The Sign of the Black Dagger Read Online Free Page A

asked the one in black. He had an oily voice that matched his greasy clothes.
    “It is,” said William.
    “We are looking for Mr Ranald Cunningham.”
    We saw then that the messenger-at-arms was holding an ebony wand with a silver tip.
    At that same moment, our parents arrived at the close-head.
    “Run, Papa, run!” shouted William.
    Our father ran.

Chapter 3
    “You can’t still be put in prison for debt, can you?” asked Lucy anxiously, looking up from the journal.
    “I don’t think so, but I’m not sure,” said Will. “Depends on the debt, perhaps. If it involves fraud. But they don’t have special debtors’ prisons any more, I do know that.” He thought he might like to be a lawyer when he grew up.
    “It must have been horrible for them when their father had to run.”
    “And awful for him too,” Will added. “I expect he felt guilty.”
    “He must have owed a lot of money.”
    They were silent, thinking about their own father. Where
on earth was he?
The abbey sanctuary no longer existed. It belonged to a time long past.
    “Mum’ll be coming in soon,” said Lucy. “We’d better try to get some food ready.” She had left no instructions today.
    “Shall we put the book back for now?” suggested Will.
    “Yes, let’s.”
    They wanted it to be their secret though neither said so. They often didn’t need to tell each other what they were thinking. After they’d cleaned the oilcloth as best they could, they rewrapped the book and tucked it into the hole in the wall and replaced the stone. Then they had to scrub their hands, which were filthy.
    They rummaged in the cupboard and brought out whatever they could find. Will was a better cook than Lucy so he tookcharge. He chopped up onions, peppers and mushrooms and put some rice on to boil. He was going to make a risotto; something he had never done before but had watched his father do. Lucy set the table.
    When their mother arrived home, she said, “He’s not back?” She shook her head. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve phoned one or two people but they’ve not seen him. It’s beginning to look like he is trying to avoid Mr Smith.” She stopped. “What’s the smell?” she asked.
    Will had burnt the rice but most of it turned out to be edible, more or less, and none of them was in the least bothered about what they ate. Their mother decided to have a glass of red wine with hers and allowed them to have a glass of half wine and half water.
    “I need something to perk me up a bit,” she said as she poured the wine. “And after we’ve eaten I suppose I should phone the police.”
    Will and Lucy still felt uneasy about that. What if their father had done something illegal? They could hardly bear to think that he would have done but what if he
had
? Ringing the police would be like tipping them off. Imagine ratting on your own father!
    “Maybe we should wait another day?” suggested Will.
    Maybe they should, agreed their mother. Anyway, they kept thinking that he would turn up any moment now and wonder what all the fuss was about. Hadn’t he told them he was going to Aberdeen for the night on business? He’d say.
    “You’re sure he didn’t mention having business outside Edinburgh?” asked Will.
    “He hasn’t been out of town for ages. Not as far as I know.”
    As they were finishing their meal, the doorbell rang. Will went to answer it.
    It was Mr Smith, back yet again, this time with another man for company. Will thought the second one looked like a bouncer he’d seen standing outside the door of a club in the Cowgate.
    “I’m sorry,” he said straight away, “our father is not at home.”
    “Are we supposed to believe that?” Mr Smith’s voice was not as smooth as it had been the day before. “Sure he’s not holed up inside trying to avoid us? It’s cold out here. Can’t imagine him not wanting to get into the warm.”
    Their mother came out into the lobby. “I’ve told you, Mr Smith—”
    He cut across her. “I