Book of Secrets by Chris Roberson Read Free Book Online

Hand whispered, his voice betraying his concern for his trusted aide. "Louise." He knelt beside her, placing a hand on her round shoulder. "Where is Matthews?" 
      Roused from a fitful sleep, Louise slowly opened her eyes. Her shock at seeing her rescuer was registered there in those crystal blue orbs. 
      "Richmond," she breathed.
      "Where is Matthews?" he repeated. "I must get you both out of here."
  "Who?" Louise asked.
      "The other prisoner," he answered as he went to work on her binds. He wanted her away from there as quickly as possible, but could not leave the other victim to whatever fate awaited him. So intent was he on freeing her, that he noticed too late the look of horror in her eyes, and saw the shadow falling across his own hands. A blow like a jackhammer pounded into his head, and he fell into darkness!

    7
    W hen he regained consciousness, Taylor found himself unmasked, bound hands to feet, and laying on the floor next to Louise. She stared at him, wide eyed, unable to help. 
      He struggled into a sitting position, and surveyed his surroundings. Whoever had struck him had been waiting in the darkness when he arrived, and come up behind him unnoticed. 
      "Richmond," Louise whispered. "Are you alright?"
      "I have been better, Miss Aldridge," Taylor answered in a low voice. "I take it you are the only prisoner here."
      "I was until you arrived," she answered. "Now there are the both of us."
  "How long was I out?"
      "Just a few moments," Louise replied. "Just long enough for that man to get you tied up." 
      "Did you get a look at him?"
      "No, he always keeps his face hidden under a mask, not unlike someone else I know." She paused. "But I suppose he's alone in that club now." She gestured with her chin, pointing at the hat and mask that lay tossed a few feet away. 
      "No time to worry about that now," Taylor answered, his voice grave. "Where has he gone?" 
      "I'm right here, Mr. Taylor," came a voice from out of the shadows. Then followed a mocking laugh, and a hooded figure stepped into the light, a pistol trained on the pair.
      "He calls himself the Talon," Louise said, eyeing him icily.
      "I would have thought he'd come up with a better name than that," Taylor replied. He turned his gaze on the hooded man. "Wouldn't you, Peter?" 
      The hooded man laughed again, and then drew himself up straight. Keeping his pistol pointed at the two of them, he reached up with the other and pulled the hood from his face. There, unmasked, stood Peter Matthews!
      "I should have suspected," Taylor said evenly. "It was all there in front of me."
      "I'm sure," Matthews hissed. "But it's rather too late now, Mr. Taylor. Or should I say, Black Hand." He laughed, mirthlessly. "It's a pity to have discovered your secret so soon before your death. It kind of takes the fun out of it." 
      "What are you going to do?" Louise asked at a silent signal from Taylor. 
      "I'm going to kill you, of course."
      "But why?" she went on, stealing a glance at her silent companion.
      "Why not ask your boyfriend?" Matthews taunted. "I think he's got it all figured out." 
      "You tell her," Taylor snarled. "I wouldn't want to spoil your fun." Taylor needed just a few moments more, and he knew that once bragging, Matthews would give them to him.
      "Very well," Matthews sighed. "My father disowned me last year, Mrs. Black Hand, on account of my somewhat unsavory associates. A boy has to have a hobby, you know. In any case, I find myself in need of cash, and the old man simply won't give it to me, no matter how often I ask. He hates me, you see. A huge disappointment. That's the rub, really.
      "But he doesn't want me dead. So say I were kidnapped, and his only choice was to pay up or get my severed head in the mail. That would spoil his brunch, don't you think?" Matthews walked to the wall about ten feet away, threw a switch, and from overhead came the sound of rusty