The River Knows by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online

business papers?”
    “Those I will keep,” Anthony said coolly.
    “But they belong to Hastings. It is one thing to take the blackmail items, but I think we should restore the papers to the safe.”
    He looked at her, his eyes pitiless in the soft light. “The bastard is not only a blackmailer, he is also a cold-blooded murderer. I feel under no obligation to return anything to him.”
    She felt everything inside her turn to ice. “That is the second time you have said you believe him to be a murderer. Do you have any evidence?”
    “I didn’t until tonight.”
    He withdrew a black velvet pouch, opened it, and turned it upside down. She watched a cascade of gold and blazing gems spill into his fingers.
    “Good heavens,” she whispered. “It must be worth a fortune.”
    “It is. And it also proves that Hastings is guilty of murder.”
    “I don’t understand. You took that from his safe tonight?”
    “Yes.”
    She stared at the glittering pool, stunned in spite of herself. “You really are a jewel thief.”
    “This necklace belonged to a woman named Fiona Risby.”
    She jerked her gaze back up to his grim face. “Your fiancée? The woman who threw herself off a bridge?”
    “I was never completely convinced that Fiona committed suicide. Finding this necklace in Hastings’s safe proves I was right. He killed her.”
    “You’re certain that is her necklace?”
    He poured the necklace back into the pouch. “Yes. It is quite distinctive. A family heirloom. Fiona wore it the night she died.”
    “What are you going to do? Now that you have taken it from Hastings’s safe, it is no longer evidence against him because it is not in his possession.” She paused delicately. “I hesitate to point this out, sir, but if the police discover that you have the necklace they might well consider you a suspect.”
    “I couldn’t leave it behind in the safe; it would never be found there. Hastings would never allow the police to search his mansion.”
    “I see what you mean. But what are you going to do with it?”
    “I’m not sure yet,” he admitted. “But by the time I call on you tomorrow, I hope to have a plan.”
    “You are going to visit me in Arden Square tomorrow?” she asked, suddenly cautious.
    “Of course.” Anthony’s smile was dangerously enigmatic. “I have yet to collect my fee for this night’s work.”

Chapter 5
    A nthony let himself into the darkened town house. There was no one around to open the door. His small staff knew that they were not expected to wait up for him.
    He went into the library and tossed the heavy overcoat across the back of a chair. He peeled off his evening coat, unknotted his black tie, and loosened the stiff collar of his shirt.
    He set the items that he had removed from the safe on a table next to a reading chair and splashed some brandy into a glass. After taking a long swallow of the brandy, he lowered himself into the chair. Picking up some of the business papers, he began to read.
    Twenty minutes later he had no doubt about what he was looking at. The papers were confirmation of the rumors he had been hearing in his clubs. Elwin Hastings was masterminding another investment consortium. There was nothing surprising in that. Hastings had been involved in a number of financial ventures over the past few years. What was strikingly unusual about this particular scheme was the identity of one of the participants.
    He finished the brandy, rose, and poured himself another. It was late, but he was in no hurry to go to bed. He knew that when he finally did sleep he would likely dream of Fiona Risby. He would not see the young, beautiful, vibrant woman she had been in life; rather he would see her as she appeared after they pulled her out of the river, dead eyes filled with accusation.
    He took the necklace out of the velvet pouch and studied it. One of the two questions that had been driving him for the past year and two months had been answered with ringing finality as