I beat a hasty retreat from what could turn into an ugly scene.
I arranged with the landlord to take up residence at the end of the week. In the meantime my days would be more than full with twelve hours spent at the sweatshop, and hopefully enough time and energy to pursue my first inquiries into the whereabouts of Katherine Faversham. I was really rather annoyed that I found myself trapped in such a lengthy and demanding assignment when this Irish case was just what I had dreamed of when I decided to become an investigator. How would I possibly be able to comb New York when I was chained to a sewing machine until dark?
I hadn’t yet heard anything from Miss Van Woekem, so my first step was to ascertain that Katherine and Michael Kelly had indeed come to New York. If they had access to Katherine’s money, they could have crossed the Atlantic in a second-or third-class cabin, which would mean that they stepped ashore with little or no formality and might well have already left the city. If they were penniless, on the other hand, they would have entered through Ellis Island and there would be a record of their arrival.
I wasn’t sure how to go about checking the Ellis Island records. I knew a record of each ship and its passenger manifest must be stored on the island, but I didn’t believe I’d be allowed to look at them. The general public was kept well away from the island buildings. Relatives who came to meet their loved ones were kept waiting at the dockside. If things had been different with Daniel I could have used his influence, but there was no point in thinking about him anymore.
Then it occurred to me that bribery and corruption had been very much in evidence when I came through Ellis Island. One of the inspectors or watchmen might do the job for me, if I offered to make it worth his while. Which was why I was standing on the dockside long before first light the next morning, waiting for the six o’clock government boat that would take the day shift over to the island and bring the night guards back. Several watchmen were standing together, impressive in their blue uniforms. I hesitated to approach a group such as this. The fewer people who knew of my plan, the better. Then I noticed a young inspector, dressed in a dark suit and stiff white collar, heading for the boat slip alone. I hurried to intercept him.
“If I might have a word with you, sir?”
He stopped and regarded me nervously. I could see him trying to decide if I was a criminal or a woman of the streets about to accost him. I gave him a big smile. “I’m Molly Murphy just come over from Ireland, and I’m trying to trace my cousin Katherine. I know you’re an inspector on the island and I wondered if you’d know how to look up the records and find out if Katherine ever got here.”
“You could write a letter to the governor, requesting such information,” he said stiffly. Wonderful—out of all the corrupt inspectors on the island, I had picked the only stiff shirt.
“I daresay I could, but it would take so long,” I said, “and I’m worried about my poor cousin Katherine, who may be living in a slum with no money when I could be helping her get a good start.” I gazed up at him appealingly. “If you’d be willing to put yourself out, I’d make it worth your while. I’m not rich, but I do have a little put by, and my cousin is very dear to me.”
I saw his Adam’s apple go up and down. “What exactly would you require me to do?”
“Nothing illegal. Just check the entries for the last few months to see if a Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kelly from Wexford arrived in New York. She ran off with this Mr. Kelly, you see, and the relatives at home suspect that they headed for America.” I touched his arm lightly. “If you are prepared to do that for me, I’ve got five dollars saved up that I’m willing to pay you for your trouble.”
I saw him glance around. Other inspectors were now hurrying past us to the dock. I heard a boat give an impatient toot.
“I have to go,” he said. “How will I find you again?”
“I’ll meet you here, shall we say on Friday morning, to give you enough time. And I’ll have the money with me.”
He glanced at the men now boarding the government launch. “I don’t know . . .”
“Do your best anyway,” I said. “I’ll understand if you can’t go through with it, but I’ll be forever in your debt if I can find my dear cousin. Michael and Katherine Kelly. They would have sailed from Queenstown.”
He nodded and had to sprint to jump onto the boat as the gangplank was being pulled away.
On Friday morning I was up before dawn, and waited in swirling fog for the young inspector. I cursed myself that I hadn’t thought to find out his name. If he hadn’t managed to do what I asked, then I’d have to start all over again, or I’d have to write to the governor and wait for the wheels of bureaucracy to turn. Then at last I saw him, hurrying through the fog.
“Miss Murphy?” he said with a little bow. “This is for you.”