Read Online The Coffin Lane Murders by Alanna Knight - Free Book Online
Authors: Alanna Knight
Tags: Fiction, General, Historical, Mystery & Detective, Police, Police Procedural, Scotland, Serial Murders, Edinburgh (Scotland), Edinburgh, Faro; Jeremy (Fictitious Character)
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so much at the Tower. She is such a good soul - they both are - and the party will be such a treat for the old gentleman.'
'You go then, and take Jamie, I have no objections to that,' said Vince huffily.
'No, dear. You must come. I insist, and it would be churlish to refuse,' said Olivia sharply. Her husband's quite unreasonable dislike for Sir Hedley was one of the few disagreeable facets of his character with which she had completely failed to come to terms.
'Besides,' she said helplessly to Faro as Vince stalked out of the room, 'I am fond of Sir Hedley. He's all that's left of a bygone age. I can't understand Vince's behaviour, really I can't.'
She looked at Faro as if he might be able to provide the answer. 'There must be some very good reason, dear Vince is so rational about everything normally. What on earth makes him behave in this - unfortunate manner? Did they quarrel?'
'No, my dear. And I am as much in the dark as you are. From their first meeting when Sir Hedley wanted so much to be on good terms - that was extraordinary in itself, since he has always been such a recluse - Vince just couldn't abide him, could hardly be civil to him.'
Olivia sighed. 'You know, I expect that he almost turned down Conan's application just because of the relationship with Kate.'
I'm glad you talked him out of that, my dear. He would have lost the services of an excellent doctor.'
'I do agree. I've hoped since Kate and I are such friends, and because her uncle dotes on wee Jamie, that Vince's heart might soften towards him. But no-' She held up her hand as Vince's footsteps approached. As he came in she sneezed violently. 'Oh dear, I seem to be taking a wretched cold.'
Vince hovered anxiously, put a hand on her forehead. 'You don't seem feverish, but you must take care.'
'It's just a sniffle, dear. Kate gave me some of Conan's magic drops to take at bedtime.'
'What are they?'
'A prescription of his own invention.'
Vince looked interested. 'I must get it from him. We are desperate for remedies for patients with colds and it might help us handle this influenza epidemic.'
Olivia didn't appear at breakfast and to Faro's anxious enquiry, Vince said, 'She had a poor night, feeling queasy. I thought she'd better have a morning in bed. Nanny will keep Jamie out of her way. We don't want him catching anything. If it's influenza then we are all susceptible. It could spread through the house,' he said gloomily.
And as Faro prepared to leave he said, 'I trust you are feeling quite fit, Stepfather. You're looking quite tired these days.'
'I am in perfect health, thank you,' said Faro icily and departed hurriedly.
He did not welcome another of Vince's lectures on slowing down. There were enough people commenting on his approach to fifty to make him feel unreasonably ancient.
And he was getting very sensitive to that particular subject, especially as he had enough to do keeping all his wits about him and in maintaining the stamina necessary to solve two murders.
He was not prepared for an attack on a third woman.
Chapter 8
The killer's third victim was still alive when she ran out of Coffin Lane and collapsed on Dalkeith Road, her jacket torn and blood oozing on to the road from a stab wound in the chest.
With great presence of mind one of the horrified onlookers remembered there was a doctor's surgery close by and that Inspector Faro lived in Sheridan Place.
About to depart for the Glasgow train, by the time Faro reached the scene, PC Dean was already lifting the injured woman into a carriage. Whereas the constable looked anxious and stricken, Dr Spens hovered importantly, giving directions.
He beamed on Faro. 'Glad to see you, sir. This is a hospital case.'
'I'll come with you.'
'They were very fortunate that I was just setting foot in the street...’ Angus prattled on about Vince and Conan not having arrived yet and how many patients they would have to deal with that morning without his assistance.
He never once
'You go then, and take Jamie, I have no objections to that,' said Vince huffily.
'No, dear. You must come. I insist, and it would be churlish to refuse,' said Olivia sharply. Her husband's quite unreasonable dislike for Sir Hedley was one of the few disagreeable facets of his character with which she had completely failed to come to terms.
'Besides,' she said helplessly to Faro as Vince stalked out of the room, 'I am fond of Sir Hedley. He's all that's left of a bygone age. I can't understand Vince's behaviour, really I can't.'
She looked at Faro as if he might be able to provide the answer. 'There must be some very good reason, dear Vince is so rational about everything normally. What on earth makes him behave in this - unfortunate manner? Did they quarrel?'
'No, my dear. And I am as much in the dark as you are. From their first meeting when Sir Hedley wanted so much to be on good terms - that was extraordinary in itself, since he has always been such a recluse - Vince just couldn't abide him, could hardly be civil to him.'
Olivia sighed. 'You know, I expect that he almost turned down Conan's application just because of the relationship with Kate.'
I'm glad you talked him out of that, my dear. He would have lost the services of an excellent doctor.'
'I do agree. I've hoped since Kate and I are such friends, and because her uncle dotes on wee Jamie, that Vince's heart might soften towards him. But no-' She held up her hand as Vince's footsteps approached. As he came in she sneezed violently. 'Oh dear, I seem to be taking a wretched cold.'
Vince hovered anxiously, put a hand on her forehead. 'You don't seem feverish, but you must take care.'
'It's just a sniffle, dear. Kate gave me some of Conan's magic drops to take at bedtime.'
'What are they?'
'A prescription of his own invention.'
Vince looked interested. 'I must get it from him. We are desperate for remedies for patients with colds and it might help us handle this influenza epidemic.'
Olivia didn't appear at breakfast and to Faro's anxious enquiry, Vince said, 'She had a poor night, feeling queasy. I thought she'd better have a morning in bed. Nanny will keep Jamie out of her way. We don't want him catching anything. If it's influenza then we are all susceptible. It could spread through the house,' he said gloomily.
And as Faro prepared to leave he said, 'I trust you are feeling quite fit, Stepfather. You're looking quite tired these days.'
'I am in perfect health, thank you,' said Faro icily and departed hurriedly.
He did not welcome another of Vince's lectures on slowing down. There were enough people commenting on his approach to fifty to make him feel unreasonably ancient.
And he was getting very sensitive to that particular subject, especially as he had enough to do keeping all his wits about him and in maintaining the stamina necessary to solve two murders.
He was not prepared for an attack on a third woman.
Chapter 8
The killer's third victim was still alive when she ran out of Coffin Lane and collapsed on Dalkeith Road, her jacket torn and blood oozing on to the road from a stab wound in the chest.
With great presence of mind one of the horrified onlookers remembered there was a doctor's surgery close by and that Inspector Faro lived in Sheridan Place.
About to depart for the Glasgow train, by the time Faro reached the scene, PC Dean was already lifting the injured woman into a carriage. Whereas the constable looked anxious and stricken, Dr Spens hovered importantly, giving directions.
He beamed on Faro. 'Glad to see you, sir. This is a hospital case.'
'I'll come with you.'
'They were very fortunate that I was just setting foot in the street...’ Angus prattled on about Vince and Conan not having arrived yet and how many patients they would have to deal with that morning without his assistance.
He never once
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