The River Knows Read Online Free PDF

challenge intriguing.
    “I was hoping to find proof that Hastings has a financial interest in a certain brothel,” she said. “A place called Phoenix House.”
    She held her breath.
    Anthony regarded her, evidently bereft of speech, for a very long moment. He released her wrists, but he continued to lean forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. He linked his fingers loosely together between his knees and regarded her as though she were a peculiar specimen in a strange zoo.
    “You seek evidence that Hastings invested money in a brothel?” he asked, as though wanting to be quite clear on the subject.
    She gripped her muff very tightly. “Yes.”
    “Do you mind if I ask why?”
    “Yes, I do mind. It is none of your affair, sir.”
    He nodded. “No, I suppose it isn’t. What made you think that this proof might be in Hastings’s bedroom?”
    “I managed to slip into his library earlier and go through his desk drawers. They were not even locked. I found nothing useful. The bedroom was the only other place I could think of to search.”
    “You went through his desk looking for documents related to his financial affairs.” Anthony seemed beyond astonishment now. He merely shook his head. “Of all the idiotic, reckless, foolhardy—”
    “I did not ask your opinion, sir,” she said, stiffening. “In any event, it was not that foolhardy. No one was about. The servants are all busy this evening.”
    “It is a miracle you were not caught by one of the guards.”
    “Yes, well, I was not aware of them at the time,” she admitted ruefully.
    “A serious oversight.”
    “Indeed,” she admitted. She straightened her shoulders. “As I was saying, the bedroom was the only other place I could think of to search.”
    “I assume that you did not find the proof that you were seeking?”
    “No, unfortunately.” She sighed. “I went through all of the drawers in the wardrobe, and I searched beneath the bed. There is a small writing desk near the window. The drawer was unlocked, but there was nothing inside. I could not think of any place else to look. There was no sign of a safe.”
    “That is because it is hidden in the floor.”
    She widened her eyes. “You know that for a fact?”
    “Yes. It is an Apollo Patented Safe, by the way, the most secure strongbox available on the market.”
    “I am most impressed, sir. You must, indeed, be very good at your work. You obviously do a great deal of research on your, uh, subjects. I did not even think to look for the safe in the floor.”
    “It is just as well. If you had remained in that room a moment longer, the guard would probably have discovered you inside.”
    “Even if I had found the safe, it wouldn’t have done me any good. I regret to say that, although I can manage simple locks with a hairpin, I have had no experience opening safes.”
    “I am amazed to hear that there are some limits to your resources, Mrs. Bryce.”
    Stung, she clasped her hands tightly together. “There is no call for sarcasm, sir.”
    “If it makes you feel any better, to my knowledge no one has ever managed to finesse the lock of an Apollo. Occasionally safecrackers have resorted to explosive devices to get into one, because thus far that’s been the only successful method.”
    “Then how did you plan to open Hastings’s safe, sir? Because it is clear that was your intention tonight.”
    “Forgive me, I should have said that almost no one has ever managed to finesse the lock. There is one exception.”
    Her spirits soared. “You?”
    “Yes.”
    She braced herself. “In that case and given that we have come this far, I have a proposition for you.”
    “Stop right there, Mrs. Bryce.” He held up a hand, palm out. “Do not say another word.”
    “I was merely wondering if your professional services might be for hire,” she said quickly.
    He did not move. “You wish to employ me to break into Hastings’s safe?”
    “Precisely. I failed in my mission tonight, but you are