Chapter 49

The police doctor was in an evening suit and spats. And a bow-tie. Despite that, he hitched up the knees of his trousers immediately and knelt softly on the floor beside them, ignoring the blood.

Lew sniffed away his tears and removed his hands so the man could see. He drew in a swift, horrified breath, quickly stifled, as he realized the extent of her injuries. To Lew’s eyes though, the wound looked smaller.

“Orderly! Bring the stretcher!” he shouted over his shoulder, rummaging in a leather bag he had put down beside him and bringing out linen bandages. “Is she hurt anywhere else?” He looked at Lew, but Tally answered.

“No, only her neck. And her hands, a little. She tried to fight it off.”

The doctor’s eyes narrowed at him as his hands busied bandaging Mira’s throat. The blood seemed to be stopping. “What did this? What was it?”

Lew glared at him. “It was the same thing that killed Archie!”

“Was it, young man? And what do you know about that?”