The Connicle Curse Read Online Free Page A

with a decided lack of interest.
    I mustered what I could of a smile and followed Colin inside. Only two lanterns were lit, leaving the small space mostly dark and heavily cast in shadows. Colin had stepped to one corner and was staring at the fouled wall as though trying to decipher tea leaves. In the dim light the splatters of blood resembled black slashes, as if a bear or some other great creature had attacked the building with a manic savagery. I could still smell the metallic sting of the blood and suspected the building would need to be torn down and burned to purge the stench.
    â€œWhat are you thinking?” I asked.
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œShould we tell Mrs. Connicle about her husband?”
    â€œI’d sooner swallow my tongue. Let the Yard bear that news.” He went back outside and pulled in a deep breath of night air. “I’ll solve the case. That will be my contribution.”
    â€œAnd do you have any idea how to do that?”
    â€œWe shall start at once with the African couple,” he said as we headed back across the side yard toward the house. “Once Varcoe hears about the fetishes he’s sure to arrest them without a second thought. This will likely be our only chance to speak with them before they’re put on their guard.”
    â€œIt could be them, you know. It could be that simple.”
    He tossed me an amused look as we climbed the steps to the front door. “What would I do without you?” he asked before reaching out and pounding on the door. It was drawn open almost at once by the lovely young housekeeper, Miss Porter. “I do apologize for the intrusion,” Colin said as he flashed her a quick smile, “but we’ve a need to get a bit of information from Mrs. Connicle about the household staff. The usual sort of thing really—”
    â€œAnd how is Mrs. Connicle doing?” I hastily added in an effort to keep him from sounding completely mercenary.
    Miss Porter shifted her eyes to me and I noticed both exhaustion and worry there. “I’m afraid she’s still up in her room. She’s been there since you brought her back this morning. The waiting is . . .” She let her voice drift off as her eyes slid toward the trees, making her fear obvious.
    â€œOf course,” Colin muttered, his brow knitting even as he held his tongue against what we knew. “We needn’t disturb her then. Perhaps you might do us the favor of a few minutes of your time?”
    The fatigue that ringed her eyes made me certain she would demur, so I was surprised when she rallied a smile and answered, “Certainly.”
    She ushered us into the same drawing room we’d been shown to that morning and proceeded across it to a swinging door on the far side, which she pushed open. “Letty!” she called out. “Fetch some tea for three of us, please.” She released the door and came back to join us. “Do sit down, gentlemen. Mrs. Connicle would insist on your comfort and care were she able to see to it herself.”
    â€œYou really mustn’t trouble anyone on our account,” Colin said as we settled onto the sofa across from her. “I would only like to know something of the staff here. Names, position, tenure . . . all very routine.” He gave her an easy smile that earned him one in return.
    â€œOf course,” she answered, her polite grin reminding me how very striking she was with her delicate features accented by a froth of curly brown hair. I determined her to be somewhere in her mid-twenties, which struck me as curious that the Connicles had selected such a young woman to take charge of their home. “We are a rather disparate group,” she acknowledged with some unease. “A few have been with the Connicles from the beginning of their marriage while the rest of us are rather new to their employ.”
    There was a clatter of dishes from the back corner of the room as the