The Black Crow Conspiracy by Christopher Edge Read Free Book Online Page A

question, miss. Sergeant Major Middleton is not on duty at the moment, but if you leave your message with me, I will ensure that it is delivered without delay on his return.”
    Thinking fast, Penny crumpled her features into a crestfallen expression.
    “But Mother said I was to speak only to Uncle Thomas – I mean Sergeant Major Middleton.This is a family matter. The doctor doesn’t think Mama will last another night, and she dearly wishes to speak to her eldest brother one last time before she passes over to the other side.”
    The warder shifted uncomfortably in his shoes. Rules and regulations were one thing, but he didn’t want to deny a dying woman’s wish. Penelope’s barefaced lie was having the desired effect.
    “You cannot come inside, miss,” he said, leaning closer as if he was fearful of being overheard. “No visitors allowed within the bounds of the Tower, by order of the King. But if you want to find Sergeant Major Middleton, you might try your luck at The Anchor Tap.” With a tilt of his head, he nodded towards the river. Penelope followed the direction of his gaze until her eyes alighted upon the Anchor Brewery sitting on the south bank, its high chimney belching a trail of contented smoke into the pale-blue sky.
    With a smile of thanks, Penelope turned to leave, pleased that she had managed to hoodwink the warder.
    “Be careful, miss,” the guard called out as she began to walk back to where Alfie was waiting. “The Anchor Tap is no place for a young lady like you.”

VII
    As she stood on the threshold of the public house, Penelope could see that the old soldier had been telling the truth. Outside the sun was still high in the sky, the summer afternoon slowly idling its way towards evening, but here inside the tavern, darkness reigned. Dark-oak walls framed a cramped public bar, its woodwork stained almost black where it could be glimpsed amidst a press of elbows.
    Wiping a pint glass with the hem of her pinafore, a sour-faced barmaid was serving a gaggle of burly dockworkers, their crude attempts to coax a smile rousing the pub with their laughter. In the corner of the bar, an old soldier banged out a regimental tune on an upright piano, a young woman in a low-cut French dress perched on his lap. As the soldier reached the chorus, she joined in with his singing, her tuneless screech causing Penny to wince in discomfort. The revels seemed more suited to a Friday night free-and-easy thana sunny Tuesday afternoon.
    As the tavern door closed behind Penelope, she became uncomfortably aware of the gazes now turned in her direction. With Alfie standing protectively by her side, she felt eyes crawling over every inch of her outfit, inspecting the finery of its embroidery and the shine of her shoes. It was clear by the sneers that this wasn’t a place where she was welcome.
    “Are you sure this is a good idea?”Alfie murmured.
    Penny held her head high. With Monty for the moment keeping his counsel behind the bars of New Scotland Yard, it was time for her to find the man who might hold the key to his freedom. Surveying the bar, she couldn’t see any sign of a face that matched the portrait of Sergeant Major Middleton she had seen in the pages of
The Navy & Army Illustrated
magazine. But, to the left of the bar, she spied an open door.
    “We have to find the Keeper of the Keys,” she replied, linking her arm with Alfie’s. “Let’s try this way.”
    The two of them negotiated their way past the bar, ignoring the muttered comments from the men propped up there. Through the door, she could see further rooms stretching back into the pub; these snug dens were populated by those drinkers who wanted to conduct their business away from prying eyes. And there, at a table inthe corner, she saw the figure of a man sitting staring into the bottom of a half-empty glass. Penelope recognised his long bushy beard from the portrait she had seen. Sergeant Major Thomas Middleton – the Chief Warder of the Tower