Some Saints Prey (Madeline Donovan Mysteries Book 4)

by Madison Kent

  When Oliver departed, she said, "While I have you to myself, I have wanted to ask you about Emma. Is it true that you also seek her companionship?" asked Madeline.

  Austin replied, "I see you have succumbed to the gossip about me. I admire Emma―she's vivacious, beautiful and wealthy―what exactly is there not to like about her? Perhaps she's fickle and conceited, but I don't know any beautiful women who do not share that fault.

  "Our families have shown an interest in my courting her, purely for political reasons. But, I have no interest in fighting over a woman like a spoiled schoolchild. I think more of myself than that. Perhaps, if she would discard Oliver, I would consider it."

  Oliver returned, and Jeffrey was walking beside him, carrying their drinks.

  Oliver laughed, "I should have known Jeffrey would be standing in the beer line. Did you end up seeing old man, Davis?"

  "Yes. It was nothing―gave me one of those school-boy warnings about respecting your elders, and not making trouble."

  "Good," said Oliver.

  "Gentlemen, enjoy your card game. Jeffrey and I have some business to discuss. We'll join you in the church hall when later," said Madeline.

  Jeffrey and Madeline worked well together. They both followed the lead of the other in matters they weren't clear on. Jeffrey didn't know she had the note she wanted him to see, and that they needed to slip off into the church's bell tower, but he played along.

  She waited until they had walked out of earshot before touching Jeffrey's hand and saying, "I have something interesting to show you. Let's walk over to that tree so that we won't be disturbed."

  After reading the note, Jeffrey asked, "Do you think it's a prank? Honestly, I can see one of the young boys doing something like this. The might like watching us, laughing, and then having several rounds of ale, compliments of the money you leave in the box," said Jeffrey.

  "I hadn't considered that. I assumed we finally attracted the attention of someone, who was afraid to come forward."

  "Well, there's only one way to find out. I know the way to the bell tower, all the children do. As youngsters, we'd sneak up there, and ring the bells whenever we could," he laughed.

  There was a large crowd of patrons gathered for the festival. Men were shouting and arguing over their horseshoe games, and children were laughing and singing. Madeline didn't think, with all the raucous activity, that she and Jeffrey would be seen scurrying up the church tower.

  As they ascended the spiral staircase to the tower, dark shadows fell upon the walls, giving it an eerie appearance. The stairs, in certain areas, winded in such a way that it was quite narrow, and she had to be careful of her footing.

  Except for the moonlight coming through the bell tower arches, the blackness was pervasive.

  Jeffrey said, "I don't see the chair, do you?"

  Squinting to adjust to the dimness, she said, while pointing, "That may be it over there, nearer to the bells."

  There were scattered crates on the floor that contained bottles. She thought perhaps they were the Church's communion wine. But what she was pointing out to Jeffrey was a chair covered by a religious funeral cloth that was behind the bottles.

  Jeffrey said, "I see it."

  When Jeffrey began inching towards the chair―out of nowhere―a cloaked figure ran up behind him. The figure unexpectedly pushed him forcefully towards the open arch. Jeffrey was off-balance and unable to regain his footing.

  He screamed, "Madeline, save yourself. Dear God―run!"

  The person, cloaked in monk's garb, had the advantage. Jeffrey tried to defend himself as the menacing; perpetrator continued his attack, but he began flailing helplessly backward. Taking her derringer from her boot, she fired at the monk. But, the massive bells thwarted her shot, and all she did was hear the loud ping as it grazed the metal, and nothing more. In her haste, she had fallen over one of the crates, her knees cutting into the broken glass. Jeffrey was hanging onto the slippery stone arch. But with one more shove by the monk, she heard him call her name again, and then all she heard was his shrill cry that echoed against the wind as he fell to the ground.

  She could hear the noise from the crowd below, the attacker no longer coming toward her, but only attempting to exit. Taking one more shot, she hoped to wound the person, but the monk disappeared.

