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.
“Mrs. Rhodes, we have found Therese’s valise. It was hidden in one of the rooms.”
“I see.”
“You can understand the importance of this discovery. Either the girl was brought here or at the very least somebody from this club was with her in the last hours of her life.”
For a moment she appeared to be searching for some denial, an explanation that would remove the danger from her own house. Then she sat down on the edge of the chair by the desk, her back ramrod straight as if she needed to hold herself upright.
She took the ebony cross out of her pocketbook and handed it to Murdoch.
“I believe this is from Theresa’s rosary.”
“Where did you get it, ma’am?”
“Joe found it in a carriage. He is in the way of fishing down the seats for stray coins and he discovered this.”
“Whose carriage would that be, then, ma’am?”
Donalda hesitated, glancing over at Kelly, who was hovering awkwardly near the door.
“Would you rather I left?” he asked.
She considered him. “It doesn’t really matter. It will all come out soon, anyway.”
“Whose carriage, ma’am?” Murdoch prompted.
“Miss Harriet Shepcote’s. She came to Birchlea on Tuesday last, and that’s when he found it.” She met Murdoch’s gaze. “He only showed it to me just now … I am sure he is telling the truth, Mr. Murdoch.”
He tapped the crucififix lightly in his palm. “Why did you come to the club, Mrs. Rhodes, and not directly to the police station?”
“I hoped my husband would be here. Frankly I felt the need to speak to him. Please believe me, I had every intention of informing you, but I’m sure you can understand my concern. Miss Shepcote is quite closely connected with our family … We are hoping for an engagement between her and my son.”
Murdoch understood perfectly. Donalda wanted to be fully prepared if scandal was going to burst over their heads. “The girl would make a pact with the Devil if Owen asked her to,” were the words Edith Foy had used.
Donalda stood up. “May I offer you the use of my carriage, Mr. Murdoch? It is waiting outside. I’m sure there is some urgency to speak to Miss Shepcote.”
She was right. “Thank you, ma’am. That will be most helpful.”
“I will accompany you. No, please, Mr. Murdoch, my presence could be an asset.”
She was right about that too. He didn’t want to be in the position of dealing with an unchaperoned young woman, especially if he was going to arrest her.
Behind Donalda, Kelly beckoned. “Can I have a word?”
Murdoch went closer.
“Willie, let me come too. You might need some help.”
“Sean, I can’t do that. This is police business.”
“You don’t have time to get more officers and you’ve no idea what you’re likely to encounter. You don’t want the culprit to slip through your fingers, do ye now?”
“What about the club?”
“It’s practically my teatime. I can leave for a while.”
Kelly’s scarred face was as eager as a boy’s. Murdoch smiled.
“All right. Do you have any objection to Mr. Keene accompanying us, Mrs. Rhodes?”
“Not at all, but please, let’s hurry.”
The Rhodes carriage was waiting at the entrance to the club, and Joe Seaton was huddled into a rug on the driver’s seat. He was already dusted with snow, which increased his look of pale wretchedness. While Donalda got inside with Kelly, Murdoch climbed up next to the boy.
“Do you know where the Shepcote house is?”
He nodded.
“Off as fast as you can, then. Go along Queen Street. It’s been cleared.”
Joe cracked his whip and the grey horse set off at a smart canter.
They reached Berkeley Street in ten minutes flat. The house was at the end of a row of four, all trimly gabled with deep bay front windows. The other three houses were warm with lamplight, but the Shepcote house was completely dark. Murdoch was about to jump down when Joe caught him by the arm.
“I want to do something for Tess.”
“I’m sure you do, lad–”
Joe interrupted him. “I’ll fight anybody if I have to.”
Murdoch patted his hand. “The best thing you can do at the moment is stay here with the carriage. We’re going inside. If you see anybody leave, man or woman, run in and tell me.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
The other two were already on the sidewalk, and as Murdoch joined them, Donalda pointed. “The door is open.”
“Please wait here, ma’am.”
She shook her head. Murdoch didn’t want to waste time arguing, but Kelly touched her on the arm.
“Stand behind me, then, if you please.”
Because of his disability, he wore a long cape, a dramatic affair of black wool, and he had shrugged both edges over his shoulder, freeing his arm. Murdoch saw that he had also unpinned his left sleeve, which hung down at his side. He was ready for action.
At the threshold Murdoch tugged on the bell, and they could hear the clang in the silent house. At the same time he pushed the door open further. It led into a wide hall, which was in darkness. They waited a moment but there was no response in the house.
Murdoch took a box of lucifers from his pocket and lit the candle in the wall sconce. It gave off sufficient light to reveal velvet portieres on the right and a staircase directly in front. A closed door at the far end no doubt led to the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” whispered Donalda at his elbow. “Why is no one here?”
“Please stay here, Mrs. Rhodes. Kelly, come with me.”
This time she obeyed. She looked frightened.
There was an oil lamp on one of the hall tables and Murdoch lit that as well, holding it aloft.
At the drawing room, he pulled back the drawn portieres.
The light shone on the prone figure of Harriet Shepcote, who was lying on the sofa, facing the back. Murdoch went over to the girl. To his relief she wasn’t dead as it had first appeared, only very still. Her breathing seemed shallow but not laboured, and when he touched her face the skin temperature felt normal. This close the smell of liquor was strong. Gently, he started to shake her by the shoulder.
“Miss Shepcote. Miss Shepcote … it’s Detective Murdoch.”
She didn’t move, but he saw her eyes flutter slightly.
“Sean, help me sit her up.”
He slipped his arm beneath the girl and at that moment Donalda entered.
“I couldn’t just … What’s wrong?”
“I think she’s intoxicated. Perhaps you could call to her.”
They got her upright, but her head lolled back against the couch. Donalda knelt down beside her.
“Harriet. Harriet, wake up.”
The girl moved slightly but didn’t open her eyes. Donalda took a quick breath, then with one swift movement slapped her hard across the cheek. Harriet gasped in shock and her eyes opened.
“Harriet, look at me.”
The young woman’s eyelids fluttered, but her head started to droop again. Another slap.
“Wake up, Harriet. You must wake up!”
This time she took in the three of them, and suddenly her face crumpled and she started to cry, a soft mewling sort of sound like a baby’s. She tried to shrink away from the encircling arm of Sean Kelly.
“I’ll hold her,” said Donalda. She eased herself onto the sofa and put her arms around the girl. Harriet was trembling and moaning and her voice was barely audible.
“Let me go to sleep. I’m tired. Please let me go to sleep.”
Murdoch spoke. “Miss Shepcote. Don’t be afraid. You’re safe now. What has happened? Where is your father?”
The question seemed to frighten her even more, and she huddled into the older woman’s bosom, burying her face as if she were a babe in arms. Donalda stroked her hair, trying to soothe her. Murdoch was glad she had insisted on coming. Whatever had happened to Harriet Shepcote, he didn’t think drunkenness was familiar to her. He indicated to Donalda to ask the question again.