Fair and Tender Ladies by Chris Nickson

Author:Chris Nickson [Chris Nickson]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2013-08-04T16:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

He woke early, the way he always did, sliding out of bed without waking Lizzie or disturbing James on his pallet. He found bread and the remains of some cheese, and scraped away the mould with his knife. That and some ale, it was a breakfast for a king.

The morning air was warm, another hot day in the making, and he left his stock loose as he walked to the jail. Rob was there, sitting back in the chair, the night report complete and waiting on the desk.

‘Nothing more at the school?’ Sedgwick asked.

‘Everything’s quiet. I checked every hour.’ Lister stood and stretched.

‘How’s Emily?’

‘Quiet,’ he said after a moment. ‘She’s terrified, but she’d never admit it.’

‘If I were a lass and someone was doing that to me, I’d be scared, too. What about the rest of it? Busy night?’

Lister shrugged. ‘Saturday night, hot weather.’ He lifted his hand to show the cuts on his knuckles. ‘You know what it’s like. Always some who want to show what they can do.’

‘Many in the cells?’

‘Just five, the worst of them. It’s all written down ready for the Petty Sessions tomorrow.’

‘I’m worried about the boss,’ the deputy said. ‘This business at the school’s all he can think about now.’

‘Do you blame him? It’s his own daughter.’

‘Aye, true,’ he said doubtfully. The Constable hadn’t been himself since his wife had died. Only to be expected, but there were still crimes that had to be solved. ‘Anyway, I might have something on Jem Carter’s murder.’

‘Oh? What’s that?’

‘Someone I was talking to yesterday. I’m seeing him again this morning. If it’s anything I’ll tell you. You’d best get yourself home and all prettied up for church.’ He looked at the lad’s strained, careworn face and grinned. ‘Mind you, from the look of you there might never be enough time for that.’

He checked on the men still sleeping off their ale and bruises in the cells, then started on his rounds. The clock struck six, already full light. Another two hours and maybe he’d have something useful from the night watchman. Then the boss would have to pay attention.

The deputy walked along Vicar Lane, then up the hill of the Head Row before returning down Briggate. A few folk were out, those who had jobs even on the Sabbath, trudging along wearily. He felt a spring in his step, the warmth and joy of the weather as he slipped into Currie Entry.

The blow exploded against the back of his head and sent him sprawling to his knees. Before he could move he was being kicked hard. Sedgwick struggled to open his eyes, but they wouldn’t do what he wanted. As he started to reach for his knife a heel came down hard on his hand and he felt searing pain as the bones broke.

The deputy tried to curl into a ball, but the boots were relentless, on his body and his face. He tasted blood in his mouth and felt it gushing from his nose. He tried

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