“Then answer the questions,” Malloy said, earning another glare.
“Mrs. Higgins, we just need to know if, by any chance, you were out of the house last Tuesday afternoon.”
“On a Tuesday? Not likely. That’s the day I iron. I’m here and on my feet all day.”
“Then no one could have visited Mrs. Richmond that day without you knowing it,” Sarah said.
“No, they couldn’t, but even if they had, she wasn’t at home herself that afternoon.”
Sarah glanced at Malloy and saw her own surprise mirrored on his face. “She wasn’t? Do you know where she was?”
“She don’t consult with me, you understand, but I remember particular because she acted so funny.”
“What do you mean, funny?”
“I mean strange and upset and maybe a little scared, and in an all-fired hurry, too. It started when she got the telegram.”
“A telegram? Who was it from?”
“She didn’t say, but I guess she thought it was from her daughter. We ain’t on the telephone, so when her daughter wanted to send her a message, she’d send a telegram. Waste of money, if you ask me, but I seen how her daughter dressed, so I guess she don’t care about wasting money.”
“But you don’t think this telegram was from her daughter?”
“Not unless it was real bad news. She got all white and went running upstairs, and in a few minutes she came back down with her coat on and ran out.”
“What time was this?”
“How should I know? Early afternoon, I guess. I was ironing, not watching the clock.”
“After lunch?” Sarah prodded.
“Maybe, but not long after.”
“How long was she gone?”
“Most of the afternoon. She was back for supper, but she hadn’t been here long.” The woman gave Sarah a considering look. “Say, do you know where she went? Or what was in the telegram? I been wondering.”
“No, I don’t. Do you happen to know where Mrs. Richmond is now?”
“Went to see her daughter. She got a telegram, as a matter of fact, asking her to come. They had the funeral for that Devries fellow yesterday. She went to that, too. I guess she’s trying to worm her way in over there now. Who wouldn’t?”
“I don’t suppose you happened to see the telegram in the trash,” Malloy said. “The one she got last week, I mean.”
Mrs. Higgins looked at him in surprise, as if she’d forgotten he was there. “No, she burned it.”
Sarah chose not to remark on Mrs. Higgins’ very complete knowledge of the history of the mystery telegram. “Thank you so much for your help, Mrs. Higgins,” Sarah said. “We’re very grateful.”
“I don’t know what for,” Mrs. Higgins said, preening a little.
“I guess we’d better be going, Mrs. Brandt,” Malloy said, taking Sarah’s arm, but then he looked back at the landlady again. “I wonder if you ever noticed Mrs. Richmond having a knife.”
Her eyes widened. “How’d you know about that?”
Sarah’s heart lurched in her chest. “Did you see it?”
“Well, she didn’t exactly have it hid, did she? Of course I saw it, when I went in to clean the room. Such a pretty little thing, like something out of a museum.”
“A museum?” Sarah asked.
“Yeah, it looked like one of them swords the knights used to carry in the fairy-tale books. All fancy in a little case it slipped into, only it was real small.” She held out her two forefingers about six inches apart.
Sarah exchanged a glance with Malloy, and this time
“Do we dare go back to the Devrieses’ house?” Malloy asked.
“I can go alone and just ask to see Mrs. Richmond. If she’s not there, I can leave without bothering anyone.”
“I don’t like the idea of you going alone with Mrs. Devries in the house.”
“I promise I won’t drink any whiskey while I’m there.”
Malloy ignored her jibe. “What do you think your father will want me to do about the old woman?”
“I don’t know. I’ve already instructed my mother she must tell all her friends what she did so they’ll drop her.”
“Are you sure about that? What about Paul and Garnet? Won’t they suffer just as much if people like your parents shun her?”
“Oh, dear, I hadn’t thought of that. Charging her with murder wouldn’t be much better, though. The scandal would taint the whole family forever.”
“And I can’t think of any other choices. I hope your father is wiser than I am about how to handle this.”
By mutual consent, they headed to the Third Avenue Elevated Train for the trip uptown to the Devrieses’ house. The unheated cars weren’t exactly comfortable, but at least they were out of the wind, and the duration of the trip was shortened considerably. They got off just a few blocks from the Devrieses’ house and walked over as quickly as the crowded sidewalks and clogged streets would allow.
The maid who answered the door recognized them, but she didn’t seem pleased to see them. She probably thought they’d already caused enough trouble.
“Is Mrs. Richmond here?” Sarah asked when the girl had ushered them inside.
“Mrs. Richmond?” she echoed in surprise.
“Yes, Mrs. Paul’s mother.”
“Yes, I know, but …”
“It’s a little strange to be calling on Mrs. Richmond here, I know, but we need to speak with her, and when we called at her house, they told us she was here. You don’t need to bother Mrs. Paul.”
“I wouldn’t. I mean, I thought maybe you was here to see
“Maybe I should see her after all. I’m a midwife, and—”
“Yes, ma’am, I remember. You brought her a remedy once before. Shall I tell her you’re here?”
“Yes, and tell her I’d be happy to see what I can do to ease her discomfort.”
The girl left them in the small receiving room, and the moment she was gone, Malloy was on his knees in front of the hearth.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to light the fire.” Within a few minutes, he’d struck a match to the kindling beneath the logs that had been laid at some past time but never used, and he coaxed the meager flames until they caught the wood.
Sarah hadn’t realized how chilled she was until she felt the warmth. By the time the maid returned, she was finally beginning to thaw. The girl glanced at the fire with disapproval, but she knew better than to chasten guests.
“Mrs. Paul said you can come up, Mrs. Brandt.” She glanced at Malloy, who certainly wouldn’t be welcome in Garnet’s bedroom.
“I’ll just wait here for Mrs. Brandt,” he said.
“Perhaps you could bring Mr. Malloy some coffee,” Sarah said.
The maid took Sarah upstairs and announced her. Garnet really was in her bed. Sarah hurried over to her. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t seem to keep anything down, but that’s normal, isn’t it?”
“Not really. Morning sickness—which is what they call it, even though it can happen any time of the day or night—will happen once or twice, but after you’ve thrown up, you usually feel better. Oh, no!”
“What?” Garnet pushed herself up on one elbow.
“Could Mrs. Devries have poisoned you?” Sarah could think of many reasons why the old woman might want to get rid of Garnet. “Have you eaten or drunk anything she might have put something in?”
Garnet eased herself back down and smiled slightly. “There’s no fooling you, is there? I thought I could
