Read Online The Coffin Lane Murders by Alanna Knight - Free Book Online Page B

looked at him. 'It may be some time, sir.'
    'Very well. Dean can stay with you.'
    Conan nodded. 'We'll send for you as soon as she is able to talk.' He smiled wanly and gave Faro a little shove. 'Go on, sir. You look exhausted. When did you last eat?'
    Faro shrugged. 'Sometime today. Breakfast I think. Or was it last night?'
    Conan took him firmly by the arm, steered him towards the door. 'Home, sir. Or I'll have Mrs Brook to reckon with.'
     
    But Faro had no intentions of returning home: his feelings of urgency dictated that he stay in the vicinity of the hospital.
    A tavern two streets away provided him with enough nourishment, a pie and a pint of ale, to satisfy the appetite. but somewhat less than the satisfaction of Mrs Brook's pleasant meals.
    Half an hour later, he was running upstairs to the ward where Rita lay, pale as death itself.
    Conan was there with Dean.
    'Well, what news?'
    'She's alive and she's given us a description of her attacker, sir.'
    'Well?' said Faro.
    The two men exchanged glances. 'You'll find this hard to believe, sir,' said Dean.
    'Try me!'
    'Our killer is a woman, sir.'

Chapter 9
     
    Conan indicated the motionless figure in the bed. 'She's still asleep,' he whispered. 'Given her laudanum. Go on, Constable. Tell the inspector.'
    'It was like this, sir-'
    But before Dean could continue, Rita heard their voices. Opening her eyes, she groaned and tried to sit up.
    Conan went over. Feebly she pushed him aside. Pointing to the little group at the bedside, recognising only the policeman, she sobbed, 'It was a woman stabbed me, Constable. A woman wearing one of those poke bonnets, old-fashioned, like my ma wore.' Her eyes widened in horror. 'She ran towards me. I thought she was lost, wanted directions, or something. I stopped and she just stuck this great knife in me.'
    Her face white, she clutched her chest and dropped back to the pillows. The duty nurse, hearing the commotion, pushed them aside. Taking Rita's pulse, she said sternly, 'I think you'd better leave, gentlemen. Come back later.'
    In the corridor, Faro stopped. 'Remain with her, Constable.' And to Conan: 'Only a madwoman would fit the bill. Frenzied attacks to maim rather than kill. If our first victim had been on the game then there might have been more reason: outraged wife - that sort of thing.'
    Conan looked thoughtful. 'True. Clearly she has no idea where to strike effectively to kill in that moment of madness.' He bit his lip and said slowly, 'A madwoman. It makes sense.'
    'From the asylum, you mean,' said Faro.
    Conan sighed. 'Alas, yes. And unless I am mistaken perhaps one of my own patients.'
    At Faro's horrified exclamation, he nodded. His voice urgent, he added, 'Would you care to accompany me, sir?'
    'What are we waiting for? We can do no good here.'
    Dean was sent for a carriage and while they waited. Faro said, 'You already knew, didn't you? That the killer might be a woman. Something to do with those slippers. was it?'
    Conan smiled. 'You amaze me.'
    'I should have worked it out for myself. You were so damned drawn to that one patent slipper that you got Vince to go back with you and search for the other. And then the size was wrong.' Faro sighed heavily. 'I was listening, instead of thinking. You know who it is, I gather?'
    Conan drew a deep breath. 'I know who it could be - who it could have been, given her former history. I just hope that I am wrong.'
    'Indeed? Violent was she-?'
    'Forgive me, sir,' Conan interrupted. 'I'd rather say no more until we talk to the matron at the asylum.'
    Faro looked out of the window. 'This isn't the way to the asylum - we're going towards Morningside.'
    'Right, sir,' said Conan. 'Summerhill Home, a very special asylum. They prefer to call it an institution for distressed patients. It's for the rich, who can be kept safely under lock and key at their family's expense and discretion.'
    Faro felt relieved that it was not the bedlam he feared as they turned into the gates of a large house