The Sapphire Brooch Katherine Logan (best beach reads TXT) š
- Author: Katherine Logan
Book online Ā«The Sapphire Brooch Katherine Logan (best beach reads TXT) šĀ». Author Katherine Logan
In the glow of the gaslight, the soldierās face appeared unusually haggard and lined. āSir, she wasā¦kidnapped this afternoon from the park.ā
Braham dropped the angel figurine heād been holding. āShe what?ā He stomped over to the contrite sergeant and grabbed his shoulders, bunching the fabric of the shirt in his hands. āWhy arenāt ye out looking for her?ā Fear mixed with rage froze the breath in Brahamās lungs. A quiver of panic leeched all reason from his mind. He shook Clem until Cullen pulled Braham back hard, and his grip on the sergeantās shoulders loosened.
The color had drained from Clemās face. āMr. Gaylord told me to stay put and wait for you.ā
Brahamās heart raced. He swept his fingers through his hair in a quick gesture, trying to harness his raging fear. āWhereās McBain?ā
āHe was riding over to Maryland today to interview witnesses. Mr. Gaylord sent a man after him. Itās all I know.ā
āWhereās Gaylord now?ā
Clem shrugged. āI can track him down. He leaves messages around town so he can be found.ā
Rock-hard anger the size of a fist lodged in Brahamās throat. āThen go find him now.ā
Clem ran out of the room, slamming the front door on his way out of the house.
Edward entered the room with a broom to sweep up the broken china.
āYe didnāt ask the sergeant what time she was taken,ā Cullen said.
āThree oāclock,ā Edward said. āOr thereabouts.ā
Both men faced the butler. āDid ye see what happened?ā Braham asked.
Edward shook his head. āNo. I was at the door when Miss Charlotte went out. Within an hour, the sergeant returned, blood dripping down his head. Said heād been hit over the head and when he came to, Miss Charlotte was gone.ā
āDid he see the men? Were they hired thugs? Young, old?ā Cullen asked.
āThey were wearing soldiersā trousers,ā Edward said. āI sent one of the maids out to leave word at the shop up the street for Gaylord to come quickly. He came, talked to the sergeant, and then left, saying heād get his men out to search the city.ā
Brahamās jaw worked in barely controlled rage. āWhy didnāt ye send word to me?ā
Edward dropped his head. āI knew you and Mr. Montgomery were working on Mr. Jackās case. Iām sorry if I did wrong, sir.ā He glanced up at Braham, a sheen of tears in his eyes. āI didnāt think Miss Charlotte would want you to abandon Jack for her. Sheās told me every day, āJack comes first, Edward.ā Whatever else happened around her, Jack had to come first.ā
Braham collapsed in a chair and buried his head in his hands. āYe did the right thing, Edward.ā
Cullen poured drinks and handed Braham a glass. āDo ye think Henly took her?ā
Braham studied the glass for a moment before taking a quick gulp. āYes. I donāt think heāll kill her, but heāll hurt her.ā He set the glass aside and got up again to pace the room, thinking.
āDo ye think heāll rape her?ā Cullen asked.
Braham punched his fist into his palm, smacking it again and again. āHeās had her for six hours. He implicated Jack in a conspiracy. Heās capable of ruining her life, too.ā
āBut would heāā
āI donāt know.ā Icy fear grew in Brahamās chest. āHis drug addiction might have made him impotent. At least Charlotte thinks it has.ā
āWhich could make him more violent,ā Cullen said.
Brahamās hand shook as he picked up the glass again and held it at his lips. āAs soon as Gaylord gets here, Iām going out to look for her. Ye stay and prepare for tomorrow. Yeāll have to handle the cross-examination.ā
āIf ye find Henly, for Godās sake, donāt play into his hands. We need him on the witness stand tomorrow.ā
Braham swirled the contents in the glass, staring at the golden liquid as if it held answers. āIf heās hurt her, I canāt make any promises.ā
The door opened, and David rushed in. āI got an urgent message. Has something happened to Jack?ā
āCharlotteās been kidnapped,ā Cullen said.
Davidās face held his usual immutable calm, but his hands clamped into tight fists. āHow long ago?ā
Braham took a short, calming breath. āSix hours. She could be anywhere in the city. Gaylordās men are out searching. We just sent for him. He should be here shortly to give us a report.ā
āIāll find her.ā The ruthlessness in Davidās voice was chilling. He rolled up his sleeve and pushed buttons on the special watch he wore, much like the one Braham had seen on Jackās wrist. David wore his device high on his forearm and out of sight. āElliott anticipated this. If we were at home, I could locate her within seconds. This equipment will take longer.ā
āHow much longer? Days?ā Anticipation tightened the back of Brahamās throat.
āIf it works, minutes.ā Davidās broad shoulders tightened, and his muscles were starkly defined beneath the tight fit of his linen shirt. The room grew quiet, motionless except for the occasional flutter of a curtain hanging in front of the open window. David kept his eyes on his watch. āBraham, do ye remember how Charlotte and Jack found ye in Kentucky?ā
Braham walked up behind David and looked over his shoulder, glancing at the watch. āElliott called it a tracking device.ā
āCharlotte has a tracking device similar to those used to locate Alzheimerās patients who wander away from nursing homes. I just activated it. If itās going to work, we should get a signal very soon.ā Within seconds, the watch beeped. āBingo. Sheās about two miles in a northeasterly direction. At home, I could give ye a street address. Here all I get is a general location.ā
āHow do ye know yeāve found Charlotte? The kidnapper could have taken the device,ā Braham said.
āOr it could be lost like the sapphire brooch,ā Cullen said.
David gave Cullen a dark, sideways look. āItās implanted in her hip. She doesnāt even know she has it.ā
A vision of Charlotte au naturel with Davidās hands on her left Braham aghast. āYe put the device inside her without
Comments (0)