Exercise in Futility (A Glennon Normal School Historical Mystery Book 9) by R. A. Wallace

Author:R. A. Wallace [Wallace, R. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

She wondered at his stubborn refusal to see the truth as she walked away from Glennon House. Even as she rose to leave, he tried telling her that she was wrong about Cyrus. She argued that the facts before him were too many to ignore. He reminded her that the facts of the treason charge against him were equally so, yet he was positive of his own innocence. His last words echoed in her mind with every step she took.

Does Cyrus not deserve the same presumption of innocence until guilt is proved beyond a reasonable doubt?

She told herself that she couldn’t be wrong, but the niggling doubts instilled by Wesley began to pull away at her thread of certainty. She had to know the truth. If, by any chance, Wesley’s trust in Cyrus wasn’t misplaced, the fiend he sought was still out there. The master manipulator behind everything that had happened was free to weave his spider web with impunity.

She had to learn more. Who else might have knowledge that could help? Her mind raced with possibilities, analyzing every idea as it came to her and ultimately discarding each. Until she remembered what Nessie told her about the contacts she’d made at the abattoir. Cyrus owned the abattoir. For whatever reason, he was often seen there by Nessie. Perhaps the men there knew more? Nessie told her about some of them. She tried to pluck the names from her memory.

“Miss Markham?”

Delia turned toward the familiar voice. “Claude. How are you holding up?”

He motioned toward the gymnasium. “We got the last of them transferred from the infirmary.”

She thought about the work involved. “A most impressive feat.”

“There were a lot of helping hands.” His eyes held a spark of wisdom beyond his years. “I suspect that this is only the beginning.”

“By all accounts from other towns that were hit before us, I believe you are correct.”

He scanned the area around them watching as other students went about their business. A look of defeat crept into his demeanor. “I just wish that I could do more.”

She thought of Mabelle. “Miss Neff is organizing the students to return to sewing masks. There are already some boxes in the sewing room that could be transported to the gymnasium. As they continue to make more, those will also need to go.”

His angular face filled with purpose. “I’ll see to it that it’s handled.”

She walked with him the rest of the way to Glennon Hall. They split apart when they reached it. Delia continued around to the front of the building and waited for the trolley. It was a long wait. Many of the normal school students were already there ahead of her. She listened to their plans for the afternoon as she waited. The unexpected free afternoon from classes was a holiday indeed.

When there was finally a space for her on a car, Delia climbed aboard and took a seat. Her eyes scanned the many placards hanging inside as the trolley made its way on a circuitous route toward the south of town.

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