Of Lights and Shadows (Book 4)

11) Kept Secrets

Silent Books sat away from the road, wedged hard in between two shops, a Starbucks on one side and a confectionery store on the other. It was a two story, three roomed building. The more common, cheaper, books lived in a room on the downstairs floor, while the rarer and expensive ones occupied the back room of the floor. The backroom was smaller than the front, there being less books, raised two feet off the floor with a step to help you get up. A door set in the back room led you to the stairs, which, in turn, led you to the third room upstairs that Silence used for storage and a small kitchen area.

The floor was wood, and the walls were made of simple brick and a plaster ceiling. There were half a dozen bookcases in the front room, three in the middle while the other three lined the walls. Beside the steps to the back room a desk was set up, it was at this desk that Silence sat. His back arched and head down as he read a book.

The jingle of a bell above the door alerted him that someone had entered the shop and he looked up. People at the door were not able to see the desk unless they moved closer and around the bookcases, but Silence could see them from a mirror arrangement he had set up.

The first of the men that entered he recognised, but the second one he didn't. Rather than sit and speculate on who the man might be and what he wanted in the shop, he rose and walked around the cases.

Dastardious looked up from his browsing as Silence moved into view and he took the piece of paper handed to him.

What brings you to my shop?

'I've come to introduce the latest member of our little team,' Dastardious replied after reading the note.

'This is Benjamin Dutch, from Australia,' he introduced, laying a hand on the man's shoulder. 'He's going to be our consultant, like you suggested I should get. Benjamin, this is Silence Mourner, the man I was telling you about on our way over.'

'I prefer 'Dutch', in case you were wondering what to call me,' Dutch told him as he shook Silence's outstretched hand. 'I wondered about your name as we were coming over. I reckon I got your first name all figured, but as to your last name... Well,' he said brightly, 'I'm sure I'll figure that one out.'

Silence smiled secretly as Dastardious said, 'Dutch is qualified because he did a kidnapping job a few years back,' he explained, not bothering to go into any of the details.'

I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.

'Likewise, mate, it ought to be interesting working together.'

'Mary showed up this morning,' commented Dastardious conversationally as he wandered out between the book cases where he had gone to look.

What happened? What did you make of it? How was she killed? Where did she end up appearing?Wrote Silence excitedly.

After a glance at the note, Dastardious handed it over to Dutch to read.

'There wasn't much to see, she was in a pram resting outside the Harrison's front door. She smelt strongly of gas, forensics should be looking at the scene as we speak. I'll stop by when they've done and pick up a copy of the report along with the coroner's report. And that reminds me,' placing down the book he had pulled from the shelf, Dastardious turned to face the two men.

'If you ever in the course of this investigation meet Theodore Mulligan, don't let him corner you. If he starts asking you anything, get out before you can answer them. But be careful in the way you excuse yourself, if he doesn't like your manners I have no doubt he will arrest you for it. Got it?' he warned.

Both men nodded and Dastardious held up the book and handed it to Silence. 'I'll take it.'

As Silence checked out the book, Dutch asked, 'So now that the child has shown up, what do we do? I've never been on this side of an investigation before.'