In Like Flynn (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #4)

“Oh no, don't go,” Eileen wailed. “I want you to stay and play with me.”


“Where are your manners?” Nurse scolded. “You say, Thank you for coming, Miss Gaffney' You don't go wailing at her like some heathen child.”

“I promise I'll come back and play later,” I said. “Only I just don't feel in the mood to play right now. You can introduce the camel to all his old friends and have a party for his safe return.”

“All right,” she said in her high, sweet voice and was happily chatting to the animals before I got to the door.

Once outside I had to pause and catch my breath again. In this morning of surprises this had been the most incredible. I could hardly have been more shocked if Theresa herself had sat up and spoken to me when I was in her room. Now so much made sense. No wonder Theresa had been so indifferent to Eileen. She had confided in me once that she had tried to show maternal feelings to the child but hadn't been able to. Understandable. What woman could leam to love the child of her husband’s mistress? The clues had been there all along—I just hadn't seen them. Both Belinda and Barney himself had told me that Theresa hadn't wanted him near her since Brendan’s kidnapping. And Barney was a man of healthy appetites— he had demonstrated that clearly enough to me! So what more natural than to turn to the pretty nurse while his wife lay languishing. When they found out she was expecting, Barney must have paid her off and kept the child, pretending it was his and Theresa’s, while Miss McAlister went to live comfortably in a house in Georgetown and kept her mouth shut.

I realized something else too—she hadn't come back to ask for more money. She had wanted to catch a glimpse of her daughter. Hence my feeling that we were being spied on when I played with Eileen in the woods. But somebody had seen her as a threat, even if she hadn't asked for money. With a sinking feeling in my stomach I decided that the only person could be Barney himself, unless it was Theresa … and Theresa now lay dead.

My heart was racing so fast that I could hardly breathe. I had to get out of the house this minute. Even if Barney thought I was his cousin, I no longer felt safe. I would go to the Van Gelders, put in a telephone call to Daniel and ask him to arrange to have me picked up today, not tomorrow. I tiptoed down the stairs. I heard Desmond’s voice saying, “The mail has just arrived, Senator. Do you want to go through it in your office?” and Barney’s voice mumbling some sort of reply. So at least they were all safely busy and not able to witness me slinking out of the house.

The constable was still standing on duty outside the front door. I was tempted to talk to him, but I couldn't really think what to say Everything I knew was pure supposition, apart from Eileen’s smile. It would surely be taken as female hysterics and would put me in even greater danger. I'd have to leave it to Daniel to decide what should be done and who should do it. This was a task too big for me.

I glanced down at the river and saw Dr. Bimbaum being rowed across to the train, sitting up straight and correct in the skiff. Belinda was still at the table on the veranda, writing letters. She looked up as I passed her.

“Oh, Molly, there you are. I wondered where you had gone.”

“Where’s Cousin Clara?” I asked.

“In the kitchen, bossing Cook around, I should think,” Belinda said. “She’s the only person who is actually enjoying herself. Doesn't this all seem unreal to you? Almost like watching a play and not knowing what’s going to happen next?”

I nodded. “That’s exactly how I feel.”

“I'm writing to our relatives,” she said, “but I can't seem to find the words. It doesn't seem possible. I keep expecting to see her coming down the stairs any moment.” She sighed and patted at her hair although the sleek coil around her head was perfectly in place. “I feel so terrible, Molly. I wasn't really a good sister to her.”

“You were a fine sister,” I said. “You came to visit, didn't you? And you brought Dr. Bimbaum because you thought he could help her.”

“That’s part of the reason I feel so terrible,” she said. “My action brought about her death. I'll have to live with that on my con-science for the rest of my days.”

“You did what you thought was best,” I said softly. “We can't do any more than that. I'm sure Theresa doesn't blame you. And you know as well as I do that she wanted to be at peace. Now she is.

Let’s pray she’s with Brendan.”

She tried to smile. “Yes, do let’s pray that.”

“I think I'll gofora walk,” I said. “I can't stay in the house.”