The Conductors by Nicole Glover

Author:Nicole Glover [Glover, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780358181798
Google: HRahDwAAQBAJ
Amazon: 0358197058
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published: 2021-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

LEO

19

THE TRAIN TOOK THEM across the river into New Jersey. Though there was a location on the ticket, they did not need it. The wind carried boisterous laughter and familiar tunes, and the path before them bore signs of passage of many feet. Soon enough the tops of tents rose up before them, cheerfully beckoning them towards one of the more popular sites for excursions.

The habit of such excursions may have started as a way to raise money for churches and other organizations, but their main appeal was a small break from daily life. Hetty and Benjy had gone on a few of them in the past, but never for long, and they were often working instead of enjoying the activities.

But this time they were here to answer questions about Charlie and ferret out any connections that might lead to the murderer. Yet as they milled about the booths and makeshift stages that lined the boardwalk, the task’s urgency faded.

After several overcast days with rain threatening to make an appearance, the brilliant blue sky and the fluffy white clouds that greeted Hetty were enough to push aside all but the most indulgent of thoughts.

She never planned to come alone to the excursion but she expected she would have had to twist Benjy’s arm to accompany her. That he agreed without a word was a pleasant surprise. That he appeared contented and at ease was a delight. When he glanced over at her with a smile more relaxed than it had been in days, those pesky temperamental feelings washed over her until she forced herself to look away.

“That looks interesting.” Benjy pointed to the man atop a wagon bed delivering a soliloquy to the onlookers gathered at his feet. Illusions of flowers and vines appeared around him as he spoke. “Although his diction is rather poor.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Hetty chided. “We are here to look for answers.”

“Where do we look first?” Benjy asked. “Or should I say for who?”

“I—” Hetty began looking around: at the stalls that peppered the boardwalk along with families, at couples, and other groups. All were unfamiliar faces, and all, from the first to the last, seemed to have no clear ties to the murders they had uncovered. She thought she might have spotted the arrogant Isaac Baxter in the crowd, working his charms on the small crowd gathered around him, but even if they could manage to talk to him, there were few spaces welcoming to private conversations.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I suppose that’s why you were against coming. It’s a waste of time if we don’t know who or what we’re looking for.”

“That’s an easy puzzle to solve. Amos paid me for the cradle, we can use the money at that booth.” He pointed to a game set up in a nearby stall, where a woman tossed a baseball at milk bottles placed on shelves. “That’s a good central spot. We can take turns playing while the other watches the crowd.”

“Maybe just you.

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