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.She’d been doing it for years; he could remember his da buying him one when he was a nipper.By nine she’d be done, everything sold to the customers who loved the food that was heavy on the meat and fair on price, and she’d go back to her bed for a few hours’ rest before starting again.She was sitting on a small old stool at the side of Briggate, the few remaining pies laid out on a tattered cloth in front of her.She looked up as his shadow fell over her, her eyes rheumy and squinting, her hair close to silver in the sunlight.‘Mr Sedgwick, isn’t it?’‘Aye, Martha, it is.Business good?’‘Fair to middling, fair to middling.If you’re looking, the beef’s tasty today, it cooked up a treat.’ She leant forward and whispered, ‘The lamb’s a bit stringy.’He dug out some coins, paid her and put a beef pie into the deep pocket of his coat.She slid the money away carefully and sat back, looking at him.Although she dressed plainly enough in an old gown that had seen many better years, he knew she made good money from her business, enough to support three daughters and a son, her man long since gone.‘Were you busy during the market?’‘Always busy then,’ she replied.‘Always.’‘Did you have someone around asking questions, looking for a girl?’She thought for a long time and then shook her head slowly.‘No one like that, love.I’m sure of it.’He thanked her and moved on, seeing Sad Luke sitting on the steps of the cross.He lived somewhere beyond Cavalier Hill, and went out early in the morning to gather the wild onions, garlic and herbs that grew out there, collecting berries and fruit into summer and autumn.He was no older than the deputy, but no one had ever seen a shred of happiness on his face.No matter how good the weather or how much money he made, Luke’s mouth was always set in a quizzical frown.‘Mr Sedgwick,’ he said with a small bob of his head.‘Morning, Luke.’ He took off the battered tricorn hat and wiped his forehead.‘Grand day.’‘Aye, fair.’ The man squinted disappointedly at the sky.‘Too hot later, mebbe.And too dry this summer if it stays this way.’The deputy smiled to himself.Luke would never change, forever gloomy and seeking out the bad in everything.‘Were you at the market yesterday?’‘Allus am.’‘Did you have a stranger asking about his sister?’‘Him?’ Luke ran his tongue across his thin lips.‘Aye, he was here.Tried to tell me my onions weren’t no good.’ He sounded affronted at the small memory.‘What else did he say?’‘Nowt, really.’ He rubbed a finger along his nose.‘I told him he’d do best to go looking for the whores.That’s where half the lasses end up anyway.’‘How did he take that?’‘Walked off,’ Luke replied flatly.‘Daft bugger.’ He looked up at the deputy with wide eyes.‘And them onions were right good, too.’He needed to ask in the brothels, Sedgwick decided; Jenny might have found work there.But two of them had heard nothing of her, shaking their heads when he asked about new girls.Finally he walked down to Vicar Lane and rapped lightly on the door of a well-tended house, as ordinary as all its neighbours.Only the shutters closed tight against the daylight marked it out as anything different.He waited a while then tried again, knowing that anything before mid-afternoon was early here.Finally a bleary-eyed maid let him in and shuffled off for the mistress.Fanny Hardcastle had dressed quickly, her face still puffed with sleep and her hair loose, hanging grey and drab to her shoulders.She saw him and her mouth turned down at the corners.‘I hope you know what time it is, Mr Sedgwick.Some of us are not long to our beds.’Her brothel was long-established, opened decades before by Fanny’s mother.It was almost an institution on the city, catering to many of the merchants and aldermen in town, making them feel comfortable and cared-for in a house that was sometimes better than home, with good seats, warm fires and excellent company.He gave her his best smile, trying to charm her into a good temper.‘How’s your mam?’‘Not doing so well.She gets her attacks and whatever the apothecary gives her doesn’t help.’ The woman pulled a shawl tight around her shoulders.‘You’d better not be here just to ask after her.’‘It’s to do with a murder.’‘A murder?’ Her eyes narrowed.‘You mean that man they found yesterday?’ She straightened her back and raised her head.‘It’s nothing to do with us, I’ll tell you that right now.’‘I know, love.Don’t go fretting yourself.’ He smiled again.‘I’m looking for a girl who might have been here.Small, fair hair, name of Jenny.’‘Country girl? Tiny little thing?’‘The sounds like her.’‘I know her, right enough,’ Fanny told him with a curt nod.‘She came by on Sunday, looking for work.’ He was suddenly alert, staring at her.‘But I told her, we’re full of lasses.You know what it’s like here.Mam and me treat them well and they don’t leave
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