Page 169 of Storm of Bells
‘Hello, Doctor…yes, right through here…’
‘Quick!’ I gestured at Karim. ‘Get out thereand stall him!’
Karim blinked. ‘Stall? You…you mean thedoctor? How?’
‘I don’t know! Growl at him! Recite lovepoems! Throw furniture around! Anything!’
An unfamiliar expression appeared on Karim’swooden visage. It looked almost like…anticipation? ‘Anything?’
‘Yes, anything!’
He bowed. ‘Your wish is my command,Sahiba.’
And he dashed out of the room.
The moment the door had closed behind him, Irushed over to Dalgliesh’s side, flung open his tailcoat and thrustmy hands into his shirt. Behind me, I couldfeelMrAmbrose’s cold gaze trying to freeze the back of my neck.
‘Miss Linton! What do you think you aredoing?’
‘Searching for something! Anything! Dalglieshwasn’t expecting to be taken by surprise, and he certainly wasn’texpecting to be captured.’
‘He’s not captured! He’s a guest in thevicarage, thanks to you.’
‘As long as we two are the only consciousones in the room, what’s the difference? He came here, expecting tobe in a position of advantage. He’s arrogant. Over-confident. Maybehe has something with him that we can use. Anything!’
I delved further into Dalgliesh’s pockets,unearthing a snuffbox, a wallet, a watch, various knick-knacks…butnothing of consequence. Outside, the voices were coming closerfast.
‘Help me!’ I shot Mr Ambrose a look.‘Now!’
‘You wantmeto help you feel up—’
‘Move!’
The look he sent me before marching over tome made it clear I was going to pay for this later.
‘Don’t you start! Faster!’
Grudgingly, he did what I said. I followedsuit, touching more parts of Lord Daniel Eugene Dalgliesh than Ihad ever wanted to in my entire life. Still, there was nothingworthwhile. The voices outside were coming closer and closer withevery moment. My hands sped up, flying over Dalgliesh’s trousers,his shirt, his—
Wait a minute!
My hand froze.
‘There! Do you feel that? Somethinghard!’
‘Miss Linton!’
‘Notthatkind of something hard! Handme a knife, will you?’
‘Most gladly.’
He handed me one of the knives Karim hadpulled out earlier. I noticed it was one of the larger and moregruesome ones. Grabbing hold of it, I slashed, alas, not at LordDalgliesh’s hard appendage, but at his shirt. The material partedlike paper beneath the sharp blade, and something shinyappeared.
‘A secret pocket!’
Reaching inside, I grabbed the shinysomething and pulled. Out came a steely silver key ring, from whichdangled at least a dozen keys. And not your average house keys usedto lock your least favourite relative in the broom closet, either.The bits of the keys were complex labyrinths of metal, whisperingof secrets hidden in the dark.
Secrets I intended to uncover.
