An Agent for Marianne by Christine Sterling

Author:Christine Sterling [Sterling, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-24T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

The next day Archie was met with the same story at the Bolton residence. James was asleep and couldn’t be disturbed.

He needed to find Pearl and ask her a few questions. As he entered the foyer in the large Victorian house, the sound of music reached his ears. He wondered where it was coming from.

He went to drop his coat in the office when he realized the sound was originating in the kitchen. He tossed his coat on the chair by the door and walked toward the music.

As he reached the entrance to the kitchen, he realized it was Pearl. She was happily humming while stirring something on the stove.

“It smells wonderful in here, Pearl.”

Pearl jumped, dropping the spoon she was holding into the pot. “Oh, bother,” she said. “You scared me.”

Archie laughed. “There are people walking through here all the time.”

“I know. I was just lost in my thoughts.”

“May I?” Archie pointed to the chair in the corner. Pearl nodded and Archie sat down. He watched Pearl fish the spoon from the pot and then put it in the wash basin.

“We are having stewed chicken tonight. Is that alright?”

“Everything you make is alright, Pearl.

I came by to ask you a question if you have a moment.”

He saw Pearl stiffen slightly. It was so slight that he would have missed it, except all his attention was on the woman in front of him.

“Of course,” she replied slowly. “You are my employer; you can ask anything you wish.”

“I’m not here as your employer, Pearl. I’m here as a friend.”

Pearl raised her eyebrow as though she didn’t believe him. Archie coughed and continued. “I was wondering if you knew your father’s sleeping habits?”

She put the spoon down and turned so she was facing Archie. She leaned back on the enamel cupboard for support. “Sleeping habits?”

“You know. What time he goes to sleep. Wakes up. That sort of thing.”

“He’s asleep most of the time now.”

“But he needs to be awake at some point.”

“Normally in the mornings. Before I come here. And sometimes in the early afternoon. Why?”

“So, you think those would be a good time to visit?”

Pearl paused for a moment as if thinking of her next words very carefully. “Why are you visiting my Father?”

Archie debated on if he should tell her. He decided it was probably best if she knew, so he shared the little bit he did know.

“Judge Hotchkiss has been missing since Sunday. I know he visited your father.” Pearl looked away. “I heard George say that he was going to visit after church on Sunday. He was having coffee in my office the day he said that. Don’t you remember, Pearl?”

Pearl lifted her hand to brush away a tear on her cheek. “I remember,” she said softly.

“I need to find him. I don’t know if he is in danger.”

Pearl looked at Archie, her red eyes in fiery contrast to her pale skin. “I can tell you this. My father doesn’t know anything about Mr. Hotchkiss going missing.”

“But you know something don’t you, Pearl?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.

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