Away in a Manger (3 page)

“I said to get your hands off me,” the boy snarled. “You're going to be sorry, you know. I got friends.”

“Oh, no, I think it's you who's going to be sorry,” Daniel said. “I never forget a face and my men will be on the lookout for you now, all over the city. If you're smart you'll stay indoors until after Christmas. Handcuff him, Constable.”

“What do you want me to do with him, Captain?” the constable asked as the pair of them wrestled handcuffs onto the struggling and cursing youth.

“Take him to the nearest station house and get his name, address, and fingerprints,” Daniel said. “If he gives you any sauce, you have my permission to lock him up for the night until he can learn some manners.”

“You can't do that. I told ya, I ain't done nothing,” the boy said, looking slightly more worried now.

“If you cooperate like a good boy, then you've got nothing to worry about and you'll be free as a bird in a little while,” Daniel said. “But if any of my men catches you picking pockets again, remember we'll have your fingerprints on file and you'll be heading straight to jail. Understand me?”

A crowd had gathered, standing not too close but watching with interest.

“What's the boy done?” a thin clergyman in a black suit asked.

“Pickpocket,” Daniel said. “There are too many of them around this year. You should all make sure you keep a watchful eye on your cash.”

“But he's only a boy,” the clergyman said. “Surely handcuffs aren't necessary. If you'd let me have a word with him, I know I could make him—”

His speech was cut off by a scream from somewhere in the crowd and a woman cried out, “My money is missing. Someone's taken my purse. Was that him too?”

“Either this one or one of his fellows,” Daniel said. “Who's on this stretch of Broadway with you, Constable?”

“Dracott, sir. Over there on the corner of Thirty-fourth.”

“Then you take the boy away and I'll send Dracott over to search likely hiding places to see if we can recover any more stolen wallets. We're probably too late. Undoubtedly this hooligan has a friend who's been following him to retrieve the stash. But from now on I want you to report to me every time there is a pickpocketing incident. This is prime territory over the holidays. You'll need backup.”

“Thank you, sir. I'll take the boy now then, shall I?”

“Yes, and come right back. We'll need as many eyes as possible watching this crowd.” He turned to the throng now surrounding him. “You can all help. Keep vigilant. Yell out if you see someone's pocket being picked. We need to put a stop to this right now.” He moved within a few inches of the boy's face. “Don't forget. I'll be watching out for you. So will all my men.”

The boy shot Daniel a look of pure venom as the constable marched him away. The crowd parted to let them through, then drifted away, back to their Christmas shopping. Daniel straightened his jacket and made his way back toward us. I didn't often have a chance to see him in action and again I marveled at his powerful presence, his calm demeanor. Then I remembered that every one of these encounters might put him in danger, every day of his life.

“It's just as I thought,” Daniel said as he joined us and took Liam back from me. “This is something bigger than the usual opportunistic kid trying to take advantage of the holiday crowds. I'll wager he's part of an organized gang. Did you see the swagger? He wasn't even scared of me. He reckons he's got protection. And the constable hadn't seen him before. Our men usually know the potential troublemakers on their own patch.” He glanced back as the constable with the still struggling, cursing boy was swallowed up into the crowd. “I want to find out who's behind this and nip it in the bud. I want to know if they are recruiting boys off the street or if they are using known gang members. That's the problem—I can't assign extra men for what's essentially petty crime. But if it's one of the known gangs, I hate to see them extending their reach, and if it's a new gang, then I want to know about that too.” Then he turned and gave me an encouraging smile. “Sorry about that. I'm supposed to have a day off, aren't I. Come on, let's enjoy ourselves. Toy store then a hot chocolate, I think.”

I tried to feel as gay and carefree as before, but there was now a tension in the air that wouldn't quite go away.

 

Four

“Is it far to the toy store?” Bridie asked. “My feet are cold.”

“Too far to walk on a day like this,” Daniel said. “We'll take the Sixth Avenue El. Come on, there's a station right over here.”