  While sitting on the floor―the area under the draped chair was visible―there, sat the black box mentioned in the message. Quickly retrieving it, she looked in to see there were pieces of silver inside. What is this madness, she thought, is this a reference to Judas? Does someone think Jeffrey and I betrayed them? The funeral cloth―all signs of death, did the aggressor intend to kill us both, or was Jeffrey the only intended victim?

  She sat there drenched in the spilled wine, bleeding from her knee, and holding onto her derringer. It was unlikely the murderer would return, not with people now coming up the stairwell, but she could not release the gun from her grip. It was as if she froze to the spot. Madeline thought she might be in shock as her body began to grow cold.

  A man she did not recognize was the first to reach her, followed by Austin, Oliver, and a priest. The pastor began praying over her, perhaps believing she was bleeding to death when he saw the stain from the wine covering her.

  "Father, forgive me, but the lady needs medical help, not praying," said Oliver.

  "Both, my son, she will need both," replied the priest.

  "Can you walk, Madeline?" asked Austin.

  "I don't know...," she replied.

  Oliver leaned down and grabbed her up in his arms as if she were nothing more than a basket of flowers.

  "You're bleeding," he began.

  "Most of it is wine. I do have a few gashes in my knees. It is nothing. I am just weak. Jeffrey? Is he dead?"

  "Yes," Austin answered solemnly.

  Oliver said, "I did not see it. I thought I saw a university classmate, and I left Austin to find him. Then I heard the commotion. However, by the time I returned, Jeff was lying there, lifeless. I was devastated; I could hardly move―but then I thought of you―and saw everyone pointing to the bell tower."

  "Did either of you see the monk...a monk leaving the tower?" she asked.

  "Like Oliver, I left to go to the carriage. There was a flask of bourbon I wanted to retrieve."

  Oliver took her wilted body into his arms and carried her down the stairs. He put his coat onto a grassy area, for her to sit.

  A crowd of people, some hysterical, gathered around Jeffrey's body. She could see they were attempting to move him.

  With all the people interfering with him, she thought, If there were any evidence, it is surely lost now. However, she believed, if there were anything to recover, it would be in the bell tower.

  Madeline asked, "Is there a police officer here? Anyone who could search the tower, before someone cleans it up."

  "I thought I saw the deputy here, that St. John fellow, but I'm not certain. He doesn't appear to be here now. I will go to the tower. If I find anything, we can bring it to the police," Austin said.

  "Bring the silver, it's important―you must find the silver―it's in a black box," Madeline yelled.

  Oliver called out, "Austin, we'll be in the carriage."

  Madeline leaned against Oliver in the carriage, grateful for a shoulder to place her head upon. When he lifted her dress, to bandage her knees with his handkerchief, she didn't even blink. She thought, Modesty, be damned.

  "Jeffrey―how can this be? If he had never helped me, he would still be alive. He was so steadfast in his effort to help Lonnie's family, that he did not consider his safety," she moaned.

  "There's Emily. She will help you," said Oliver.

  Emily, looking haggard and pale, was assisted, by Oliver, into the carriage.

  Emily cried in a broken voice, "I've seen Jeffrey. How did it happen? Did the poor, boy fall? Dear God, what evil has befallen our city?"

  She sat next to Madeline, and continued speaking, "Let's get her home, and I'
ll have Dr. Johnson come as quickly as possible."

  Oliver stated, "We're waiting for Austin. He should be here momentarily."

  "I've got it," said Austin. "There's a doctor with Jeffrey. He will stay until the police arrive. I'm sure they will want to question you."

  Oliver said, "You may not have to wait. I believe Inspector Davis is a regular at Edgar's card games."

  When Emily put her arms around Madeline, she began to cry, hiding her face from the men.

  Emily said, "Hush now, just rest. Tell me everything when we get home."

  Arriving at Emily's home, they could see two horses tied up at the entrance.

  Reggie informed them that Deputy St. John, and a priest from St. Mark's, were in the library with Mr. Montgomery. Reggie added that St. John knew of the incident at the festival and knew he could find Inspector Davis at the Montgomery house. The priest had come to offer his services, after having observed Madeline at the bell tower.

