The Melody of Evil by N.L. Holmes

Author:N.L. Holmes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: N.L. Holmes
Published: 2025-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

“I’m surprised the girls aren’t here for lunch,” Hani said to his father. “Neferet was planning to talk to Hori-sheri again to see if he had been attacked recently.”

The two men and Maya took their places at the little folding tables Nub-nefer had set up in the garden kiosk. The day could hardly be called cool, but a pleasant breeze fanned the shady place, in contrast to the house, which was stuffy.

The serving girl set out a big bowl of dressed lettuce, and Hani’s wife began to spoon out the salad. “It seems to me these people aren’t too interested in finding out who killed their relative. It won’t bring him back, of course. Neferet needs to respect their reluctance.” Nub-nefer turned to her eldest daughter, Baket-iset, lying on a couch beside her, and began carefully to feed the young woman leaves of lettuce.

Hani watched the scene tenderly, distracted, until Maya said, “Once that girl gets ahold of something, asking her to step back is like telling the Inundation to wait a day or two. She’s an inexorable force of nature.” It wasn’t clear whether he said that approvingly or disapprovingly.

“I think it’s time for me to visit Hori again. See if he has any insights into what his son is up to.” Mery-ra daubed a lettuce leaf with tart dressing and stuffed it into his mouth. “Be careful with this, my girl,” he said to his granddaughter, his mouth full. “Don’t let it start you coughing. The green grape juice is powerful.”

“Isn’t it good, though, Grandfather?” Baket-iset asked.

Hani smiled at his daughter, the most beautiful of the three, a younger image of her mother. But she looked too thin to him. Is this recent, or have I simply not noticed?

A flurry of loud voices from the garden made everyone look up. Neferet had arrived. The self-effacing silence of Bener-ib and the sullen silence of Mut-tuy could be posited in the spaces around Neferet’s uninhibited volume.

“Where is everybody?” she asked.

Iuty could be heard directing the young women to the kiosk, and a moment later, footsteps crunched over the gravel path, bringing into view Hani’s youngest daughter and her companions.

“You’re very late,” said Mery-ra with a wink. “I’ll bet you were investigating.”

“You are absolutely correct, Grandfather. It turns out Hori-sheri was attacked. Somebody tried to push him into the canal. Then Brute and I followed him all over the city, and you’ll never guess where he went.”

Her eyes were sparkling with such excitement that all three men obediently asked, “Where?”

“To Sherit-nut’s villa!” cried Mut-tuy.

Neferet gave her a dark look through half-lowered lids. “Who’s telling this story, my girl?” She recomposed herself. “What upon the bosom of Geb could he be doing there, people? Don’t you find this odd?”

“Don’t tell me he’s her lover too.” Hani wasn’t sure if he found this thought amusing or sinister. He was grateful, however, that the path seemed to be leading away from Kha-bekhnet.

“Perhaps you need to interview this woman again,” said Nub-nefer. “It may

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