A Malevolent Manner (Patrick Pierce #1) Read online

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  The rain had started after midnight; the wind had arrived an hour later, and the thunder and lightning were soon to follow. The ugly weather hurled itself at the tough stone buildings of Rooks Bay. The hardy folk of the town slept easily despite the storm, allowing a single figure to stand unobserved beneath the eaves of the Fish and Feather Pub.

  Jane was cold, wet, and thoroughly upset. She had been standing outside for only fifteen minutes, but felt like she had just crawled out of the nearby lake. Her apprehension at not following the Doctor’s orders to the letter was the only thing keeping here from returning to the warmth of the pub.

  The sound of carriage wheels grabbed her attention and she turned to look down the back lane. A solid black carriage with a team of four equally black horses was making its way down the narrow passage. There were two men on the front plus another two on the back, though none of them wore the livery of a footman. They were all dressed in identically long black leather jackets.

  “It’s about time you arrived,” she uttered as the carriage cam to a halt, “someone could have seen me.”

  “You needn’t worry,” responded a steely voice from within. “Although you look as though you’re made of sugar, we both know you’re not in danger of melting.” The voice belonged to a tall dark figure emerging for the carriage. The flowing black jacket was similar to the drivers, but more ornate. His dark mass was completed by a long mane of black hair, curled mustache, and a black goatee that followed his jaw line into a prominent point. The gaze he affixed upon Jane was as equally hard as his voice.

  “I was not informed that you would be taking part Malicio…” began Jane, clearly off guard.

  “Surely you didn’t believe the Master would place the success of this little operation in the hands of a maid?” retorted Malicio, cutting her off.

  Regaining her composure, Jane lifted her head up and opened the back door to the pub. Malicio descended from the carriage and walked past her into the building. They were immediately followed by his four accomplices, two bearing a stretcher with the form of a person with dark cloth draped over it. With military precision Malicio led the procession down the hall and up the stairs, with the two unburdened men taking position to block off any curious or unwelcome intruders. The group made their way to the top of the building and into a suite that made up half of the top floor.

  Malicio moved to one of the windows facing the main street and watched for any signs of movement, but saw none. “Put him on the bed and we’ll be done with it.” The men unceremoniously lifted the body and swung it onto the bed. They quickly folded up the stretcher and departed from the room, leaving Jane, Malicio, and the body alone in the room.

  “He is now in your custody, ensure you follow your instructions to the letter,” he ordered as he walked past her. At the door he turned and slowly appraised her body from head to toe with dark covetous eyes. “I’d hate to have to return to this dank hole to remedy any of your mistakes, I daresay you’d hate it as well.”

  Once he exited, Jane made a face of defiance at the closed door, acting more confident than she really felt. She’d avoided the unwanted advances from men before, but he was different. Malicio made her feel angry, disgusted, and frightened all at the same time. After a few moments she went to the door and opened it a crack. She could see the shadow of what she presumed was one of Malicio’s men at the bottom of the stairs. After a slight shudder, she pulled her shawl closer around her shoulders.

  “You are right to feel threatened Jane,” pronounced a firm yet gentle voice from inside the room, making Jane jump in shock. “I’m afraid I might have put you in unnecessary harm. Malicio is as violent as he is cruel.”

  Chapter 6