The Carnival Murders: A captivating and pulse-pounding historical mystery (A Tate and Bell Mystery Book 7) by Irina Shapiro

Author:Irina Shapiro [Shapiro, Irina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2026-03-10T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTY

At Millbank Prison, Sebastian was informed that the warden had given Jonah Norris the rest of the week off on account of his loss. This was unusually sympathetic, more so because Jonah did not hold a high position and could be easily replaced if unable to do his job. Sebastian felt a brief pang of guilt about intruding on the poor man’s grief, but it was important that he speak to Jonah, and it presented him with an opportunity to question Tamzin’s friends, since he hadn’t been able to call on them earlier.

When he arrived at the Norrises’ address, he found the door unlocked. The rooms reeked of ale, provisions that had gone off, and stale sweat. Jonah was sprawled on the bed. He still wore his prison uniform and although dead to the world was thankfully not dead. Judging from the fumes that permeated the small bedroom, he was insensible with drink and might take hours to wake from his stupor.

“Mr. Norris,” Sebastian called, but received no answer.

He tried again, then slapped Jonah lightly across the face. Jonah didn’t budge. Sebastian slapped him a little harder, and Jonah moaned, “Hm?”

“Mr. Norris, it’s time to wake up.”

“What have I got to wake up for?” Jonah rasped, and covered his head with a pillow. “Tamzin is gone.”

His words were muffled by the pillow, but Sebastian heard the agonizing pain in the man’s voice. He knew how Jonah felt. He’d been in this very place himself not so long ago and recalled only too clearly how much he’d hated waking up, that first moment of awareness as painful as if someone had stabbed him through the heart. It had been like losing Louisa all over again, and he’d wished he’d die so he could be reunited with his wife and son.

“Do you want to catch Tamzin’s killer?” Sebastian demanded. “Or do you want him to go free and live a long and happy life?”

“His death won’t bring my Tamzin back,” Jonah replied tearfully.

“No, it won’t, but it might keep some other family safe.”

“What do I care about other families?” Jonah cried. “I cared about mine, and now I’m alone. I wish I was dead too so I wouldn’t have to feel this pain.”

“There is life after the death of a loved one, Jonah,” Sebastian said softly, and reflected on how far he’d come since those whisky-soaked days and nights when he had barely been able to get out of bed and hadn’t eaten or washed for days. And then he’d discovered the opium pipe and could suddenly see Louisa again. It was as if she were there, beside him, holding his hand and stroking his brow. But the pipe had been a false friend, and it wasn’t until he had met Gemma that he’d truly begun to heal.

“Not for me,” Jonah muttered.

“You need to feel your grief, but you will come out the other side. I promise you,” Sebastian said.

“How would you know?”

“I know because I lost my wife and child as well.

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