Left to Lapse (An Adele Sharp Mystery—Book Seven) by Blake Pierce (book club suggestions txt) 📗

“Look,I’m sorry,” she said, firmly. “But please understand, we’re trying to catch aserial murderer. Three people have died, and we’re running out of time. Thekiller is on this train, right now.”

Johninterjected, “And you’re speaking to him right now.”

“Maybeso,” Adele continued, picking up speed. “But if you maintain your innocence,”she addressed the reserve conductor, “then I need your help with something.”

“Myhelp?” he asked, somehow conveying a snort in the two short words.

“Yes.The deaths, they occurred on the three trains you’ve been on. All of them in adifferent country.”

“And?”

“And,”she pressed, “is there anything else we might be missing about the location? We’vealready had a death in Germany… But… But I can’t shake the notion that thekiller might strike again.” She frowned, shaking her head. Then, more toherself than anyone, she murmured, “We’ve been operating under the assumptionthe killer is attacking one per country, and once per day… but what if we werewrong about that?” She looked at Mr. Johnson. “Is there anything else you mighthave seen? You were on the first two trains. You’re on this one.”

“Itold you already,” he snapped. “I didn’t even know someone had died.”

“Ridiculous,”John said. “Adele, come on now. He’s playing you. Don’t listen to him.”

Theconductor seemed caught between his anger with John and the lifeline Adele hadjust tossed him. It took him a moment to consider, but then he said, “When?”

“Excuseme?” Adele asked.

“Whendid the victim die?”

“Thewoman—Margaret,” said John. “She had a name, you know.”

“Mostof us do,” the conductor retorted. “When did she die?”

Adelesaid, “About four hours ago. Is that relevant?”

“Fourhours? Just after we crossed into West Germany? In the Black Forest, yes?”

Adelehesitated. “I think so, yes.”

Theconductor shrugged. “Well, there you have it. Another switch.”

“Excuseme?”

“Aswitch,” he said. “A rail shift. The first two deaths occurred right before orright after a switch in the tracks.”

Adelestared, feeling her lips go suddenly numb. For a moment, she felt a pricklealong her back, and she swallowed. “A switch? You’re sure?”

“Inoticed it with the first two heart attacks. Didn’t know they were murders.Some of the wait staff thought the switches were cursed.” He shrugged. “We allnoticed, though. It’s at the switches these people are dying.”

Adelelooked off out the window. She could see buildings now, see streets and alleysas they pulled closer to the train station. Soon, the killer would be able toslip away. Without a controlled environment, his escape seemed imminent. Butthis new theory… the switches? Could that be it? Was the killer somehowconnected to the track changes?

“Thenext switch,” Adele said, suddenly. “When is it?”

Mr.Johnson paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he examined her. Then hisgaze flitted down to the water bottle she’d given him. He looked determinedlyaway from John, as if intent on ignoring the Frenchman. And, with a sigh, thereserve conductor said, “Just past this station, actually. We’re rolling up onone right now.”

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Adelecould feel the train chugging along beneath her, but with it came a risingsense of anxiety to match. She turned to John, her mouth numb with the wordscajoled from her lips. “I… I don’t think it’s him.”

Johnrolled his eyes. “Adele, come on,” he insisted. “Of course it is. Look at him.He was on all three trains. He attacked me. He has the toxin.”

“Youattacked me, and it’s insulin!” Johnson called.

“Idon’t think it’s him,” Adele repeated, in a whisper. “And I might be wrong, butif I’m right about him, then the killer is going to strike again, very soon.”

“You’rebuying this crap about the switches?”

“Itmakes sense, doesn’t it?”

“Notcoming from him, it doesn’t,” John said, jutting his chin.

“John,”Adele said softly. “I know we haven’t seen eye to eye lately… But can you trustme on this one? I’ve been right before.”

Atthese words, John hesitated. His expression seemed set in stone, but as sheheld his gaze, a light almost seemed to flicker behind his eyes, and hiscountenance morphed, slowly, and his eyes softened. He gave a half nod andmuttered, “On your head be it…”

“Fine.I’ll take all the blame. Just, please, this once…trust me.”

Johnhesitated, but then his shoulders sagged. He shrugged. “You’ve been rightbefore. If I can’t convince you, then fine. So what do we do? We’re alreadypulling in.”

Leonilooked up from where he’d collapsed on his ankle. “I can look after the conductor,”he said, wincing. “If Adele’s right…”

Thetwo DGSI agents looked at the Italian and nodded slowly.

John,though, if only to underscore his point, gestured out the window. Adele couldeven hear the screech of the train against the tracks as it began to come to afull stop. Out of time. Any moment now, the killer would make good his getaway.She had to make a call—they didn’t have time to search the train again. No timeto look through all the cars.

Afinal shot in the dark—she had to pick a target.

“Firstclass,” she murmured. “He’ll be near the victims. He’s killed three wealthyfolk already—he’ll do it again. And we’re nearing the switch,” she said andglanced toward Mr. Johnson. “If what he says is correct… First class,” Adele said at last. “We have to go, come.”

She turned and began moving away from the body beneath thetarp, and the reserve conductor chained to the rail. John, for his part, didn’tseem so reluctant anymore. It wasn’t that he liked being bossed around. Adeleknew, however, that if there was one thing she could rely on John for, it wasthat he would have her back. No matter what. Even if he disagreed. For all hissharp edges and unconventional methods, he was loyal to the end.

She could feel him moving next to her now, striding towardthe glass partition that led to first class.

Just then, all of a sudden, everything went black for amoment. Adele fell still, stunned. A brief passing thought suggested she’dfallen unconscious. But she could still feel the train shaking beneath her, andcould even hear John’s breathing at her side. A second passed, then another,and then the train emerged from the darkness, light streaking the windows ather side once more.

“What was that?” Adele said, frowning.

“A weather sheath,” said the conductor. “It’s a tunnel.There’s going to be another one before you finally