Free Half a Mind TO Murder (Dr. Alexandra Gladstone Mysteries Book 3) by Paula Paul Page B

subject in which she was particularly interested, but it would have to wait for another opportunity. She felt her presence was needed in Newton-Upon-Sea.
    “ Not going to London?” Nancy turned around to look at Alexandra, letting a pot she had just cleaned clatter to the floor in the process. “But you’ve been looking forward to this trip for weeks. You simply can’t miss the opportunity to attend Dr. Lister’s lecture on germs.”
    Alexandra shook her head, not allowing herself to think of the disappointment of missing what was likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I can’t leave you here alone, Nancy. Not when there is a mad killer loose.”
    “ Nonsense, I—”
    “ The entire village is frightened,” Alexandra said. “You can’t belittle the danger.”
    Nancy stood in front of her frowning and with her hands on her hips. “Begging your pardon, Miss, but do you really think your being here will make a difference in my safety? And,” she added quickly before Alexandra could respond or defend herself, “Zack will be here. A good bark from that beast would scare away Satan himself.”
    “ You can’t be certain of that, Nancy.”
    “ Then do you mind telling me exactly how you will protect me?”
    “ Well, I… It’s just that I…”
    “ Anyway,” Nancy said, “’tisn’t women who are in danger. If you’ll notice, ’tis only men of a certain age the madman’s after.”
    “ There’s no point in arguing with me. I’ve made up my mind.”
    “ No time to discuss it now, Miss. You must open your surgery,” Nancy said.
    In spite of her characteristic impudence, she was correct. It was time. In fact, the first patient was already knocking at the door, and Zack gave forth with a belated bark. Nancy turned away to pick up the pan she had dropped, and Alexandra hurried to the surgery. When she opened the door, she was both surprised and a little unnerved to see that it was Clyde Wright standing in front of her. His eyes were swollen and bloodshot as if he hadn’t slept, and he was still clutching the dirty bag she’d seen him carrying during the night. When he thrust it toward her, she noticed the putrid smell and could see that the stains she had seen in the moonlight now, in the light of day, looked like dried blood.
    “ Clyde?” she said, doing her best to keep her voice from shaking. “I must say I’m surprised to see you. All of Newton thought you’d left town.”
    “ Yes,” he said, still holding the dirty bag toward her. “I left, but I came back.” He thrust the bag even closer to her. “I want you to take a look at this.”
    “ What is it?” she asked, holding her breath while she leaned toward him to peer inside the bag. In the same moment that she recognized the contents, Clyde spoke.
    “ It’s someone’s heart.”
    Alexandra found she could not speak.
    “Maybe that stranger’s.”
    “ Good lord, Clyde. Why didn’t you go to the constable when you found this?” Alexandra still stood in the doorway. She had not invited him to enter the surgery.
    “ What? That bastard Snow? Begging your pardon, Miss, but I don’t trust the man.” He managed somehow to slip around her to get inside the surgery.
    “ This is clearly a criminal matter. Something Constable Snow should handle, and there’s no reason for you not to trust him.”
    “ Let’s just say, I have my reasons, I do. And being a medical man myself, I know ’twould be of value to examine the tissue.” Clyde once again thrust the bag at her.
    Alexandra hesitated for the slightest moment and couldn ’t stop herself from peering inside the bag again. There was no questioning the fact that she was eager to examine the organ, but duty and common sense had to prevail. “I shall examine the specimen only after the proper legal procedures have been followed. You will come with me to the constable’s office.”
    “ You’ll take it yourself, then.” Clyde laid his package on her examination table and