Whispers Beyond the Veil Read Online Free Page A

winced when I reached up to feel a small lump I couldn’tremember acquiring. At first my thoughts were jumbled and came in images. Then, as the pictures in my mind of the train, of Johnny, of my hasty departure from my father sorted themselves into proper order I remembered my predicament. I creaked open one eye and then the other.
    My worst fears appeared realized. A man wearing a police uniform sat opposite me, staring directly into my eyes. My heart beat so fast I was certain he would hear it as he leaned forward to adjust the cloth. I could not fathom how the police could possibly have caught up with me so quickly. I wouldn’t put it past Father to have alerted them to the possibility of my arrival.
    â€œYou seem to have gotten yourself into some difficulty. Do you know where you are?” he asked.
    â€œLast I knew I was in Old Orchard, Maine.” I offered the gray-eyed policeman a weak smile. My instincts told me to play the part of the damsel in distress and to see where it led. There was no sense in giving up until forced to do so.
    â€œYou still are. A little while ago I brought you to the police station. I’m Officer Warren Yancey. Are you feeling well enough to tell me about the incident?”
    â€œOther than a bit of a headache, I feel fine, thank you. However, I am not sure which incident you mean.” I removed the cloth from my brow and handed it to him, hoping to gain a moment to gather my thoughts. Life in the medicine show had trained me to avoid and distrust officers of the law, as we are so often on opposite sides of it. Even without the harrowing events of the previous hours, awaking to find myself in the company of the police rattled me good and proper.
    â€œAccording to witnesses, you were accosted near the train station by a man determined to relieve you of your purse.” Itappeared my visit to the police station was wholly unconnected to Johnny. My relief was so profound I felt myself becoming faint once more. I sagged back against the chair and shut my eyes.
    â€œI meant to cause no distress. Please, take your time.” He leaned away from me and settled back in his chair. I took the opportunity to decide on a story. I marshaled my thoughts to the pickpocket.
    â€œI’m happy to tell you what I remember. I left the train station and had gone no further than a few steps when I felt tugging on my purse. I turned and saw a man, somewhere around thirty years old, trying his best to rob me.”
    â€œA witness stated that you gave a full measure of resistance.”
    â€œThe purse happens to be my favorite.” Not to mention it contained the entirety of my worldly goods. I looked down, hoping to see my purse sitting in my lap, but found it empty.
    â€œSo you raised your parasol and commenced beating him about the head with it?”
    â€œWhat else could I do?”
    â€œDid he seem surprised by your forceful reaction?”
    â€œHe did. He released his grip on my purse so abruptly I keeled right over and cracked my head against something hard. I do hope I didn’t end up losing it anyway.”
    â€œAfter witnessing your willingness to protect it, I believe any spectators would have been too frightened to try to snatch it from you even while you were rendered senseless.” Officer Yancey deposited my satiny bag into my hand. “Could you identify this man if asked at a later date to do so?” After years of reading crowds in the show, I had an eye for faces. Even without any special experience, the man would be easy enough to recognize. It’s hard to forget a man sporting two gold front teeth. However, I wanted nothing to do with the police and saw no reason to continue myinvolvement. After all, as I had not lost my purse I needn’t aid the authorities in its recovery.
    â€œEverything happened so quickly I’m not sure I could. Although it might improve my memory if I were allowed to thrash any suspects with my parasol once