The Mysterious Lady Law by Robert Appleton Read Free Book Online Page B

the earth. He was to be my companion to Namib…to Africa. He studies astrophysics in the Leviacrum, but his real passions are natural history and finding rare species of animals. My enthusiasm is mostly vicarious, I’m afraid. Without Josh, I have no intention of going it alone. But I wouldn’t mind seeing Africa one last time,” he waxed aloud.
    “I can see that.” Harriet spent a moment scrutinizing him. “Actually, your protégé is the reason I am here.”
    Holly snapped out of his daydream. “What? What about Josh?”
    “Well, I am investigating the murder of a young woman, a Miss Georgina Bairstow, and it has come to my attention that Josh telephoned you the night of her death, asking you to go to her house and protect her.”
    “Yes.”
    “Do you know of any reason why Josh might be in trouble?”
    “Not a one. He’s a quiet lad, wouldn’t say boo to a goose.”
    “I see. Do you mind me asking what he was working on? Or perhaps a project you were both involved with? Something to do with your African expedition, by chance? The whereabouts of an archaeological site, say—a valuable piece of information like that could attract other, shall we say, interested parties. Far be it from me to make accusations, but Josh does have sizeable debts from his education. I understand he’s been under a lot of pressure lately.”
    Holly didn’t like her loaded questions or, of a sudden, the Machiavellian nature of her visit. The Sossusvlei expedition was his and Josh’s closely guarded secret. It did indeed involve a priceless archaeological site, the whereabouts of which other interested parties would be eager to know, but it was not, not the kind of secret she was hinting at. In any case, Josh’s moral character was unimpeachable. Her suspicions did not add up…at all.
    He no longer bathed in the spell of her eyes or her charisma. A chill grew between them, and he felt that he saw her properly for the first time. Mendacious, after all. Not to be trusted.
    It was time to see exactly what she was made of.
    Holly faked a frown. “You’re not saying…you don’t think…” He lowered his voice to a whisper, “… the map? You don’t suppose he’s in trouble because of…the map?”
    Lady Law raised an eyebrow and leant in close. “Pray tell me…what map is this?”
     
    “All aboard for the round-trip to Dover. Eleven-fifteen to Dover, all aboard. Fine weather this afternoon, light breezes, plenty of sun. Ticket holders for Dover, make your way to steam elevator fourteen. Single file now, that’s it. You’ll experience heat on your way up, but don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe. Mind the slippery gangway just before you board the airship. Easy does it. All aboard for Dover! Professor McEwan’s journey to the earth’s core. Ticket holders only.” The moustached station guard touched his blue cap when he saw Julia—a nice gesture of recognition for a fellow sky-hop. Though she didn’t know his name, they’d served together on the Griffin a few times, in separate departments. “Have a good one,” he said with a wink.
    “Thank you. You, too.”
    The packed iron elevator squeaked its way up inside the brass scaffold. The hiss of steam dissipated as they climbed. Julia dabbed her brow and neck with her handkerchief, then smirked at an old woman wearing a rain-mate.
    The air was much warmer than usual on the gangway—lucky that. She hadn’t really dressed for altitude. The giant curved ridges shaping the airship’s golden exterior reflected bright sunlight. They had been polished. Indeed, every inch of the Pegasus gleamed and glistened as though this were its maiden voyage. Much had been made in the newspapers about Professor McEwan’s subterranean folly, his “iron mole”, after the original patent holder for its design, Professor Perry of America, had ventured into the earth’s crust years ago and had not been seen since.
    But what folly! The very idea inspired enough excitement for the fleet