He took my arm to steer me toward the elevated railway. I hesitated, still reluctant to travel after what had happened. But I told myself not to be silly. Just because one train had plunged off the tracks once didn't mean it would ever happen again. We crammed ourselves into a crowded carriage and I was certainly glad when we reached Fifty-eighth Street and I could breathe the fresh crisp air again.

Here uptown there was a different atmosphere. The stores were swankier and almost every window was decorated with Christmas displays, electric lights, and even illuminated Christmas trees. Then we came at last to Fifth Avenue and Daniel said, “There it is. FAO Schwarz. What did I tell you?” He said it as if he was a conjurer who had produced this for our pleasure.

There was a crowd around the store windows and at the door two red-coated soldiers stood at attention as if this was Buckingham Palace in London. Liam had been snuggled drowsily against Daniel's shoulder but perked up at the sound of Daniel's voice, and when he saw the real-life soldiers his eyes opened wide. We stepped inside and were greeted by a cacophony of sound. On one table a host of mechanical toys were moving around—bears turning somersaults, soldiers marching, drummers beating drums. And around the perimeter of the table a train set ran, hooting mournfully as it went over a bridge. Liam wriggled to get closer, staring wide-eyed.

“You're not quite old enough for that sort of thing yet,” Daniel said, holding on to him. “But I can't wait for the day when I can get you a train set.”

“We know who wants to play with the trains,” I teased, and watched him grin.

“What should we get him for Christmas, do you think?”

“Don't discuss it in front of him,” I said, giving Daniel a cautionary frown. “He has to think that it's coming from Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, or whatever you want to call him.”

“He's one year old, Molly. He doesn't take in what we're talking about.”

“I bet he does,” I said. “We've a pretty smart child here, Daniel. Oh, look at the rocking horses.”

“I've asked my mother to look out my old rocking horse,” Daniel said. “It must still be up in the attic. I'll spruce it up for Liam.”

“Not yet. He's too small for a rocking horse. Something he can push, maybe.”

“How about a horse on wheels then?” Daniel asked. “I had one of those when I was little, but I think it fell to pieces.”

“That would be grand,” I said, then I spotted the perfect thing. “Look, over there. The stuffed dog on wheels. Just the right size for him to push. Do you think it's very expensive?”

“It's Christmas, Molly. Hang the expense,” Daniel said. “I'll come back and pick it up when he's not watching.”

Bridie had been hanging back, not saying a word but gazing around her in awe. I noticed her expression and realized that in many ways she was still a child and hadn't had much of a childhood.

“Is there anything you'd want Santa Claus to bring you?” I asked.

She shrugged. “You already promised to buy me a skein of yarn to knit that girl a scarf,” she said. “And I've outgrown my stockings.”

“I don't think Santa Claus carries stockings on his sleigh,” I said, smiling. I noticed she was looking wistfully at the china dolls. She was almost too old for dolls but had she ever had a proper one, with curls and clothes to dress her with? Daniel and his mother would think I was being silly, but I resolved to buy her a doll this Christmas.

“We'll get that wool for you this afternoon,” I said. “I'm sure you want to start knitting right away.”

She nodded, her face alight with excitement.

As we came around a big display of soldiers and forts we heard a shriek of laughter. What's more, I thought I recognized it. And sure enough there were my neighbors and dear friends Miss Goldfarb and Miss Walcott, usually known as Sid and Gus, standing together watching a mechanical bear. The bear turned somersaults then stood up again in a most realistic manner. As it flopped over in front of them they both burst into renewed and delighted laughter like a pair of children.

“So this is how you spend your days when you claim to be experiencing culture,” I said.

“Where else should one be before Christmas?” Gus said. “What is more affirming of the beauty of life than the laughter of children?”

“I heard the laughter of two certain ladies,” I said.

“Well, wouldn't you laugh?” Sid said. “Look at the face on this bear, Molly. He looks shocked and surprised every time he turns over.” She wound the bear up again and put him down on the table where he started to turn somersaults in our direction. Liam took one look at him and burst into tears.

