Read Online Bobbi Smith by Heaven - Free Book Online

seemed more like celebration. They had questioned him briefly about his presence at the hotel, and he’d been relieved when they accepted his answer that he’d been there to see a friend who worked at the place.
    Now, as he slipped from the house before anyone else had risen, he took the books which he’d hidden under his mattress for the night and some of the money Mr. Anthony had left him. It was common knowledge that access could be gained to the prison by bribing the guards, and he wanted to be prepared. A little later, after parting with a substantial amount of his money, Henry waited in the center yard for the guard to bring the professor to him.
    “Henry? Thank God!” Enoch spoke his name in surprise and relief as he followed the guard from the dark, dank, miserable building.
    “Professor Parker . . .”
    They clasped hands, and Enoch thought perhaps that things would finally change for the better. He hoped desperately that the valet had some kind of news that would help to set him free. One day in the filthy prison had been enough to last him a lifetime.
    “This is all so terrible. They think I murdered Lawrence! Have you heard anything? Anything at all?” the professor asked. His hopes were high as he awaited his reply.
    “Nothing. I wish I did have some good news for you, but I don’t.”
    “Damn!”
    “I do believe you are innocent, sir,” he offered.
    “Thank you.” The older man gave him a heartfelt look. “I’m not sure why I’ve been arrested, other than the fact that Lawrence and I argued over dinner. He told me some very startling news, and I was shocked and angry, but we never came to blows. In fact, we went back to his house and talked for several hours afterward. When I left him, he was fine. I don’t know what could have happened.”
    “I don’t know what happened either, but I do know that Philip and Robert have arranged for Mr. Anthony’s funeral to be today at noon.”
    “So soon?” Enoch stared at him in amazement. “Then everything Lawrence confided in me was true.”
    “Everything?”
    “He told me that he’d disinherited them. . .. He felt he had no sons, no family.”
    Henry had suspected as much after the night he’d confided in him about the books. “They don’t know it yet, and they won’t until tonight when they have the reading of the will. Did Mr. Anthony tell you about this?” He drew the wrapped book out of his coat pocket and handed it to him.
    “The book . . .” He took it from Henry and held it as if it were the most precious of relics. He wanted to rip the package open and devour every word, but he didn’t. When he looked up at Henry and there were tears in his eyes, what he did next was the most difficult thing he’d ever done in his life. He handed it back to Henry. “I can’t keep it.”
    “But Mr. Anthony insisted I deliver it to you.”
    “The book is too important to be put at risk, Henry. I dare not keep it here. God only knows what might happen to it, and we can’t risk letting it fall into his sons’ hands. We just can’t.”
    “What shall I do with it, sir?”
    “Send it on to my address in Boston. It will be safe there. Alex will know what to do with it.”
    “You’re sure?”
    “We have no choice,” he answered solemnly.
    “I’ll do it.”
    “Thank you, Henry. You’re a true friend, to Lawrence and to me.” For a moment, he’d been able to forget his own dire straits as he’d thought about the crown and the book, but now reality returned. He would have to return to the hell of the prison.
    “Professor Parker, I’ll do everything I can to help you. I know you didn’t poison Mr. Anthony.”
    “You seem to be the only one who believes in me.”
    “Time’s up!” the guard announced coming back to claim his prisoner.
    “Henry, you’re my only hope.”
    The guard led him away.
    Henry watched the good man go back inside, and he vowed to try to find some way to prove his innocence. He understood the professor’s very