Tell Me, Pretty Maiden (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #7)

“There are lost girls aplenty in New York—girls who have run away for one reason or another.”


I shook my head. “Not this girl. She was nicely dressed. She was wearing delicate little evening shoes.”

“Then let us hope that your friend can assist us,” he said. “And as to the advertisement in the newspapers, I will be happy to take that chore upon myself. I find her case most interesting, and most challenging.”

I saw then that scientists and ordinary folk like myself saw things very differently. I was worried about the girl. Dr. Birnbaum saw her as a challenge.

He gave a little bow. “I bid you good day, Miss Murphy. Let us stay in touch, ja?”

As I opened the front door I saw a figure standing outside, arm raised and about to knock. I gave a little gasp of horror, then recognized Daniel, swathed in the scarf again.

“You nearly scared the living daylights out of me,” I said, laughing.

“Sorry, I suppose I do look a little intimidating,” Daniel said and was about to come into my house when he saw Dr. Birnbaum standing in the hallway. “What’s this, Molly?” he asked.

“You mean who is this, surely,” I said.

“I mean a gentleman caller at this hour with you still in your night attire,” he said in a cold voice.

I laughed again. “Oh Daniel, don’t be so silly. This is my friend Dr. Birnbaum from Vienna. He is an alienist, Daniel. He agreed to look at the poor girl in hospital and came around specially to report on his findings.”

“I see.” Daniel’s voice was still expressionless.

“Dr. Birnbaum. May I present Captain Sullivan,” I said formally. “Captain Sullivan, Dr. Birnbaum.”

Daniel extended a hand but Birnbaum clicked his heels and bowed, making for a rather embarrassing moment.

“I will take my leave then, Miss Murphy,” Dr. Birnbaum said, putting his homburg back on his head. “You will let me know if your friend has any news.”

“I will. And thank you.” I escorted him to the door and closed it behind him to find Daniel still glaring at me.

“Molly, have you no sense of propriety?” he demanded. “You let strangers into the house dressed like that?”

“As to that, Daniel Sullivan, this robe reveals no more of my body than any dress would and the man is a doctor. He has presumably examined plenty of females clad in considerably less than I am wearing. And for your information, I only opened the door because I thought it was Sid and Gus coming back from the bakery with rolls. Now are you satisfied?”

“I suppose so,” he said grudgingly. “So what news did your German friend have about the girl?”

“That she is as capable of speech as you or I, and that some great trauma has robbed her of her wits. He believes he can restore her to sanity through hypnosis.”

“Really? Well, that’s good news, isn’t it?”

“It would be but they may not keep her in the hospital much longer. If her next of kin is not found, she’ll be shipped off to the insane asylum.”

“Dear God.”

“As you say. I’m going to do all I can to prevent that from happening.”

“And what can you do, pray?”

“Dr. Birnbaum is placing advertisements in the papers and I’m going to see your colleague Mrs. Goodwin. She can find out if any reports of missing girls fit her description.”

“Good thinking,” he said. “Oh wonderful. You’ve just made tea.”

I poured him a cup and he sat, cradling it in his hands.

“So I see your pneumonia is already on the mend,” I said sweetly.

“Don’t mock. Yesterday I felt terrible. Now I will admit that it has turned into no more than the usual grippe.”

“Did you have to stand out in the elements until the early hours again?”

“Fortunately, no. Mr. Roth had an early night. His lights went out at ten. Mercifully, I went home to bed. I think we can probably conclude this case, don’t you, Molly? You can report that the young man is wholesome enough to marry anyone’s daughter.”

“There’s one more aspect of the case that I haven’t yet managed to investigate properly,” I said. “His business and financial transactions. No bank or businessman will discuss such things with a woman.”

“Of course not.” Daniel nodded. Before I could respond to this typically male insult he went on, “And you’re right. That is something I can do easily. And during the daylight hours without getting chilled to the marrow. So what about your new assignment—did you encounter the ghost?” He looked up, smiling.

“As a matter of fact we did,” I said. “At least somebody or something caused a horrible disruption during the play last night. The wind machine was turned on and blew over scenery. One poor girl’s dress was set on fire. There was absolute panic.”