“Of course.”
“So I could go to her birthplace and check for other relatives.”
“I understood that there were none. They took me in because they were my only surviving kin. At least that’s what Uncle Horace said once.” She saw my look and gave me a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry. I knew this was not going to be easy.”
“I love a good challenge,” I said. “And it can’t be that hard. After all, how many missionaries could there be in China at one time? Maybe twenty or thirty at the most. I know,” I perked up as a bright idea hit me, “we could start with that couple who came into your shop. You said they didn’t know your parents, but you also mentioned that they had been in China for twenty years. I presume you are older than twenty—”
“Yes, I’m twenty-five.”
“So it’s quite possible that they didn’t arrive until after your parents had died.”
“That’s quite possible,” Emily bucked up at this.
“At any rate, they could give us details of the various denominations of missionaries who were working in China twenty years ago, then all I’d have to do is contact their headquarters.”
“Molly, you’re a genius.” Emily beamed at me. “I’m so glad I came to you. But as to your fees . . .”
I hesitated. Part of me wanted to say that I’d work for nothing, but the other, more practical part reminded me that I had to eat and that this case would be occupying my time as well as costing me money in transportation and stamps. “How about we start with twenty dollars,” I said, “and if I find that I need to travel or take considerably more time, then we can decide how far you wish to proceed.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful,” Emily said. “But twenty dollars—I’m sure you usually charge much more.”
“We working women have to stick together.” I smiled at her. “So what information do you have on the couple who came into your shop?”
“It was about three weeks ago. They were called Hinchley and they were only passing through New York. They were staying at a hotel.”
“Do you know which one?”
“We filled out a prescription for them, so it will be on file at the shop.”
“Then we can look it up after lunch.”
“It will have to be surreptitiously,” Emily said. “Mr. McPherson is sure to make a fuss if he sees me nosing through his prescription files.”
“Then I had better not accompany you. He was clearly annoyed by my presence the first time,” I said. “Drop me a note with the name of the hotel and then I can go to work.”
“Of course. I’ll send it out in the afternoon post, with Old McPherson’s stamp on it too.” She laughed. “Dear me, that doesn’t sound like the child of dead missionaries, does it? But he really doesn’t have to be so unpleasant.”
“Is he equally nasty to Ned?”
“Marginally less so, I’d say. But Ned sticks it out because he is learning a lot. Whatever his temperament, Mr. McPherson certainly knows his stuff. He is a whiz at compounding.”
“Compounding?”
“Mixing the various remedies to exactly the right proportions. It’s a delicate business, as you can well imagine. Some of our cures contain deadly elements that can kill in larger doses. A druggist has to be extremely precise.”
The waitress came to take our plates and I insisted on paying the bill.
“But I’m the one who is hiring you,” Emily protested.
“You’ve already hired me and now we’re on my time.” I laughed. “So when should we arrange to meet again? Do you have free time at the weekend? I should have something to report by then.”
“Usually I have alternate Saturday afternoons free,” Emily said. “But Mrs. Hartmann, the other counter assistant, who has been with the firm for years, is out sick with some kind of grippe, so I will be doing her Saturday duty. But Sunday afternoon I’ll be free.”
“What about Ned? Doesn’t he have priority over your free time?”
“He goes to see his mother on Sundays. She lives in Brooklyn and is not in the best of health. He’s a most devoted son. He gives her a generous portion of his earnings.”
“So will you be required to have her in your home when you marry?” I asked.
She blushed again. “He hasn’t yet officially proposed to me. He wants to establish himself in his career first, so I know we may have a long wait. Oh, but he is worth it, Molly. I know he’s bound for great things.”
“And in the meantime,” I said, “what about you? I understand from Gus that you were one of the most gifted students in your class. Can you also not further your education in some way like Ned?”
“There is little point if Mr. McPherson won’t even let me into the dispensatory room. One cannot learn pharmacy skills by reading and observing. Ned provides me with books to read and notes from his lectures, so I am quite well informed, but there it must probably rest.”
“That’s a shame,” I said.
“Life is unfair. I’ve come to accept it,” she said.
With that we parted company.