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“But the extremities go first simply because they are the extremities, isn’t that the case? The fingers and toes because they are small, and the points most removed from the torso, the frozen core.” “I suppose,” Morass said, with a frown. “What are you getting at?” “We shall visit the bodies, just as you say,” Seal said, standing once again and this time nodding for Morass to join him. “And on our way through the kitchen we shall furthermore trouble the chef for the use of his best cleaver.”
Chapter Five The Fortitude – Top Passenger Deck August 22, 1889 7:20 PM The steamer ship was stunningly loud in comparison to the sounds produced by a clipper – that gentle billow of the sails, the steady splash of water against the hull, the cries of the gulls as they circled above. Leaning against the railing, Geraldine risked a deep breath and was rewarded not with a bracing gulp of sea air, but instead with a lungful of smoke and ash. She coughed and spat, but the burning taste in her mouth lingered. Would she have fallen in love with Anthony if they had met aboard such a machine as this? If their first words had been shouted above the roar of the engines rather than whispered to the accompaniment of birdcalls? The Weeping Susan had been all fluttering and flapping, a vulnerable vessel at the mercy of the elements, and thus much like the woman she carried. But now, thirty years later, The Fortitude roared its way unapologetically toward India. The directness of the approach, the solidity of the ironsides, the steady drone of the engines… the ship was the very personification of British supremacy, of a nation which – much like Geraldine Bainbridge herself – had grown into a position of such power and self-assurance that seemingly nothing could stop its progress. Another whistle shrieked and the iron railing trembled beneath Geraldine’s palms. She smiled, a smile with irony, and ambivalence, and perhaps a touch of sadness. The Fortitude was so loud that this time there was no chance she would hear Bombay before she saw it. This time the ringing of the bells would not catch her unawares. *** The Fortitude – The Card Room 7:20 PM “We’ve gone over it all a thousand times,” Emma protested, her eyes darting around the table at the four men. “We simply must face the fact that, at least compared to our trips to France and Russia, intelligence on this case is very limited. All this speculation is only prejudicing our minds.” “Emma is right, as always,” Tom said, with a lazy wink in her direction. “I can practically recite that Seal fellow’s telegram by heart. Any collected evidence is bound to be compromised, but it’s pointless to make predictions until we have it in hand.” “Compromised?” Davy said with a frown. “I’m not suggesting either of the Indian investigations was corrupt,” Tom said, drawing in on a cigar he’d obtained for a remarkably good price in the shops of Suez. “But I think there’s a strong possibility they were inept. And when I ponder the condition the bodies will be in after lying two weeks in India. India in August, for God’s sake…” “They iced them,” Trevor reminded him. “They always ice them,” Tom said. “Trouble is, freezing alters tissue nearly as much as decomposition.” Rayley pulled on his own cigar, which was of a different brand and leaf but purchased at the same agreeable price. “While Miss Bainbridge is off taking her stroll on deck,” he said, “there is something else we need to discuss. What if the evidence doesn’t exonerate Weaver? No matter what
Page 2 and 3: CITY OF BELLS City of Mystery, Book
Page 4 and 5: how unpleasant this particular old
Page 6 and 7: ace up his sleeve - his courtship o
Page 8 and 9: forgetting, Rayley, that you were g
Page 10 and 11: who might -“ “Read it,” Geral
Page 12 and 13: But I wanted to see India. It was t
Page 14 and 15: “I fear I am being obscure,” Ge
Page 16 and 17: expanded with his career.” “I h
Page 18 and 19: Chapter Three Scotland Yard August
Page 20 and 21: with a distinguished record of his
Page 22 and 23: “The letter was obviously compose
Page 24 and 25: cabins, both coming and going, whic
Page 26 and 27: evidenced by the fact I asked you h
Page 30 and 31: their level of detective skill, it
Page 32 and 33: In the beginning of the fourth week
Page 34 and 35: member of the crew. These were not
Page 36 and 37: ecome an energetic and modern city,
Page 38 and 39: “Whyevernot? I should dearly like
Page 40 and 41: “Shall we tell you what we need?
Page 42 and 43: But the truly important thing is th
Page 44 and 45: “Silly indeed,” Geraldine agree
Page 46 and 47: peered out. She was rewarded with t
Page 48 and 49: said, jerking his head toward anoth
Page 50 and 51: Weaver shook his head impatiently.
Page 52 and 53: Chapter Eight The Weaver House 3:15
Page 54 and 55: equest of its occupant than anythin
Page 56 and 57: “Not a waste of time at all,” h
Page 58 and 59: sent us, not accompanied us, and I
Page 60 and 61: “No,” Rayley said. “What you
Page 62 and 63: “Bravo, Detective Welles. And can
Page 64 and 65: where the bodies of so many victims
Page 66 and 67: its highest point and wit is at its
Page 68 and 69: “Tell Mrs. Morrow Amy will likely
Page 70 and 71: comrades. Apparently only one among
Page 72 and 73: and India was a large country. No o
Page 74 and 75: Geraldine sat in her own bed, the s
Page 76 and 77: Morrow that the poor woman is scrap
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need for the muslin and I named an
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“If there used to be two birds?
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“You mean the fathers of the girl
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“He told me he drives by here som
Page 86 and 87:
Chapter Twelve The Tucker House 12:
Page 88 and 89:
“The suicide tree doesn’t make
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sort of creature lies beneath. “W
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the servants -“ “Speaking of su
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“My uncle get me job,” said Fel
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elatives in England. At least accor
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“Weaver and Everlee, I presume,
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and off, leaving that solemn task t
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her bank draft be returned. Hardly
Page 104 and 105:
who read quickly, then shook his he
Page 106 and 107:
the murder investigation.” “I d
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composing herself a bit. Pulling he
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the air outside the open windows ha
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ingest his mistress’s medication?
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must never happen again.” Geraldi
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although they were standing too far
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“I was also introduced to your au
Page 120 and 121:
The man does not seem at all well,
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“And Sang was with you.” Weaver
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“And Rose.” “And Rose. Of cou
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many memories to contend with, so m
Page 128 and 129:
Morass sniggered. “Hardly. Fewer
Page 130 and 131:
was the same reassuring manner that
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onions.” Adelaide entered slowly.
Page 134 and 135:
Miss Hoffman, sitting across from t
Page 136 and 137:
“When the men came down to greet
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processional. She had abandoned her
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Chapter Eighteen Did she remember o
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the years. And the man who had hire
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Chapter Nineteen Cawnpore 11:20 AM
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focus to cooperating with the Vicer
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“Their families would certainly c
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“I like it well enough,” he sai
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gingerly felt his ribs, then took a
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Sirs? Before we risk trying to move
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most likely.” But Davy was shakin
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Chapter Twenty The Tucker House 11:
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een in Bombay. It is my reward. A s
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only when it is very late and very
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“And I see the end of me. I am un
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combined with old age and an almost
Page 168 and 169:
Trevor flipped the photograph back
Page 170 and 171:
Chapter Twenty-Two Bombay Jail Infi
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oth. The truth is that I was attrac
Page 174 and 175:
“I can only assume that Rose lied
Page 176 and 177:
Geraldine’s heart, which had spen
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inclinations…Oh, do not misunders
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elative who swears to fend for her.
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Chapter Twenty-Three Bombay Jail 1:
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his palm and said “This is the wo
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she was but six years old. It burns
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might say, or perhaps an early tea.
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ship. “It would appear that he tr
Page 192:
What’s next? Next up is a bargain
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