Oh Danny Boy (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #5)

“I thought you’d become a Buddhist, Ryan,” I said. “And oysters are certainly living creatures when you swallow them.”


“Oh dear, Molly, you are right. What was I thinking?” Ryan put his hand to his face in a mock expression of horror. “Let me amend. Sipping champagne and eating a nice ripe French cheese with crusty bread. One is allowed to eat cheese, is one not?”

“I believe cheese is allowed,” Sid answered, smiling.

“Then what are we waiting for? Let us make haste to the deli before they close. Now which wineshop keeps champagne on ice?”

“For someone who hasn’t worked for a couple of months, you seem remarkably flush,” I said.

Ryan had the grace to blush. “One’s friends are so generous,” he said. “And dear Fritz does so like his champagne.”

As usual Ryan had latched onto a new friend with the money to keep him in the style to which he’d become accustomed. As the others rushed around the house in a frenzy of excitement, I was caught up in it. How long since I had shared a picnic with friends or listened to a good band? It would be good for me and help me to forget my present worries for a while.

Miraculously I survived the evening well. I even enjoyed the ripe cheese and crusty bread that Ryan had promised, followed by such sinful items as grapes and figs. The champagne, sipped slowly, also seemed to have a calmative effect on my stomach, so that I lay back against my pillows, content for once, watching the stars come out over the city skyline. It wasn’t until we were walking back to the park entrance amid the crush of people that I remembered I had a mission. I fell into place beside Dr. Birnbaum.

“I wonder if there is any way that you could take me with you when you visit the police officers on Monday,” I said in a low voice.

“My dear Miss Murphy!” He looked startled. “I don’t think that would be at all proper. The most unpleasant subjects will be discussed.”

“It’s for a case I’m working on,” I said. “Details of this East Side Ripper might turn out to be important to getting—my client—out of jail. I promise I won’t interfere. Could I not be your assistant, or one of your students from the university in Vienna?”

“I suppose…if it were that important to you,” he looked at me long and hard. “You are working on a case that involves the East Side Ripper? Surely that is no job for a woman to be tackling.”

“A dear friend is in jail, falsely accused,” I said. “I’m doing everything I can to get him released.”

“He is suspected of being the Ripper?” Birnbaum eyed me warily.

“No, he was the police officer in charge of that case. It has been suggested that perhaps somebody wanted to make sure the case was not solved quickly.”

“Fascinating.” He nodded. “But could you not speak with his fellow officers yourself, whenever you wished, rather than this pretence?”

I shook my head. “Someone has spread false rumors about him. His fellow officers have turned against him. And those who haven’t, don’t wish to risk their own careers by speaking out. This is a perfect chance for me, Dr. Birnbaum. If you take me with you, I promise I won’t do anything stupid or let you down in any way.”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t, Miss Murphy. I was impressed by you when I met you at Senator Flynn’s. It is against my better judgment, but I’m prepared, on this occasion, to call you my assistant.”

“Thank you!” I beamed at him. “I’m tempted to give you a hug, but I don’t want people getting the wrong idea.”

“I hope you’ll feel just as grateful after what might be a harrowing experience.”

“I hope so, too,” I said.

We reached the entrance to the park and the crowd streamed away in all directions, making for omnibuses and trolleys. Ryan and Birnbaum were perfect hosts and insisted on taking us home in a cab and escorting us to our front doors. Thus the evening ended without sharing my secret with Sid and Gus. And the more I thought about it, the less keen I was on making this confession. First, I’d prove Daniel innocent and set him free, then I’d be able to make decisions about my future.





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