The Merchant and the Rogue by Sarah M. Eden

by Brogan Donnelly

Day Five

Sebastian Hines considered himself quite a paragon of gentlemanly achievement. That the keeper of the mammals at the Museum of Natural History had, in an official capacity, asked for him to call was yet another feather in his cap. He stepped inside what the uncouth locals referred to as the Dead Zoo, feeling quite pleased with himself.

The museum was not open to visitors that day, which made his presence there all the more flattering. Yes, he was sharing space with two delivery men, but he did not permit that to dampen his spirits. The men carefully set down a pane of glass beside a display case in need of mending.

Nearby, a grizzled janitor bent over a mop, applying himself with pointed and focused effort to cleaning something off the stone floor. It was not exalted company, but they were there as tradespeople. He was there as a sought-after guest.

“Do not mind Jonty,” William Sheehan said as the new arrival approached. “He is so very dedicated to his work.”

“No bother.” Sebastian pressed a lace-edged handkerchief to his nose, managing to hide his look of displeasure. “I am curious as to why you’ve sent for me.”

“I have encountered a mystery here at the Museum of Natural History that I cannot solve.”

Sebastian was taken for a tour, past a display of a missing rodent, past a disgruntled Jonty working hard to clean something from the floor, past a display case in need of new glass. Past a taxidermied polar bear looking unblinkingly at a seal.

It had all happened before.

It would happen again.

Dear Reader, should you visit Dublin, should you jaunt past Merrion Square, should you wander into the Museum of Natural History, take care.

Not everything at the Dead Zoo . . . is dead.