Title: Tales
Author: Charles Todd
Genre: Mystery & Detective
TALES is a collection of
Bess Crawford and Ian Rutledge short stories published together for the first
time from New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd. Now published
together for the first time: Charles Todd’s beloved short stories-”The Kidnapping,”
“The Girl on the Beach,” “Cold Comfort,” and “The Maharani’s Pearls”-about
intrepid Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge and dutiful battlefield nurse
Bess Crawford. The vibrant tales transport readers from the
homefront in Great Britain where the ominous clouds of war were ever-present
during World War I to the bomb riddled the frontlines as soldiers desperately
sought to gain ground again Germany with Lieutenant Ian Rutledge and finally to
the exotic, dangerous India of Bess Crawford’s youth. Together they create an
extraordinary glimpse into the treasured worlds of some of mystery’s most
cherished characters.
Here is an excerpt for today's stop for Tales. Thanks again
for hosting!
From
The Kidnapping: An Ian Rutledge Original Short Story
“London
1920
It
was late, the rain coming down hard, when the man hurried through the main door
of Scotland Yard and came to an abrupt halt as he say the sergeant at the desk.
‘I
must speak to an inspector at once,’ he said, his voice that of a gentleman
though his clothes were torn and disheveled, his hat wet and filthy.
‘If
you’ll give me your name, sir,’ the sergeant said calmly, reaching for a sheet
of paper, ‘and the particulars.’
‘I
tell you, I need an inspector. Look at me, man! Do I look as if I have all
night to answer your questions?’
‘All
the same, sir – ‘
‘Damn
it,’ the man said, and turned toward the door to one side of the desk.
‘Here!’
the sergeant exclaimed, rising. ‘You can’t go in there until you’ve told me
your business.’
But
the man was too quick for him and had reached the door just as it opened.
The
tall, dark-haired man standing there looked from the agitated sergeant to the
flushed and angry stranger.
‘Inspector
Rutledge, sir? This man refuses to give his name and his reasons for coming to
the Yard.’
‘Inspector?’
the intruder exclaimed, stepping back. ‘Thank God. I’ve just been robbed and beaten,
and my daughter has been taken away by force. You must help me find her. Cecily
is only twelve, she’ll be terrified by now. I can’t bear to think what she’s
suffering.’
‘Where
was this?’ Rutledge asked.
‘On
Christopher Street. Number 10. We’d just returned home from dinner with friends
– this was a little after ten o’clock – and as we stepped out of the cab, two
men accosted us. Before I quite knew what was happening, they had knocked me to
the ground, kicking my repeatedly while a third man, our erstwhile cabbie, had
caught my daughter by the arms and forced her back into the waiting cab. I was
only half conscious when the two attacking me went through my pockets but took
nothing, not my watch, not even my purse. I couldn’t stop them, couldn’t even cry
out. And then they leapt into the cab and it set off at a fast pace,
disappearing around the next corner before I managed to get to my feet and
attempted to go after them.’
Rutledge
regarded him. ‘Your face isn’t damaged.’
‘No,
they kicked me, I tell you. My ribs, my back, my shoulders.’
‘Have
you seen a doctor? Mr. – ‘
“Dunstan.
Charles Dunstan. In God’s name, how can I think about going to a doctor when
Cecily is in the hands of those brutes? She’s in danger, I tell you, and you
must help me find her. What do they want with her? I’m not a walthy man, I
can’t pay a great ransom for her. That’s what frightens me. She’s a pretty
child.’ He fumbled for his wallet and brought out a photograph of a young girl
with long fair hair and a sweet smile.
Rutledge
studied it and returned the photograph. ‘Why didn’t you find a constable, set
the police after them straightaway, rather than take the time coming here?’
‘There
was no constable in sight. Should I have lost time finding him? This is a Yard
matter, surely, not the London police. I beg of you, do something.’
‘Did
you see the faces of these three men? Or of the cabbie?’
‘No.
He was just the cabbie, I paid him no heed until he leapt down to take my
daughter. By that time, the other two had come out of the shadows before I
could even turn and defend myself.’
‘Did
they speak?’
‘No.
The attack seemed all the worse for being carried out in complete silence.’
‘Why
had you taken a cab in the first place?’
‘We’d
had dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Lowery.’
‘Old
friends?’
‘I’ve
known them a year or two. He’s a member of my club.’
He
put a hand to his ribs as he coughed, and Rutledge said, ‘Here, sit down.’ Over
Dunstan’s shoulder, Rutledge said to the Sergeant, “Send men to Number 10
Christopher Street, and three more to find this cabbie – or if possible, what
became of the cab after the crime.’
Author Bio
Charles Todd is the New York Times bestselling
author of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries, the Bess Crawford mysteries,
and two stand-alone novels. A mother-and-son writing team, they live in
Delaware and North Carolina.
Links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25743834-tales?from_search=true&search_version=service
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