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Back Cardinal Black Save as PDF
Chapters (44)
  1. Title Page
  2. One: Into the Storm
  3. One
  4. Two
  5. Three
  6. Four
  7. Five
  8. Six
  9. Seven
  10. Two: London Calling
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. Twelve
  16. Thirteen
  17. Fourteen
  18. Fifteen
  19. Three: The Malignant Seven
  20. Sixteen
  21. Seventeen
  22. Eighteen
  23. Nineteen
  24. Twenty
  25. Twenty-One
  26. Twenty-Two
  27. Twenty-Three
  28. Four: Squirrels and Cats
  29. Twenty-Four
  30. Twenty-Five
  31. Twenty-Six
  32. Twenty-Seven
  33. Twenty-Eight
  34. Twenty-Nine
  35. Thirty
  36. Thirty-One
  37. Thirty-Two
  38. Five: Revelation
  39. Thirty-Three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. About the Author

“They might get as far as the first coach inn,” the Owl went on, “though I doubt that as well. In any case, the horses must be stopped to rest, and sooner than later in this snowfall. My opinion is that—as you yourself have stated—you can catch them within the day.”

“Thank you,” the vice admiral said, “for your opinion.”

A silence stretched.

The Owl shifted nervously in his chair. “Samson … we have worked together … been compatriots … for these last three years. I have served you to the best of my ability, and certainly I have proven my worth in supplying the … um … raw material for Miss Mulloy’s episodes. I will continue to serve you in any way I can … and as a matter of respect and trust, I shall adjust my payment for this past night to half of what we have agreed upon.” He blinked, as this news had not caused an iota of reaction from Lash. “Is that not a fair accounting?”

Lash leaned back in his chair. “I want to know,” he said, “who left that door unlocked. When your men took the bodies in they were given the key, which was returned and is now in the first drawer of this desk. Whoever failed to lock the door allowed Corbett to get in here. Who was it?”

“I would have to make an inquiry. And believe me, I shall!”

“No inquiry is needed,” said Lash. “I hold you accountable, and that I consider fair.”

“Yes, of course, but … those men are my regulars. My best. They’ve done this before, they surely haven’t forgotten their instructions!” The Owl’s head swivelled around, more quickly than usual, to take note of Cardinal Black standing in the corner, and then came back around to face the vice admiral once again. “Something I noticed … something strange … about Corbett and Miss Mulloy.” He hurried on before Lash could respond. “It happened so fast … just an impression I had … that when Devane told Corbett to shoot her after the count of three … he hesitated. And what passed across his face was an expression of … I don’t know … reluctance or repugnance, whatever it might have been. It was there. I see those things, Samson. I sense them. You know I do, and that’s part of what you pay me for.”

“Corbett didn’t wish to kill a woman,” said Black. “He’s funny that way.”