Except the Dying
- Автор: Jennings Maureen
- Серия: The Murdoch Mysteries #1
- Год: 1997
- Язык: английский
- Год: McClelland & Stewart
- ISBN: 9780771043208
- Жанр: Полицейские детективы
Электронная книга - «Except the Dying». Краткое содержание книги:
In the cold Toronto winter of 1895, the unclad body of a servant girl is found frozen in a deserted laneway. Detective William Murdoch quickly finds out that more than one person connected with the girl's simple life has something to hide. From the Paperback edition.
Good-naturedly, Quinn flagged down the waiter again and a foaming mug of beer splashed on the table.
“Ettie, sit down and listen to this,” said Alice. “There’s somethin’ else in the paper about that dead girl.”
Bernadette glanced quickly at Alice and pulled out the chair. She removed her hat and fanned at her hot face.
“Hard work, all that singing.” Princess popped her head up from under the table and pawed at Bernadette’s knee. “Hey, lookit who’s here.” She rubbed the dog’s ears affectionately. Then she reached down and offered her mug of beer. The hound lapped at the drink thirstily. Quinn watched.
“That’s enough now. Don’t want to get her soused.”
“First time I’ve ever seen a dog drink brew,” said Jack.
Bernadette took back the glass and finished off the beer. “Ain’t seen much, then, have you?”
“Ettie, don’t be cheeky. Jack here is a well-travelled man.”
“That so? Like where? Where have you been?”
He smiled, a smile that didn’t come close to touching his eyes. “Britain, France, China twice. You name it.”
“What are you, a sailor?”
“That’s right, a saucer and plate.”
“What?”
“First mate.”
“He’s speaking rhyming slang,” said Alice. “The cockneys do it in London.”
“Sounds like barmy talk to me.”
“Ettie,” protested Alice. “Jack’s a stranger here. You’re not being very neighbourly.”
“Do you want to see my how-d’you-do?” the sailor asked.
“No.”
“I mean my tattoo.”
“Yeah. Come on, Jack, let’s see,” said Alice.
He pulled off his right glove and pushed up his sleeve.
“Lord love us, look at that,” gasped Alice.
A red snake curled around his forearm and wrist. The mouth was open and the fangs, which ran along the edge of his thumb and forefinger, were gripping a woman, stark naked and bleeding. He spread his fingers and the woman’s legs opened.
“Cheeky,” said Alice.
“What d’you think?” the sailor asked.
Ettie shrugged. “Not much. I’ve seen better.” She turned to Quinn and indicated the little white ribbon that was pinned to her velvet jacket. “How do you like me bow, Sam?”
He grinned. “Don’t tell me you’ve joined the Temperance League?”
“That’s it. I’m taking the Pledge next week. They stand you to a swell tea, cakes and sandwiches, all you can eat. I’ve been practising.”
She pouted like a little girl, putting her finger to her mouth. “I pledge that lips that touch liquor will never touch my … lips.”
The sailor grinned. “You make me want to be an abstainer this minute.”
Quinn rattled the newspaper. “Do you want to hear this news or not?”
Jack smiled again. “Let’s get another round of blinks first, on me.”
Ettie shook her head. “I’m going back to sing in a minute. Sam, get on with it, for Christ’s sake.”
Quinn swallowed the rest of his beer so he could take advantage of the stranger’s offer. He was glad Ettie was being surly with the man. He was too cool a customer by far. But she was like that. Formed strong likes and dislikes right away. God help the man she took a scunner to. She could freeze hell over with one look when she wanted to.
He picked up the paper and read aloud.
Information sought: The investigation continues into the death of Therese Laporte, the lovely young woman who died so tragically last Saturday night. Anyone who saw this young woman on Saturday night between the hours of five o’clock and midnight is asked to report to Detective Murdoch at number-four station immediately. She was known to be wearing–
“Bloody hell, Sam, don’t go on with that. We’ve heard it already, haven’t we, Ettie? Get to the bit about the reward.”
In the public interest, the owner of the Signal is offering a reward of fifty dollars for any honest information that our officers will deem useful in clearing up the mysteries of this tragic episode.
“Fifty dollars!” exclaimed Alice.
Ettie frowned. “Nothin’ for us. We didn’t see her. Too bad.”
Quinn continued.
We must ensure that our streets remain safe for our loved ones and for those who cannot fend for themselves. If we do not eliminate the riffraff that are pouring into our city on a daily basis, we are condemning the fairer sex to a life of perpetual fear.
“What’s it mean?” asked Alice in bewilderment. “Who’s the riffraff? Do they mean lumberjacks?”
The sailor shook his head. “Haven’t you heard of those immigrants coming in from Moldavia?”
Alice laughed. “Where in God’s name is that? Oh, never mind. I doubt if I’ll be going there in the near future. My carriage has got a wheel missing.” She pursed her lips again. “Read that bit once more, Sam. About the reward. Fifty dollars…”
Bernadette caught her friend’s sleeve. “Alice! Why don’t you come and sing with me.”
Alice pulled away. “I don’t want to, Ettie. Jack and me was having a good chin. Weren’t we, Jack?”
She leaned toward him so that her breast was brushing against his arm.
“Why’re you so interested in that money? Do you have some information about the girl?” he asked.
“No, she doesn’t,” said Ettie. “She’s just dreaming, aren’t you, Alice?”
“No, I–”
“You heard me.”
Alice stared sullenly at her friend. “Yeah. I don’t know anything. Never have,” she muttered.
Bernadette stood up abruptly. “That’s my song he’s playing. Sam, thanks for the beer. See you, Captain. ’Bye, lovey.”
This was addressed to the bitch under the table. Ettie gave her an affectionate caress and returned to the piano, where the hunchback was beginning a plaintive series of chords. Resignedly, Quinn folded up the paper and sat back in his chair to watch.
Alice pressed harder on the stranger’s arm. “Don’t mind her. She’s moody.”
The piano player thumped out a chord to get attention. The noise in the bar lessened slightly and Ettie began to sing. Her voice was clear and true as water.
The room quieted even more.
Alice Black leaned forward, beckoned to her companion as if to whisper and slyly licked the inside of his ear.
He laughed. “Hey, that tickled.”
“I’m good at tickling, I am. Here, I’ll show ya.”
She did so, more slowly this time. He didn’t move away. “Did you like that?” she asked.
“Yep. That was real nice, Elaine.”
“Alice. Not Elaine. My name’s Alice.”
He reached over and touched the bead necklace she had around her neck. “That’s pretty. Most unusual. Where’d you get it?”
She caught hold of his bare hand and put one of his fingers in her mouth. “Who cares?”
She thrust her tongue in between his fingers and he grinned again.
“Tell you what, Miss Alice, why don’t you take me somewhere private. Where you can tickle away to your heart’s content.”
She grinned. “Two dollars?”
“You’re dear.”
“I’m worth it, you’ll see. Where d’you want to go, upstairs or to our place?”
“I’ve a better idea. You can come to my dodgy figs. Very private. I’ve got a couple of good bottles tucked away just dying to be opened. Got them in Turkey.”