To Sleep No More (A Dalton & Dalton Mystery) by Kathleen Marks

Author:Kathleen Marks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, romantic suspense, mystery, paranormal, cat, magical realism, paranormal mystery, fantasy action adventure, fantasy romance series, gothic and romance
Publisher: R.K. Hinrichsen

Chapter 9

ALEX DIDN’T even have to enter the parlor, similar in size and structure to Mr. Godfrey’s bedroom, to sense there was nothing of interest inside, but she perused it anyway so no one could question her findings later. Two wood chairs with spool-turned legs—one of them broken—a faded red circular sofa, and a small lackluster end table. A plain gray rock fireplace filled the far right corner of the outside walls.

“Why don’t you let me carry Ivy for a while?” Rick said. “I’m sure your arms could use a break.”

Alex petted Ivy’s head. “You’re brave to want to try that again.”

“Nonsense! I’ve faced much more frightening foes than her. Several times, in fact.”

“None with claws.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

“Very well. But if she scratches you, don’t set her down. I don’t know where that rat poison is.”

“Or the Monk’s Bane.”

Alex quickly scanned the room and handed Ivy to Rick, but the moment she released her, Ivy stiffened her spine and stared at Alex as if she’d betrayed her.

“Be good.” Alex said the words, but rather than believing Ivy would obey her, she watched to see if Ivy would scratch Rick. But she didn’t. In truth, Ivy had never scratched Rick, despite her obvious dislike of him. I wonder why.

Captain Sutter motioned across the hall. “This way to the dining room.”

The dining room consisted of an oblong mahogany table and three mismatched chairs. At least they weren’t broken.

Captain Sutter opened the closed door at the back of the room. “The kitchen.”

Alex touched the top of the table and brushed the powdery dust from her fingertips onto her skirt. She inhaled. The same gingery-sweet scent she’d smelled in Mr. Godfrey’s bedchamber wafted over her.

“Monk’s Bane?” Rick said.

Alex pressed her lips together. She furrowed her brows. It certainly smelled like Monk’s Bane, but she still felt nothing of its life force. Could another substance have replicated it? “Maybe.”

She followed Captain Sutter into the kitchen. A window framed by shelves of dishes filled the wall across from them, and there was another door on the wall at their right, but Alex’s attention latched onto the mounds of dead black ants lying on top of the food-preparation table directly in front of them.

“I’m sorry to offend you, Mrs. Dalton,” Captain Sutter said. “I can assure you nothing of this sort was here when my colleagues and I went through the house.”

“Don’t concern yourself, sir. I’m not offended in the least.” Alex scanned over the piles of ants on the table and down to the floor. Shouldn’t there be ants there too?

“Look here, Alex.” Rick, still holding Ivy against his chest in an embrace that seemed both strong yet gentle, crouched in the corner next to the other door. He motioned at the floor beneath the lowest shelf. “This must be one of those traps Captain Sutter spoke of.”

She peered into the corner beneath the cupboard. A partially-eaten round ball of what appeared to be hardened cornmeal lay a few inches away from the wall, and a dead rat lay a few feet from it.

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