Murder in Morningside Heights (A Gaslight Mystery) (30 page)

“She probably didn’t even know what it was,” Maeve said.

“She would’ve known Abigail got letters from France and may have figured it out, though,” Sarah said.

“Then she made the mistake of saying something to Pelletier,” Gino said.

“How did he kill her, though?” Maeve asked.

“He met her at a restaurant to talk,” Malloy said. “She must’ve realized she shouldn’t be alone with him if he killed Abigail, but she thought she’d be safe in a public place.”

Sarah gave Maeve a meaningful look that made her shrug apologetically.

“Then he followed her home,” Gino said. “When she was in the alley behind her house, he threw his scarf around her neck and killed her.”

“Just like he tried to kill Malloy,” Sarah said with a shudder.

“He never stood a chance with me,” Malloy said. “He didn’t realize how much harder it would be to kill a man.”

Sarah wasn’t so sure about that. “I just don’t understand why he attacked you in the first place.”

“Oh, I guess that wouldn’t make sense unless you knew how I lied to Pelletier,” Malloy said. “I had told him that afternoon about the letters written in French that I’d found in the book. When he called our office later, he offered to translate them for me. You know, I didn’t think of it at the time, but he should have also offered to translate the other letters, but he’d already read them, so he knew there was nothing in them he needed to worry about.”

“Didn’t you tell him you already had someone reading the letters?” Sarah asked.

“No, because I was curious about why he was being so helpful suddenly. So when he asked me if I had the letters, I told him I did, and he suggested that we meet so he could read them for me.”

“But then he didn’t meet you,” Sarah said.

“No, all he wanted was the letters, and he didn’t want to
be seen with me, so he waited outside until I figured out he wasn’t coming.”

“He was pretty frozen by then,” Gino remarked.

“I’m sure he was,” Sarah said.

“And when I left,” Malloy continued doggedly, “he attacked me. He planned to steal the letters and destroy them once and for all.”

“And kill another person in the bargain,” Sarah said, furious.

“Luckily, Mr. Malloy had his trusty bodyguard to save him, though,” Maeve said with a sly grin.

Gino groaned, his humiliation complete.

“It wasn’t his fault,” Malloy said. “He did exactly what I told him to do.”

“You told him to go off and leave you alone to get murdered?” Maeve asked with fake innocence.

Poor Gino groaned again, and Malloy couldn’t help chuckling. “He was in the tavern with me the whole time, and he knew to wait a few minutes before he followed me out, in case Pelletier tried to sneak up on me outside.”

“I saw Mr. Malloy cross the street, but I didn’t see him go into the alley,” Gino hurried to explain. “So when I came out and he was gone, I thought he’d just gotten ahead of me. I hurried off, but when I didn’t catch up to him and still didn’t see him anywhere, I figured something was wrong and I went back.”

“Thank heaven you did,” Sarah said.

“Oh, Mr. Malloy had him under control by then,” Gino said. “I just used my blackjack on him because I was mad I’d missed all the fun.”

“What a sad story,” Maeve said. “Two women dead just because a man lied and was ashamed to admit it.”

“Murder is always a sad story,” Sarah said. “No one ever
has a really good reason for it, or at least not a reason I ever think is good enough.”

“But at least we found the killer, so Gino doesn’t have to worry about going back to the police force,” Malloy said, earning a scowl from him.

“Have you sent word to the Northrups yet?” Sarah asked.

“I sent a telegram telling them Pelletier had been arrested and that I’d be coming up to see them in a day or two. I’ll telephone Hatch’s office in the morning, and then go see him.”

“I don’t think he’s going to be happy to find out what really happened,” Sarah said.

“I can’t do anything about that. He wanted to avoid a scandal, but he also wanted the killer caught and removed. All things considered, this scandal isn’t much at all. The man was a good actor and he fooled lots of people for a long time. It’s embarrassing, but I think the school will survive.”

“I’m sure it will,” Sarah said. “And now I think we should get to our beds. Gino, it’s far too late for you to go home, so Maeve will show you to one of our spare rooms. We’ll sort everything else out in the morning.”

