Grace and Disgrace by Kayne Milhomme Read Free Book Online

Tuohay.
    “Inspector Dennis Frost of the 4 th precinct,” Frost replied in a no-nonsense manner. “Your man will be disembarking in a few minutes.”
    “Is everyone in place?”
    “Six constables linin’ the docks with every conceivable exit covered. We could do without the blasted fog, though.” He glanced at Eliza and Eldredge standing a few feet back. “These them?”
    “Local partners assigned to me for the case,” Tuohay confirmed.
    Frost frowned in their general vicinity.
    “What’s with the sour look?” Eliza said, peering from under her sagging hat. “You got a problem work’n with dames?”
    “Private citizens in general, actually,” Frost scowled. “The docks usually ain’t the safest of locations. And certainly not while a surveillance operation is in place. Even for members of the illustrious Sleuthhound club.” He smiled at their look of surprise. “Aye, I did my research on you lot.” He turned back to Tuohay. “You recruited members of a defunct collegiate investigation club ?” The emphasis was not delivered in a kindly voice.
    A smile flickered across Tuohay’s face. “Inspector, I take full accountability for my partners.”
    Eliza crossed her arms. “ You take full accountability? How about I take full accountability.”
    Frost shrugged. “It’s your show.”
    “Thank you, inspector.”
    Frost checked his watch again. “So this man you’re after, Kip Crippen. A confessed jewel thief. Sounds like a good fit, except for the fact that you’re lookin’ to collar him based on what—word of mouth? Do you really believe he can lead you to the lost diamond?”
    “What I believe does not matter; what he can tell us does. We will see once we question him.”
    “ Interrogation is the proper term for it.” Frost struck a match against a light post and lit a snub-nosed cigarette.
    “Call it what you will.”
    A flash of light appeared from a nearby rooftop, the small beacon quickly swallowed up by the thick fog. It reappeared in three successive blinks. Frost turned to the others. “There’s the signal.”
    Eldredge tensed. “So what is the plan?”
    “Your lot waits here,” said Frost. “Not worth the bother of you gettin’ in the way.”
    “If you think it is best,” Eldredge said, a note of relief in his voice.
    Frost smiled around his cigarette. “Don’t worry. My men know this area like the back of their hands. We’ll have Mr. Crippen in custody before he sets foot on the shore. Just sit tight.”
    With a tip of his hat, Frost departed. The embers of his cigarette disappeared into the fog like a fading star.
    Eliza frowned at Tuohay. “We just wait, then?”             
    “Yes.”
    “Not quite as exciting as you promised.”
    “But exciting enough,” Eldredge broke in, tapping the water from the brim of his hat. “We are here as observers, Eliza. I do not think our purpose is to tackle alleged criminals to the ground.”
    Eliza smirked. “Leave all the fun to the professionals, huh?”
    The black canvas of a nearby wagon slapped in the wind, the cold gust shredding a portion of the fog into wispy vapors. Tuohay attempted to light a match, but after the third attempt gave up on the flawed operation.
    Eldredge stepped forward with a burning match cupped in his hand, and Tuohay leaned in with his cigarette. “Good show, Eldredge.”
    “I am useful for more than numbers, you know.”
    Eliza plucked the burning cigarette from Tuohay’s fingers and took a long draw. Coughing slightly, she handed it back. “So you have time to explain who this Crippen fellow is, and how he ties to the diamond?”
    “He is believed to be one of three suspects in the crime.”
    “Why three?”
    “Three crowns,” said Tuohay. “A crown etched into each of the three glass-diamond decoys discovered in each of the three safes meant to house the Templar Diamond during its stay in Belfast. The three medieval crowns—all of which were slightly different in