Two Tocks before Midnight (The Agora Mystery Series Book 1) by Clay Boutwell

Author:Clay Boutwell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781973555810
Publisher: www.ClayBoutwell.com

Chapter Six

Captain Barnwell and I returned to the group. He asked his two officers to fetch some materials from the department and wait outside the door.

Everyone was silent and seated, eager to hear our report. Thomas had a new smug look on his face. In retrospect, I believe it had always been there, but the new information had simply opened my eyes to it.

The captain raised his hands to gather the attention that was already his. My eyes fixed on Thomas throughout Captain Barnwell’s speech.

“Joseph is dead. Mr. Brooke here has confirmed his identity.”

My friends took a moment to let out a “thank God” or “a fitting ending to this horrible affair.”

“Sirs, that is not all.”

The men ceased their chatter and again gave the captain their undivided attention. Thomas remained the very definition of confidence.

“An elderly woman was killed tonight.”

“By Joseph?” asked Christopher.

“Perhaps,” the captain said with dramatic pause, “...or Joseph’s murderer.”

Expressions turned from a pitiful concern for the elderly woman to confusion. It was assumed by all that Joseph’s death had been accidental. The nearly imperceptible smile that I alone had noticed on Thomas’ lips disappeared.

“Joseph’s murderer? Could this be the third man?” asked someone.

“That is our belief,” answered the captain. “While we do not yet have the man’s identity, we do have a witness.”

I am sure the captain paused to allow me to closely examine Thomas’ reaction to the word, “witness.” His face was stale, motionless. Had I not observed his earlier smugness, I would have had to say his face registered no reaction. But it did; I saw the slight change in his disposition. And with that change, I saw guilt.

The captain continued, “A neighbor saw a mustached stranger wearing a dark coat enter the room across the street,” He pointed in the direction of the old woman’s apartment. “She got a good look at the man’s profile. The witness is in police custody and we will shortly have a drawing done revealing the murderer.”

The chatter began anew. Thomas, the only man in the room with a mustache, stood and began moving toward the door.

“I’m terribly sorry,” the captain said restraining Thomas with his arm but speaking to everyone, “but in the interest of your safety and police procedure, I must ask for each of you to remain here until the drawing can be completed. It is a dreadful inconvenience, but essential to our case. It is possible—indeed, probable—that one of you may know the man’s identity and the whole matter will be brought to a happy conclusion tonight.”

Thomas seemed to be on the verge of becoming belligerent, but after a moment, he reposed himself and returned to his seat next to the window without complaint.

“The department is a mere five-minute walk from here. The drawing should be here momentarily.”

That is what he told our group, but in actuality, the captain had told his officers to wait outside for a full hour before entering with a satchel containing a blank sheet of drawing paper.

Minutes passed. Most members seemed to enjoy the waiting as if watching the lead-up to the climax of some exciting play.

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