Moriarty Meets His Match: A Professor & Mrs. Moriarty Mystery (The Professor & Mrs. Moriarty Mystery Series Book 1) Read Free Page A

You haven’t started yet.”
    “Carling!” Nettlefield’s lip curled in disdain. “What are you doing here?”
    “I’ve come to open the demonstration.”
    “A bit early for you, isn’t it? I thought you never rose before noon.”
    The newcomer attempted to look down his nose at Nettlefield but was too short by several inches. “As the ranking peer on the board of directors, I consider it a duty. And my right.”
    Nettlefield snorted. “Your duty is to sign your name when asked and go back to your club. Leave the real work to those of us who know something.”
    “Now, now, your lordships,” Teaberry said. He spread his arms to usher the two men toward the booth, but his wide smile and his words were directed at the crowd gathering along the corridor. “Naturally, every member of my board takes an active interest in the company. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
    “I’ll perform the first demonstration.” Nettlefield stabbed a finger at his own chest. “I’ve supervised all the preparations. And I’ve been here since nine-thirty this morning.”
    “Stoking the boiler?” Lord Carling sneered. “What difference does it make when you arrived? I’m here now, so I’ll do the honors.”
    Teaberry offered the audience another hearty grin, then turned to speak to Nettlefield in a low voice. “If you wouldn’t mind giving way, your lordship. The main thing is to get started. We’ll lose the crowd if we delay any longer.”
    Nettlefield ground his teeth but conceded. “Fine. But don’t ramble on, Carling. And try to get the name of thing right for a change.”
    “I believe it’s time for us to make way, ladies.” Moriarty led the women back outside the rope cordon. Lady Lucy stopped beside Reginald Benton. Mrs. Gould kept her hand on Moriarty’s arm as he found a spot where they could see the indicator. The effect was stunningly disappointing. He could only hope that over the course of the Exhibition, journalists and other engineers would observe the failings of the machine and report it fairly in the press.
    “Exciting, isn’t it?” Mrs. Gould’s eyes danced. “I’m far more eager to see this demonstration than I was before you came along, Professor. A lucky stroke, wouldn’t you say?”
    “Lucky indeed.” In spite of the failure of his corrective ploy, he’d never felt luckier in his life.
    Ramsay went inside the booth and rang a bell. The crowd fell silent. Lord Carling followed and took up his station behind the engine. The engineer spoke a few low words to him, pointing at the starting lever. Carling uttered a few bland phrases, stretched his lips in a toothy smile, and pulled the lever.
    A blast of steam rushed out with an ear-splitting shriek, striking him full in the face, burning the flesh right off his skull. Bruffin leapt toward him, crying out as his hands met the boiling steam. He caught the earl as he fell backward and fell with him, both collapsing behind the table.
    The engine shattered. People screamed as gouts of boiling water and shards of hot iron struck their hands and faces. Pandemonium filled the crowded hall.
    Moriarty flung an arm around his companion’s shoulders, turning their backs to the deadly shower. He felt a spray of hot drops across his shoulders and pulled the lady in to shelter her.
    “God save me,” he breathed. “That wasn’t supposed to happen.”

Chapter Two
     
    All hell broke loose. People screamed and shoved, struggling toward the exits, blocking each other in their confusion. Panic bubbled up in Angelina’s throat at each cry of pain that punctured the thunderous roar. Somehow she’d gotten turned away from the blast, but she feared being swept into the roiling mob and crushed against a pillar or knocked to the ground and trampled to death.
    Then she felt strong arms encircle her waist and pull her tightly against a solid body. She was lifted off her feet and borne through the press, then hoisted clear off the ground, over the railing,