SAN FRANCISCO 1897
THE BONE ORCHARD WAS silent. As were the two men standing on top of memories. The younger of the two was worn, pale, and hatless. A bandage wrapped around his temples. He leaned heavily on his silver-knobbed stick while an older man with a bushy white beard rocked back and forth on his heels.
"It's a real nice gravesite, A.J. Just up the hill there."
The younger did not respond.
"You were like a son to Zeph—the closest he could have, anyhow. Left you everything, including the agency. Things will get right, you'll see."
"Ravenwood should be here, not me."
"Zeph would likely say somethin' about your fanciful wishing."
The younger man frowned. After a time, he murmured, "He already did."
The older man fixed a worried gaze on his friend. "Well if you don't intend to say goodbye, we best get you home. Some rest will put you right."
"I'm not going home, Tim. I can't face his empty chair." The younger man touched the bandage over his right temple and closed his eyes. The bone orchard fell away. Blood and death and failure exploded behind his eyes. Around and around—a revolving vision.
Ashes to ashes; dust to dust. Unfortunately, memories weren't so easily buried.
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From the Ashes (Ravenwood Mysteries #1)
Tajemnica / ThrillerA gentleman detective and a headstrong heiress clash in a battle of wits. Murder, mayhem, and a dash of romance in Victorian San Francisco. An "action-packed mystery" (Kirkus Reviews) that's first in a series! Atticus Riot is a gambler turned detect...
