almost instantly by a nervous twitter in her stomach when she wondered if he’d chosen that spot for a reason. They both knew the tree’s history as a message board in the earlier days before the telegraph and telephones. Well, she thought, if he has a message to give me, I’ll wait and listen for it. She greeted him with a truly happy “hello.” He responded by slipping his arm around her waist and kissing her lightly on the cheek. Jade asked if he’d eaten breakfast yet.
“Yes, but it feels like ages ago.”
“Then we should go inside and find a quiet table to ourselves,” she suggested. “I’m hungry, and it will be a long run to Kiu and our next meal.” They walked into the lobby together and headed for the dining area. They nearly collided with Lwiza coming out with a pot in one hand and a small pitcher of cream in the other.
“Is that for Miss Malta?” Jade asked. The girl looked slightly harried, and Jade felt sorry for her, having to fetch and carry up the stairs.
“Yes. She will not have tea. She will have bunna and cream.”
“A bun?” Sam asked.
Lwiza shook her head. “I forget the English word.” She paused and thought. “Coffee.”
Ah , thought Jade. A woman after her own heart, excepting the cream.
Lwiza left to manage the steps with her long skirt and full hands. Jade and Sam found a table towards the back and ordered chicken sandwiches and hard-boiled eggs.
“I suppose you’re all packed,” Sam said.
Jade nodded. “Got two of the women packed, too. Lwiza will see to Miss Malta.” She saw Sam’s frown and reached for his hand. “We won’t be gone long, Sam. Two weeks tops. Every day out costs them money. We’re taking a train to the foot of the mountain. It’s all very . . . civilized now.” When he didn’t respond she added, “I’ll talk to Mr. Julian about your film. Maybe he’ll have some ideas or know someone who’d be interested.”
“That’s not what concerns me now,” Sam said. “I don’t like this group. Watch yourself.”
Jade slid her hand back and leaned forward. “What are you driving at, Sam?”
“I’m not sure,” he said. “But something about last night has set my teeth on edge.”
“You’re referring to the fact that they seem cold and self-centered? I know that already.”
“That’s not it. It’s Wheeler’s death. It’s not . . . It doesn’t make sense.”
“Death rarely does. But it seems obvious, doesn’t it? This man saw Miss Malta and tried to attack her. Wheeler stepped in and got killed for it. The man took his own life rather than face prison or perhaps execution.”
“But Wheeler was already out there with Miss Malta when the attack happened. That man wasn’t going after a lone, helpless woman. Hell, he may not have been going after her at all.”
Jade took a bite of her sandwich, chewed, then swallowed. “So it was a robbery attempt.”
“But that doesn’t feel right either. Why the Muthaiga, for heaven’s sake? The good doctor thought the killer was drugged. So how would he get all the way out there in that condition without someone noticing? If he was just looking to rob someone, why not try one of the darker side streets or shops in town?”
“Because he’d be more likely to get caught?” Jade suggested. “Or he thought that he’d get more money at a rich man’s club than in town?” She set her sandwich down. “Really, Sam. You’re starting at shadows here.” She picked up an egg and salted it.
Sam shook his head. “I don’t think so. I think that man was lying in wait out there. Maybe waiting for Wheeler. Why didn’t he attack me when I came in? I saw someone else leave earlier. Why not them? Why wait for Wheeler?”
Jade paused midbite. “Are you suggesting that Wheeler was intentionally murdered?”
Sam shrugged. “Could be. And considering the people you’re working with, it could have been any one of them. Maybe that director didn’t like how Wheeler was taking control. Maybe
“Yes, but it feels like ages ago.”
“Then we should go inside and find a quiet table to ourselves,” she suggested. “I’m hungry, and it will be a long run to Kiu and our next meal.” They walked into the lobby together and headed for the dining area. They nearly collided with Lwiza coming out with a pot in one hand and a small pitcher of cream in the other.
“Is that for Miss Malta?” Jade asked. The girl looked slightly harried, and Jade felt sorry for her, having to fetch and carry up the stairs.
“Yes. She will not have tea. She will have bunna and cream.”
“A bun?” Sam asked.
Lwiza shook her head. “I forget the English word.” She paused and thought. “Coffee.”
Ah , thought Jade. A woman after her own heart, excepting the cream.
Lwiza left to manage the steps with her long skirt and full hands. Jade and Sam found a table towards the back and ordered chicken sandwiches and hard-boiled eggs.
“I suppose you’re all packed,” Sam said.
Jade nodded. “Got two of the women packed, too. Lwiza will see to Miss Malta.” She saw Sam’s frown and reached for his hand. “We won’t be gone long, Sam. Two weeks tops. Every day out costs them money. We’re taking a train to the foot of the mountain. It’s all very . . . civilized now.” When he didn’t respond she added, “I’ll talk to Mr. Julian about your film. Maybe he’ll have some ideas or know someone who’d be interested.”
“That’s not what concerns me now,” Sam said. “I don’t like this group. Watch yourself.”
Jade slid her hand back and leaned forward. “What are you driving at, Sam?”
“I’m not sure,” he said. “But something about last night has set my teeth on edge.”
“You’re referring to the fact that they seem cold and self-centered? I know that already.”
“That’s not it. It’s Wheeler’s death. It’s not . . . It doesn’t make sense.”
“Death rarely does. But it seems obvious, doesn’t it? This man saw Miss Malta and tried to attack her. Wheeler stepped in and got killed for it. The man took his own life rather than face prison or perhaps execution.”
“But Wheeler was already out there with Miss Malta when the attack happened. That man wasn’t going after a lone, helpless woman. Hell, he may not have been going after her at all.”
Jade took a bite of her sandwich, chewed, then swallowed. “So it was a robbery attempt.”
“But that doesn’t feel right either. Why the Muthaiga, for heaven’s sake? The good doctor thought the killer was drugged. So how would he get all the way out there in that condition without someone noticing? If he was just looking to rob someone, why not try one of the darker side streets or shops in town?”
“Because he’d be more likely to get caught?” Jade suggested. “Or he thought that he’d get more money at a rich man’s club than in town?” She set her sandwich down. “Really, Sam. You’re starting at shadows here.” She picked up an egg and salted it.
Sam shook his head. “I don’t think so. I think that man was lying in wait out there. Maybe waiting for Wheeler. Why didn’t he attack me when I came in? I saw someone else leave earlier. Why not them? Why wait for Wheeler?”
Jade paused midbite. “Are you suggesting that Wheeler was intentionally murdered?”
Sam shrugged. “Could be. And considering the people you’re working with, it could have been any one of them. Maybe that director didn’t like how Wheeler was taking control. Maybe
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