The Case of the Deadly Desperados by Caroline Lawrence

Author:Caroline Lawrence
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2012-01-29T05:00:00+00:00

Ledger Sheet 28

MY THORN HAD BETRAYED ME, but my Gift—my keen observational skills—might save me yet.

Belle Donne was aiming a cocked Colt’s Baby Dragoon Revolver at my chest. It had an ivory grip. I recognized it from the clothing cupboard.

“Give me that Letter,” she said. “Then no harm will come to you.”

“That is unfair,” I said. “I risked my life to save you.”

“It is true,” said Belle, “that you have been kind to me. I do not want to shoot you. But I will if I have to. Now give me that Letter.”

“Very well,” I said.

I stood up.

“What are you doing?” she said.

I told a lie. “The Letter is in my pocket,” I said. I put my hand in my pocket and pulled out my Smith & Wesson’s seven-shooter & drew down on her.

She quickly aimed her Colt at my leg and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened.

“What the hell?” she said.

I cocked my piece. “I recognized that Colt from the clothing cupboard,” I said. “It is unloaded and busted. Now get your hands up.”

“You will not shoot me,” she said with Expression No. 3: Disgust.

I fired into the ceiling, just missing the sky-window. My shot brought down a satisfying shower of dust & plaster. I cocked my gun again.

Belle cursed in language unfit for publication but she lifted her hands.

Isaiah Coffin chuckled and started to lower his.

“Both of you,” I said. “Keep your hands up.” I pointed my gun at Belle. “You,” I said. “Sit on the couch with your back to him.”

“D-mn you,” said Belle. But she did as I asked.

“Mr. Coffin,” I said. “Would you please remove your cravat and bind her hands behind her?”

“Which is it to be?” Isaiah Coffin asked me. “Do you want me to keep my hands up or bind her hands?”

“Bind her hands. I am going to tie you up to her.”

Isaiah Coffin removed his cravat and began to bind Belle’s wrists.

“I do not understand why you are doing this to me,” he said.

“You told me not to trust anybody,” I said. “And I think that is good advice.”

“Tooshay,” he said, and then, “Vwa la!” as he finished tying her wrists. “Now what?”

“Take off your shoes,” I said, “and pull out the laces.”

Isaiah Coffin bent over and began to take off his shoes.

“Untie me, P.K.,” said Belle. “And I will split the proceeds with you fifty-fifty.”

“I already have a partner,” I said. “And he will be back any minute with the cream. Mr. Coffin, would you please slide your shoes over to me? And use one of the laces to tie your ankles together.”

Isaiah Coffin sighed deeply but did as I asked.

The next bit was tricky. I had to tie his wrists with my right hand while keeping my revolver trained on them with my left. But I managed to do it. Then I tied Isaiah Coffin’s wrists to Belle’s.

They were now sitting back to back, perched on the edge of the couch with their wrists tied tightly in as many knots as I could manage.

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.