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

didn’t think the word usurper applied. No, here sat a patsy.
    “This smells like it’s a week old,” Thom commented, although the usual sarcastic bite was missing from his voice.
    “Take your complaints up with Jeremiah.” Eyes from all corners of the common room were locked on them, but Grace kept looking at Thom, ignoring them.
    “Sergeant Moore is talking to everyone on Jim’s staff,” he continued. “He’s too smart a man to let his thoughts be known, but was there even a hint of anger in his tone?”
    “I think he’s very even-tempered about the whole situation. Actually, I’d expect him to be madder, given that Marcus has run off.” She let annoyance creep into her voice. She didn’t like the sergeant’s neutral tone about everything; like he had no reason to be worried.
    Thom didn’t even blink. “Everyone who walks Rogue’s Lane knows Constable Taylor was a cheat, the same as everyone knows Harris Atkins had a fierce temper.” He lowered his voice and motioned for Grace to put her ear closer. “Plenty of city guards were glad to see him offed, though pride would never allow them to admit it. Rumor on the streets is that Sergeant Moore wants justice done, even though he wasn’t a fan of Taylor’s. People say he once arrested Captain Kay’s first mate for disturbing the peace, and you know how ornery that bunch gets.”
    Kay Lansa was the captain of a pirate ship that occasionally restocked food and water stores in Glenbard. Grace had tangled with her while in the guise of the Death Dealer, and she’d not seen such rage since. Kay and her crew did whatever they wanted when they were in town, and the guards always turned a blind eye. Grace felt a begrudging respect for Sergeant Moore if he had the stones to make such a fearsome enemy.
    She moved back from Thom. Her heart went out to him. The man didn’t like the position he was in, but he would never break his loyalty to Marcus.
    “I need a favor, Grace.” People around them moved closer, though they tried to make it look as though they were uninterested. They all wanted to know why Grace lingered so long with Thom.
    She turned on them, her gray eyes bearing down. The assembled thieves all looked away and tried to pretend they weren’t eavesdropping. Grace said nothing, but continued to stare down anyone who caught her eye.
    Thom sighed. “We’ll talk later.”
    Grace bobbed a curtsy to him, taking her leave, and Ridley moved from her seat across the common room. It was bad enough being stuck between the thieves and the guards, but now she found herself between Thom and Ridley as well.
    “What did he want?”
    “He asked what Sergeant Moore wanted.” Grace grabbed a tray of ale mugs Jim had left for her to deliver. The amber liquid sloshed at the sides, but she managed to keep it all in the mugs. “Don’t be so hard on him.”
    “I wouldn’t so hard on him if he’d tell me where Marcus really went!”
    It wasn’t Grace’s place to interfere with Guild business. She was in too deep already. However, Ridley would always be at her elbow, demanding answers to questions Grace had no right to know.
    “Maybe there’s a reason he won’t tell you.”
    “But I’m his daughter!” Ridley continued to trail Grace, even as she dealt with patrons.
    The men thanked Grace for her service and she managed to make it away from the table with only one pinch on her bottom. She dumped the contents of one of the mugs in the offender’s lap and promised worse if the drunkard tried it again. Throughout all this, Ridley mumbled and complained. As much as she wanted to, Grace didn’t have the heart to remind her friend that gossip was her lifeblood. Ridley loved to have a secret and brag, and especially to brag she had a secret. Anyone who spent five minutes in her company would know why Thom hadn’t told her anything about the current matter. It was also why Marcus saw fit to never share the Death Dealer’s identity.
    Grace returned the empty