“Of course not,” Sarah said, but she wondered if that might happen. Was Mr. Van Orner as desperate for a child as his wife had been? Would he accept Amy to claim her boy somehow? And had Amy gotten rid of Mrs. Van Orner to make all of this possible?
“Mrs. Spratt-Williams, I’m so sorry for what Amy said to you about arguing with Mrs. Van Orner. I’m sure she was making it all up, all that about overhearing secrets. She’s always looking for ways to make other people feel bad.”
“Don’t think anything of it. The only secret I have is my age, and I assure you, Amy doesn’t know it.”
The three women smiled, although Miss Yingling’s was strained.
Mrs. Spratt-Williams asked about the funeral arrangements, and Miss Yingling told them the service had been delayed because the coroner still had Mrs. Van Orner’s body. They had scheduled it for Tuesday.
After they’d run out of things to talk about, Sarah and Mrs. Spratt-Williams took their leave.
Out on the street, Sarah and her companion strolled back toward Fifth Avenue, where they could find a cab. Sarah would be heading the opposite direction this time, anxious to get home to her family and some normalcy.
“Thank you for coming with me, Mrs. Brandt.”
“I’m glad you suggested it. What an unusual situation.”
“Exactly what I was thinking.”
“What do you suppose Mr. Van Orner is going to do?”
“I have no idea, but he can’t imagine he can marry that creature, even if he thinks the child is his. He’d be shunned by everyone he knows.”
“I doubt his friends would look too kindly on his keeping a mistress in the home he’d shared with his wife either,” Sarah said.
“I’m sure someone will talk sense to him once people begin to realize the situation. He may just be in shock right now, after all that’s happened.”
Sarah doubted this, but she wasn’t going to argue the point. “I hate to ask this, but have you given any more thought to Rahab’s Daughters?”
“I have indeed. We can’t allow Vivian’s work to die with her. She would have hated that. I will be honored to step into her place as leader of the organization. I intend to approach everyone who has been involved with the charity and ask them to continue their support. We’ll need funds, first of all. Vivian provided the majority of that, so the need will be much greater than before. I should also go see Miss Biafore and assure her they will not be forgotten.”
“I know she would appreciate that. She was very worried when I saw her.”
“I’ll go right after church tomorrow. Mrs. Brandt, I hope you will continue your association with Rahab’s Daughters.”
“I have limited resources, I’m afraid, but I’ll be glad to contribute my widow’s mite.”
“And can we count on you to help us with rescues in the future?”
“I’m afraid the nature of my work makes me unreliable, but anytime I’m able to help, I certainly will.”
“You’re very kind.” Mrs. Spratt-Williams looked oddly relieved, as if a burden had been lifted since they’d left her house earlier today. They’d reached Fifth Avenue. She hailed a cab rumbling by and took her leave. Sarah wished her well.
SARAH LAY AWAKE PART OF SATURDAY NIGHT, GOING OVER what she knew about Amy Cunningham. She needed to share this new information with Malloy as soon as possible. She was sure he would chasten her for choosing someone as the killer simply because she didn’t like her. In the past, she’d also been guilty of refusing to see the evidence against a killer whom she did like. He would probably tell her that’s why they didn’t allow women to be detectives. Still, the evidence against Amy was compelling, and Malloy would need to know it.
Sarah, Maeve, and Catherine enjoyed the rare opportunity to attend church together, then came home to the meal Maeve prepared. Sarah was trying to think of something they could do together that afternoon when the front doorbell rang.
Maeve and Catherine moaned, thinking it was a client summoning Sarah to a delivery, but they were all delighted to discover Frank Malloy and his son, Brian, on their doorstep. At four years of age, Brian was a little younger than Catherine, although no one was exactly sure how old Catherine was. Brian was a handsome lad with red hair and bright blue eyes. He had been born deaf, and was attending a special school, where he was learning to speak by making signs with his hands.
At the sight of the girls, Brian’s hands started flying.
“What’s he saying?” Sarah asked.
Malloy chuckled. “I have no idea.”
“Aren’t you learning the signs, too?”
“I know a few, but he’s going way too fast for me.” Malloy tapped Brian on the shoulder to get his attention, then made a few slow, simple signs to him. “I told him to go play,” he said to Maeve.
Catherine clapped her hands in delight and started up the stairs at a run. Brian didn’t hesitate an instant, following at her heels. Maeve followed more sedately, as befitted her position as an adult.
“I’m so glad you came,” Sarah said when they were alone in the entrance hall. She couldn’t help smiling. She was simply too happy to see him. “Catherine’s been asking me when she’d see Brian again.”
“My mother needed a day of rest. She’s not getting any younger, and I know it’s hard for her taking Brian back and forth from school every day.”
“Did she know where you were taking him?”
“No.” He returned her smile. Mrs. Malloy didn’t approve of his friendship with Mrs. Brandt.
“Come and have some coffee. There’s some cake for later, too.”
“Mrs. Ellsworth?” Sarah’s neighbor often brought them desserts.
“Oh, no, Maeve and Catherine made this one themselves. They’re getting very good. I have some news for you, too, about Vivian Van Orner’s murder.”
“What?”
“It’ll keep for a few more minutes,” she teased.
Malloy followed her into the kitchen and took a seat at the freshly scrubbed table while Sarah made the coffee and set it on the stove to boil. Then she sat down opposite him at the table. How often had they sat just like this, talking about such important things? It felt entirely too natural.
“I found Amy,” she said.
“You did? Where is she?”
“At Van Orner’s house.”
His surprise was almost funny. “Van Orner? How many women does he have there now?”
“Not counting his maids? Just the two, Tamar Yingling and Amy Cunningham. That’s her last name.”
“Just
“Something like that, although I’m not positive she actually sashayed.”
Malloy didn’t smile. He was still too stunned. “I suppose you discovered this when you and your mother went to visit Van Orner.”
“Yes, against your advice, I might add. Look at what we would have missed if we’d listened to you.” Malloy just glared. She ignored him. “I don’t think Van Orner intended for us to know Amy was there. I asked to see Miss Yingling, and he sent for her. Amy must have thought she and Van Orner were meeting alone or something. She came barging into the front parlor barefooted in her dressing gown.”
“Your mother must have loved that,” he said with a grin, imagining the scene.
“Oh, she did. I managed to get Amy alone for a few minutes. I asked to see the baby, and she took me upstairs. She told me Van Orner is going to hire a nurse for him and in general gave me the impression she’s there to stay.”
Malloy gave a low whistle.
