BooksBarbecue
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

Matthew thought about it. He said, “I would like a letter of passage, signed by you stating that my friend and I are constables en route with a murderer to Bristol. We will likely have to stop at least twice more at inns. It would help if we didn’t draw the attention of any more sheriffs.”

“A letter like that would need more than my signature. It would need an official wax stamp.” He lowered the pipe. “Otherwise, easily forged.”

Matthew waited for more, but it seemed that Lancer was also waiting. Matthew asked, “Will you help me in that way?”

The sheriff folded his hands together and regarded the knuckles, which Matthew noted were as scarred as Hudson’s. It was a time before he spoke. “I do recall my days with the agency. I was fortunate to get out alive from some of those escapades. Many I wouldn’t dream of telling Becca about.” He gave a wry smile. “Most I wouldn’t tell her about. But … I do also remember that sometimes I was called upon to do things that … well … the law might frown on, and might serve to put me behind bars. Hudson the same. It was all for the good in the long run, and I suppose that’s what you’re looking at now.”

“Correct, sir,” said Matthew.

“Yes,” Lancer replied, but whether he was simply affirming Matthew’s comment or saying he would supply the document, Matthew could not ascertain. Suddenly Lancer stood up. “Edmond!” he called. “I’m shoving off!”

Varney and Ann came out from the kitchen. There was a bit of small talk about the season and Becca Lancer’s own holiday feast preparations, some conversation about a missing blacksmith and a bag of money, and then Lancer took his coat and tricorn from their hooks and put them on. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Corbett,” the sheriff said, and once more there was a handshake that Matthew thought could crack bones with just a fraction more pressure. “Enjoy the company of these fine people. Here’s hoping the other constable regains his health very soon, for you both to move on with your … catch,” he said. “Good day to you all.” With that and a last puff of pipe smoke, the sheriff of Whistler Green left the house and walked out through the flurries to where his fine-looking dappled buckskin horse was tethered to a hitching post. Matthew watched from a window as the man mounted up and rode away toward the west.

“A productive meeting?” Varney inquired.

“We’ll see,” said Matthew.

Thirty-Two

Thirty-Two