  Emily requested, "Reggie, please get Frederick and have him bring Dr. Johnson back. Tell him Mrs. Donovan is injured. It is not life-threatening, but she does need medical attention."

  "Yes, Mam," said Reggie

  Inspector Davis, Edgar and the other men had entered the foyer.

  "Emily, thank goodness you are safely home. The deputy is here and told us about the most terrible accident at the festival."

  Davis said, "Now, Mrs. Donovan, I'm sure you realize I need to question you, but I can see you are in no state at the moment. If you would like to clean yourself up, and have the doc look at you, I understand.

  "We will continue our game in the drawing room until then. Mrs. Montgomery, if you would be so kind as to let us know when Mrs. Donovan can speak to me."

  "You go on, Davis, I'd like to be with my wife, and see that Madeline is properly taken care of. "Where's Charlotte? See that she draws Madeline a bath, quickly now, Reggie," ordered Edgar.

  Before she left, Oliver said, "Madeline, would you like us to stay? We'll support you―Davis can be a bear."

  Madeline replied, "No, go home. I will need to rest. My friend, from Chicago, will arrive tomorrow. Perhaps we can meet at the Palms Place in the evening. I will send word to you.

  "It has been a terrible day. We've lost Jeffrey―I will never forget it, as long as I live―the horror of it. But, I will not falter to find out who did this."

  They bid her good-night, both looking pale and shaken―voicing their commitment to assist if they could.

  Charlotte said, "Oh, Miss, how awful! I liked Mr. Jeffrey―I can't believe we'll never see him again.

  "Look at your knees, they're still bleeding."

  "It's nothing. I couldn't help him, Charlotte. It happened so fast. I think the person who did it meant to do me harm, also. I had my mother's gun in my boot and was able to retrieve it in time to defend my life."

  Emily entered, and ushered Charlotte away.

  "Madeline, I won't ask you anything tonight. You will have enough of an ordeal with the inspector. We will talk tomorrow―I know none of us will sleep tonight, but I am grateful you are safe.

  "The doctor is here. He is in the adjoining room. Please go there, as soon as you dress."

  "I will not dally. I know everyone is waiting for me. Please tell them I will be down as soon as I've finished with the doctor."

  Madeline dressed in a plain, brown dress, pulling her hair tightly in a crude twist. She knew she would grieve for Jeffrey for a long time. Though she had only known him briefly, she ached for the young man, and his dreams that would never be.

  Doctor Johnson bandaged her injured knees, removing small, pieces of glass that stuck in her skin. The morphine he gave her calmed her mind and allowed her the stability to meet with the officer.

  She asked Charlotte to inform Mr. Davis that she was ready to meet with him in the library.

  Inspector Davis said, "Sit, sit, Mrs. Donovan. You were frightened and witnessed your friend's death. I'm sorry. I liked the boy, but you do remember I warned you both.

  "What were you doing in the bell tower?"

  "I received a note stating that if I put twenty dollars, in a black box located in the tower, I would receive information, as to who owns the rosary I found at the riverbank."

  "Will you show me the note?"

  "I will return in a moment, with the note and the black box."

  Madeline felt a sense of relief that she had something tangible she could present to Davis.

  She retrieved the box Austin had brought to her and searched her satchel for the note. To her dismay―even after turning the contents out on her bed―she could not find it. Madeline assumed it lost in the scuffle at the tower.

  When she returned to the library, she handed the box to the inspector. He sat smoking a pipe, looking smug and gazing at Madeline as if she were a recalcitrant child. She thought He probably blames me for Jeffrey's death.

  "I cannot find the note. I must have lost it, but here is the black box."

  He looked at it and said, "Is this the money you put into it?"

  "No, that money was left there."

  She did not convey her idea that she believed it represented the pieces of silver alloted to the biblical Judas. He would have probably scoffed at that supposition, and openly ridiculed her. Perhaps her imagination was getting the best of her.

