Death in the Setting Sun by Deryn Lake

Author:Deryn Lake [Lake, Deryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, General, Mystery
ISBN: 9780749083656
Google: YmYSAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0749083654
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2004-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

The Apothecary froze, momentarily unable to grasp what he was looking at. Then the moon came out in full and he was able to see that Priscilla lay motionless on the floor, apparently devoid of life. Yet there was no visible sign of blood, nor, indeed, of a struggle. Released from his catalepsy, John squatted down, feeling for a pulse, and to his enormous relief found one. Fishing deep in the pocket of his greatcoat he retrieved his bottle of salts and held it beneath her nose. Priscilla gave a gulp and her eyelids flickered, then opened.

She stared at John blankly, then he saw fear come into her eyes. She moved as if to crawl away from him.

“Let me go, you blackguard,” she shouted.

“Priscilla, be calm. It’s John Rawlings. We arranged to meet here, do you remember?”

The moon went in at this moment and all he could see was a wriggling dark shape which suddenly grew still.

“Oh, John, is it really you?” she asked huskily. “I thought it was my attacker.”

“Yes, it’s me. But Priscilla, what happened?”

In the darkness he saw that she was trying to rise to her feet and went to help her, holding her under her arms and steadying her as she clambered up. A faint smell filled his nostrils, rather sickly and cloying.

“Oh, John, John,” she sobbed. “It was terrible. I was waiting here for you, standing alone in the darkness. Then a man came through the door. I thought it was you and rushed to meet you — him. Then he put his hands round my throat and squeezed hard until I lost consciousness. You must have disturbed him. For where is he now?”

“Nobody rushed past me. Oh God’s life, perhaps he’s still here.”

For answer Priscilla screamed loudly, a sound which made John jump out of his skin.

“I’ll have a look,” he said, motioning her to be quiet.

“I’ll come with you. I’d feel safer than left here on my own.”

Beside the front door John had noticed a spiral staircase. Now, treading carefully, he and Priscilla made their way to the attic above. Because of the darkness, probably because of being afraid, she clutched his hand in hers, holding it tightly.

“Who’s there?” he whispered, peering into the attic’s gloomy depths.

There was no reply and nothing moved in the blackness. Then the fitful moon came out once more and he could see that other than for one or two pieces of old furniture covered in white cloths, the attic was empty.

“What about the cellar?” he said.

“We’d best go and see,” Priscilla answered fearfully.

They crept back down the spiral which linked the three parts of the building, descending into the dankly dark basement. But yet again there was no one there. Whoever had attacked Priscilla had either made his escape before the Apothecary arrived at The Temple, or had crept out while they were searching the attic.

“He isn’t here,” said John, as they returned to the front door.

“Perhaps he thought I was dead and his task was done.

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