stay far away from the tired looking man. The word usurper was whispered here and there. Looking at his miserable expression, Grace