The Spiritualist Murders by James Musgrave

Author:James Musgrave [Jim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical mystery, history 1800s, history american, mystery, mystery and syspense, mystery and detective, mystery and intrigue
Publisher: Indie Author Project
Published: 2018-05-15T07:00:00+00:00

The drive to the jail, which used to be a correctional school, took an hour. It was located seven miles south from Nob Hill along the crowded Ocean House Road. The trip was made even more difficult due to the fog, which was coming in like a pestilence. The elder driver and two horses already had poor eyesight, and the thick fog made their viewing worse. Laura watched old Giles, as he had to maneuver carefully along, honking his fog horn like a ship lost at sea.

Each of the cells had its own lock and key, so when Laura reported with Trella and Ah Toy at the Superintendent’s lush office on the second floor, it took another forty-five minutes to retrieve the proper key and deliver it to the guard who escorted them out to the jail building housing the women’s unit of cells.

Laura had never been to the jail, as she had always worked with defendants from one of the district lockups in the city. The Ingleside Jail was for the least dangerous inmates who were also allowed to work during their stay, unlike the San Quentin prison. Since Rachel Rafferty came from the upper classes, and her conviction was for manslaughter and not murder, she was considered a safe prisoner.

Laura watched the two women follow the guard out to the women’s jail building. Ah Toy walked directly behind the short and slump-shouldered man, who dangled the key ring from his belt buckle like a Judas goat. Trella, who was fascinated by the school-like grounds, made a comment when they approached the steps leading up into the building. “Ah, there are the bars. On the windows!”

“Here we are, ladies. Cell 168. Rafferty, R., prisoner number I-748.” The guard held the key on the ring and stuck it into the lock, turned the key, and the lock opened. He swung the door open, and Laura walked inside. As Rachel must have been a model prisoner, she had the niceties of a dresser, a table, and a wooden bed with mattress, quilt and pillow. She was waiting for them, seated at the table in the center of the twenty-five-foot square cell. The restrooms and bathing facilities were communal.

A Calico cat was lounging on the bed, her stomach displayed, and her paws waving abstractly at nothing any human could see. Laura realized that Rachel had the exclusive enjoyment not available to others. She was the only prisoner in the cell, and her gabardine dress was pressed and clean, and her shoes were shined. Her face was made-up, and she created a meager smile for them.

Laura motioned to Ah Toy and Trella to take a seat around the table. “I see you have a furry companion. I have always thought that felines, as a spirit totem, are superb exemplars of self-esteem. Does she help you, Rachel?”

“Yes, my job is in the sewing factory, and Brigette here keeps my ball of twine spinning. She weaves stories for me about her latest escapades with the cell block mouse.

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.