Page 28 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
“You’vecome?” Jeanette craned her neck to peer past Kara’s shoulder. “But where is the constable?”
Puzzled, Kara paused. “Which constable?”
“Braggs? Briggs? I don’t recall his name, exactly!” Jeanette’s tone was growing more shrill by the moment.
“You’ve sent for a constable? Tonight?” Kara glanced around the nearly empty street.
The girl took a step back. “No! Not tonight. I mean the constable I talked to! The one I asked for help—thatconstable!”
Niall stepped forward, his hands spread out, palms down. “Stay calm, miss. We are here to help, if we can. What was it you spoke to a constable about?”
The girl stared at him, her eyes wide. “About Glynn Foulger’s murder, as you said! I told him I had information the police needed. He listened and thanked me. I told him what I need is protection. What good are thanks? He said he would report in and return, but that was yesterday mornin’, wasn’t it? I might have been killed half a dozen times over since then, hadn’t I?”
Kara exchanged frowns with her husband. “I’m sorry. We didn’t realize that you’d already spoken to the police.”
“Why do ye think I’m here tonight, instead of at my prime spot at the Canterbury? I’m waitin’ on their help.”
Kara gave her a piercing stare. “Jeanette, what exactly are you afraid of?”
The girl glanced around, her gaze darting through the shadows onthe street. “Him,” she whispered. “I’m afraid of him.”
Kara reached for patience. The girl’s fear seemed real enough. “Beth Williams is our friend. Do you know her? She volunteers at the Waif’s Wardrobe. She was close with Glynn Foulger. She is busy arranging a memorial for Glynn, and she asked us to help look into Glynn’s death.”
Jeanette listened, but said nothing.
“We spoke with Lily this morning—the girl who sells flowers near St. George’s. Do you know who I mean?”
Jeanette nodded stiffly.
“Lily told us there is a man—a gentleman—who might have been Glynn’s enemy. A young man with red hair. Is that who you are frightened of?”
Jeanette nodded. “I’ve every reason to fear him, haven’t I?” she asked quietly. “He tortured Glynn—and now he’s in a fair way to startin’ it up with me!”
“He’s harassing you?” Niall asked sharply. “In the way he harassed Glynn?”
The girl glanced about again, shifting nervously. “He’s begun. And I saw how bad it got.” Her expression grew wild. “And what if it were him who killed Glynn? I don’t want to die with my head bashed in!”
“We are not going to let that happen,” Kara declared. “Listen, let’s get you somewhere safe, where we can talk freely.”
“I want to talk to thepolice. How do I know what ye say is true?”
Kara drew a breath. “I don’t know for sure, but I will tell you what I suspect, Jeanette. The detective charged with investigating Glynn Foulger’s death has a suspect in custody. He believes that it was this suspect, Mr. Yardley, who harassed Miss Foulger. Everyone believes that. Even Glynn believed it.”
“But Itoldthe constable it weren’t him.”
Kara pressed her lips together for a moment. “It may be that the detective doesn’t want to hear any evidence that might cast doubt onthe suspect he has in custody.”
“That’s wicked, that is!”
“It is. But we have a friendship with another inspector at Scotland Yard. He will want to hear what you have to say. If you come with us, we’ll take you to talk to him.”
Jeanette began to pace back and forth before her baskets. “No. I’m not daft, am I? I’m not gettin’ into a carriage with the pair of ye! Ye’re just two more of the fancy, ye are—just likehim!”
“I’ll thank you not to compare us to a possible madman,” Niall said.
“Here’s what we’ll do, then,” Kara said. “Why don’t we all walk down to the Screaming Eagle? It’s not far. There will be plenty of people there at this time of night. We can have a pint in a quiet corner and talk. If we are fortunate, they will still have some of their currant buns available.”
Jeanette blinked at her. “Ye know the Eagle?”
