The Last Legal Hanging by Mae Berry

Author:Mae Berry [Berry, Mae]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781072033974
Published: 2019-06-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

April 22, 1891

Kansas City, Missouri

Stop by the office, pick up Sam and on to see Father Seamus for updates. Leaving for Kearney tomorrow was pushing his time, but it was worth it, otherwise, they needed to wait until Monday. Finn bounded up the courthouse steps. He shook his head, what to do with Miss Lawton? Sam? She proved her worth repeatedly; still she was infuriating. Infuriating and confusing. For him.

Finn heard voices before he reached the office door, Brownlee and the recruit Thompson. Typical, Brownlee’s nasal voice overpowered the kid, cutting him off, talking over him. Finn had a moment of sympathy. There was a reason they paired the newbies with Brownlee, no one else wanted to work with the pompous… He opened the door.

“No one is that lucky. No one.” Thompson stood at Brownlee’s desk hands braced on top. Brownlee leaned in his chair, ankles crossed, feet propped on his desk. “His lackeys must get warned.” Thompson’s voice rose in pitch at the smirk on Brownlee’s face. “Someone is leaking info. Someone who knows—”

“Pah-lease,” Brownlee rolled his eyes lacing his fingers on top of his head, “I remember when I was young and idealistic, seeing phantom conspiracies in every corner.” He shook his head.

“But if Pendergast is behind—”

Brownlee’s feet slammed to the floor. “Well, well. Look what rolled in the door. Finally decided to check in Finnley?”

Finn glanced at them and headed to his desk.

Brownlee followed. “Case making progress?”

Finn gave a tight nod.

“How’s your… partner?”

The smirk on Brownlee’s face confirmed his suspicions, Brownlee was behind Sam Lawton’s involvement with the case.

Irritation rolled in Finn’s chest but he gave Brownlee a big grin. “Actually, I’ve never worked with better.” Slight exaggeration. Maybe. He took a perverse satisfaction in Brownlee’s open mouth and incredulous stare. Until his face changed to a leer.

He winked at Finn. “I bet she is. Investigating, huh?”

Finn clenched his fist but kept his face passive. A Herculean task. Scum like Brownlee fed on the emotions of others and he refused to give him ammunition. “Anything new around here?” Finn kept his tone light.

Brownlee’s disappointment shifted to studied nonchalance. He dropped to a chair. “Went by the mayor’s office.” He extended a hand and examined it.

“Oh?” Finn forced the word out between clenched teeth.

“Yep,” Brownlee pulled out a pocket knife and began paring his nails. “Gave him an update on the missing boy.” Finn’s eyes bugged out. “Told him you were close. Real close. Boy should be home soon.” Finn’s heart rate sped. Brownlee returned the knife to his pocket. “Don’t worry. I made sure you got the credit. Made sure he knows precisely who is working the case. Who is solely responsible.”

“Anything else?” Finn ground his back teeth.

“No, glad to help you out.” Brownlee slapped his palms on his thighs and rose. “Oh, almost forgot. Mayor said he wants an update by the end of the week. Seems the man’s wife is insistent he gets this resolved quickly.” Brownlee rapped his knuckles on Finn’s desk. “I assured him you’d be there.

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