A Dangerous Past (Campbell & MacPherson 3) by Clare Jayne

Author:Clare Jayne [Jayne, Clare]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Meroda Publishing
Published: 2018-09-17T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

JED STOOD on the crowded High Street and handed out pamphlets advertising a new shop to anyone who would take one. He was worn out, having worked half the night too, but he needed the extra money. His youngest brother was finally recovering from a long illness that his whole family had feared would kill him, but the care and treatment of a physician had cost a fortune, more than most people of his class could pay. Jed had refused to do nothing and watch him die, telling his parents and older siblings that he would be responsible for paying the fee, but it was a struggle to pay the monthly amount. Without the generosity of Miss Campbell and Mr MacPherson he never could have managed it.

He heard someone call his name over the shouting of the street sellers and clatter of horses’ hooves, and looked around, to see his friend and fellow caddy, Billy, jog over to him, a frown on his freckled face instead of the usual smile.

“I was asking about the Morag Duncan murder for you,” Billy said in an undertone, while Jed continued to give the sheets of paper to passersby. “It turns out that I wasna the only one and someone threatened to beat me up unless I left the matter alone.”

“Was it Gabe Fryer who said this?”

“No, a couple of other men. Known criminals. The violent types.”

How many people had been hired? The person in charge either had a lot of money to throw about or they knew a lot of criminals. He would guess at the latter. It made him wonder if Morag had been involved in something far bigger than he had discovered so far. No one went to this much trouble over a small-time thief.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. They didna do nothing, but someone really doesna want Morag’s murder solved.”

“Was anything at all said about who hired them? Even a hint?”

“No,” Billy said, smiling at a pretty woman in a large feathered hat as she took one of the pamphlets. He clearly wasn’t too shaken by his earlier encounter. The lady ignored him and, as she strolled off, he gave his attention back to Jed. “You need to be careful, maybe even stop working on this matter, because these thugs are dangerous. I don’t want you getting killed too.”

“I’m not backing off but I promise I’ll keep to the busy streets and not turn my back on anyone rough-looking.” It wasn’t as if this was the first time he’d helped catch a criminal and he knew how to take care of himself.

“That’s probably what Morag Duncan told herself,” Billy said, his eyes shadowed with worry before he walked away.

Jed was too busy thinking over what this information revealed to give any serious thought to the additional danger.

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