Whispers Beyond the Veil by Jessica Estevao Read Free Book Online Page B

through a mouthful of food. “He’s in his office. Said to send you in as soon as you got back.”
    â€œDid he say what he wanted?” Yancey asked.
    â€œNope. But he had Jelly Roll with him so you ought to brace yourself for something rotten.” Frank dabbed at his luxuriant mustache with his handkerchief.
    There was nothing that took the pleasure out of a fine summer afternoon like a chat with the chief. Unless it was a talk that also included the chief’s brother-in-law, Robert Jellison, known to hismany detractors as Jelly Roll. Yancey took the time to place his hat on the rack near the door and to check his desk for any new messages. Deciding he could delay no longer, Yancey knocked on his superior’s door and waited until he heard the growl from within.
    â€œVery good of you to find time to make it in to work today,” Charles Hurley said, his feet propped up on the corner of his wooden desk. Robert Jellison lolled in the chair opposite the desk, sunlight glinting off his bald head.
    â€œI’ve been out investigating a pickpocketing case, sir. The number of sneak thefts is climbing every day.”
    â€œPetty crimes. I’ve got more important matters for you to turn your attention to today.” Chief Hurley waved his cigar, trailing a plume of smoke.
    â€œA young woman was knocked unconscious during the attack.”
    â€œAnyone important?” Robert Jellison asked, leaning forward with interest.
    â€œEveryone is important,” Yancey said. “But this young woman happens to be Honoria Belden’s niece.”
    â€œReally?” Jellison’s forehead crinkled into deep furrows. “I wasn’t aware Miss Belden had any family left.”
    â€œShe must be her prodigal sister’s child,” the chief said.
    â€œI’d forgotten about her. Wasn’t the hotel left solely to Miss Belden?” asked Jellison.
    â€œIt was. The sister, Delphinia, was disowned more than twenty years ago by her parents,” Chief Hurley said. Disgust filled Yancey as he detected a note of pleasure running in the currents of his boss’s voice. “She snuck off in the dead of night with a man who was in town for the summer. People said she left carrying nothing but her shoes in her hand so as not to squeak the floorboards.”
    â€œI remember now. It caused an uproar until that otherbusiness caused even more fuss,” Jellison said. Yancey had heard enough. His tolerance for family scandals and gossip was lower than most. Perhaps because his firsthand experience with them was greater than average.
    â€œChief, you had something you wanted me to take care of?”
    â€œThat’s right.” Chief Hurley stood and strode to the window. “The town fathers have made it clear that Old Orchard is on its way to being a world-class summer resort. In order to maintain that image we need to control the riffraff and undesirables.”
    â€œAre you planning to increase the size of the force, sir? We could use at least two more men to adequately patrol the increased traffic around the pier.”
    â€œNo. There isn’t any money for more officers. Still, the powers that be want results, not excuses.” Chief Hurley shot a glance at Jellison.
    â€œWhat your boss is saying is that the Indians squatting behind my latest hotel purchase need to go. And soon. We don’t want them hanging around in plain sight when the pier opens.”
    â€œBut they’ve been coming here in the summer since before there was a town. I don’t see how we can ask them to leave.” Yancey’s collar felt as though it had shrunk by two inches.
    â€œWe’re not asking for your opinion,” Hurley said. “We’re telling you to make them go.”
    â€œSir, I doubt what you’re asking is legal.”
    â€œYou know what people said when I gave you this job. What they still say about taking a chance on you. Was I wrong to do