by C. J. Archer
"Nothing," he said. "That's the problem. Abercrombie denied having anything to do with Daniel's disappearance, or with our abductions."
"Not even sending Eddie to warn me against investigating? And that other hooded fellow?"
"He claims Eddie talked to you off his own bat, and he knows nothing about the other man. According to him, Duffield and Hogarth acted on their own, too. While I do believe Hogarth killed Daniel without being urged by anyone, I'm certain Abercrombie knew about the abduction, perhaps even orchestrated it. Duffield's not talking."
"But I don't think Abercrombie is a murderer. If he was, he would have tried to get to me before now. That hooded fellow could have knifed me." The thought chilled me.
"Perhaps," he said darkly. "But you must still be careful."
"What about moving Mirth to another facility and spying on him at the bank?" I asked. "Did Abercrombie say why he did that?"
"Apparently the newer facility is better," Matt said. "As to the bank, he claims he simply had his own banking to do, that's why he was there."
"That's ridiculous. He was loitering outside for an age."
"He denied it all," Cyclops said, sitting beside Willie. "He's slippery. We couldn't pin him to anything for certain."
"There was no solid evidence," Matt agreed. "The police won't act without it."
"We can act without it," Willie muttered, picking dirt out from under her fingernails. "We know he's an evil snake."
"We won't be acting without evidence either," I told her. "I won't have that on my conscience."
"Your conscience is dull. It needs a little adventure."
"I've endured quite enough adventure, thank you. I'd rather sit here with a good book, right now. If you think that dull, then that says more about you than me."
Willie simply sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. She tossed a grin my way as she made a point of rubbing the snot on her trouser leg.
I handed her my handkerchief. "You missed some."
She snatched the handkerchief and dabbed at her nose.
"We need to find DuPont." Duke flicked his gaze toward Matt. "Urgently."
"How?" Cyclops asked. "He's disappeared and we know nothing about him or where to find him."
"We know something of his nature," Matt said. "We know what he wants, what he desires above all else. We can use that to find him."
We waited for him to elaborate, but he didn't. He simply changed the subject. "I have a new hobby," he announced. At our bewildered looks, he added, "Archaeology. I'm going to invest in Mr. Young's excavation."
"You want to save the mosaic?" I asked. "How noble."
"Noble?" Willie said with a shake of her head. "You've finally lost your marbles, Matt."
"I have all my marbles and I'm not all that noble," Matt said. "I just want all the damned pits in Bucklersbury Street closed."
I laughed. "I agree completely. The sooner the better."
"What about the hoard?" Cyclops asked. "Are you going to tell Young its buried somewhere near where Daniel's body was found?"
"I think we'll leave it there," Mat said. "Perhaps a future generation of archaeologists will find it."
"That thing has created enough problems as it is," I said. "I agree it should be left buried. Good riddance to it."
Bristow entered. "Luncheon is served in the dining room, sir."
"Thank you, Bristow." Matt held his hand out to me. "Will you walk in with me, equal partner?"
"Only if you promise not to hare off without me again. Not even to see Abercrombie."
"I can't make that promise." He stood there, his hand extended, his smile slipping. "India? Are you mad at me?"
I took his hand. "Matt, you're the most agreeable person I've ever met. Trying to stay mad at you is like trying to make clock hands go backwards."
"Impossible?"
"No, actually it is possible, but it's pointless. Why would anyone want to do such a thing?"
He placed his other hand over mine, sending a thrill whispering across my skin. But he spoiled the tender moment by laughing. "Thank you, India."
I tipped my face so that I could see him better. Our noses almost bumped. His breath warmed my lips. "For what?" I whispered.
"For brightening my moods when they'd otherwise be dark." The shine of humor in the depths of his eyes would imply now was one of those times. "And for not staying mad at me. I wouldn't like it if you did. I wouldn't like it at all."
THE END
Coming soon:
THE APOTHECARY’S POISON
The 3rd book in the Glass and Steele series by C.J. Archer.
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Also by C.J. Archer
SERIES WITH 2 OR MORE BOOKS
Glass and Steele
The Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy
The 1st Freak House Trilogy
The 2nd Freak House Trilogy
The 3rd Freak House Trilogy
The Ministry of Curiosities Series
The Assassins Guild Series
Lord Hawkesbury's Players Series
The Witchblade Chronicles
SINGLE TITLES NOT IN A SERIES
Courting His Countess
Surrender
Redemption
The Mercenary's Price
About the Author
C.J. Archer has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She spent her early childhood in the dramatic beauty of outback Queensland, Australia, but now lives in suburban Melbourne with her husband, two children and a mischievous black & white cat named Coco.
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