In Like Flynn (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #4)

She put her hand onto mine. “Don't worry about it, please. I'll ask my landlady to tackle it, and if she can't, then I'll have my dressmaker put in a new panel.”


“But I should at least pay you to right the damage.”

“Fiddlesticks.” She smiled again. “It was quite an adventure, wasn't it? I've never been run down by a bicycle before.”

“And I have never hurtled down a hill on one.” I held out my hand to her. “My name is Molly M—, Molly Gaffney.”

“Margie McAlister,” she said. “Goodness, you're bleeding,” she added as she examined my arm. “We must ask our hostess for some water to clean your cuts.”

My forearms and palms were starting to sting. Lemonade was brought, then our hostess returned with the hot water and gauze. Miss McAlister waved the woman aside and set about cleaning my grazes with precision.

You'll live,” she said. “Bathe them again in an antiseptic solution tonight and cover them with loose gauze pads.”

“You seem very professional at the task,” I commented.

“I have done some nursing in my time.”

“Do you live around here, or are you a visitor?” I asked.

“A visitor. I live in Georgetown, just outside our nation’s capital, where it is unpleasantly hot at the moment. I thought that the quiet atmosphere by the rivermight be beneficial to my health,” she said. “And you?”

“I'm also a visitor, staying with relatives.”

You're from Ireland?”

“How could you tell, the accent or the red hair and freckles?” I asked with a laugh.

She gave me a wistful smile. “I understand it’s a very beautiful country. Are you just over for the summer or do you live in America permanently now?”

“I'm just on a visit,” I said, deciding I should stick to being Molly Gaffney, just in case. “I haven't decided how long I'll stay. My cousin Theresa doesn't want to part with me.”

“Theresa?” I saw aflickerof reaction in those large dark eyes be-fore she went back to the gauze she was wringing out.

“Senator and Mrs. Flynn. They have a house near here.”

“Adare. I was aware of it,” she said, folding the gauze neatly on the side of the bowl.

“This is not your first visit to the area then?”

“No, some years ago I used to live nearby.” She looked up as the landlord approached and sat on a bench beside us.

“How are we doing, young ladies? None the worse for your little spill?”

“We seem to have been very lucky,” I said. “Nothing worse than a couple of scrapes and bumps.”

“I don't suppose you'll feel like riding that contraption home again,” he said. “Are you staying far from here?”

“I'm staying with Senator Flynn at Adare,” I confessed.

Miss McAlister had changed her mind about her dress and had started dabbing at the worst of the marks with the damp cloth.

“Oh, well then, why don't I use the telephone at the police station and ask for their chauffeur to come and get you, miss?”

“Please don't,” I said quickly. “I am sure I am quite able to make my own way home. I should feel such a fool if I had to be rescued.”

“If you're completely sure, miss. I can have my man wheel the contraption for you if you'd like.”

“You're most kind,” I said, “but I came into the village to post a letter and I must do that before I forget.”

“There’s a post office in the general store across the street,” he said. “Is it all the fashion at Adare to take bicycle excursions? You're the second young lady in two days.”

“Really?”

“Oh yes. Another slip of a girl came down the hill at full tilt on her bicycle yesterday, only she didn't fall off. She went into the police station. I think she wanted to use the telephone.”

So Belinda had lied about heading toward West Point. I wondered who she had wanted to call. Probably a suitor she didn't want her sister to know about.

Miss McAlister hadrisento her feet. “I should be going,” she said. “You have been most kind.”

“Not at all, miss. Why don't you rest a while and have another glass of lemonade? I'm sure you must be quite shaken up. I'll have the missus bring out the jug. No, no. There’s no need to rush. You take your time to recover. There won't be any men coming in here for a while yet. You're quite safe.”

He shouted for his wife and our glasses were replenished. I was feeling fully recovered, but determined to make good use of the situation.