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

“We’ll find out more soon. My husband is looking into it today.” I stood up, ready to take my leave. “I’ll make sure you are informed as soon as the police know any more.”


I thanked her then and came out into chilly autumn rain. If Edward Deveraux had killed Mabel’s parents, had she seen him? Had he seen her? In which case, why had he not killed her too?

*

I was so excited by what I had discovered that I had to find Daniel right away. I forced my way onto a crowded El train, oblivious for once to the ache in my side, then disembarked at Canal Street and ran all the way to Mulberry Street.

“Captain Sullivan,” I gasped to the young constable manning the front desk. “I have to speak with Captain Sullivan right away. It’s urgent.”

“He’s upstairs in his office, ma’am,” he said, “but I don’t think that at this moment…”

I never heard the end of the sentence, as I was already running up the stairs. I think he called out behind me but I didn’t stop. I opened the frosted glass door to Daniel’s office and burst in. He was sitting at his desk and swiveled around, startled.

“Daniel, I’ve got it.” I gasped, hardly able to get the words out. “The pieces to the puzzle. They all fit. I had to come and tell you right away.”

“Molly, you can’t just come barging in here to share minute household details, however thrilled you are with them,” he said in a horribly patronizing tone. “I have work to do, and as it happens, I’m in the middle of an important meeting right now.”

I looked around then and noticed for the first time a distinguished older man, not wearing a police uniform but a well-cut suit, sitting behind the door. Daniel turned to address him. “I’m really sorry, sir. My wife doesn’t usually intrude in this manner. She’s been quite upset since our home was burned down in the spring, as you can imagine, and is now able to be optimistic for the first time as she refurnishes our house.” Daniel stood up and took my arm. “Let me escort you downstairs again, my dear, and I’ll look forward to hearing all the details of your exciting shopping expedition when I get home.”

He shot the man a look befitting an exasperated husband as he led me firmly out into the hall, then propelled me rapidly down the stairs and out into the street. I said nothing, but my anger reached boiling point as we came out into the open air, the rain now falling harder.

“How dare you humiliate me like that,” I burst out as soon as we were outside. “Why did you have to treat me as if I was a simpering imbecile, when I’ve only come because I have vital information that will solve your apparently unsolvable case.”

“I’m sorry, Molly,” he said, his voice scarcely louder than a whisper, “but that was the assistant commissioner. He is no fonder of me than his superior, for the same reason—because I am not under the thumb of Tammany Hall, and can’t be bought. They would both love to find an excuse to demote me or remove me, and discovering that my wife was working on a major crime would do the trick beautifully for them.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “That’s the reason for the charade up there. I had to make him think … well, you know.”

“That I was an ordinary housewife whose interests didn’t stretch beyond decorating fabrics for new pillows?” I demanded, still not quite able to quieten my disgust.

“Exactly. I was in the middle of being grilled.”

“About the case? Then you can march back in triumphantly and tell them that it’s all but solved. Daniel, I went to see Miss Willis again…”

“You went to question her without asking me first?” His voice now had a sharp edge to it.

“I had to. It was a matter of urgency. Besides, it’s a free country, isn’t it? I can visit anyone I want on a social call.”

“I suppose you can, but…” he started to say, but I cut him off.

“And she made me start to see that everything ties in to Edward Deveraux. He felt betrayed because she had to testify at his trial. As did Terrence Daughtery, and the judge at that trial was Judge Ellingham, and listen to this—Edward was obsessed with Susan Hamilton, and may even have tried to molest her. Don’t you see? It’s just a question of catching Edward Deveraux again.”

“Not quite as simple as that,” Daniel said.

“What do you mean?”

“Molly, I went to see Marcus Deveraux this morning as you suggested, and he told me that his brother is dead.”





Twenty-nine

I stared at him blankly for a second, then shook my head. “Edward can’t be dead. He’s clever, Daniel. His tutor said he has a brilliant brain. He would have faked his death and then escaped. He would have fooled them, just as he’s fooled you for so long.”