No Refuge from the Grave by Nancy Herriman

Author:Nancy Herriman
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: san francisco, nineteenth century, horse racing, blackmail, nurse, cabal, 1860s, crooked politicians, old boys network
Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing

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Taylor poked his head around the half-open door to the detectives’ office. “The fellows have searched Mr. Aldrich’s and Mr. Hollis’s house for that plaid coat, Mr. Greaves, sir. No luck.”

Nick set down the pencil he’d been using to jot his thoughts about Griffin’s murder. He hadn’t exactly had a flood of ideas, so he’d only written a handful of words—gimlet, Aldrich, Hollis, Pierson, torn note, Validus, five hundred dollars. Arson at Everett’s. Dispute at insurance agency. A man wearing a plaid coat. Taken by surprise. Poisoned racehorse? Fulton’s exact location at time of murder.

“Has the notice about the fellow in plaid shown up yet in the papers, Taylor?”

His assistant took a chair. “It’s in the Morning Call and the Alta California already.”

“Good.”

“One of the officers is at Mr. Pierson’s right now. Should be finished, actually,” he said, glancing at the clock on the wall.

And likely not finding a plaid coat.

“I had a chance to speak with Mrs. Aldrich about Monday evening, sir. Didn’t appreciate me interrupting her tea, though,” Taylor said. “Never seen a woman with a stiffer back. Well, other than Mrs. Davies sometimes.”

That would be a sight. “Did she say when her husband arrived back at their house after his trip to Pierson’s?”

Taylor retrieved his notebook to consult. “Before seven thirty, she thinks, sir.”

“Enough time to murder Griffin?”

“Maybe, sir,” his assistant replied. “She told me his clothing was damp from the rain. Got awful mad when I asked if there was any blood on it.”

Wives could be touchy like that. “And Hollis?”

“He’s not married, but his live-in maid said he got home around quarter ’til seven. He doesn’t live too far from the Piersons,” he said. “She wasn’t near as bothered by the blood question. None noticed.”

“Which puts Hollis at his house around or before when Griffin was killed.”

“Sounds like, Mr. Greaves. But not Mr. Aldrich.”

“I don’t care for the fellow, you know.” Nick was still stinging from having to pay for lunch the other day.

Mullahey rapped on the doorframe. “Mr. Greaves. Taylor.”

Nick waved him inside. “Any update on Fulton?”

“He didn’t meet with anybody yesterday after the inquest. Huddled in his room at the boardinghouse all day. Didn’t even go out for his rounds.”

“Maybe he doesn’t work on Wednesdays,” Taylor suggested.

“Wish I had a day off now and again,” Mullahey said, winking.

“You’re too good a cop to want a day off, Mullahey,” Nick replied.

He grinned. “One of the beat officers who works Fulton’s neighborhood is keeping an eye on him today,” he added. “Oh, and I got information on a kid who might know where Cassidy is hiding.”

Nick jumped up from his chair. “Taylor, check on how the cop is doing at the Piersons’. Mullahey, let’s go.”

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