“There you are, then. We’ll just hope that your poor friend is of a strong constitution and rides out the flu the way you did.”
“But what about the hair?” I asked.
“What hair?”
“All three of them lost their hair. It came out all over their pillows. That’s not normal, is it? I didn’t lose any.”
Daniel frowned. “I admit that is strange. It rings a bell somehow.” He paused, then thumped one fist into his cupped hand. “But dash it, I can’t for the life of me think what it is. Someone talking about hair falling out recently. Never mind, it will come to me.”
“But in the note you left me you said you had something to tell me. I thought you’d discovered that the mixture was poisoned.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you.” He came around to me and put his hands on my shoulders again, a move I found most disquieting. “No, the thing I wanted to tell you was that we’ve solved my arsenic case, partly thanks to you.”
“To me?”
“Yes, you were the one who mentioned the green wallpaper containing arsenic.”
“And they all licked wallpaper?”
He laughed. “They each lived in one room with said wallpaper.”
“But surely that’s not enough to kill anyone?”
“No, but it’s an added factor. They had all come down with influenza, which had naturally weakened their resistance. They each bought the same patent medicine: J. D. Rowley’s Flu-Stopper. It’s a cheap tonic, sold on the street by a snake-oil salesman. These things are a curse, you know. Made up by people who have only a smattering of knowledge about drugs.”
“And the tonic contained arsenic?”
“It did.”
“But surely the police tested the tonic, didn’t they?”
“They did take samples, of course. But as with any patent medicines of this nature the amounts are not carefully measured and, worse of all, the mixture was not stable. The arsenic separated out and sank to the bottom of the bottle. If it was not well shaken, the victim drank a couple of doses that were almost pure arsenic. That, when added to the amount inhaled from the wallpaper and their weakened condition, finished them off. Simple as that.”
I laughed. “Not funny for them, of course. Still I’m glad you’ve solved one of your cases.”
“And we may be getting somewhere with our Chinese tongs,” he said. “We think we’ve taken a young man into custody who is prepared to spill the beans if we give him safe passage across the country to San Francisco.”
“And he’s going to tell you how the opium comes into the country?”
“He’s already done that. It’s brought in by a man who poses as a missionary. Trunks of Bibles go out and the same trunks come back, packed with opium. Not the most godly of men, would you say?”
“Anything you want to know about missionaries, I’m your girl,” I said. “I can give you a list of missionary headquarters and names of some missionaries who are in the local area.”
“Most efficient,” he said. “That would save my men some time. Although if this man is only posing as a missionary . . .”
“They can tell you the names on their books and you can check future sailings for someone who is shipping Bibles and is not a member of one of the societies.”
“Smart girl.” He touched the tip of my nose. “Two cases solved would go down well with the new commissioner.”
“And it might mean that we can actually spend some time together for once.”
“And what good would that be?” he asked, playfully toying with my hair. “When I’m free you’re rushing around and working, and when we are together you won’t let me touch you.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t let you touch me,” I said, standing slowly until I was facing him. “I have no objection to a chaste kiss or two.”
He laughed. “And when have you and I ever exchanged chaste kisses,” he said. “And don’t come the prim maid with me. You enjoy our lovemaking as much as I do.”
“That’s as may be,” I said, “but it’s going to remain chaste until we’re married.”
“I admire your strength of character,” Daniel said. He slipped his arms around me and pulled me close to him. “You don’t even weaken when I hold you like this, and then I kiss you like this . . .” His lips traced a line down my neck.
“That’s not fair,” I said, laughing.
He broke off, sniffing. “My, that smells good,” he said. “Are you going to invite me to stay for dinner?”
“That’s a broth I’m making for my friend Emily,” I said.
“Pity.” His face fell.
“I do believe you only want a wife so you have someone to cook for you,” I teased.
“There are other benefits of marriage, so I’m told,” he said, giving me a look that made my knees go weak. But I remained resolute. “You could take me out to dinner,” I said. “Seeing that I’ve helped you solve both your cases.”
“I certainly could,” he agreed. “And I know just the place.”
“Nothing expensive,” I reminded him.