Scandal on Rincon Hill by Shirley Tallman

Author:Shirley Tallman [Tallman, Shirley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, Historical, Legal
ISBN: 9780312386979
Google: rwhDmQEACAAJ
Amazon: 1441773223
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: 2010-03-29T16:00:00+00:00

Using the storm as an excuse not to attempt any more errands that afternoon—and loath to continue with Robert's tedious paperwork—I soon departed my office to return home. When I arrived in the mid-afternoon, it was to find the entire household busily preparing for the Christmas party we were hosting the following Saturday.

Promising to join them as soon as I had changed out of my damp clothes, I hurried to my bedroom. I had no sooner come back downstairs, however, than Edis announced that George Lewis was at the door asking to see Samuel. Curious, I invited him in out of the rain, and informed him that my brother was spending the weekend in the country.

He declined my offer, continuing to stand outside the front door. Something in his expression caused the muscles in my stomach to tighten.

“What is it, George?” I asked. “What has happened? Don't tell me there's been another murder!”

“No, no, Miss Sarah, nothing like that. Fact is, we've arrested a couple of Chinamen for the killings.”

I regarded him in surprise. “you've arrested two Chinese men? I thought you were questioning the guests at the Tremaines' party the night Mr. Logan was killed.”

“We were, but we've come up with some witnesses willing to swear they saw two Johnnies skulking around the Harrison Street Bridge when Deacon Hume was beaten to death Wednesday morning. They've identified the men.”

I could hardly believe my ears. “But I thought you agreed that the same man who killed the deacon also murdered Nigel Logan. Now you're telling me that two Chinese men have been arrested for killing one of the victims, but not the other?”

George looked uneasy. “I'm afraid so, Miss Sarah. At least for now.”

“What does that mean—‘for now’?” I asked suspiciously.

He looked around cautiously, as if fearing someone might be eavesdropping on our conversation.

“I shouldn't be telling you this, Miss Sarah. But there's talk at the station that they're going to try to pin Logan's murder onto the two Chinese fellows, as well.”

“But the men who witnessed Mr. Logan's death claim they saw only one man running from the scene of the crime,” I protested. “I heard them say that myself. And neither of them mentioned anything about the man being Chinese.”

“I know, Miss Sarah. But the captain says they might not have seen the man all that clearly, seeing as how it was such a dark night. He claims it would have been easy enough to miss a second man, say, if he was hiding behind a bridge stanchion, or maybe was faster than his partner, and had already run out of sight.”

“This is ridiculous!” I exclaimed. “It was just as dark the night Deacon Hume was murdered. Why should the police believe one set of witnesses and not the other?”

I put up a staying hand before he could answer. “No, don't bother telling me, George, I understand what's going on here. It's much easier to credit witnesses who claim to have seen Chinese men commit the murder than to suspect a white man of the crime.

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