The Delaney Woman Read Online Free PDF

on the thought and look at it in the morning.
    Exactly one week later, Kellie climbed the stairs of the Knightsbridge tube station and looked around. She had the address of Special Investigations, a division of British Intelligence with an office in the government buildings on the Thames. John Griffith had been only too happy to take her call.
    London was a roiling mass of humanity on Friday. A fine rain had drizzled for hours and the city smelled of wet wool and exhaust. Umbrellas of the usual brown, navy and gray formed a somber roof over the footpaths. Storefronts with neon signs and the homey smell of fresh bread from the bakeries were the only brightness in the wet misery of the day.
    Kellie snapped her umbrella shut, looked at the address on the massive door and compared it with the one on the piece of paper she pulled from her purse. A man came out of the building and held the door for her. She stepped inside. A guard sat at the desk. She gave her name. He checked the list and pointed her toward the lift.
    John Griffith ushered her into a small office with glass windows. Kellie refused his offer of tea. Already she was uncomfortable. She had initiated this meeting because there was no alternative, but she had no desire to be here.
    She glanced at Griffith, an average man of average height with regular features, brown hair, gray eyes, a man most would immediately forget. “Who are we waiting for?” she asked.
    He smiled for the first time. “Cecil Marsh, our chief investigator, will be here momentarily. Are you sure I can’t tempt you with a cup of tea?”
    She needed a moment to collect herself. “Perhaps I will take a cup.”
    He left the office. Kellie settled back in her chair and breathed deeply, coaching herself for the interview to come. She needed help. She had no resources to find information on her own. Diplomacy was the key. She would need to be very, very careful in the questions she asked. They had agreed to see her. That was a good sign. It gave her hope.
    Too soon Griffith returned with a plastic cup of milky tea. He apologized for the sweetness. Kellie finished half the cup before the man Griffith introduced as Cecil Marsh joined them.
    Mr. Marsh was the opposite of nondescript. Black hair frosted with gray curled around his ears and a heavy mustache marked his upper lip. He was very tall and hunched with black eyes, a strong nose and crooked teeth. Kellie would not forget him if she saw him again.
    He came right to the point. “What can I do for you, Miss Delaney?”
    She’d already decided to presume her brother’s affiliation. “My brother didn’t normally discuss the details of his work with me, Mr. Marsh, but this last case was something of an exception.” The lie she’d practiced came out smoothly.
    He leaned forward.“Really?”
    â€œYes.”
    He stroked his mustache. “I assume you’ve come here for a reason.”
    â€œI want to know if his death had something to do with his investigation.”
    The two men glanced at each other. Marsh spoke again. “We have no evidence that would lead us to believe so.”
    She stood, praying her bluff would work. “I see. Thank you for your time.”
    â€œPlease, Miss Delaney, sit down.” Marsh hesitated. “We’re in something of a bind. Connor was working on a lead. He was killed before he had time to deliver his report. Any information you have would be appreciated.”
    He was killed . Kellie drained the last of her tea. It was difficult to swallow. She couldn’t get past the words he was killed . Connor and Danny, innocent Danny, were killed, murdered. “I could use the same consideration, Mr. Marsh.”
    Again the two men looked at each other. Griffith shrugged and turned to gaze out the window. Marsh cleared his throat “The brake cables on your brother’s car were cut.”
    â€œHow is that possible? He drove several hours