Two Storm Wood by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Epub3
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Westbrook had the stables shut up, and posted the groom by the gates with instructions to keep everyone out. Sloan was sent to report the matter to his commanding officer. The maison tolérée was a civilian establishment, but nobody questioned the provost marshal’s right to give orders. There was safety in obedience, protection in authority – at least, to Amy, it felt that way.

They went back to the house. Amy wanted to be gone from Acheux, but Westbrook seemed in no hurry to leave. As they crossed the hall, she wondered whether this new killing would complicate his investigation or simplify it.

Westbrook stopped and touched his nostrils. His fingertips came away red.

‘Are you all right?’

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it to his nose. It took a minute to staunch the bleeding. Finally he sat down at the foot of the stairs. He was sweating, jumpy. The killing had unnerved him, unless some other sickness was at work. It was hard for him, conducting himself in a professional manner – Amy saw that clearly for the first time.

‘There’s something I want you to do,’ he said. Her heart sank. Meeting Westbrook’s requests always came at a price. ‘I want you to talk to Madame Chastain. I need to know what she knows.’

‘She bought something from the dead man. You saw it, didn’t you?’

Westbrook nodded. ‘It may go deeper than that.’

‘Can’t you talk to her yourself?’

‘She’s frightened of me. You’ve a better chance, woman-to-woman.’

‘I’m afraid you’re wrong there, Major,’ Amy said. ‘I’m the last person she’d talk to. She thinks I look down on her.’

‘Do you?’

‘I pity her girls. I’m not sure what I think about her.’

‘Good enough.’

Amy shook her head. ‘I’m sorry. This is not my affair. I don’t want—’

‘Something like this is everyone’s affair. It’s murder, isn’t it? That’s what your Inspector Westbrook would say.’

Amy could not answer. If the dead men at Two Storm Wood deserved justice, then so did the interpreter.

‘I need to know what this man was doing,’ Westbrook said. ‘I need to understand why he died, and why now.’

Amy knew she had no choice. ‘What do you want me to ask?’

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