The Family Way (Molly Murphy, #12)

As she went Gus asked, “And? Who was he? Did she run off to be with him?”


“Quite the opposite,” I said. “Her employer, Mr. Mainwaring, had his way with her, as they say. He had a lecherous eye and apparently couldn’t keep his hands off the servants. They wanted that poor girl to give them her child as they had no child of their own. They’d adopt it and she would be hired back as its nurse. Imagine her dilemma—wanting to be close to her baby, but not wanting that monster to get his hands on her again.”

“There is no justice in this world for women,” Sid said angrily. “Why should a woman be shunned by society and condemned for her act if she gives birth to an illegitimate child, even if she was forced, against her will? And the man walks away, whistling merrily.”

“When we have the vote you must run for Congress, Sid,” Gus said. “You’ll be able to change things.”

“Maybe,” Sid said, “but go on with your story, Molly. You went back to the convent and they dragged you inside and imprisoned you?”

“No, I confess that I behaved as usual without thinking clearly. Too impetuous by half, my mother always said. Too hotheaded.” I grinned. “I pretended to be a wayward girl and got myself admitted. I sensed that Maureen had never left the place and I was right. One of the nuns had killed her and hidden her body in another nun’s coffin.”

“God Almighty,” Sid said.

“Killed her, what on earth for?” Gus asked.

“I don’t know exactly what happened but she changed her mind at the last minute and wanted to keep her child. Sister Jerome was privately making good money from placing babies with suitable families—essentially selling babies to childless couples. I think Maureen threatened to spill the beans if she wasn’t allowed to leave and Sister Jerome couldn’t have that happen.” I stopped, staring out at the peaceful scene in front of us—the broad river, flowing lazily past and in the distance a sailing ship. Already the convent seemed like a bad dream.

“So let me get this straight,” Sid said. “You admitted yourself to that convent, knowing that at least one girl had already been killed? Are you out of your mind, woman? What in heaven’s name possessed you?”

I shrugged. “I didn’t think I’d be in any danger. I thought I could snoop around and then say that I’d changed my mind and wanted to leave again. What I didn’t count on was that Sister Jerome had had a particular request for a red-haired baby. There was no way she was going to let me leave.”

“At least she wouldn’t have killed you, then,” Gus said.

I was about to answer when that whole scene on the chapel steps replayed itself in my head. In all the excitement that had followed I had struck that memory from my mind. Now it came back to me with full force and I realized: I had literally been one inch away from falling to my death. I kept silent.

“So how did you manage to escape?” Gus went on.

“The truth came out. We found Maureen’s body.”

“So you solved the whole thing by yourself?”

“I suppose so,” I agreed.

“Molly being brilliant as usual,” Gus said proudly. “And what happened to your evil nun? Has she been dragged away in chains?”

“She had an accident. When I left she was dying,” I said.

Sid was looking at me critically. “I can see there is more to this than Molly is willing to tell,” she said. “But the only thing I can say to you, Molly Murphy Sullivan, is this: don’t you ever do something as stupid as this again, do you hear me? Because if you try then Gus and I will personally lock you up in our attic until you see sense.”

I started to laugh. She laughed too and gave me a big bear-hug embrace.

“Here’s your handkerchief.” Bridie came in just as I was wiping away tears. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Are you sad?”

“Never happier,” I said. “I’m safely back among friends. What could be better.”

“And tomorrow we’re taking you back to your mother-in-law where nothing can happen to you other than a surfeit of jam making,” Gus said.

“Oh, no.” I shook my head firmly. “I have to get back to the city and tell Daniel…”

“You’re going to confess all this nonsense to Daniel? Are you quite mad, woman?” Sid demanded.

“I’m not going to tell him the actual details, but I think I’ve found out something that will help him with his investigation. Before Sister Jerome died she said that she had been sending money to aid the Republican cause in Ireland. Now it seems to me that the only person with whom she would have contact outside the convent would be her sister, who is also a nun but works in the Lower East Side. In fact I think I passed her sister in a carriage on the road when I was staying with Mrs. Sullivan.”

“So you think her sister would be handing the money to the Republican Brotherhood?”