*   *   *

O
ver the next few days, Sarah read with interest the newspaper accounts of Pelletier’s crimes. In these versions, Abigail and Miss Wilson were tragic heroines for having discovered the evil professor’s secret. No hint of scandal touched either of them, and they were described in the printed accounts as friends and colleagues. Pelletier was generally considered a fool for committing two murders to cover up such a venial offense as lying to protect his career. President Hatch managed to elicit sympathy for himself and the school, and he actually gave Malloy a bonus for handling the case so well.

The Northrups were still heartbroken over the loss of their
daughter, but at least they had managed to protect her memory by hiring Malloy to investigate.

The following Tuesday morning, Sarah sat in her private sitting room, looking through the various newspapers Malloy had brought her. She was happy to see no further mention of Pelletier or the murders. Malloy sat nearby, also perusing the newspapers.

“Did you see this? It’s snowing in Florida,” he said.

“Really?” She took the paper he offered her. On the front page was a line drawing of a photograph taken on the Florida Capitol’s front steps in Tallahassee. It showed legislators having a snowball fight. “That’s amazing.”

“It’s apparently never snowed there before, at least as far as anybody knows.”

“I saw something yesterday about the storm. It’s supposed to be a really bad one.”

“And it’s heading for us,” Malloy said. “It should start snowing sometime today, they say.”

“The snow is always bad, but this terrible cold makes it so much worse.”

“At least you don’t have to worry about going out to deliver a baby,” Malloy said.

“That’s true, and they always seem to arrive when the weather is at its worst.”

Someone tapped on the door, and their maid, Hattie, came in. “A girl from the Mission brought this message for you, Mrs. Frank.”

Sarah took the envelope. Mrs. Keller’s note was short and to the point.

“What is it?” Malloy asked.

“That girl at the Mission who is pregnant, Hannah, she’s apparently gone into labor.”

“I didn’t think her baby was due for months.”

“It’s not. She’s having a miscarriage, and Mrs. Keller has asked me to come at once.”

“Can’t she call another midwife?” Malloy asked.

“I suppose she could, but . . .” She gave him what she hoped was an appealing look.

He sighed. “I know I can’t stop you, but I’m going with you at least.”

“What on earth for?” she asked in surprise.

“Because of the weather. With this cold and a snowstorm coming, I don’t want to have to worry about you being stranded out there somewhere alone.”

He was right, of course. Even in a city, a person could be lost, and danger lurked everywhere. “Hattie, please make the girl comfortable. I need to dress and make sure my medical bag is packed.” She turned to Malloy. “When is it supposed to start snowing?”

“Oh, the girl said it’s been snowing awhile now,” Hattie reported.

*   *   *

T
he city had taken on an oddly festive air with the snowfall. Children were running and sliding and throwing snowballs. Adults were bustling about, shopping to prepare for a few days indoors, if it came to that. It rarely did in the city, where so many hands were available to clear the streets and sidewalks.

Malloy had found them a cab, although the driver wasn’t happy about their destination in the slums of Mulberry Street. The girl who had brought the note—her name was Iris—was pathetically grateful she didn’t have to trudge back to the Mission through the deepening snow.

The cold was bitter, sharp, and angry. The city had already frozen solid from it, and the snow would make it worse. Sarah
thought of all the little street arabs, abandoned homeless children who roamed the city with no shelter. She thought of the poor who lacked fuel for heat. How many of them would die before the snow melted?

Malloy tipped the driver generously, but he still wouldn’t wait. He didn’t want to sit long in this neighborhood or in this weather. If Malloy wanted to leave, he’d have to find another cab later.

Mrs. Keller welcomed them warmly. “Mr. Malloy, I didn’t expect to see you, but it’s always a pleasure.”

“He wouldn’t let me come alone, what with the snow,” Sarah said.

“Iris, take Mr. Malloy to the kitchen and give him some coffee to warm up,” Mrs. Keller said. “I’ll take you upstairs to Hannah, Mrs. Malloy.”

“How is she doing?” Sarah asked as they climbed the stairs.

“It’s hard to tell. She . . . Well, I think she’s been suffering since yesterday, but she never said a word. This morning, one of the girls noticed she was huddled up in a corner and told me. She didn’t even want to admit it then, but I could see for myself.”

“It’s much too early,” Sarah said sadly. “The child won’t survive.”

