In Like Flynn (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #4)

God forbid. My mother! She'd be here half the night telling me all the things I was doing wrong. I opened my mouth but no sound would come out.

“She says to tell you not to grieve. You are still her sweet and darling child. She’s not suffering from those terrible headaches any more, and she’s with your father and your little brothers, so all is well.”

Suddenly it hit me—this wasn't my mother at all. It was Molly Gaffney’s mother. My father and little brothers were still alive. And it was all facts that I had inadvertently given the Sorensen Sisters at tea that afternoon. If the spirits had been real, they would have known that the person in the room was Molly Murphy and not Molly Gaffney. I smiled to myself. They were fakes, after all!





Ten

There were no other startling revelations at the séance that evening. Contact was not made with little Brendan. I suspected that Miss Emily and Miss Ella would keep up the suspense for some time so that they could continue to enjoy the hospitality of this pleasant house on the riverand the good food at table. The other women in the party were most impressed by the whole thing and went to bed babbling with excitement. Clara especially was like a new woman.

“Johnny came back to speak to me. Imagine that, Theresa. I was never really sure that he loved me as much as I loved him, but he did. He sacrificed everything for me. He gave his life so that I could go skating with him. Wasn't he a gem?”

“And you, dearest Molly,” Theresa said, moving closer to me. “How blessed you must feel, knowing that your mother is beside you all the time.”

I didn't answer that one. One person I didn't want beside me all the time was my mother. I didn't even want Molly Gaffney’s mother! I smiled and nodded. Then I remembered why the seance had been conducted in thefirstplace. “I'm only sorry that the Indian chief didn't manage to contact Brendan tonight,” I said.

“I am too, but I have great faith in the sisters,” she said. “I'm sure they'll contact my son for me before they go.”

I was sure they would too—just before they were about to be thrown out. A sudden thought struck me. “Maybe they need some help with the room?” I asked.

Theresa took my sleeve. “Oh good heavens no. The servants will do that in the morning,” she said. “You have to remember that we have lots of servants here, Molly. You are not required to work for your keep—apart from amusing me, that is.” And she smiled at me so sweetly that it melted my heart. If I don'tfindout the truth about Brendan’s kidnapping or the Sorensen Sisters, at least I can do some good for Theresa, I thought, as I made my way up the stairs to bed.

I woke at first light. I had slept with the windows open and the sweet, soft smell of grass andriver, mingled with jasmine, wafted in to me. I lay there for a moment, listening to the dawn chorus of birds, realizing how far from nature I was in New York City. I hadn't thought I'd ever miss the green hills and the lonely countryside, but it was good to hear the birds again and to smell the sweet air. Then, feelingenergized and awake, I jumped up, washed in cold water and dressed. I opened my door but heard no sound. If the household was still sleeping, then I had time to do some snooping. I tiptoed down the stairs, holding my breath each time afloorboardcreaked. It wasn't easy to pick out the seance room door from the many doors in that long wall. I counted them off. The dining room had been at the back. Then we had walked past two more doors to reach the séance … I grabbed the door and opened it.

And found myself staring at a charming music room. A white baby grand piano was in one corner. A pair of matching small armchairs graced a bay window, looking onto the lawns. The table between them held a crystal bowl of roses. There was no hint at all that a séance had been held here last night.

“May I help you, Miss Gaffney?”

Soames was standing in the doorway, impeccably dressed as usual, with that same haughty expression on his face.

“Oh, Soames, you startled me,” I stammered. “I thought nobody else was awake.”

“The servants rise at five,” he said. “Irisesoon after them. There is much to be done before the household stirs.”

“I'm sure there is,” I said. “Tell me, was this the room where the séance took place last night?”

“It was indeed, miss.”

“The servants must have had to work hard to bring it back to normal this morning.”

He shook his head. “The two lady spiritualists did most of it themselves last night. All the servants had to do was to remove the last of the black drapes and put the furniture back in place.”

Of course, I thought. The sisters wouldn't want anyone to see how they managed those impressive tricks last night. I had tried to work out how they made that head appear, but I was still completely foxed by it.