City of Darkness (City of Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Trevor and Abrams to idly flick a penny
with his fingertip.  “When you two have been with the Yard as long as the rest
of us, you’ll see that he can’t resist throwing in some bizarre theory with
each coroner’s report.”  Most of the men were filing out by now and, after a
pause, Abrams turned to join them, leaving Trevor to gaze thoughtfully at the
items before him.
    “Expecting to find his calling card,
Welles?” Eatwell asked, as he was erasing the blackboard.
    “It could very well be here, Sir, if
we knew where to look.”
    “Hmmm, nice to know murder is so
simple for our first-rank detectives.  I’m sure you and Abrams will have our
killer off the streets before tomorrow teatime.”
    Trevor stood hesitantly.  He’d never
known how to respond to Eatwell’s sarcasm.  “We’ll try, Sir,” he finally said,
backing out of the room.
    “Better do more than try,” snapped
Eatwell, and he beat his erasers until white dust flew across the table, slowly
settling over the last worldly possessions of a woman named Anne Chapman.
    CHAPTER THREE
    September 9  
    4:10 PM
     
     
    When Leanna opened her eyes, Tom was staring
down at her with a half-curious, half-worried expression.  Behind him, Galloway
was pacing.  Leanna struggled to raise her head.
    “You’re missing your cue,” Tom said. 
“You’re supposed to ask ‘Where am I?’”
    “I know where I am,” Leanna said,
pushing away the damp cloth someone had placed on her forehead.  “Grandfather’s
study.  But where is everyone else?”
    “Mama and the big boys have retreated
to the parlor to nurse their own shock,” said Tom, letting a small smile slip. 
“Tell the truth, did you fake that faint?  It was an admirably efficient means
of clearing the room.”
    “Of course not,” Leanna said.  “You
know I don’t faint.  At least I never have before, and I remember when
Grandfather was trying to teach us how to dissect a rabbit that you were the
one who…. How long was I unconscious?“
    “Just a few minutes, but long enough
to give me time to confer with Mr. Galloway.  We have to talk fast.  They’ll be
beating on the door any minute.”
    “It might be prudent,” Galloway said,
“for you to leave Rosemoral for a few weeks.  Take a holiday of sorts while
your family has the chance to get used to the idea.”
    “They’ll never get used to the idea,”
Tom corrected him.  “But at least until the paperwork is finalized.”
    “A holiday?  I’ve never been anywhere
alone in my whole life.  Mama doesn’t even let me ride into town without – “
    “You wouldn’t be alone, Leanna. 
Galloway thinks you should go to London and stay with Aunt Geraldine.  She’s settled
in Mayfair and, more to the point, she knows the situation.  Apparently she is
the only one other than Galloway whom Grandfather included in his plan and she
understands it, Leanna.  All of it.  She was the one who suggested you come to
her home.”
    “I hardly know her,” Leanna said, her
mind jumping to a memory of a large, jolly woman with a booming voice and
pockets full of candy.  
    “But I do,” Tom said.  “The first month
I was in school she sent me a message inviting me to dinner at her home in
London and ever since…  You’ll be happy there, Leanna.”
    “I don’t follow any of this, Tom. 
Why didn’t you tell me Aunt Geraldine was back in London, or that you’d been to
see her?   It makes no sense.  She didn’t even come to Grandfather’s funeral.”
    “She was there,” Tom said firmly.  “In
the back.  Apparently in disguise, and apparently a good one because I didn’t
recognize her.” 
    Leanna looked questioningly at
Galloway.
    “Leonard knew he was dying,” Galloway
said gently.  “When he told Geraldine the terms of his will, they concocted
this plan.  Part of it is that your mother and the older boys shouldn’t be
aware that Geraldine was even back in the country.  Otherwise, her home in
London