Anne Perry: Execution Dock

A string of lighters went by, their passage creating a wash, which uncovered Sullivan's dead body. His throat gaped open where he had slashed it himself in a last act of despair. Possibly it was some kind of reparation, because trapped inside the pirate gallows, eyes wide open, mouth in an eternal shriek as the water he dreaded closed over his living face, was what was left of Jericho Phillips.

There were footsteps on the wood behind him and Monk turned to see Hester. “Don't…” he began, but it was too late.

She looked across the retreating wash, her mouth pulled tight, her eyes filled with great pity “I've seen dead men before,” she told him, slipping her hand into his. “I would sooner that God had to deal with that one than we did. We'll just try to heal some of the pain.”

He put his arms around her and held her, feeling the strength in her, and the gentleness. It was all he needed to face any battle, now or ever.

ANNE PERRY is the bestselling author of two acclaimed series set in Victorian England: the William Monk novels, including Dark Assassin and The Shifting Tide , and the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novels, including Buckingham Palace Gardens and Long Spoon Lane. She is also the author of the World War I novels No Graves As Yet, Shoulder the Sky, Angels in the Gloom, At Some Disputed Barricade , and We Shall Not Sleep , as well as six holiday novels, most recently A Christmas Grace. Anne Perry lives in Scotland.

www.anneperry.net.