Steps to the Gallows Read Online Free PDF Page B

them behind bars to send out a stern warning to the others. And our reputations have made some villains think twice about committing murder because they know we will come after them.’
    ‘That didn’t stop it happening right here,’ moaned Lomas. ‘The killer didn’t care two hoots about the Bow Street Runners.’
    ‘He’ll die regretting that.’
    ‘You’ll have to catch him first.’
    ‘I guarantee it.’
    Eleanor Lomas bit her lip. ‘I think we should sleep at our son’s house.’
    ‘Nobody is going to drive me out of here,’ said her husband, stoutly. ‘This is our home and we’ll stay.’
    ‘But water is still coming through the ceiling!’
    ‘The servants will clear up the mess, Ellie.’
    ‘There are just a few more things we’d like to know,’ said Yeomans.
    Lomas became tetchy. ‘Do you have to pester us like this?’ he demanded. ‘Why do you keep asking questions we’ve already answered? The other man was even more thorough than you’ve been.’
    Yeomans bridled. ‘What other man?’
    ‘We thought he was a Runner like you.’
    ‘Is that what he told you?’
    ‘Well, no,’ said Lomas, ‘but he had the same air of authority.’
    ‘Describe him.’
    ‘He was tall, well dressed and ten years or more younger than either of you.’
    ‘And he was very handsome,’ his wife put in, wistfully. ‘Even in my distress, I noticed that. The gentleman was kind and reassuring. We trusted him.’
    Yeomans turned to Hale. ‘It sounds like Peter Skillen.’
    ‘It could equally well be Paul Skillen,’ said the other, worriedly. ‘We don’t want him solving this crime instead of us, Micah. That’s happened before.’
    ‘Well, it won’t happen again.’
    ‘I hope not. We were made to look like buffoons.’
    ‘Whichever of those infernal brothers it is,’ said Yeomans through gritted teeth, ‘he is not going to interfere in our investigation. I’ll make sure that the Skillens understand that.’
     
    When he’d discharged his duty as a fencing instructor at the gallery, Peter Skillen went back to the office to find his brother there. Seated at the table, Paul was making notes of his visit to Paige’s lodging. After a last flourish with the quill pen, he put it in the inkwell and sat back in his chair.
    ‘Everything I learnt at the murder scene is down here,’ he said.
    ‘It was Charlotte’s idea that we should keep written records while memories were still fresh in our minds.’
    ‘Charlotte is brimming with good ideas.’
    ‘That’s why she married me instead of you,’ teased Peter.
    Paul smiled. ‘I’ve recovered from that setback a long time ago.’
    ‘Are there any clues as to the identity of the killer?’ asked his brother, picking up the paper and reading the elegant hand.
    ‘None whatsoever, I fear.’
    ‘Then we’ll have to rely on Gully. I asked him to rack his brains.’
    ‘I’ve been doing the self-same thing, Peter.’ He got to his feet. ‘Why did the killer choose to strike today of all days?’ he wondered. ‘If it was so important to silence Mr Paige, it should have happened long before now, surely?’
    ‘I hate to say it, Paul, but we might be responsible for his death.’
    ‘That’s arrant nonsense. We never even knew the fellow.’
    ‘The salient point is that he knew us – or, at least, he was aware of the services we offer.’ Peter put the paper back on the table. ‘Everyone knows that this is no mere shooting gallery. People turn to us to protect them, hunt down stolen property, find missing members of the family or solve a hundred and one other problems they encounter. Our escapades last year were lauded in all the newspapers. The gallery became rightly famous and that fame brought Mr Paige here.’
    ‘I follow your reasoning now.’
    ‘It was Jem’s logic I just imparted. When he came here for help,Paige was followed. Jem feels that a second man was hiding nearby to see if Paige left with a bodyguard. As Jem came out – clearly