A Death for a Cause by Caroline Dunford Read Free Book Online Page B

much hope such an occurrence will not come to our shores. It will however not be long before the Balkans erupt into war and that will be the start of it all.’ He sighed heavily. ‘And here I am looking into the death of a civil servant.’
    â€˜A far less exciting experience than being on the ground at the beginning of a war,’ I remarked.
    Fitzroy’s eyes sparkled. ‘Exactly. Where is the adventure in this?’
    â€˜I shall choose not to be insulted by that remark, but simply remind you that justice is a higher calling and one that you should not be shamed to embrace.’
    â€˜This,’ he gestured to the room around us, ‘is not living. This is the slow death march of time within the boundaries of petty politics that will never shape a better world. One day, Euphemia, I shall have to take you somewhere exciting.’
    I shivered at the thought.
    â€˜In the meantime,’ continued Fitzroy, ‘could you be a good girl and discover what, if anything, the women in cell know about Wilks’s death. In return I shall ensure that no mention of your part in the fracas is ever mentioned.’ He rose and gave me a quick smile that did not quite reach his eyes. ‘Besides, I am sure you would be happy enough to do this without reward, seeing as you have such a high regard for justice.’
    â€˜How am I …?’ but Fitzroy was already unlocking the door and calling for the guard to return me to me cell. My hands were manacled behind my back. I gave Fitzroy a furious look. ‘For verisimilitude,’ he said. ‘Not too rough,’ he added to the guard as the man began to hustle me from the room.
    â€˜Euphemia,’ Fitzroy said as I was exiting the door, ‘if you do feel ill again, have one of your compatriots summon the guard. I will ensure there is medical aid on offer for you.’
    â€˜A hairbrush would be more useful,’ I countered, but he merely smiled his cold smile again and closed the door in my face.
    â€˜Sorry about this,’ said the guard as he took my upper arm in a vice-like grip, ‘but if they others don’t believe it they may turn nasty on you.’
    â€˜Ouch, does it have to be quite that sore.’
    â€˜Believe me a few bruises to show the others will quieten any suspicions of where you have been. Though you’ll need to try not to get too close to anyone for a while. There’s wine on your breath. Sometimes Fitzroy is too flash for his own good.’
    â€˜You’re one of his men?’
    â€˜Hush,’ said the guard. ‘We’re getting near the cells. No, I work for Mr Edward. You can call me Mark. Fitzroy’s on secondment due to his recent injuries, but I heard you knew about all that.’
    â€˜Hmm,’ I nodded. When matters of state are involved I have learnt to keep my mouth shut. As if he had read my thoughts, the guard looked at me approvingly. ‘I’m the only one in here. If another guard is taking you out it’s probably not somewhere you want to be going.’
    I swallowed hard. Weak as I was, I imagined I would find it hard to resist a man bent on dragging me out of the cell, though the heavens knew I would do my damnedest. ‘And I really am sorry about this,’ said Mark as we turned the corner and came up against the bars of a large cell. He kept his grip on my arm as he unlocked the cell. Then he pushed me in with such force that I landed on my hands and knees. He spat at me – though I am glad to say his spittle did not actually reach my person. ‘Stupid whore,’ he said and clanged the door shut. He locked the door and ran his baton loudly along the bars as he walked away. The noise made my tender head ring.
    I sat back on heels and surveyed my surroundings. Eight women looked down at me. None of them were smiling.
    18 Though in all fairness the food was superb.
    19 I have seen him do so with other women at superior social gatherings, so