  "If you didn't put the money there, who do you think did? I'm sorry, Miss, but your story doesn't seem to make much sense. You can't produce the note, and instead of leaving your payment, money is left for you."

  "I know it sounds strange, but if you will let me explain what happened."

  He nodded for her to go on.

  She spoke at length about all that transpired, and then he said,

  "This monk you saw―is it not possible he was there to collect the wine? Are you certain he did not surprise Jeffrey, and he accidentally fell?

  "You must admit, seeing a monk at the church is not an uncommon occurrence. I was at the festival last year, and I clearly remember a dozen or so being there. They come from the neighboring Abbey."

  Madeline believed the inspector to be an impossible man. It was as if he looked at things through some strange set of glasses, ones that veiled the truth.

  "I will put the silver into evidence, and investigate your story. I know you don't believe it to be accidental, but I must tell you the idea of someone in this town wishing to murder Jeffrey is quite preposterous to me.

  "I know in a city like Chicago, murder is probably a common crime, but, Miss, here in St. Augustine, it is indeed rare.

  "I will let you rest. I will be back to tell you what I've found," concluded Davis.

  Returning to her room, she lay in bed, weeping softly over Jeffrey. Madeline knew she had to unravel the secrets this city held before she would find the person responsible for his, and the other boys deaths before it claimed another victim.

  Nestling under the covers, she retrieved her journal from the bedside table and wrote,

  September 2, 1889

  If not for the coming arrival of my dearest friend, Hugh, I feel I would go mad. I did not foresee the danger we found at the bell tower. I truly believed someone had wished to gain a few monetary dollars.

  Nothing seems logical, but I continue to believe that Emma must know more than she is willing to reveal. Perhaps I can entreat the handsome Mr. Scott to discover Emma's Achilles heel.

  Madeline fell asleep gripping the journal as if she needed to hold on to something.

  Chapter Nine

  The Black Box

  She awoke at six, after hearing the voices of the household. She assumed they were conversing about the tragedy that occurred the evening before. For a moment, she wondered if she had dreamt it all, and then shuddered, realizing the truth. She wanted to lay under the covers and spend the day weeping for her friend. It took all her strength to dress for breakfast.

  The Montgomery family were in the dining room, drinking coffee and talking quietly.

  Emily st
ood, and walked over to Madeline, embracing her.

  "We've been up since five. We'll have breakfast, and you can tell us what happened."

  When she finished telling her story, Edgar said, "You mean you took a shot at the person? Were you able to tell if it was a man or a woman?"

  Madeline replied, "Yes. I did take a shot―I don't believe I injured them―the bells were in my line of fire. I couldn't tell whether the person was male or female. It was dark, and the bells cast shadows. The monk garb completely covered the assailant."

  Emily asked, "But why? What reason could anyone have to harm Jeffrey?"

  "Our refusal to accept the verdict that Lonnie had murdered Clifford―stopping us permanently from further investigation. I would say that was a damned good reason. Oh, pardon me for my harsh words.

  "I'm sure whoever did this believes they have sufficiently frightened me into ceasing my interrogations. However, I will not stop investigating. Hugh will be here, and I will have an ally in this fight," Madeline responded emphatically.

  Emily said, "I find this so hard to believe, yet there must be something in it, three deaths―in such a short time―I don't think I'll sleep peacefully until the situation has a resolution."

  "It's just hysteria," said Edgar, "hysteria, my dear. I still believe the inspector. Madeline, don't you think Jeffrey could have been startled by the monk and fallen? As you say, it was dark, the bells were in your line of vision. Could you not be mistaken?"

  "No, Mr. Montgomery."

  Edgar continued, "The inspector will return, and have it all sorted out, you'll see.

  "I will be in the city, 'Em', I have business there, but I will return for dinner."

  When he left, Emily stated, "Oh, Madeline, he is so embedded in the culture of the city. He seems to believe that evil cannot happen here, that there must be an explanation. When he is in the city buying and selling real estate, his business associates feel the same as he. His position becomes solidified after he speaks with them.