“I’ve already told the other girls so they won’t be shocked. I think they’ve been looking forward to having a baby in the house.”

“They didn’t really think you’d let Hannah stay that long, did they?”

Mrs. Keller smiled. “They were hoping. Girls love playing with a baby, so long as it’s not theirs. This way,” she added, leading Sarah to the end of the hall. “I put her in my room so she’d have privacy.”

The girls slept four or five to a room in order to squeeze as many of them into the house as possible. Hannah had done well to conceal her distress from the others as long as she had.

Mrs. Keller’s small room was neat but plain. She had a narrow iron bed, a dresser, and a washstand. Her clothing hung on pegs along one wall. The single window overlooked the rear alley, where snow had blanketed everything ugly about this part of the city in pristine white.

“Hello, Hannah,” Sarah said to the girl lying curled into herself on the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Not so good, Mrs. Malloy.”

“I’m sorry about that, but I’ll try to make you more comfortable, at least. I’d like to examine you, if you don’t mind, to see what’s happening.”

Hannah just stared up at her with terrified eyes and lay perfectly still as Sarah set her medical bag on the dresser and pulled out her stethoscope. As Sarah approached, Hannah caught her breath. At first Sarah thought she was just frightened, but then she realized the girl was having a contraction. Sarah quickly laid her hand over the girl’s stomach to feel what was going on. After a minute, the contraction faded, and Hannah sighed with relief.

“How long has this been going on?”

“Since last night, late. I was already in bed when it started.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?” Mrs. Keller said. “You shouldn’t have laid there all night without telling anyone.”

Hannah didn’t reply and she seemed to curl even more tightly into herself.

Having Mrs. Keller chide her for not telling anyone she was losing her child wasn’t helping, Sarah decided. “Mrs. Keller, would you get Hannah a nightdress and some clean sheets?”

“Yes, of course.” Mrs. Keller hurried out to do Sarah’s
bidding, leaving Sarah in privacy to ask the questions she needed to ask.

“Are you having any bleeding?”

Hannah shook her head.

“I’d like to use this to listen to what’s going on with your baby.” Sarah held up the stethoscope. “I’ll just press this part against your stomach like I did before. It won’t hurt. May I?”

Hannah nodded, her eyes wide now.

Sarah inserted the earpieces into her ears and pressed the bell against Hannah’s stomach. She hadn’t really expected to find anything. She thought the baby had probably already died, but to her surprise she heard a strong heartbeat.

“What is it?” Hannah asked, obviously seeing Sarah’s surprise.

“Nothing. I just . . . It looks like your baby is going to be born soon, but it’s much too early. He’ll be too small to survive, I’m afraid. I just want you to understand and be prepared.”

“How long does it have to be before the baby is big enough?”

“They say nine months, and it takes almost ten months sometimes. Occasionally, a baby survives when it comes after only eight months, but even then, they often don’t survive. So you see—”

“This one is nine months.”

“What?”

“It got started last May. I know because it was only the one time. The man who lived downstairs in our tenement, he grabbed me one night when I was coming home and dragged me under the stairs. I never told anybody, not even when I knew there was a baby. Especially not then. I didn’t know if he’d take it from me if he knew, so I kept it a secret until it was almost time, and then I came here.”

Sarah wasn’t quite sure what to say, and before she could
make up her mind, Hannah had another contraction, which told Sarah that, if Hannah was right about the timing, she was giving birth to a full-term infant and they were much closer to the birth than she’d suspected.

Luckily, Mrs. Keller returned at that moment with the things Sarah had requested. Between the two of them, they got Hannah changed into the clean nightdress and put the fresh sheets on the bed before Hannah had another contraction.

Sarah sent Mrs. Keller for towels and examined Hannah more thoroughly. Sure enough, the baby was crowning.

“I can see your baby’s head, Hannah. It won’t be long now.” Sarah showed her how to grip the bars on the headboard and how to push when the next contraction came.

“Will my baby live?” Hannah panted in between contractions.

“I think so.” Sarah knew better than to make promises, because anything could happen, but this baby showed every sign he was going to arrive safely.

Mrs. Keller arrived with the towels just in time. The baby’s head emerged, startling an “Oh my!” from her as she set the stack of towels down.