Murder on Nob Hill Read Online Free PDF Page B

one.” I added defensively, “That doesn’t mean my client's a murderer.”
    Samuel darted me a look. “Your client!”
    “At least until this business concerning Mrs. Hanaford's finances is settled.”
    “Well, that caps the climax,” he said with a laugh. “Old Joe Shepard must have thrown a fit when you waltzed into his office and stole one of his prized clients.”
    “Joseph Shepard was less than useless. He brushed the poor woman off as if she were a piece of lint on his coat.”
    “And you rushed in like Florence Nightingale to save the day.”
    “I haven’t saved it yet,” I said dryly. “But if I fail, it won’t be for lack of trying.”
    Samuel sat thoughtfully for several moments. “I think you’d better hope the police find a likely suspect soon, little sister. Otherwise your client may find more pressing matters to worry about than her finances.”
    I stared at my brother. His eyes, usually full of mischief, were deadly serious in the moonlight. “Surely it isn’t that bad.”
    “Come on, Sarah. If there were no visitors, and no one broke in, what's left?”
    “Not that,” I insisted. I pride myself on my judgment of people, and I was convinced the young woman I had met that morning could not be a cold-blooded killer. “I’d stake my life on the fact that Annjenett Hanaford did not murder her husband.”
    My brother gave me a long look. “For your client's sake, I hope you’re right.”
    In the distance, St. Mary's Cathedral chimed midnight. Samuel stretched and got to his feet.
    “She's fortunate to have you, little sister,” he said quietly, as I rose to join him. “The time may come when Annjenett Hanaford will need a friend.”
     
    M y brother's words remained on my mind as I arrived at Portsmouth Square at ten o’clock the next morning. As I alighted from the horsecar, I was pleased to spy Annjenett Hanaford's Victoria across the street. The widow's hopeful face made it easy to dismiss Samuel's dire predictions, and I returned her bright smile. Before we entered the rising room, she took my arm.
    “Sarah, do you really think we’re going to succeed?”
    Despite the fact that I’d asked myself that same question most of the night, I kept my voice optimistic. “I see no reason why we shouldn’t. I’ve been over the documents at length and they’re in order. According to the law, the money is rightfully yours.”
    “Then it really is true.” Unexpectedly she threw her arms around me and kissed my cheek. “How can I ever thank you?”
    For a moment I was too surprised to speak, then managed to sputter, “Yes, well, you can thank me when this business is successfully concluded.”
    “Oh, but you’re bound to succeed, Sarah. I have every confidence that you can do anything you set your mind to.”
    Silently, I prayed I could live up to such lofty expectations! Then I asked Annjenett to pay me one dollar so that I might act as her legal representative.
    She smiled as the sense of this plan became clear, then removed a silver dollar from her reticule. “I would be pleased to have you represent my affairs, Miss Woolson.”
    When we presented ourselves at Mr. Shepard's law offices, the
    ferretlike clerk I had encountered the previous day scurried off in a flurry of agitation. He’d scarcely left the room when I felt the small hairs on my neck begin to prickle.
    Annjenett leaned closer. “There's a man staring at you, Sarah. I remember seeing him yesterday. He's—very noticeable.”
    Even before I turned, I knew it was the orange-haired associate attorney, ensconced in his cubicle of an office, eyes boring into my back in the rudest possible manner. I was annoyed to feel my pulse rate unaccountably increase. The man's audacity knew no bounds!
    Furious, I returned his rude stare until, with a fierce frown, he bent his head to the jumble of papers and books spilled across his desk. For the life of me I couldn’t understand why Joseph Shepard would employ such a man. If