An Orphan of Hell's Kitchen by Liz Freeland

Author:Liz Freeland [Freeland, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2020-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

“When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose,” courtesy of the Bleecker Blowers, shook the floorboards beneath my feet as I climbed the stairs to our flat. Once I’d been entirely ignorant of saxophones. Now I could discern the different pitches of instruments from the soprano down to the bass. I could also tell when Charlie was playing alto as opposed to Mick, who was always a little sharp. Occasionally my downstairs neighbors played something so melodic and lovely it would bring tears to my eyes. Most days I wished Adolphe Sax had never been born.

Today was one of those days. After forty-eight hours of night work and day sleuthing, I craved sleep like an underfed dog craves food. The next nap or longer doze was never far from my calculations. This afternoon I’d come home from my aunt’s hoping I’d find the apartment empty and quiet so I could catch a few winks before dashing off to meet Gerald. I was wondering how effective plugging my ears would be against the boom of the bass saxophone when I mounted the second flight and found Teddy’s friend Hugh Van Hooten, of all people, seated on the top step. His knees poked up before him, making him look like a crouching insect. His overcoat was unbuttoned, so I wasn’t sure if he was coming or going. His face was drawn into a frown.

“Does that racket go on every day?”

Though our paths hadn’t crossed in nearly a year, I wasn’t at all surprised by the lack of greeting. Our interactions had always been on the contentious side. He personified the worst of all worlds—a patrician who took for granted all the benefits of wealth but practiced none of the niceties of polite society. Why was he camped in my hallway?

In answer to my unspoken question, something thumped against my apartment door from the inside, and shouting came from within: Callie’s voice—loud—calling someone a fool. And then Teddy’s voice, a little softer, responding in a pleading tone.

“I wouldn’t go in there if I were you,” Hugh warned. “Lovers’ tiff.”

“It sounds like more than a tiff,” I said. “More like a knock-down, drag-out.”

“Exactly. I got out of there as soon as I could, but we came in Teddy’s car. I’m not keen on finding my own way back to the airfield.”

Hugh’s aviation business was in New Jersey.

I glanced anxiously at the door. “No one’s getting hurt, I hope.”

“Callie’s winging objects around, but Teddy’s a fast ducker.” He scooted closer to the wall and crossed his spidery legs. “You might as well sit down. They’re a while from the reconciliation stage, I imagine.”

Exhausted, I sat down next to him.

From inside, Callie shouted, “England!”

“What happened?” I asked.

“Ah.” Hugh had taken off his gloves, and now slapped one against the other. “You may be surprised to find out that it’s actually my fault.”

It didn’t surprise me a bit. “What did you do?”

“Nothing but what I’ve been trying to do for years and

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