A Perfect Deception by Alyssa Drake

Author:Alyssa Drake
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Burying her face into Mr. Reid’s shoulders, Daphne shuddered, swallowing the terror which flowed from her lips. It could have been her! What if she had happened upon the murder while it was being committed? Was it possible Mr. Morris still lurked nearby?

“Who is it, Mr. Reid?” she mumbled against his chest.

“Why did she scream?” Alana huffed, running toward them, the gun clutched in her right hand. She placed her hands on her hips, drawing in a ragged breath.

Mr. Reid, his arms tightly wound around Daphne, jerked his head at the barn. “We discovered a gruesome addition to Mr. Morris’ stables.”

Leaning around them, Alana gasped. Raising the rifle, she tiptoed into the barn, stopping just at the edge of the shadows. Kneeling beside the body, she lifted the woman’s arm. “It’s Mrs. Clark.”

“May I set you down?” asked Mr. Reid. Daphne nodded. He placed her carefully on a milk stool, carelessly discarded beside the barn and squeezed her hand. “Would you mind waiting a moment longer? I will need to return with Benjamin and Edward, but I’d like to look around before we leave.”

Daphne nodded again, her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.

“Would you like the rifle?”

“I cannot shoot one.” She offered him a tight smile, shooing him toward the barn. “I shall be fine for several minutes.”

Darkening to burned wood, his brown eyes blazed. His fingers constricted around her hand once more in a comforting gesture, then he released her, vanishing into the yawning mouth of the barn. Low murmurs slithered from the dark recesses of the building, emanating from Mr. Reid and Alana. Daphne could only discern every third word, but she knew they were discussing the horrific injuries to Mrs. Clark’s body. Her eyes slid over the courtyard, an icy shiver rippling down her spine. It felt as though someone was watching her. Rubbing her arms for warmth, she leaned forward, craning her head around the doorway.

Mrs. Clark’s upper arm came into view—deep gashes sliced through her skin as though she had been filleted like a fish. Turning away, Daphne pressed her hand to her mouth, gagging. How could someone do that to a person? She had worked for Mr. Morris for nearly twenty years. Did he care nothing for loyalty?

A twig cracked in the greenery across from her. Daphne’s head snapped up, her eyes scanning the bushes. Shadow, who was grazing nearby, twitched, his ears perking at the sound. Daphne stared at the bushes, pressing her trembling body against the side of the barn. Whatever Mr. Reid thought about her persona, he was quite mistaken when it came to bravery. She couldn’t stand up to her own mother, how could anyone expect her to fight off a man as dangerous as Mr. Morris? She hoped Alana’s gun was faster.

Snorting, Shadow ducked his head again, pulling out another clump of grass. He was mid-chew when his ears twitched again. Lifting his head, Shadow whinnied and reared back, kicking his front hooves. Daphne leaned back to avoid him, falling off the milk stool.

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