The Silk Thief Read Online Free Page A

even be properly cold yet.’
    ‘Oh, he’ll be cold, all right. I heard he was stiff as a board when they found him. And gnawed to shreds by rats.’
    ‘Still, it’s a bit early to be offering a reward, isn’t it?’
    Leo shrugged. ‘You see my point, though? About where to hide him?’
    ‘Well, I’m fond of Walter,’ Friday said, ‘but I certainly don’t want to hang just for giving him a blanket and a bowl of porridge.’
    ‘And I don’t want him caught at all, and this’ll be the first place the police will look.’
    ‘If someone actually does finger him.’
    ‘Better to be safe than to mourn him,’ Leo said.
    ‘What time does the ship sail?’
    ‘On Thursday? On the late tide. Just after dark.’
    ‘So, that’s three nights and three days away,’ Friday said thoughtfully.
    ‘It is. Why?’
    ‘Can you have Walter in the yard behind the Siren tonight? Better make it just after dark. Bring his travelling things, and food and drink for three days. But don’t bring the dog.’
    Friday had an idea.

Chapter Two
    Sarah stood against the high wooden fence in the stable yard behind the Siren’s Arms, merging with the shadows, almost invisible. She was good at that. The air was cool again tonight and steam rose off a pile of manure, freshly deposited on the cobbles. Jimmy Johnson, the stable boy, had emerged from the tack room and walked right past her to take the horse, sweating and blowing and skittering sideways, as its rider had dismounted, and hadn’t even seen her. She felt smug. She’d not been out skulking in dark corners for months and was pleased to note she hadn’t lost her knack for melting into the background.
    She did wish Leo and Walter would hurry up, though. Her feet were getting cold. She raised her face to the sky, now the deep, dark blue of a very fine Burmese sapphire, and watched as a river of bats streamed overhead, heading north.
    At last Leo arrived, Walter trailing after him, his collar up and his cap pulled low over his brow. Sarah stepped out of the shadows.
    ‘Sarah.’ Leo touched the brim of his hat.
    ‘Leo. She’s not here yet.’
    ‘She said near dark.’
    Sarah nodded. ‘Don’t worry, she won’t be far away. Got everything you need?’ she asked Walter.
    He turned slightly, revealing the sea bag slung over his shoulder.
    The gate between the stable yard and the alley leading to Elizabeth Hislop’s brothel on Argyle Street rattled and creaked open. Friday appeared and beckoned. They stepped into the narrow lane and followed her — the white gauze of her flimsy robe almost glowing in the gloom — to the gate at the other end, where she signalled a stop with a raised hand.
    ‘I’ve drawn the drapes across the back windows, but someone could come out to the bog at any time, so we have to hurry. Plus, I’m bloody freezing.’
    ‘This might be easier if you told us what you’re planning to do,’ Leo said.
    ‘There’s a cellar under the house. No one ever goes down there. You get in from the outside but the door’s always locked. That’s why we need Sarah.’
    Leo frowned. ‘Is it habitable?’
    ‘Dunno, haven’t looked. But it must be fairly dry. Mrs H stores furniture in there. Anyway, got a better idea?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Well, there you go. Sarah, you ready?’
    ‘Always.’
    ‘The door’s just to the right of the steps. It’s easy to see.’
    Friday unlocked the gate and let Sarah through. She crossed the cobbled yard behind the house, passing the whiffy privy and the clothesline, and headed straight for the cellar. On her left, wooden stairs ascended to the brothel’s back entrance; in front of her, two steps led down to a low door set into the house’s sandstone wall. The door had two hefty locks built into it. From her burglary satchel she selected an assortment of tools, and in less than five minutes had both locks cracked, though they were stiff from disuse. She turned and waved at Friday.
    Quickly the other three joined her. Friday