Read Online Quick, Amanda by Affair - Free Book Online Page B

of it. Stand back." "Whatever for, sit?" "Miss Arkendale, it is my turn to
    warn you not to delay us with idle questions. Now that we are committed to this piece of idiocy, speed is
    of the essence." "Of course, Mr. St. Ives."Charlotte 's shoes scraped lightly on the stone as she stepped
    back. "Please proceed."
    Baxter could not see a Nng in the thick darkness there below the street. He needed some light but he
    dared not use the lantern until they were inside the house.
    He reached into the pocket of his greatcoat and withdrew one of three small glass vials he had stored
    there. He snapped the vial in half There was a flash of bright, intense light. He used his body to shield the
    glow. The glare revealed the kitchen door and its lock.
    Charlottegave a staritled exclamation. "What in heaven's name is that, Mr. St. Ives?" "I have devoted
    some time recently to working on a new method of producing instantaneous lights." Baxter fished a set of
    steel needles out of his pocket. "I am attempting to develop one that will last for more than a few
    seconds."
    --ft.D
    49
    see."Charlotte 's soft voice was imbued with admiration. ,,How very clever of you, sit. Where did you
    get those little tools?" "We men-of-affairs must acquire a variety of skills in order to
    stay employable." He had learned to use the lock picks before the venture toItaly , knowing full well that
    he would be obliged to get through several locked doors in Morgan Judd's castle.
    The light was already fading. Baxter selected a needle and slid it
    into the lock.
    He closed his eyes and applied the lock pick gently. There was a
    faint click. The lock gave just as the last of the flaring light created by his new phosphorous compound
    sputtered out of existence. "Excellent work, Mr. St. Ives." "It depends entirely on one's point of view."
    Baxter pushed open the door and moved cautiously into the kitchen. "The new
    owner of this house, for example, may not be so happily impressed. In fact, he might well have a serious
    objection to this little act of housebreaking. I certainly would if I were in his shoes." "I told you, I made
    inquiries. The house is empty and likely to
    remain so until Mrs. Heskett's heir arrives to deal with the estate. By all accounts he is a distant relative
    who lives somewhere inScotland and is quite infirm. No one expects him anytime soon." "What of the
    Page 43
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    servants?" "They all left shortly after the murder. There was no one around to pay their wages. We have
    the place to ourselves." "As you are determined to go through with this business of searching for clues,
    we had best move quickly." Baxter closed the kitchen door and lit the lantern. "I instructed the coachman
    to come
    in search of us if we did not reappear in the park within half an hour's time." "Half an hour?"Charlotte 's
    disapproving frown was plainly revealed by the dim, golden glow of the lantern. "I do not know if that will
    be long enough to go through this entire house."
    Baxter glanced quickly around the empty kitchen. "The sooner we're finished, the better."
    50
    Amanda Quick
    "Need I remind you, sit, that you are not the one in charge of this affair? You are employed by me and I
    will give the instruc tions.
    Baxter brushed past her into the hall. He opened another door and saw an empty sitting room that had
    no doubt been the province of the housekeeper. "We may as well start with the bedchambers
    upstairs and work our way back down through the house." "Now see here, Mr. St. Ives-" "Don't
    dawdle, Miss Arkendale." Baxter took the stairs two at a
    time. "The first rule of housebreaking is to be quick and efficient. Now, then, as I have the lantern, I
    propose that we work together." "Wait for me."Charlotte 's footsteps sounded lightly on the
    stairs. "Really, sit, when this is finished, you and I are going to have a serious discussion regarding the
    precise nature of your duties." "Whatever