Tenfold More Wicked Read Online Free PDF

a fan, or a pair of gloves, she’d probably have slapped him with it.
    Lafayette bowed gravely. “My condolences, my lady. Who would do such a terrible thing? And in a secret closet, too. Is no one safe?”
    Lady Fleet’s eyes gleamed, calculating. Then—a moment too late—she burst into tears. “My poor Dalziel! How I shall miss him.” She collapsed against Reeve in a paroxysm of weeping. Hippocrates squeaked, and scuttled for the hallway. Eliza could practically smell the onions the lady had rubbed into her eyes.
    Reeve’s ruddy face flushed even redder. Awkwardly, he patted Lady Fleet’s hair and off-loaded her to a smirking constable. “We’ll soon have it sorted, my lady. You have my word.”
    He fired a sharp glance around. “Window smashed, room ransacked. Burglary gone wrong, I’d say. Shouldn’t take long to flush out the villain. My lady, why don’t you have a nice lie-down, and mend your nerves? You there, fellow,” he ordered, “fetch Lady Fleet some tea.”
    â€œYou’re very kind,” Lady Fleet whispered, dabbing streaming eyes, and let the constable help her out.
    â€œA command performance,” remarked Eliza, once the door had closed. “You’re not actually buying into that?”
    Reeve didn’t turn. “Still here, missy?”
    Lafayette tugged her arm, but she resisted. Like any murdered soul, Sir Dalziel deserved justice, not Reeve’s self-serving pig-headedness. “This man’s heart is ripped out and his face cut off. Elaborate for a burglar, wouldn’t you say? Andhow would a casual thief know about the hidden closet? Unless it’s an inside job, in which case why—?”
    â€œYes, yes. Always complicating things, aren’t you?” Reeve glared at her. “Never can solve a case the old-fashioned way. I swear, you’re that upstart Griffin born again.”
    We’ll solve you the old-fashioned way, you pumped-up turkey, whispered Lizzie darkly. Come by the Holy Land late one night and I’ll uncomplicate you with a knife in the guts.
    Eliza gritted her teeth. “How sad. Have I left you no one convenient from whom to thrash a confession?”
    â€œRemains to be seen, doesn’t it?” Reeve grinned. “Perhaps your friend Razor Jack did it. You know, the lunatic killer you allowed to escape?”
    She flushed. “Razor Jack is not my friend, and I didn’t allow anything—”
    â€œProtesting too much, are we?” Reeve rounded on Lafayette. “As for you, Royal Society, I’ll tell you once more, and then I’ll get unpleasant: Homicide’s a police matter. Stay out of it.”
    â€œAs you wish, sir. I’m confident you have it fully in hand.” Firmly, Lafayette ushered a squirming Eliza into the hall, with Hipp scampering ahead.
    â€œAnd stay away from the servants,” called Reeve, “or I’ll nick you for obstructing my investigation.” The door slammed.
    â€œShouldn’t dream of it, old boy.” Lafayette studied her as they treaded the long hall towards the front door. “Are you well, Doctor? Perhaps we should retire.”
    â€œWhy must that man be so obtuse?” she fumed. “He’s no fool, yet he refuses to countenance the simplest police work,let alone any attempt at science. You’d think he was put on this earth to infuriate me.”
    â€œJealousy makes idiots of us all,” murmured Lafayette.
    â€œReeve, jealous of me? That’s absurd.”
    He laughed, easy. “Allow me to polish your spectacles, Doctor. You’re young, clever, educated, and pretty, with the world at your feet. He’s backward, middle-aged, and unattractive, with two unmarried daughters and a demanding wife who wants to be Lady Police Commissioner someday. I’m only surprised he hasn’t wrung your neck already.”
    â€œWhat? Nonsense.” But she sniffed,