Killing Gifts Read Online Free PDF

long—not much longer than Gennie had been out in the world. They both still had much to learn.
    Grady collected their tickets and handed them over with clear reluctance. “I’ve gotten you berths together for overnight, so you won’t have to sit up in coach.”
    â€œGrady, you didn’t have to pay for my ticket,” Rose said. “The Society can reimburse—”
    â€œNonsense. I can afford it, and I want the two of you to be as comfortable as possible. It’s too bad you couldn’t have delayed your trip until summer; I could have gotten you a roomette on one of those fancy new Pullmans.”
    â€œYea, it was rude of the killer not to wait,” Rose said quietly.
    Gennie grinned and noticed that Grady, ever polite, pretended not to hear. He accompanied them to the tracks and hailed a redcap to stow Gennie’s extra luggage in the baggage car.
    â€œRemember, call me every other night, Gen,” he said, and gave her a farewell kiss. “You will at least try to stay out of trouble, won’t you?”
    Gennie merely laughed and gave his hand a quick squeeze. She couldn’t blame him for being worried; she supposed she would be, too, if he were going off to investigate a murder hundreds of miles away. It was good for him to find out what it felt like.
    â€œShe’ll be fine, Grady,” Rose said. “We are not going off into uncharted territory. Hancock is as quiet and gentle a village as North Homage.” At Grady’s raised eyebrows, she added, “Well, perhaps more quiet and gentle, in some ways—at least, under ordinary circumstances. With God’s grace and Mother Ann’s assistance, circumstances will be ordinary again in no time.”
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    â€œNow tell me everything,” Gennie said. “What’s the plan? What part shall I play? Will you call me your assistant, or should I just wander in and ask to be a novitiate? What do you think? Oh, I have an idea—didn’t you tell me the dead girl worked in the Fancy Goods Store? What if I ask for a job there? Then I could room in Hancock, couldn’t I? That might be easier, because I could chat with all the other hired help, and I wouldn’t have to pretend to be a Believer, although I could, of course, and that might be—”
    â€œGennie, slow down! We have lots of time before we reach Pittsfield,” Rose said. They’d barely settled into a coach car, stowed their small satchels on the floor near their feet, and pulled away from the station. Not five minutes earlier, Gennie’s face had been streaked with tears as she’d waved good-bye to Grady.
    â€œLet me gather my thoughts for a bit, and then we’ll talk.” Rose patted Gennie’s arm, then leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.
    Gennie couldn’t help a small sigh. Rose seemed so calm about everything. She wasn’t interested in watching the scenery or exploring the train or even planning their investigation. Well, it wouldn’t hurt to explore by herself, would it? She stood and brushed the creases out of her new wool suit. Rose opened her eyes.
    â€œI’m just going to look around the train,” Gennie said, “so you can have some quiet.”
    Rose’s eyes were closed again before Gennie had left her window view and edged into the corridor. Gennie didn’t yet have her train legs, and she stumbled as the car rounded a curve. She reached the door and hesitated. Though she’d taken several short train rides since entering the world, she’d never walked from car to car by herself. Grady had always been there to hold her elbow as they negotiated the unsteady passage.
    She squared her small shoulders, pulled open the door, and stepped outside. She expected the roar of the wind past the speeding train, but it seemed louder than she’d remembered, now she was on her own. The shifting floor over the coupling just about sent her