Winter Sisters by Robin Oliveira

Author:Robin Oliveira
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2018-02-27T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty

The next morning, at ten o’clock, Viola Van der Veer was doing something she never did. She was listening outside the open door of her husband’s study. Moments before, as she finished dressing, her maid had informed her that the police captain had come to see Gerritt, and she had hurried down the servant’s stairway to hover in the alcove adjacent to the doorway, pretending a sudden and profound interest in rearranging a bouquet of hothouse lilies enshrined on the alcove’s marble shelf. From the study came the crackle of a low fire, along with terse whispers of a conversation. She had never before stooped to eavesdropping, but neither was Gerritt forthcoming, and a visit by a police captain on a Thursday morning merited attention, especially when the city was in such turmoil. Jakob was still sleeping, or he had been an hour ago, when she’d looked in on him. Just after dinner, he had succumbed to deadening fatigue, and this morning had slept through breakfast.

“I thought you would want to know,” Mantel murmured.

“Alive?” came Gerritt’s incredulous voice, far louder than the police captain’s careful undertone. “Are you sure? The two O’Donnell girls?”

Viola’s heart leaped in her chest. With a swish of her skirts, she swept into the study.

Gerritt glared at her, his expression a mixture of incredulity and irritation. “What is it, Viola?”

“Did I hear correctly?” She could hardly get it out, disbelieving. “Bonnie’s daughters are alive?”

Mantel had been leaning against the back of one of the tobacco-scented armchairs. He turned and removed his brimmed cap. His great coat was unbuttoned, its military-style brass buttons glinting in the low firelight. He had not taken the time to relieve himself of either cap or coat. It was clear that he did not mean to stay long.

“How do you do, Mrs. Van der Veer? Yes. Those girls have come back to life. Found by one of my officers in the Pastures, apparently. On the streets.” Mantel swiveled to include Gerritt in the conversation. “And I’m sad to bring the news that it looks as if your Mr. Harley might be involved. I would have come to tell you last night, but it was late when Farrell returned, and I thought a visit this morning would draw less attention. Though I don’t know about that now. There were plenty of people afoot this morning. I haven’t much time. We’re doing double duty, all of us. I slept only three hours last night. I’m ragged to the bones.”

“Where are they? Are they all right? Are they in the hospital? What happened?” Viola said.

“Did I hear correctly? The O’Donnell girls are alive?” Now it was Jakob at the doorway. He was dressed in a worsted wool suit, a woolen muffler wrapped around his neck.

“That’s right,” Mantel said.

“Are you sure?” Jakob said.

“It’s verified,” Mantel said. “Though I’ve not yet seen them myself.”

“But how were they found? Where have they been all this time?” Viola looked from Mantel to Gerritt, who echoed faintly, “Yes, where have they been? This is astonishing.

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