Murder at the Capitol by C. M. Gleason

Author:C. M. Gleason
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2019-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

Sophie hurried up the walk to the front door of the Executive Mansion—or, as President Lincoln had begun to call it, the White House.

“Good morning, Mr. McManus,” she said to the wizened old man who opened the door for her.

Despite the number of times she’d been to the great mansion—and in fact, she’d even lived at the President’s House for several nights in April when everyone was certain the Rebels were going to come across the Potomac and invade Washington—Sophie was always mildly surprised that anyone could gain admittance to the house for any reason. There was no security to speak of, despite the war going on, and people came and went as they liked. There were always job-seekers and other favor-mongerers loitering about, waiting for the opportunity to press Mr. Lincoln for their requests.

“Top o’ the morning to you, Miss Gates,” Old Ed McManus replied. “If it’s that handsome Adam Quinn you’re after seeing, lass, well, he’s not here.”

At this news, Sophie screeched to a halt just inside the door. “He’s not? Why, it’s only half nine! I thought for certain he’d still be here.” Drat. Now she’d never be able to track him down—that man moved around faster than a raindrop fell.

She’d wanted to find out whether he’d learned anything else since yesterday about Pinebar Tufts. And she was going to advise him of her intention to meet Miss Barton at the Patent Office today and use the opportunity to do some snooping around at his place of work.

“No, lass, he was called out just before dawn this morn’. There’s another body was discovered up on the hill at the Capitol.”

Double drat. Another body meant another crime scene that she wasn’t able to see with her own eyes. “All right, then. Thank you, Mr. McManus.” Sophie adjusted her bonnet and was just about to leave when Old Ed opened the door once more.

To her surprise, she recognized the young woman who hesitantly stepped inside.

“Miss Monroe!” Sophie exclaimed. “What are you doing here?” she added before she realized how peremptory that sounded. “I mean, what a surprise to see you again.”

“Hello—Miss Gates, isn’t it? How wonderful to see you here.” The pretty young woman rushed over to her and took Sophie’s hands as if they were old friends. “It’s a bit intimidating, coming in here like this, isn’t it?” She looked around with wide eyes, and then Sophie recognized the moment Miss Monroe saw the shabbiness of the entryway of the house and surprise flickered in her gaze.

Unfortunately, the president’s house was in dire need of renovation and sprucing up. To be sure, Mrs. Lincoln was hard at work spending far too much money (if one believed the rumors) to get new furnishings and decorations, as well as painting, repairs, and other updates. But especially the entranceway, which was separated from the main corridor and stairs to the rest of the house by a pebbled-glass wall, was as sterile and unexceptional as the entrance to a bank.

“The Blue Room is absolutely beautiful,” Sophie replied with sincerity.

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