Convicted Innocent(35)

Lewis frowned and shook his head once.

“Doesn’t ring a bell.” He coughed briefly, the sound harsh but nowhere near as dreadful as it had been earlier. “Is there any water?”

In answer, David lurched to his feet. He’d been able to ignore last night’s abuse just sitting still; standing and walking, however, were a far different story. His stomach shrieked the worst echoes of last night’s attentions. Compounded with a gnawing hunger, straightening made him gasp involuntarily.

Lew raised an eyebrow at him; however, David only shrugged and smiled and limped to the water bucket.

It hadn’t been refilled since the day before, but the little left at the bottom would do.

“Though you look wretched this morning,” Lew murmured as David offered him the tin cup (the policeman made the priest drink first), “it seems as if a weight’s been lifted from your shoulders.”

The clergyman sat down next to his friend with a comically loud groan.

“Honestly? Perhaps it has.”

“You were even smiling in your sleep.”

“Was I?” David recalled his dream and smiled again. “No wonder: it was a pleasant memory. I dreamt of Violet Carew.”

“Violet,” Lewis repeated with a brief chuckle. “That’s a name I’ve not heard in years.”

His smile faded, and he turned a strangely intense gaze on the priest.

“Is she also why you’ve been out of sorts recently?” the sergeant asked softly. “Regrets?”

“Not of that nature, no,” David shook his head and then snorted. “Though sometimes I miss how simple it all was half a lifetime ago. My only worry seemed to be whether I should’ve kissed her or not…or kissed her again. Or more proficiently.”

Lewis tipped his head back and actually laughed – though that ended quickly enough as he clutched his ribs.

“We were such romantics back then,” the sergeant said.

“We’ve aged like fine wine…or maybe a smelly cheese – but not changed much in essentials,” David returned with a smile.

“True,” Lewis shook his head ruefully, and then his expression became thoughtful. “It’s Sunday: surely we’ve been missed by now. You, most certainly.”

David nodded slowly. “Do you suppose someone is looking for us?”

There was no hesitation in the policeman’s answer. “Yes.” A pause. “Though I can’t think how anyone would know where to look.”

The priest wondered if Innocent might be able to shed any light on that, given his absence Saturday afternoon.

As if on cue, the young man stirred and sat up yawning and rubbing his eyes with both hands. Likely, their conversation had wakened him.

“‘llo,” he said around a second yawn, twisting to face them.

“Good morning. Innocent, this is my friend, Lewis Todd – though I suppose you already know him,” the priest began as the young man stood and stretched. “Lewis—oh!”

The policeman’s face had twisted into a snarl.

With a ferocious, wordless cry, Lewis hoisted himself to his feet and crossed the ground to the young man in three quick strides.

Then, seizing Innocent by the shirt collar, he swiped the boy’s legs out from under him with a sweeping kick and slammed Innocent on his back to the floor.

“Lew! What—?!”

David staggered to his feet as quickly as he could to intervene. The bobby was down on one knee nearly throttling the young fellow.

“This man should be in prison for murder!” Sergeant Todd spat. “He’s Nicholas Harker.”