“Oh, dear,” Gus said. “That's one toy we'll probably have to strike off our list. I suppose he is rather frightening for a one-year-old. But we've seen a fort and wooden soldiers. He has to have soldiers…”

“You're not to spoil him,” I said. “One present is quite enough at his age. You've already been more than generous.”

“But you know we love spoiling him,” Sid said. “Even if we're not Catholic and not his official godmothers, we are self-styled fairy godmothers, aren't we, Gus?”

“Absolutely. So are you here to buy his Christmas presents?”

“Not while he's watching,” I said. “We don't want to spoil the surprise.” I glanced across at Daniel, who was holding Liam with a forced polite smile on his face. He didn't really approve of my friends and their bohemian lifestyle, however grateful he was for all they had done for me. And he certainly didn't approve of their dress, although today they were both wearing fur-trimmed capes and looked relatively civilized. It was only if one looked down that one could catch a glimpse of the trousers Sid often wore, and her short bobbed hair poked out from under a French beret she had acquired in Paris.

“So where are you off to now?” Gus asked. “You have to leave us alone to buy presents so they are a surprise to you too.”

“Daniel's promised us hot chocolate before we go home,” I said.

“You have to take the children to Central Park and let them play in the snow. Liam's first snow, Molly. On second thought, why don't we come with you? I'd love a good snowball fight, wouldn't you, Sid?”

“Rather!” Sid said. “And we can see if the lake is frozen.”

Daniel opened his mouth to object then grinned and said, “Why not? We've nowhere else we have to be.”

We crossed Fifth Avenue and went in through the park gates. Inside the park New Yorkers were already enjoying the first real snow of the season. Boys pulling younger siblings on sleds, children working together to make a snowman, snowball fights in progress. It made a colorful scene straight from a Christmas card. Daniel squatted down with Liam and let him touch the snow. Liam reacted with shock and surprise then reached down to touch it again, scrunching it between his fingers and looking up at Daniel with a triumphant grin. I took him while Daniel helped the others make a small snowman, and then I watched while he and Bridie took on Sid and Gus in a snowball fight. They were having such a good time that I hated to interrupt them.

“Liam's getting cold,” I said. “And as a matter of fact so am I.”

Reluctantly the participants brushed the snow from their coats and gloves.

“Hot chocolate at the Viennese Bakery, I think,” Sid said. “And pastries. Our treat.”

Daniel didn't protest and we sat in the glorious warmth of the café, drinking hot chocolate with cream on top. I felt a great bubble of contentment inside. How rare it was that I had been able to enjoy a day of pure fun with my family and friends. This really was going to be a perfect Christmas—a reward for all that we had been through this year.

We caught the Sixth Avenue El home and Liam fell asleep against my shoulder. I nestled against the rough tweed of Daniel's coat, while Bridie stood at my knee.
Why had I ever resisted getting married?
I wondered. Being a family was the best feeling in the world.

 

Five

We stopped at Wanamaker's dry goods on the way home and Bridie chose bright red yarn. She started knitting as soon as she had taken off her coat. I didn't have the heart to interrupt her, and I took care of Liam and the dinner by myself.

“You know, I've been thinking,” I said to Daniel as we sat at the table together after the meal. “You never want me to get involved in your work, and I appreciate that. But here's somewhere I could be useful to you. I'm an experienced detective. I've a good eye. I'm good at following without being observed.”

Daniel was frowning, a wary look on his face.

I held up my hand. “Before you say anything, just hear me out,” I said. “You say you can't spare men to catch pickpockets. I can keep my eyes open for you. I'm just another woman out doing her shopping and pushing a buggy.”

“What would be the point, since you couldn't chase after anyone or arrest them?”

“I'm trying to be helpful, Daniel. You've said yourself I'm a good detective. I am. If I see pickpocketing going on I'll take down an accurate description and hand it to the nearest constable. What could be wrong with that?”

“Nothing, I suppose,” Daniel said hesitantly. “As long as you didn't do anything foolish like trying to apprehend anyone.”