Murphy's Law (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #1)

"You need to learn your way around, Bridie," he said. "Come on, you can't be a baby all your life."

I had to agree with that. She had come to a tough world. The sooner she adapted to it the better. So they went. I was left alone in the cold, dark apartment with Finbar snoring in the corner. A few more days and then I would find myself a job and a place to live. I looked around the place and wondered if I should attempt to clean it up. It could certainly use it, but would Nuala take it as an insult? Leave well alone, I told myself.

By mid-morning the children weren't back, but Finbar had awakened. I decided to go out. It might take me a while to find my way down to the gardens at the southern tip of Manhattan where I had planned to meet Michael at noon. The sky was leaden and a light snow was falling as I came out onto Cherry Street. There was a layer of slush underfoot, mixing with the debris that littered all the streets. People hurried past, bundled

against the cold. A few mangy dogs scrounged in the gutters. A horse's breath came out like steam from an engine as he trotted past pulling a large cart piled high with barrels. I tried to follow the river down to the tip of New York City and came upon a great bridge, so high and wide that it took my breath away. My, but they knew how to build things in this place. It was a strange contrast to see the towering sweep of the bridge above the dingy, dirty, squalid alleyways beneath it. I pressed on. My hands were icy now inside my cotton gloves and my face felt raw with the bleak wind. It was never as cold as this in my part of Ireland. I was already wearing my spare camisole and two pairs of drawers and they definitely weren't enough. When I earned money, I'd have to invest in warmer clothes. I glanced at the storefronts as I went past. What sort of job would I be likely to find? I knew how to keep a house clean and feed hungry males, but that was all-- apart from reading Shakespeare and writing Latin, as I'd told the inspector. But a lot of use Shakespeare was. Education was only a benefit to ladies of leisure, and it didn't look as if I'd be one of those for a while.

I heard a clock striking twelve just as I came to the little park at the tip of Manhattan. Ahead of me was an expanse of gray water with a clear view of Ellis Island and Lady

Liberty. I quickened my pace, scanning the pathways eagerly to see if Michael had arrived ahead of me. But he wasn't anywhere to be seen. The area of dying grass and skeleton trees was deserted, apart from a couple of seagulls, perched on a low wall. I hadn't realized how very anxious I was to see him again. He was my one lifeline in a city of strangers. Maybe we could make plans together. I wished there was some way we could find a place to share. I'd have welcomed his company. Of course, it wouldn't be seemly to share a room ... unless we pretended to be brother and sister, of course. Maybe I'd suggest it to him and see how he took it.

It was bitter cold out there, with the winds coming straight across the wild gray waters of the harbor. Every time I turned into the wind, it took my breath away. I stamped my feet to keep the life going in them. Hurry up, Michael, I commanded

silently. Twelve fifteen. Twelve twenty. He wasn't going to come. I felt a wave of disappointment flood through me. I had been relying so much on seeing him again. Perhaps seeing me again didn't mean as much to him. Perhaps he'd found himself a job right away this morning and was already up there, hammering away on one of the new skyscrapers. My chances of meeting him again in this city of a million people were very slim.

Cold and dejected, I turned away. All the way along South Street I kept looking back, just in case he'd come late. But the park remained deserted until it was lost from view. The cold was cutting through me like a knife. I decided to move away from the river and out of the wind. When I finally reached Cherry Street I was dreaming of a hot cup of tea and warming my hands over that kerosene stove. As I approached the building a dark form stepped out of the shadows.

"Mrs. O'Connor?"

I turned to see two men in blue uniforms standing behind me.

"Mrs. Kathleen O'Connor?" His face was expressionless. "We were on our way to find you. We must ask you to accompany us to police headquarters. Captain Sullivan would like to speak to you."

I noticed then that there was a black paddy wagon, pulled by two horses, waiting a little way down the street. As they led me to it, I was conscious of lace curtains moving, eyes watching me.

Twelve

One good thing to be said of police headquarters --it was warm. The warm air enveloped me as the police officer opened the door and ushered me inside. I was glad because I was one big shiver by now. I couldn't tell whether it was from being out in the cold so long or because I was scared. A little of both, I suppose.

"This way, please."