The Quibbling Cleric: Prologue, part 1 #MysteryWeek

THE PROLOGUE

London. August, 1853.
“Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.”
—Shakespeare’s Macbeth

‘“I CAN’T THINK WITHOUT thinking about you; I can’t BREATHE without thinking about you; I can’t LIVE without thinking about you,”’ quoted George. He glanced at me through suspicious, narrowed eyes. ‘It looked like your handwriting, Octavius.’
It was; not that I was about to admit it.
‘Was it signed?’ I asked, knowing full well it was not. Oh, why had Annie kept my note? Why had she hidden it where George was bound to find it? Surely she knew her brother pried?
‘No, but the writing was cursive like yours is,’ George persevered, ‘all spiky L’s and T’s. This is my little sister we’re talking about.’ He stressed the words little and sister again, then glowered at me some more.
‘Concentrate, George. This is a crime scene, and we have precious few minutes before young Mr Badger returns with all the constables of N-Division in tow. Come, observe whatever may be observed, and tell me what you think.’
The big lad peered momentarily down at the body, which was sprawled across the broad octagonal space formed by the transepts and the nave. Cool early morning light filtered in through the church’s narrow east windows, amply illuminating the corpse.
‘I think he’s dead,’ said George.

Continues tomorrow exclusively on Goodreads
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Don’t forget, all this week you can ask me questions; any question—past or future—about the series’ characters on the Goodreads’ “Ask the Author” feature. Is Gooseberry in with a chance where Annie’s concerned? Ever wondered what becomes of the snivelling Walter? Ask what you will, and I promise to answer as truthfully as I can.

There are twenty free copies of Octopus: Send for Octavius Guy #2 (Octavius Guy and the Case of the Throttled Tragedienne) to be given away throughout May. You’ll find the coupon code and link you’ll need at the bottom of my monthly post on my website. Just scroll down! Happy reading.
Michael
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