The Hanged Man Read Online Free Page A

contaminate the scene. He was excited, interested, and eager to press forward, having embraced Alex’s conclusion as his own. Nothing left but to find the murderer so far as he was concerned. She was pleased with the validation but resisted the temptation to thank him for it.
    He opened the drawer and fingered the deceased’s pocket watch, showing its face to Brook. “Make a note of the time and that the smell of ether was detected on the pillow by the three of us. Then make an inventory of all the items in here, starting with this bauble. Mind you get everything down. I won’t have some sticky-fingered servant claiming anything went missing while I was on duty.”
    Brook produced a notebook and a pencil and wrote as instructed.
    â€œDid the butler find the body?” she asked.
    â€œThe valet,” said Lennon. “He was doing the last rounds before turning in, making sure the windows were shut and the gas off, saw the light under the door, and looked in. Apparently it was unusual for his master to be up so late.”
    â€œA steady fellow?”
    â€œSeems steady enough. What’s that to do with anything?”
    â€œYou can thank him for keeping the room untouched. I should think he may have had some police training at some point.”
    â€œWe’ll stand him a drink at the nearest pub, then. Brook, make a sketch of the room while you’re at it. Come along, ghost-catcher.” Lennon went out.
    â€œSketch?” Brook echoed. “I’m no artist.” He looked at Alex a little helplessly. “Do you draw, miss?”
    â€œNot that sort of sketch,” Alex said kindly. “He wants a map of the room, approximate dimensions, placement of furnishings, window, door, and the body.”
    â€œOh. I can do that. Thank you, miss.”
    â€œTwo copies, if you please. One for the Yard, another for the Service. As identical as possible.”
    Alex caught up with Lennon at the far end of the hall. He held a lantern and had a door open. Narrow stairs lay beyond. He bulled up, the lantern’s pale light dancing drunkenly on the plain walls. She knew what would be next and cursed him. He’d take great enjoyment grumbling about the delay if she went to fetch her coat, and she refused to give him the satisfaction. She followed him to the servants’ floor. To judge by the clothing left out, the females of the household had the whole of it, and it was quite nice. Only two to a room and at one end was the unheard-of luxury of a water closet. That must have cost a few pennies.
    Lennon searched with no regard for the occupants’ privacy until he found a bolted door that opened to the roof. Any other time of the year Alex would have delighted in such a lofty expedition, but not now.
    She eased out in Lennon’s wake, shrinking from the cold despite her woolens.
    Ice coated everything and the wind cut like a fury.
    Directly opposite was a low wall that divided this house from its neighbor. To the left was a flat space with lines strung between a braced pole and hooks piercing the main chimney. Such washing as was done on the premises would be hung here in the more clement months. Alex stepped carefully across to the low wall that overlooked the back. Below were the mews and an enclosed extension leading from them to the house, its windows lighted, probably the kitchen and quarters for the male servants. A constable paced back and forth in the small yard below.
    She oriented toward Harley Street. The roof over the servants’ rooms slanted up and blocked the view. Above its line, oppressive gray clouds reflected back what little glow the city possessed. The smoke from countless fires rose to combat the falling sleet, sinuous black and translucent silver writhing and twisting about each other in the sky like silk rags.
    Footing was slippery. Lennon proceeded with much care toward the house’s main chimney, which stood out from the lesser ones like a brick