Proud Sorrows by James R. Benn;

Author:James R. Benn;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House LLC (Publisher Services)

ARMED WITH DIRECTIONS, I took off alone for Sandringham House, my mackinaw buttoned up tight against the cold breeze. Leaving Slewford, the terrain was flat and marshy and interspersed with cultivated fields and streams draining into the Wash. I began to think about Nigel and cousins.

There’s something about cousins that’s different from brothers and sisters. Even if you’re close to your own siblings, it’s possible to be too close to be pals. Cousins are different. You’re connected, but not close enough to get in each other’s hair. My cousin Marty and I had a blast whenever we got together, and got into a bit of trouble as well.

I’d do anything for Marty, and I knew I could count on him to do the same. I wondered if it was like that between Nigel and Alfred. Nigel was the older one. Might he feel protective of Alfred? I couldn’t figure where that would get me in terms of the investigation, but I needed to be on alert for any signs of defensiveness. Had they gotten in a cousins’ heap of trouble when Stephen Elliot kicked the Bunches out? Had it gone too far?

The flat fields turned into thick woods as the road curved away from the small town of Castle Rising, where David Archer was being prepared for burial. I didn’t have to ask how much Kaz had given the vicar for the funeral. The look on Tanner’s face had said it was more than enough for a dignified send-off.

I glanced at the rough map I’d drawn and spotted the turnoff ahead. Unmarked, of course. No reason to point out a royal estate to German commandos. It was a long, straight stretch under arching trees, but I had to slow down as an armored car parked across the road came into focus.

“What is your business here, sir?” asked a British sergeant after I’d stopped. He had a clipboard in one hand, the other rested on his holster. Two men stood by the armored car, Sten guns slung casually from their shoulders.

“I’m looking for Nigel Fernsby,” I said, handing over my orders. “He works at Sandringham House. He’s in the Home Guard as well.”

“Lieutenant!” shouted the sergeant after one glance at my orders from SHAEF. A tall officer unfolded himself from the armored car and gave me the once-over before saluting. He snatched up the paperwork and scanned them before returning his attention to me.

“Captain Boyle, what brings you to Sandringham? These orders relate to Marston Hall in Slewford.”

“What’s your name, Lieutenant?” I asked, going for a snide superior-officer tone.

“Lieutenant Andrew Witherspoon, at your service,” he said with a hint of a smile beneath his neatly trimmed mustache. “Now, to my question, why are you here? This is a secure area.”

“To see a guy who works at Sandringham House,” I said. “Nigel Fernsby. He’s also in the Home Guard.”

“No Home Guard on duty today, I’m afraid,” Witherspoon said, glancing at his sergeant as he checked his paperwork.

The noncom’s finger stopped at what must have been proof of Nigel’s existence.

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.