A New York Christmas by Anne Perry Read Free Book Online Page A

to the front door and out into the street. He looked one way, then the other, then came back to Jemima.
    “I’m going to find the nearest policeman. I don’t think anyone around here will have a telephone. It’s not that sort of area. You stay here and don’t speak to anyone. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
    “Can’t I come with you?” she asked, then heard her own voice and wished she had not sounded so plaintive. No backbone! “No,” she said before he could reply, although the refusal was in his face. “Of course not. You’ll move far faster without me. I understand. Please go.”
    He looked immensely relieved and turned quickly, starting to run as soon as he was on the open sidewalk.
    Jemima stood in the hallway for what seemed likeforever. A man came out of one of the ground-floor apartments and said something to her, but she did not hear the words, could not find her voice to reply. He went out the door and disappeared. Two more people went by.
    Her mind was racing.
    Who could have killed Maria Cardew, and why? Had some part of the evil life Harley had hinted at finally caught up with her? Where had Harley been? If he had arrived sooner, they might have saved her! Jemima should have felt outrage, even fear, but thinking of that ravaged face all she could summon was pity. She hoped Phinnie would not have to learn the whole truth. Was there any way they could keep it from her, at least until after the wedding?
    She was still busy with that thought when Harley came back in through the front door, followed by a young man easily his height but dark-haired and with startlingly blue eyes. He introduced himself before Harley could do it.
    “Miss Pitt? I’m Officer Patrick Flannery. Mr. Albright tells me that you discovered the body of a woman upstairs in apartment 309. Is that true?”
    Jemima looked at him. His presence, his dark blueuniform, made it all suddenly no longer a nightmare but a reality—official, ugly, and dangerous. How could they possibly keep Phinnie from knowing? If this young policeman had any brains at all, he would ask what Harley Albright was doing here in the first place. And she knew from her father’s experience that lies only made everything worse. He had said more than once that the lies a person told gave away more than most truths.
    “Yes, sir,” she replied. Another thing her father had said was not to answer more questions than you were asked. It made you appear nervous.
    Flannery nodded. “I see. Mr. Albright said that he found you inside the apartment, in the bedroom with the dead woman. Is that right?” He had a nice voice, with a lilt of the Irish in it. “Miss Pitt?” he prompted.
    “Yes,” she said quickly, trying to keep her composure. Of course Harley had had to say that. She was there already when he arrived. “I didn’t touch her,” she added, then wished she hadn’t. Was she so rattled that she was going to forget all her father’s advice already? If only he were here now!
    “Mr. Albright says you’re English. Is that right?” Flannery asked.
    “Yes. I’ve been here just a few days. I came over for the wedding of a friend.”
    “I see. That would be Mr. Albright’s brother’s fiancée?”
    Jemima nodded. “Yes, Phinnie—Delphinia—Cardew.”
    “And do you know the dead woman, Miss Pitt?”
    “No. Mr. Albright says she is Maria Cardew.”
    Harley stiffened, but he did not interrupt.
    “The mother of Mr. Brent Albright’s fiancée,” Flannery said. “He mentioned that. Perhaps we had better go up to see her. I’ve sent for the police surgeon to take a look at her.” He glanced at Harley.
    “The family asks for your discretion and will deeply appreciate it,” Harley said. “I will personally pay for a decent burial for the woman.”
    “Yes, sir.” Flannery nodded. “I’ll do what I can. If you would lead the way upstairs, please …?”
    Harley moved, and Jemima followed him, with Officer Flannery after her. It was then that she