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

I opened my purse and took out my notebook, tearing out a page. “Look, I’ll write you a note, saying that her family arrived in the nick of time to collect her. That’s all they cared about in there, you know. The hospital didn’t want to be stuck with a destitute girl.”


I started to scribble. It wasn’t easy with the girl clinging to my arm. When I had finished writing I reached into my purse. I just happened to have a dollar bill in it. I handed it to him with the note. “And this is to thank you for your trouble,” I said.

He glanced at the dollar then up at me. I could see the wheels turning inside his head. Would he get into trouble if it got out that he was accepting a bribe?

While he was thinking, I undid the last of the straps that held her legs. She tried to stand but she was too weak. Besides, she was only wearing a flannel nightgown and she was barefoot. I took the blanket from the gurney and wrapped it around her shoulders.

“Can you lift her down for me? I’ll borrow the wheelchair until I can find a cab.”

He did so and I pushed her off at a great rate, before he could change his mind. Then I flagged down a passing cab and had the cabbie lift her inside. She clutched at my hand as the cab took off. It was the second time in one day that someone had squeezed my hand almost hard enough to break it.

“What have I done now?” I said out loud.





The cabbie was a good sort and helped me carry the girl to my house. I opened the front door and got her inside, placing her in my one armchair. Then, of course, I had no idea what to do next. I was due at the theater any minute and I couldn’t risk leaving her alone. She was staring at me with frightened eyes.

“You’ll be just fine now,” I said, stroking her hair. “You’re safe with me. I’ll make us a nice cup of tea.”

As soon as I put the kettle on the stove, I ran across the street and hammered on Sid and Gus’s door, praying that they would be home. They were.

“Molly, my sweet. We’re just in the middle of our Japanese lesson,” Gus said. “I can now say ‘Do you like chrysanthemums’ in Japanese. Most useful when we go there, don’t you think?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I desperately need your help,” I said. I tried to explain what I had done but the words just spilled out in a jumble.

“Hold on a moment.” Sid raised her hand. “Calm down, Molly. We can’t make head or tail of what you are saying. Are you trying to tell us that you kidnapped someone?”

“A girl,” I said. “The girl I found in the snow. She still can’t speak and they were going to send her to the lunatic asylum. So what else could I do? I pretended to be her sister and whisked her here. But now I’m due at the theater in a few minutes and I simply can’t leave her alone, so I wondered if you’d keep an eye on her until I get back.”

Sid looked at Gus and gave a dramatic sigh. “Life is never dull when you are around, is it Molly, my sweet?”

“I’m so sorry. I know I acted rashly, but I couldn’t let that poor girl go to Ward’s Island, could I? I’ve heard what those places are like.”

“No, I suppose you did the only thing you could,” Sid said. “But what now, Molly? What if she never recovers? What if she turns out to be a violent lunatic? What if you never trace her family?”

“Dr. Birnbaum will work with her. He’s promised to do so. I know he’ll restore her speech and her sanity. I just know it,” I said, trying not to let my own doubts show. “And with loving care and good food, she’ll be as right as rain.”

“I hope so,” Sid said. “Well, you know you can count on us. It will be a challenge to help to break through her silence, won’t it, Gus? And you know how we love challenges.”

She gave me an encouraging smile. Somewhere in the distance I heard a clock striking the hour of four.

“The only thing is that right now I’m in a terrible rush,” I said. “I’m due onstage at the theater soon.”

“Onstage? At the theater?” Now they really looked interested.

“It’s too complicated to explain now. Another assignment. Come over and let me introduce you to the girl, if you don’t mind. I don’t know her name but I’m calling her Mary, because it’s hard not calling her anything.”

I brought Sid and Gus into my living room. The girl started with fear when she saw them, but she didn’t attempt to move, staring at them wide-eyed as they came toward her. They crouched beside her, stroking her hands and talking gently until I saw the fear leave her face. I made a pot of tea and handed her a cup. She looked puzzled, but then took a tentative sip. Soon she was drinking with gusto.

“I’ll be back soon,” I said, in the hope that she could understand me. “Until then you’re in good hands with these ladies.”

Then I rushed out, already late for my costume fitting at the theater.