In the Shadows

would not fill his lungs, clutching at his chest as though he could

tear the pain in his heart out.

Bright spots filled his vision as the edges of it dimmed, but

before it faded to black he was lifted up as he heard Alden say in

an oil-slick voice, “That’s all right, ma’am. I’ll take care of the boy.

Come along, Cora. There’s a good girl.”

One Week Later

twenty

M

innie wouldn't wait in the church. She ran back

along the sidewalk, retracing her route.

Where had the others gone?

Her panic rising with every second, she searched desperately.

Cora. Charles. Thomas. Arthur.

No one! Where had they gone?

A hand came down heavily on her shoulder, another over her

mouth as she was yanked into the narrow alley between the chem-

ist’s shop and the post office. Whoever had her held her squeezed

against his chest, grasping her tightly around the waist and pin-

ning her arms at her side.

“Well now,” a voice, heavy with the scent of garlic, breathed in

her ear. “I’ve caught one, too. I think it’s my turn to choose a prize.

I’ve seen you with the boys. Kisses as free as spring rain. You won’t

mind.” He wheezed a laugh and Minnie felt a coarse beard scratch-

ing at the bare skin at the base of her neck.

She stomped on his foot as hard as she could, and, when his arm

loosened, she grabbed the knife from under her skirt and turned.

She’d misjudged the space between them. The blade slid into

his chest with a sickeningly wet sound.

“Oh,” Minnie said, her voice soft and calm in spite