Contagion by Joanne Dahme

Author:Joanne Dahme
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Running Press
Published: 2010-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

We were silent as we followed the path back to the cemetery’s Gate House. I felt cold to the bone. A heavy, black shadow had been flung over my world. Nothing seemed recognizable.The detective was respectful of my gloom.

When we rounded the bend, I saw the carriage parked alongside the Old Mortality memorial, but Julius was not in any of his customary positions—either in the driver’s seat, waiting patiently for me, or standing with one foot on the side board inspecting the wheels.

“Julius?” I called, quickly looking around the Gate House circle. I knew he wouldn’t leave the carriage, unless it was to find me.

“I’ll check with the caretaker, Mrs. Dugan. Perhaps he is in the office,” Detective Buchanan offered. “Why don’t you wait inside the carriage and warm yourself?”

I allowed the detective to escort me, despite my growing apprehension. “Julius wasn’t feeling well, Detective. I’m concerned.”

“I’m sure we’ll find him,” he replied, lightly guiding me by the elbow as he opened the carriage door.The detective stepped away to allow me to enter. It was then that I screamed at the sight of Julius sprawled across the carriage’s backseat, his head bent at a disconcerting angle where it rested in the corner, his long legs crooked awkwardly in the aisle.

“Julius!” I called, pulling myself into the carriage. I leaned over him and shook him gently by the shoulders, praying that he was only asleep. In an instant, Detective Buchanan crowded behind me.

“Has he been attacked?” the detective asked, trying to peer around me without physically moving me aside. “Is he bleeding?” The detective sounded angry, but I didn’t answer him as I placed my hand across Julius’s forehead.

“Well?” Detective Buchanan asked, squeezing his bulky frame next to me. “I don’t see any signs of a blow.”

Julius was feverish, and his pale skin was splotchy. I quickly loosened his tie and undid his morning coat and the top buttons of his shirt. I gasped as I looked at what I feared I would see—flat, rose-colored spots covering his chest. My parents had the same symptoms before they died from the infection.

By this time, Detective Buchanan had eased beside me. “You must be careful, Mrs. Dugan. It looks like . . .”

“It’s typhoid, Detective,” I affirmed. I turned to confront Detective Buchanan. I wanted to challenge him to defeat this more intangible and insidious criminal. “We must get him home and summon a doctor,” I urged.

In a moment, Detective Buchanan was in the driver’s seat, yelling to the caretaker to open the gates.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.