The Edge of Dreams (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #14)

“Oh, really? What are they up to now?” He sounded amused.

I couldn’t mention the suffragist meeting, but I said, “You remember Gus told us she had been studying the interpretation of dreams with Professor Freud in Vienna.”

“A lot of bunkum if you ask me,” he interjected.

“We’ll have to see about that. Personally I thought it made sense as Gus explained it. But anyway, she’s been asked to help a young girl who has been through a tragedy and is now having horrible nightmares.” I climbed into bed, enjoying the feel of clean sheets and a new soft mattress.

“Your friend believes she is qualified to help in such a case?” Daniel asked.

“No, she expressed the belief that she should not try to help, because she was not qualified. She intends to write to Dr. Freud to ask for his recommendations, but in the meantime the child’s guardian begged her to come. It’s a very strange and sad case, Daniel. Perhaps you’ve heard about it—one of the men in your department is handling it.” And I briefly gave him the facts as they had been told to me.

“I believe I did hear something about it,” he said. “About a month ago, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right. When Mrs. Hamilton told us the story, nobody else seemed to think it strange that the parents were both found dead in their beds, while the girl and most of the servants escaped safely. But surely that raises a red flag, doesn’t it, Daniel?”

“The investigating officer obviously thinks so. Do you know which officer is handling the case?”

“No, we weren’t told his name, but apparently he thinks the girl started the fire and then got out.”

“And you think she might have killed her parents first, and then started the fire to cover up the crime?”

“It did cross my mind, I confess. I asked if there had been an autopsy and Mrs. Hamilton got quite shirty with me. She said the bodies were charred beyond recognition, and it was quite obvious how they died. But I was wondering, what if they had been drugged or poisoned first?”

I looked up at him as he lowered the gas and climbed into bed beside me. “Is there any way you could order an autopsy?”

“I can’t interfere in another officer’s case,” he said, “and besides, they will have been buried long ago. An exhumation order is something that is never taken lightly.” He slipped an arm under my neck and drew me toward him so that my head rested on his shoulder. “You mustn’t worry at the moment, or get involved in such things, Molly. Your job is to heal.”

“But what if the police are trying to accuse this child of something she didn’t do?”

“Molly,” he whispered. “If this girl is deranged and wanted to get rid of her parents, what does it really matter whether she drugged them first or not? This is out of your league, and Gus Walcott’s as well, if you want my opinion. You should let the police do their job and stay well away.”

“But you wouldn’t object if I went to see the girl with Gus? We have been invited by the aunt. And it would satisfy my curiosity.”

“Your insatiable curiosity,” he said, stroking my hair. “But please warn your friend that she is playing with fire if she acts in the capacity of a qualified alienist when she is not. If it turns into a case of criminal insanity, she may find herself in the witness box, and she would be torn apart by a prosecuting attorney. She could even be prosecuted herself for practicing medicine without a license.”

“I think she knows that, Daniel. But we’ve been asked to meet the girl, and Gus values my opinion, so I think we should go.”

Daniel sighed. “I’m finally back in my own bedroom with my beloved wife, and all we do is talk about criminal cases. I should have opted for a young miss who embroidered samplers.”

“You’d have been bored with her in ten minutes.” I went to give him a mock slap and he caught my wrist, holding me close to him. I felt my pulse quicken at his nearness, then reminded myself rapidly about the state of my ribs.

“But it is lovely to finally be back here. I was ungrateful the last time we spoke, Daniel. You did a tremendous job and it’s all perfect. I’m so glad to be home and in bed with you beside me.”