The Sign of Death (Victorian Book Club Mystery 2)

“So true,” she whispered.

They entered the house and stood very still, listening for any sounds.

Silence.

William went first, still holding Amy’s hand as they crept along. They stopped every few steps and listened. There was no noise anywhere in the house. With a bit more confidence, they made their way up to the ground floor.

“Where do you suppose the most likely place would be for the files?” Amy whispered, still uncertain if they were the only ones in the house.

“I’m sure he had an office here, the place being so large. But I think our best bet would be to start with the library. I remember from my visits here that he had a large desk there.”

The made their way down a corridor, past a couple of open doors. It felt unnerving to be walking around the home of a man who had been murdered. It left Amy with a feeling of sadness, looking at all his possessions and imagining him being there, relaxing after a long day’s work.

A long day of stealing, she reminded herself.

The library was immense. Every shelf was lined with books. There was even a ladder attached to the bookcase so that one could climb up and fetch a tome.

“Your Mr. Harding was quite the reader.” Amy stood in the middle of the room and turned in a circle.

“Chances are he inherited the books, either when he was willed the home or when he purchased it. I don’t believe Harding was much of a reader.” William moved to the desk and began opening drawers.

“I’ll look around the rest of the room,” Amy said. There were several chairs and sofas along with tables with drawers. It could very well take them all morning just to search this room.

After only about five minutes, William called over to her. “Amy, I found them.”

She hurried across the room. He was holding about four or five files in his hands. “The first one is Lemmon.” He waved a folder.

He placed that file on the desktop and flipped through the others. He pulled one out. “Here is mine.”

“I think we should make a list of these. One of these could very well be the file of a murderer.” Amy shivered.

William dropped the other folders on the desk and opened the center drawer. He withdrew a pencil and pad of paper. “Write down the names.”

He lifted the stack and began to read. “Mrs. Carol Whitney. Mr. David Montrose.” Amy scribbled the list as he read out the names.

William stopped and took in a deep breath. He looked over at Amy as he held the next folder. “Miss Gertrude O’Neill.”

He opened the file and began to look through it. He read the first page, then moved on to the second. “It appears Miss Gertrude started out as one of his clients, but then he must have discovered something about her, because he began to blackmail her.”

“Blackmail her?” Before Amy could process that information, the sound of footsteps walking in their direction had them staring at the door to the library in shock.

William was reaching for her, most likely to find them a place to hide, when Detective Carson and Detective Marsh walked into the room.

“Lord Wethington. Lady Amy. What a surprise!” Detective Carson grinned, his hands fisted at his hips.

CHAPTER 10

William could not believe he’d been so stupid as to ignore the fact that there might be others interested in searching James’s house. He had been so sure it would not be a problem, since there were no staff left, but he had completely forgotten that the police were right on their heels. Who would have guessed that they would get to this location so quickly?

Amy turned away from the detectives and slipped the paper she’d been writing on into the bodice of her dress. Even if the men noticed, they would not presume to search her. And William would never allow it.

Carson waved to one of the chairs. “Why don’t we sit and have a little chat.” Before William moved an inch, Marsh walked over and took all the files out of his hands. “We’ll take those, thank you.”

He nodded at the pile in the detective’s hands. “One of them is mine, and I have the right to take it back.”

Carson grinned again. “I don’t think so, my lord. This is now evidence in a murder investigation. But since you brought it up, let’s discuss why there is a hidden file with your name on it, here”—he looked around the library—“away from Mr. Harding’s office in Bath?”

Amy had taken a seat along with Detective Marsh, who was busy flipping through the pages of his notebook, but William and Carson remained standing.