Page 32 of Unbroken
Tubbs glanced at the corpse, then turned away, gagging. After a few moments, he managed to say, “What’s going to happen to her?”
“We’ll burn the body and scatter the ashes. Is there anywhere in particular you think she’d like?”
“Her garden.” Tubbs swallowed convulsively. “Can you—can you give them to me, when it’s done? She should have a family member do this for her.”
“I’ll see to it personally,” Mr. Quinn assured him.
Tubbs nodded and leaned against the wall, as if to regather his strength. Lowering his voice, Mr. Quinn murmured, “I’ll see Mr. Tubbs safely into a cab. I believe he’s likely had enough for today. Mr. Rune, Mr. Rath, the taxidermy shop has an incinerator for unused parts. I suggest you dispose of the remains in it, to make sure they don’t reanimate a second time.”
“Poor Mr. Tubbs,” Ves said as they crossed the small courtyard behind the museum to where the incinerator waited. He carried what was left of Penelope in his arms, wrapped in one of the heavy cloths used to protect the books and furniture when the bats were loose in the library.
Sebastian hadn’t imagined he’d ever feel bad for the man, but no one deserved to see a member of their family in such a state. “At least now he’ll believe us about the leeches.”
“Perhaps he’ll realize the matter is too dangerous for his involvement.”
“It’ll probably just make him more determined,” Sebastian muttered. “Why must he be underfoot all the time? If he’d just let it go?—”
“Would you?”
Sebastian didn’t answer; they both knew what he’d say. He heaved open the door to the incinerator, then almost choked on the ash that floated out. “The taxidermy department needs to do a better job of cleaning.”
Ves gently placed the bundle containing what remained of Penelope into the incinerator, then stepped back to allow Sebastian to shut the door. He switched on the gas and ignited it. A few moments later, greasy black smoke began to rise from the chimney.
“I do understand why Tubbs wants to help,” he admitted reluctantly. “And his frustration with us. It’s just…if he’d let us do our job, he would never have known about this. He could have gone to his own grave thinking Penelope remained sleeping peacefully in hers.”
Ves arched a brow. “Ignorance is bliss?”
“In this case, yes.”
“Hmm.” Ves looked thoughtful, but didn’t elaborate.
“Perhaps I’m being a hypocrite.” Sebastian removed his glasses, took out a handkerchief, and wiped traces of ash from the lenses. “A part of me wishes I’d never learned that Mother’s death wasn’t an accident. But knowing means I can try to bring her some measure of justice. If we could tell Tubbs about the Books, I might welcome his help.”
“But we can’t.”
“After what happened with poor Arthur…and I knew him so much better than I frankly care to know Mr. Tubbs.” He replaced his glasses and pushed them into position on his nose. “Everyone who’s had them in their possession has been seduced by their corrupting influence.”
Ves tilted his head slightly. “Except Ladysmith and Dromgoole.”
“And we don’t know how long they actually had the Books on hand and not locked away in a vault on the other side of town until they could figure out how to Bind them.” God, if only he could look back through time. “Nor how more…lively…the Books are now, after the comet awakened them.”
“True.” Ves stepped back and watched the smoke rise. “So what next?”
“We’ll go from here to Rulkowski’s house.” His jaw tightened. “He’s going to tell me everything he knows, one way or another.”
Unfortunately, that proved easier said than done. When they arrived at Rulkowski’s home, every window was dark, and no one answered their knocks. Frustrated, Sebastian scribbled a note on a scrap of paper and slid it beneath the door, informing Rulkowski they needed to meet—urgently.
“Do you think he left town?” Ves speculated as they returned to the sidewalk and made for home.
“If he did, he’d best hope the magic of the Book can’t reach him elsewhere,” Sebastian said grimly. “Because otherwise, I doubt Mr. Rulkowski has much of a chance at survival.”
CHAPTER 15
July the Fourth celebrations began early the next morning. Ves woke to the sound of the older children setting off firecrackers in the yard, accompanied by the more distant pops of other youngsters doing the same in their own yards or in the street. The museum was closed for the day, as were most businesses with the exception of bars, which Sebastian said did a roaring trade on the holiday.
After breakfast, Bonnie set about packing an enormous hamper for their picnic. “I’m sorry you can’t come with us, Noct,” she said.
“That’s all right.” He held little Clara, who was fussy because she was teething. She tried to hurl her teething ring to the floor, but he caught it in a spare tentacle. “Irene is coming by soon and taking me back to the estate. The Endicotts don’t exactly celebrate—it’s not as if they really wanted to relocate to America. But I understand we’re to go out to the island in the lake and set off fireworks. She says it’s an old ritual site, so there’ll be something more to do while we’re there, I’m sure. At any rate, I’m staying the night, and she’ll bring me to the museum in the morning. Ves, Sebastian, you’ll have to take the trolley.”
