A Pocket Full of Murder by R. J. Anderson

Author:R. J. Anderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Chapter Sixteen

ONCE ISAVETH HAD PACKED her father’s old lunch satchel with her newly wrapped spells, she and Quiz cycled into the city. There they spent the next two hours in the dusty heat of the Records Office, peppering the bemused clerk with questions and hunting through business directories until they found the information they needed. While Quiz scribbled down addresses and sketched maps on his notepad, Isaveth leafed through a copy of last year’s Governor’s Report—which gave her a better sense of Master Orien’s character, as well as a few more insights into Master Buldage.

“His great-grandfather was one of the founders of Tarreton College,” she explained to Quiz as they left the building. “And his father was governor for nearly twenty years. So of course Master Buldage would have been upset when the Sagelord appointed Orien instead of him. It was an insult to his whole family.”

“That’s a good motive for wanting to kill the Sagelord,” said Quiz, “but not so much for wanting to kill Master Orien. After all, Buldage couldn’t be sure that Lord Arvis wouldn’t just snub him again.” He flipped the notebook shut and stuffed it back into his pocket. “I’ve got an idea. Instead of both of us going to Alv Nowatcz’s workshop, why don’t I go there on my own? Then you can check out the architect’s office at the same time. Maybe sell some of those spell-tablets you’re carrying too.”

It wasn’t a bad idea—after all, Quiz could always pretend to be looking for work, and he’d have a better chance of getting Mister Nowatcz’s workers to talk than she would. Besides, Alv’s workshop was a fair distance away, and Quiz could pedal faster if he didn’t have to carry Isaveth as well.

“All right,” she said as Quiz swung himself onto the cycle. “Good luck.”

* * *

Unfortunately, Isaveth’s visit to Errol Yeng turned out to be a disappointing waste of time. Not only was the architect out of his office, but his secretary had no patience for Isaveth’s questions, and shooed her away with a stern warning not to come back.

Still, now that Isaveth had seen Yeng’s spare, modern, and fastidiously neat workplace, she was even less inclined to suspect him than the college porter. Certainly Yeng worked in building construction, but only in the planning stages, so there was no reason he’d have any more access to exploding-tablets than the average citizen. He appeared well off, and most of his clients were nobles, so why would he want to murder Master Orien? He had even less motive than Papa, as far as Isaveth could see.

As she walked away from the office, the bell tower tolled for midday, and soon the sidewalk was crowded with workers streaming out of the shops, offices, and nearby factories. She’d never find a better time to sell her magic. Isaveth peered into her satchel, checking the tablets and bottles to be sure none of them had broken. Then she stepped up to the corner and launched into the speech she’d been silently rehearsing since that morning.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.