The Return of the Ripper by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley

The Return of the Ripper by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley

Author:Anna Elliott & Charles Veley [Elliott, Anna & Veley, Charles]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B07C2DSNMN
Publisher: Wilton Press
Published: 2018-06-12T05:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER 27. A MESSAGE FROM LESTRADE

LUCY

Jack and Becky were seated on the couch when I opened the door to the 221A sitting room. Jack looked tired, though he smiled at the sight of me. Becky jumped up and came to hug me. I thought her small arms clung more tightly than usual, and for once, she didn’t say anything.

Before I could ask whether anything was wrong, though, Mrs. Hudson put her head in through the door.

“Come along, Miss Becky, there’s work for us in the kitchen.” She spoke gently but firmly. “I’ve a lemon cream cake that’s not going to ice itself and an entire plate full of cream puffs that need filling.”

Becky still looked more than usually subdued, and she gave me a last, fierce hug before following Mrs. Hudson out.

“I told her what’s been happening,” Jack said, when the door had closed behind them.

“About the killings?” That explained Becky’s frightened look.

“I didn’t tell her the ugliest parts. But I knew she’d find out about it sooner or later, and I wanted her to hear it from me.”

That was a given, knowing what I did of Becky’s intelligence and determination to root out the truth behind any mystery.

I sat down beside him, and he put his arm around my shoulders.

“You did the right thing,” I said. “Most people go through life thinking that the world is safe, that bad things can’t possibly happen to them. Then they’re caught completely off guard when danger or tragedy does find them. I wish Becky didn’t have to hear about women being murdered in Whitechapel, ever. But I don’t think you’d do Becky any favors if you let her grow up to be one of those people who think the world is all sunshine and roses until they find out that it’s not. I don’t think Becky would let you let her grow up that way.”

“I’m not sure if that’s reassuring or depressing, but thanks.”

“Is my father home?” I asked. “Or Uncle John?”

“Not that I’ve seen.”

I tried to ignore the uneasiness that crawled down the base of my spine.

“I suppose I should be grateful Holmes at least took Uncle John with him. That way he’ll have someone to defend him in case any of the informants he’s talking to get rough—or, for that matter, try to make amorous advances before they see past his disguise.”

Jack gave me a confused look. “Would that make sense to me if I hadn’t been awake all night?”

“I doubt it. My father almost never makes sense to me, no matter how well-rested I am.” I twisted my head to look up at him. “Did you get any sleep at all?”

Jack shrugged. “An hour or two, maybe. I’m all right.”

“Are you too tired for me to kiss you?”

“I said I’d been up all night, not that I was dead.” Jack bent his head and kissed me, but then drew back. “You wouldn’t be distracting me from asking what happened after you went off with your father, would you?”

“I wasn’t, actually.



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.