Murder On Waverly Place

tomorrow that I can use if things get out of hand.”

“What?”

Maeve frowned. “I’m not exactly sure. He tried to explain it to me, but it sounded more like one of Serafina’s seance tricks than something the police would use.”

“Is it a weapon?”

“No, it’s a light of some kind, but it has a battery, so you don’t need a match to light it.”

Sarah wasn’t sure how a light could help if something went wrong, but she supposed it wouldn’t hurt. “What do the police use it for?”

“I think they use it at night. Some fellow invented it, but nobody wanted to buy it, so he gave some to the police. Mr. Malloy said the beat cops who work at night like it.”

“I guess they would appreciate having a light now and then,” Sarah allowed. She waited a moment, to see if Maeve had anything to add. Then she asked, “What do you think of Serafina?”

Maeve’s expression turned wary. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure what I mean, but Mr. Malloy asked me to find out what you thought of her. Do you think she can really contact the spirits?”

“I don’t believe in spirits, but I think she does. Or maybe she’s just a very good actor.”

“So she hasn’t said anything to you to make you think she’s a fake?”

“Oh, no,” Maeve assured her. “She’s real proud of her powers, and she wants everyone to believe they’re real. But there’s one thing…”

“What?” Sarah prodded when she hesitated.

“Have you noticed, she doesn’t seem real sad about that Nicola dying. It’s almost like she forgot about it as soon as she got back here.”

Sarah considered. “I hadn’t thought about it, but you’re right. She was nearly hysterical at the morgue this morning, but I guess that’s understandable. It’s a horrible place. It’s true, she hasn’t seemed to be grieving, but people sometimes behave strangely when someone dies. Maybe she’s still in shock.”

“Or maybe she didn’t like him all that much,” Maeve said.

“I hadn’t thought of that. Still, they were lovers. She must have cared about him a little.”

“Or only a little. I asked her what was going to happen to him now, and she seemed surprised, like she hadn’t even thought about it. When my grandfather died, that’s the first thing I wanted to know, where was he going to be buried.”

“You’ve never talked about your family before,” Sarah said in surprise. She hadn’t wanted to press her for fear of bringing up unpleasant memories, but now that Maeve herself had opened the subject, Sarah found she was curious to learn as much as she could about this girl who had become her friend.

Maeve’s gaze shifted away and darted around the room, as if she couldn’t quite bring herself to look Sarah in the eye. “I didn’t want you to think less of me.”

“Oh, Maeve, nothing about your family could ever make me think less of you. I told you before, you’re part of my family now, and nothing will ever change that.”

Maeve looked down at where her hands rested on the tabletop. “Even if they were crooks?”

“Even if you were a crook yourself,” Sarah assured her.

She looked up in surprise at that. “I can pick pockets,” she confessed suddenly. “But I don’t do that anymore. Not unless I have to, that is.”

Sarah couldn’t help smiling at the strange confession. “Of course not.”

Maeve rolled her eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, if I needed to help Mr. Malloy or something.”

“I understand. How long ago did your grandfather die?” Sarah asked to change the subject.

Maeve’s expression grew wary again. “Almost two years ago.”

Sarah heard something in her voice, something that begged her to continue, even though good manners forbade her to pry. “How did he die?”

“He was… murdered.”

“Oh, Maeve,” Sarah cried, reaching out to cover the girl’s hands with her own. “I’m so sorry!”

But Maeve just stared back at her, dry-eyed. “Remember when you were telling us about the Green Goods Game?”

“Yes,” she said cautiously.

“That was his game. He played the Old Gentleman.”

Sarah didn’t know what to say to that.

“Mrs. Gittings was right about it, too. It can be dangerous,” Maeve continued. “And not just when a mark gets suspicious.”

“A mark?”

“A sucker, the ones who come to buy the green goods. Sometimes the operators argue among themselves. That’s what happened. One of them thought Grandpap was cheating him. He wasn’t, Mrs. Brandt. I swear he wasn’t!”

“Of course he wasn’t,” Sarah said. “I’m so sorry you lost him. Was he your only family?”

“He was all I had left. My father… I never knew him at all. He ran off before I was born, and my mother died when I was twelve. Grandpap, he always took care of both of us.”

“I’m sure he did. Was that when you came to the Mission, after he died?” Sarah had first met Maeve when she was living at the Prodigal Son Mission, a refuge for young girls with no place to go.

“Yes, and I was so grateful. Grandpap had some money put away, but it wouldn’t have lasted forever, and a girl alone… Well, people will do terrible things if you don’t have somebody to look out for you.”

Sarah nodded, understanding only too well the terrible things that could have happened to her. “You did the right thing, going to the Mission, even though that wasn’t such a safe place after all.”

“It was always safe for me,” she reminded Sarah. “And I met you there, and Catherine.”

“I’m very glad you did. And I’m also glad you trusted me enough to tell me about your family.”

“You really don’t mind?” Maeve asked, still uncertain.

“Not at all. I only care about the person you are today, and you are a good person, Maeve.”

“I am, aren’t I?” she asked in surprise.

“Yes, you are. And I want you to be very careful tomorrow. Catherine needs you and I need you.”

Maeve’s eyes misted a bit. “Don’t worry about me. Nothing’s going to happen. And maybe I’ll get to talk to Grandpap,” she added with a grin.

Sarah grinned back. “I’m sure if you mention it to Serafina, she’ll manage to contact him.”

“Oh, I’m not going to make it easy for her. She’s already been asking me about my family and if there’s someone I want to ask a question.”

“What did you tell her?” Sarah asked in surprise.

“Nothing true,” Maeve replied with another grin. “She’ll just have to find out from the spirits.”

15

THE NEXT MORNING, AS SOON AS BREAKFAST WAS OVER, Mrs. Ellsworth came to take Catherine. The two of them were going to the market and then were going to bake something very special at Mrs. Ellsworth’s house while everyone else attended the seance on Waverly Place.

Mrs. Decker’s carriage arrived soon after Mrs. Ellsworth and Catherine had left, and Sarah followed Maeve and Serafina out and climbed in behind them. Serafina was once again dressed in her flowing black gown, but her expression was more determined than Sarah had ever seen it.

“Maeve,” Mrs. Decker said when they were settling themselves. “You look lovely.”

Maeve blushed prettily at the compliment. Sarah had searched her closet to make sure Maeve’s outfit marked her as someone Mrs. Felix Decker would know. They had decided she would be Mrs. Decker’s niece, and she looked every bit the part in a suit Sarah hadn’t worn in a while and a hat her mother had given her but which Sarah had judged too fancy for her life as a midwife. Maeve touched the hat self-consciously and Mrs. Decker nodded her