Dead Drop: A historical thriller you don't want to miss... (Julia McAllister Victorian Mysteries Book 4) by Marilyn Todd

Author:Marilyn Todd [Todd, Marilyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2021-12-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

‘This wasn’t part of the original schedule,’ Avalon confided to Julia. ‘It was just that, suddenly, we couldn’t sell enough tickets to accommodate everyone, so Buck had a brainwave.’

A brainwave, Julia wondered, as she squeezed through the palisade. Or part of the plan? Ghouls descend on murder scenes like wasps to ripe fruit — but would the showman really kill one of his own cast to double the takings? Girls don’t stay with us long, Annie had said. Maybe Collingwood should look into that.

‘He had a word with the City Council yesterday, and they agreed we could fence off the pond on the Common, with admission for paying customers only,’ Avalon said. ‘Eddie, Buck and Hal spent half the night setting this up.’

‘Impressive,’ Julia said. ‘Who’s Eddie?’

Avalon pointed with the pasty she was munching.

Surely not! ‘The Great MMM is called Eddie?’

‘Eddie Cox to be precise.’

Gone was the shimmering gold jacquard waistcoat. This afternoon he was top to tailcoat in black, wearing a black mask over his nose and mouth. No one would even think to link him with the riverboat gambler, making the mid-section of his assistant disappear, or cutting her head off at Madame Guillotine, just as they wouldn’t see him as card sharp, Diamond Jim. Surrounded by half of Oakbourne squashed inside the fence, Julia wasn’t worried about being recognised, either. True, her soft brim was pulled low over her face as a precaution, but with her long hair loose, a lasso in one hand, a pistol in the other, and her fringed cowgirl skirt swinging each time she moved, even her own mother wouldn’t make the connection between Annie Oaktree and the photographer’s lowly assistant.

‘I called at Vine Cottage earlier. I thought we might take lunch in the tea rooms next door, my treat, only the landlady hadn’t heard of you.’

‘She wouldn’t.’ Avalon giggled. ‘I got the whole thing completely muddled up. Again! Vine Cottage is where Eddie and Hal are staying. Dodge and me are at the White Lion Inn, and honestly, my memory’s such a joke these days, Molly’s even worked a gag in. How long have you suffered from memory loss? she asks, to which I have to say as long as I can remember. Ooh, I’ve just thought of a way to make this skit even funnier.’

She scampered off, saloon girl feathers waving in the breeze. On the makeshift stage by the duck house, Molly was warming up the crowd. ‘What’s your favourite childhood memory?’ she asked the audience. ‘Skipping? Football? Tying ribbons on puppy dogs’ tails? Mine was building sandcastles with my grandmother. Leastways, until Dad took the urn away.’

‘Hey,’ Buck shouted, as Dodger swaggered forward. ‘Aren’t you Marshal Kwyatt Burp?’

In reply, Dodger let out a theatrical belch.

‘Ah. Not so quiet, then,’ Buck said, pulling a face. The crowd lapped it up. ‘What brings you to this part of Stodge City?’

‘I’m bringing in Texas Jack. He’s wanted everywhere from Land’s End to John O’Groats.’

‘How many people has he killed?’ asked an astonished Buffalo Buck.

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