Free Three Nights of Sin by Anne Mallory Page A

the body. Fastest I’ve seen.”
    Noble’s eyes narrowed. “Suspicious.”
    “Nah, probably just trying to keep the masses pacified.”
    “From what? It’s not like regular folks would see.”
    “No, but the longer they drag something out, the worse it will be. Clean everything as quickly as you can, and it will pass from the public’s memory.”
    Just as they were trying to do with Kenny’s trial.
    “Does Frank still work in the same building?”
    “Yes. Upstairs from the court. Thought he was done with his tasks?”
    “He is. Doesn’t mean I can’t pay an old friend a visit.”
    Noble smiled charmingly, but Oscar just mumbled. “Better not pay me any visits once we’re done.”
    The next thing Marietta knew she was outside on the sidewalk, Cold Bath Fields behind her. She was vaguely aware that Noble and Oscar engaged in a brief, coded conversation, but she didn’t listen. Couldn’t concentrate. Her mind was going again at full speed.
    “His groaning,” she said suddenly, and Noble peered at her. “Don’t you see? It was Kenny whoPenner heard. Not the victim. The victim was long since dead.”
    Noble was silent a moment. “While I’ll agree that it is a good match with what we heard from Penner, something just doesn’t make sense. Why leave your brother there?”
    She lifted her arms in irritation. “Maybe the murderer needed someone else to take the fall.”
    “Perhaps.”
    “You still believe him guilty?”
    The seconds ticked by.
    “No.”
    Half the fleet of ships were lifted from her shoulders, leaving only five hundred weighing her down.
    “Thank you.”
    “It is not I who needs to be convinced.”
    “I beg to differ. You were clearly convinced of his guilt before we came today.”
    “I was clearly convinced of nothing. I wasn’t convinced of his innocence . That is what you objected to.”
    “Was not.”
    “Don’t be petulant,” he said, his head tilted.
    She gasped. “I’m not petulant.”
    He tipped his head in the other direction as they continued to walk and another walnut appeared from his pocket. “Maybe he was just after the woman.”
    “What?” She replayed the conversation. “You think the killer was after her specifically?”
    “Your brother heard the woman say, ‘You.’ That would lead me to believe that perhaps all of the attacks are targeted.”
    “Instead of random women caught by a crazy man?”
    He shrugged, rolling the nut between his fingers. “The watch thinks they are all random attacks. Most of the public does as well. I have been too busy to pay attention these last few weeks.”
    “But you now think the women targeted?” It made sense. It fit.
    He shrugged again. “I don’t know what to think, but today has given me much to ponder.” He gave her an unreadable look and continued to rub his fingers in a circular pattern.
    Marietta didn’t know what to say to that, or how to respond to the feeling coiling in her stomach. She paced alongside him as they walked home, gritting her teeth every time they passed a drooling female on the sidewalk.

Chapter 6
    G abriel shuffled another ten pages into his leather satchel. Preparation was rarely a bad thing.
    A swish on the boards, a movement in the air. He picked up a quill and with a toss of his head flicked his hair to the side. Part of his early training had given him the ability to hear people before he saw them. To always be on alert.
    Later events had ensured he would never forget to stay that way.
    She appeared in the doorway looking slightly rumpled. “Good morning,” she murmured.
    He twirled the quill and returned the greeting, though his voice wasn’t quite as smooth as he would’ve liked and the quill wobbled on its axis. She settled down across from him with her plate of food, and he watched her take a bite. Watched her face transform into the rather passionate expression she always wore when she ate. As if she wasn’t sure she would get another meal quite as good.
    The first time he