Chapter ONE - Weebly

had the chance. And to be honest I’ve been dreading it.
Why? Is there something I ought to know before I do?”
“No, sir,” Ethan said. “It’s nothing like that.” Again
he faltered. “Do you have any idea why Mister Berson
came to me with this matter?” he asked at last.
Derne frowned. “What an odd thing to ask. Why
should I care why you were hired? Why should you, for
that matter? I should think you would be grateful for the
work.”
Apparently there was at least one man left in Boston
who didn’t know that Ethan was a conjurer. Which
probably meant that Derne truly didn’t know how
Jennifer had died. Berson might have been too ashamed
or too frightened to tell him. “It probably shouldn’t,” he
said, eager now to explain away his question. “I’m …
I’m a bit out of my element. I’m a thieftaker. I usually
don’t involve myself in murders.”
They turned one more corner and Ethan realized
that Derne had steered them back within sight of his
home. No doubt this was the man’s way of telling Ethan
that their conversation was at an end.
“I won’t trouble you more, sir,” Ethan said as they