Gaslight Mystery 05 - Murder on Mulberry Bend by Victoria Thompson

Author:Victoria Thompson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Mystery, Historical
ISBN: 9780425189108
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2003-03-03T23:00:00+00:00

9

SARAH PURPOSELY DIDN’T GLANCE OVER WHEN SHE walked past Police Headquarters on Mulberry Street. She was half afraid she’d see Malloy if she did. Of course, he didn’t have any right to stop her from what she was doing. Nobody did, come to that. Still, she didn’t feel like having an argument with him about it in the middle of the street, and she knew him well enough to know he’d want to argue if he saw her heading toward the Prodigal Son Mission.

She’d wanted to come yesterday, but she knew Sunday wasn’t a typical day at the mission. Besides, she’d had a baby to deliver, and by the time she was finished, it was too late. Yes, Monday morning was better anyway. The beginning of a new week would be the perfect time to offer her services as an instructor. Volunteering her help was just what she needed to make her feel her life was serving an important purpose.

And if she found out more about Emilia Donato’s murder, too, well, that would be extremely fortunate.

A very small girl opened the door to her knock. She looked up at Sarah with big brown eyes, her expression solemn, and didn’t utter a single word. Sarah couldn’t help smiling.

“Is Mrs. Wells at home?” she asked.

The little girl nodded her head and didn’t move.

“Could I come in to see her?” Sarah asked.

The girl had to think it over. Apparently, she decided Sarah was acceptable, because she stepped back after a few moments and opened the door wide enough for her visitor to enter. The red-haired girl who had answered the door the last time was hurrying down the hallway from the kitchen. “Aggie, I told you not to open the door!” she scolded the child.

The little one looked up at Sarah, gave her a mischievous grin, and scurried away, dodging the older girl to scramble up the staircase and out of sight.

“I’m sorry, miss,” the red-haired girl said, a little breathless from her rush. “Aggie don’t pay much mind to anybody but Mrs. Wells. Can I help you?”

“I came to see Mrs. Wells, if she’s available. Would you tell her Mrs. Brandt is here?”

“Mrs. Brandt, how good to see you,” Mrs. Wells said.

Sarah and the girl looked up in surprise to see her descending the stairs.

“Aggie told me I had a visitor.” She gave the red-haired girl a look that appeared only mildly disapproving, but the girl paled noticeably, and her eyes widened with apprehension.

“I’m that sorry, Mrs. Wells, truly I am!” she said anxiously. “She don’t pay me no mind when I tell her not to do something.”

“Doesn’t,” Mrs. Wells said, correcting her. “She doesn’t pay you any mind, Maeve. In that case, you need to watch her more closely, don’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am,” she agreed eagerly and bobbed a curtsey. “I’ll do that, I will.” She hurried off up the stairs, presumably to find Aggie and watch her closely.

“One does try to teach them manners,” Mrs. Wells explained apologetically. “One isn’t always successful.

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