In Like Flynn (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #4)

“It has its benefits.” He smiled at me.

We stepped out into hot sunshine. Several reporters were milling around. Daniel brushed them aside. “There will be a statement later, fellows,” he said. Then he took my arm and led mefirmlyin the direction of the station platform. “Another of your nine lives gone, I fear,” he said as we ascended the steps to the platform, followed by a crowd of curious onlookers. “How on earth did you stumble upon Joseph Rimes?”

I wasn't about to admit that stumbling was exactly what I had done. “Call it female intuition,” I said.

“But your female intuition didn't warn you not to confront him alone?”

“I didn't intend to,” I said. I was about to tell him about Barney’s assault on me and Joe Rimes’s arrival, but I found that I couldn't. ”It’s all rather complicated,” I said. “I encountered him on the path back from Riverside.”

Daniel shook his head. “If only you hadn't been so darned impatient and waited for me as I suggested, then none of this would have happened.”

“If only you hadn't been so darned weak and not wanted to spoil your beloved’s croquet game, you could have escorted me home right away,” I countered.

I saw him stifle a smile. “Molly, what am I going to do with you?” he said. “I send you out on what I consider to be a nice safe assignment and you wind up being taken hostage by a madman. Flynn told me that Joe Rimes confessed to killing Theresa.”

“And to pushing Margie McAlister over the cliff,” I said. “And to organizing the kidnapping of Brendan Flynn.”

This was clearly news to him. He stared at me in disbelief. “He kidnapped the Flynns' baby? Why, for God’s sake?”

“Because Bamey Flynn was running behind in the polls and he wanted to get him the sympathy vote.”

“Good God. The man really was mad.”

“He claims he never intended to harm the child.”

“Never intended to harm him? They buried the poor kid alive. Why do that if he meant him no harm?”

“He told Morell it had to sound really terrible, to put fear into the heart of every parent. Morell promised the child would be safe and stay asleep.”

Daniel shook his head in disgust. “And he didn't tell Rimes where he had hidden the child?”

“Rimes didn't want to know any details, in case he was questioned by the police, I suppose. He was a strange man, Daniel. Very ambitious, but without any of the qualities that would make a charismatic leader. None of Barney Flynn’s charm or good looks. So he put all that ambition into Barney’s career.”

“But why did he have to kill the girl and Mrs. Flynn? Was the McAlister woman blackmailing Barney?”

“Not exactly,” 1 said. “She was his ex-paramour and Eileen Flynn’s real mother. She'd just come back to see her child.” As I said this, I wondered weather there had been any love between her and Barney or whether he had taken advantage of her as he had tried to do of me. Ifeltdeeply sorry for Margie McAlister.

The child’s real mother? How did youfindthat out?”

“Eileen had her mother’s smile,” I said. “And Theresa showed no maternal feelingsfordie child at all.”

Daniel nodded. “I'm impressed,” he said. “I wonder if any male detective would have picked up on that.”

I realized there was another point I needed to clear up. “Exactly why did you send me on this assignment, Daniel?” I asked. “You've madereferenceto it a couple of times. Did you really want to nail the Sorensen Sisters so desperately?”

He shook his head and smiled. “I can't lie to you, can I?” he said. “Allright.I admit. I did it to get you out of the city. Two reasons actually. I was concerned about the typhoid epidemic and also I wanted you well away from the Hudson Dusters in case they discovered who you were.”

“So it was nothing to do with my detective skills at all?” I asked flatly.

“Your detective skills are just fine, my dear. Nobody is disputing them.”

“But you wouldn't have selected me for a police undercover assignment if you hadn't had an ulterior motive?”

“Probably not.”

“I see.”

“But now I have to admit that you've probably achieved more than most police detectives. I'm genuinely impressed.”

“Youare?”

He nodded. “Only don't think I'm about to hire you to snoop on gangs and crooks.”

The train came puffing into the station and pulledtoa halt with much squealing and grinding of brakes. Daniel opened the door and helped me inside. As he did, so he muttered a curse and hastily removed his jacket.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Quickly. Put this on,” he commanded.

“Why?”

“My dear, that muslin you are wearing becomes quite transparent when wet. No wonder the crowd was following us and ogling.”