Read Bone Idol for Free Online Page A

rather bulbous, gooseberry-coloured eyes had seen more clearly than those of the elderly and bespectacled Reverend Arthur Boundry.
    Maude Dawlish knew that when her husband was in this gleeful, effervescent mood she was safe from his petty cruelties, but she couldn’t spare herself that pain at another’s expense.
    “You have no reason to say such a thing,” she retorted.
    “Oh, the old man doesn’t know it. Not sure they know it themselves yet, but you mark my words, within the week they’ll be buggering each other silly.”
    “Gideon, you must not say such things. Your idle gossip could mean prison for them both, not to mention the scandal, the public censure…” Besides, she thought with a shudder, it wasn’t as though he didn’t have a taste for some fairly beastly practices himself.
    Gideon laughed, a gargling, self-satisfied sound. “There’ll be no need for prison, my dear, or public censure either. Not as long as young Mr Elkington has deep enough pockets—and we both know he has.”
    Maude knew her husband—knew him right down to his shrivelled, greedy heart—but she was genuinely shocked. “You intend blackmail ?”
    “Oh, come now,” replied her husband. “Blackmail is such an ugly word. Let us rather say that Mr Elkington will find it convenient to show his…his appreciation to a truly discreet friend.”
    “You disgust me,” Maude said, her voice low and trembling.
    Gideon sneered. “It’ll teach you to throw your money away on fanciful bone hunts,” he said. “I intend to make this expedition pay, rather than cost. And, in the meantime, I think it would be wise to keep that old fool Boundry and Mr Henry Elkington at one another’s throats. Knowing that his lover’s father hates and distrusts him will only make him the keener to keep his dirty little secret.”
    “I can’t bear this anymore,” Maude cried, and was horrified by the tremulous, shrill voice that sounded so unlike her own.
    “Keep your voice down, you stupid woman,” he hissed. “In fact, hold your tongue altogether if you know what’s good for you.”
    She glared at him mutinously, but his anger frightened her. She knew she wouldn’t have the courage to speak out. The only way she could defy him was to keep control of her money, and he couldn’t stop her doing that. Not even if he hurt her.
    “There is money to be had in this dig business. Whoever said you cannot cheat an honest man was a fool. When discoveries go missing from the site, Boundry will be too busy blaming Elkington to think of looking at me. I’m their patron , after all. And Elkington will not want his…predilections known. Not on top of the old man’s suspicion of him. Oh, the old man is almost too easy to manipulate.” He gave a smile that was closer to a snarl. “Do not cross me on this, woman.”

Chapter Six
    The Union Pacific Railway, June 1876
    The train was a filthy, heaving brute, all smoke stacks and pistons. Everything was covered in a thin layer of coal dust and grime. Albert’s father was supervising the loading of their luggage, while Henry spoke to a gentleman in a peaked cap whom Albert assumed was something to do with the railway.
    The railway man was practically bowing and scraping, but soon he seemed more at ease. Then he headed back into the station house and returned with a bundle of papers.
    Quite a large bundle of papers. Henry nodded and shoved half of the papers into the inside pocket of his jacket, half into his trouser pocket. Then he clapped the railway man on the back and shook him firmly by the hand, grubby though it was. Albert caught himself watching and looked away.
    Gideon Dawlish leaned nonchalantly against a carriage, smoking a cigar and gazing into space, making no move to help with the arrangements. His eyes were half-lidded as he watched the goings-on with lazy complacency. Maude was twisting a handkerchief between her hands, and her brow was creased.
    Albert’s father laid his hand on his shoulder