The Klondike Mysteries 4-Book Bundle. Vicki Delany

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СКАЧАТЬ and inform us in person, Inspector.”

      He made no effort to stand but twisted his hands in his lap and coughed. “Well, uh, Mrs. MacGillivray, there is one small thing you could do for me.”

      Ray and I exchanged knowing glances. So that was the way it was to be played, was it?

      “I’d be pleased to offer you the hospitality of our house, Inspector,” I said, the words choking in my throat. Bribery of the local constabulary might be common business practice for bars and gambling houses in every other corner of the world. But not in Dawson. For the first time, I was about to bribe an officer of the law. Perhaps we’d find out that Stewart hadn’t given Ray an alibi after all.

      McKnight flushed. “You misunderstand me, Mrs. MacGillivray. I was sort of hoping that once all this is settled, you might introduce me to Miss Ellie.” The words out, he leapt to his feet. “Nothing improper, you understand. She’s so admired that it’s quite difficult, impossible really, to get a moment to speak to her. Privately. And I would like to.” He studied the wall behind my head. “Speak with her, I mean. For just a moment. Nothing improper, of course. But if you think it improper…I’d best be leaving.” He bolted for the door.

      I smiled and touched his sleeve. “It would be my pleasure, Inspector. Why don’t you come by this evening, say around quarter to eight? I’ll be happy to introduce you. Ellie doesn’t go on stage until well after eight, perhaps you could escort her to the bar and enjoy a drink or two. My treat, of course.”

      “Mrs. MacGillivray! That would be perilously close to a bribe.” He looked at me through his thick eyeglasses. “A brief introduction to the lady is all I ask. I’ll see you this evening.”

      The door stuck momentarily on badly-installed hinges. McKnight wrestled it open and ran, his ears scarlet.

      I laughed, after ensuring that the Inspector had been swallowed up by the noisy crowd.

      “You shouldn’t o’ promised to introduce them,” Ray said. “It’s not right.”

      “Don’t be ridiculous. The fellow wants to meet the object of his affections for a minute or two in a packed bar.” I walked out, still chuckling.

      Chapter Thirty-Eight

      By seven o’clock, I was regretting my impulsive invitation to Constable Sterling to join us for dinner. I was exhausted. All week, I’d been living on worry—no sleep, and even less food than I’d consumed over the winter—and now that Angus was safely home, I wanted only to collapse like a rag doll.

      McKnight arrived, thoroughly scrubbed, hair greased and combed flat, moustache stiffly groomed, promptly at 7:45 p.m. As promised I introduced him to Ellie. She performed like the professional she was: absolutely thrilled to make his acquaintance, she had heard so very much about the famous Inspector McNichol. He was too infatuated to correct her mistake over his name—probably didn’t even notice. I left them as she was promising to save him a special dance after the show.

      I waited until the orchestra did their bit on the street, and the stage show got underway before slipping out.

      “Fiona, my dearest. You look perfectly lovely this evening.” Graham Donohue fell into step beside me on the boardwalk. He hadn’t been around the Savoy much lately, and when he did drop in to hear if there had been any news about Angus, his demeanour towards me had changed. He was acting wary, skittish almost, like a halftrained dog afraid he’d misunderstood his master’s command and had made the wrong move. “I hear Angus is back from his misadventure. They’re saying Sterling’s going to be drummed out of the Mounties for it.” He seemed almost pleased at the scrap of news.

      “Who’s saying, Graham?” I stopped and turned to face him, hands planted firmly on hips.

      “Everyone.” He shrugged. “You know, people.”

      “I don’t listen to idle gossip.”

      “Since when? Admit it, Fiona. You live for idle gossip.” He laughed but stopped fast enough when he saw the look on my face. “Everyone is also saying that Angus is hale and hearty, although a bit sheepish.”

      “In that respect, everyone is correct. What’s the matter with you, Graham? I thought you and Constable Sterling were friends.”

      “Sure we are.”

      “You don’t sound like a friend. You sound pleased to hear he might be coming into some misfortune.”

      “Now why would you think that, Fiona, my darling? I’m simply repeating the news of the day. Like the good newspaperman I am.”

      “In that case you’ll be glad to hear that I intend to ensure Constable Sterling is not reprimanded in any way over this incident. The whole thing was clearly Angus’s fault.”

      Graham’s face fell. Too late, he tried to hide it by pasting on a smile.

      We stepped aside to allow a pair of neatly dressed gentlemen to pass. They tipped their hats to me.

      “We can’t stand here discussing this on the street.” I linked my arm through Graham’s, tossed him a flirtatious smile, and poked him lightly in the chest with my free hand. Time to drag Graham out of this strange mood that had descended upon him. “Constable Sterling is joining Angus and me for dinner. Come along. I’m sure Mrs. Mann has prepared more than enough to accommodate another hungry lad.”

      “You’re having dinner with Sterling? And Angus?” He wretched free of my arm.

      “Good heavens, Graham. What is the matter with you?”

      “I’ve remembered an important appointment. Most critical. Pardon me, Fiona, another time perhaps. For dinner, I mean.” He almost ran, scarcely avoiding knocking the gentlemen off the boards.

      I was quite fond of Graham. If I were looking to settle down with someone, which is indeed a substantial if, it had occurred to me that I could do a great deal worse than Graham Donohue. He was good-looking, not overbearingly large, intelligent, interested in everyone and everything. He had a good job and got on well, but not excessively well, with my son. And, most important of all, he simply adored me. Of course, most men do. But either they slobber all over me, like the customers at the bar, or want to rescue me from myself, like Sergeant Lancaster. Graham was happy to just be my friend.

      I could think of only one reason he had turned against Richard Sterling, the policeman, and was behaving so very oddly.

      Graham Donohue had killed Jack Ireland.

      Chapter Thirty-Nine

      As I walked home to get ready for my dinner guest, I carried on an angry inner debate. Had it been an outer debate, I might have come to blows with myself.

      I have to tell Richard what I know about Graham.

      Graham’s my friend. I can’t betray my friend.

      It’s my duty to inform the police.

      Let the police figure it out for themselves. That’s what they’re paid for.

      But they don’t know Graham as I do. They might not see the СКАЧАТЬ