Unbidden, Nico’s fervent and sudden handclasp replayed in her mind, how it had shocked her senses in a way she had not anticipated. Inez shoved the green dress aside. She did not want to wear something next to her skin that had borne witness to past volatile passions. A dress of midnight blue beckoned.
“This one,” she said to herself. As Carmella had pointed out earlier, her six-month period of half-mourning for her “dear and departed” husband was over. The dark blue princess-style dress was an appropriate choice. Soothing, calm in its coloration, with a touch of gold for warmth and ivory lace on the three-quarters-length sleeves, it would complement her olive complexion and brunette hair. The square neckline was not daring, yet reasonably stylish for an exclusive private party at the Palace Hotel. The gown was not the latest fashion, but then who would expect her to be dressed à la mode? Certainly not Nico.
With this dress, she would not glitter, but neither would she fade into the shadows.
Inez gathered the necessary accouterments from the trunk’s drawers: shoes, stockings, gloves, brooch, a fan, petticoat, camisole, satin-covered corset, two gold bangles for her wrist, a satin-and-cashmere manteau to wear over all. She carried the lot to her bedroom, arranged the dress and the rest on the coverlet, and stepped back to survey her ensemble. Satisfied it was complete and she would not be racing around at the last moment searching for forgotten items, Inez checked her pocket watch. Downstairs, the door slammed.
She met Antonia in the kitchen. Antonia seemed surprised. “You’re here!”
“I said I would be.”
Antonia nodded, looking unconvinced.
Inez continued, “We shall have to take dinner early.”
“Why?”
“I have several things I must take care of this evening.”
“Like what?” Antonia dropped her book bag on the kitchen table, sat in the kitchen chair, and pulled off her bonnet and spectacles.
“I am going to talk to someone about Jamie’s union involvement. I’m not certain if I’ll gain any useful information, but we cannot afford to leave any stone unturned. Later tonight, I am to attend a concert at the Palace Hotel given by a man who had no great love for Mr. Monroe.”
“There’s only a few days to figure out what happened, right?” A note of anxiety crept into Antonia’s voice.
Inez tried to sound reassuring. “That is what Mr. Gallagher indicated before he left, but he was grieving and most likely did not mean everything he said. Perhaps when he returns he will be more inclined to listen to reason. After all, it is a tall order to try to find the perpetrator of such a crime, and none of us are professionals in this respect.”
“Mr. Brown is,” said Antonia. “He’s a finder of the lost. It says so on his card. If the killer is hiding, he’ll find him.”
“If Mr. de Bruijn weren’t currently recovering from his unfortunate expedition to Chinatown, that might be true. But he will not be able to help for a while.”
“What about Frisco Flo, uh, Mrs. Sweet? Isn’t she looking for the killer, too?”
“Supposedly,” said Inez.
Antonia stared at her. “So, it’s just you. You’re the one who’s got to figure it all out in time to tell Mr. Gallagher when he comes back to town.”
Inez didn’t reply.
Antonia sighed and bent down to unbutton her boots. “At least Mr. Brown knows John Hee didn’t do it.”
Inez kept de Bruijn’s reservations about John Hee to herself. “By the way, I visited Mr. de Bruijn this morning. He is improving. The doctor says he must rest for now.”
Antonia nodded, obviously not listening.
“What is it, Antonia?”
She looked up. “Will Mr. Gallagher really be able to ruin our lives? Make us leave again and start over somewhere else?” A narrow furrow of worry divided her brows.
Inez pondered how to respond. She finally decided to be as truthful as possible without causing alarm. “I don’t know. He moves among the well-to-do and high society set. Men such as he wield a certain power that comes with wealth and position. But what are we to people such as they? I think the danger lies in Mr. Donato deciding I am a liability to the business.” Or to his reputation. “Should it come to that, I shall do my utmost to convince him otherwise.” The memory of Nico’s warm fingers on hers rose, unbidden. An answering heat flowed outward from the pit of her stomach, sending a flush to her face and a tingle to her fingertips.
She shook her head, irritated with her traitorous body. “I am pursuing a couple of lines of inquiry which may yield useful information. If we can demonstrate to Mr. Gallagher we have done our utmost on his behalf, he may be satisfied and willing to turn to the police for assistance in solving the mystery of his son’s death. But enough of ifs, perhaps, and maybes. We must leave for Mrs. Nolan’s and convince her to feed us an early dinner.”
Mrs. Nolan was nonplussed to have her usually tardy boarders actually arrive to sup before the dining hour. Her ruffled feathers were soothed by copious apologies from Inez and grateful exclamations over the cold mutton and ham, cornbread, and stewed fruit she put before them. She popped out of the kitchen as they were finishing to say, “Well now, I’m just sorry you won’t be around for the rice pudding I’m making for dessert.”
Antonia dropped her fork on her plate and looked pleadingly at Inez.
Inez asked her, “Do you want to stay and wait for dessert? You’ll need to walk back on your own.”
“It’s not far. I’ll be careful,” Antonia promised. “And I won’t go through Chinatown, I promise.”
“Well! I should hope you would not!” said the scandalized Mrs. Nolan. “That is no place for a proper young girl such as yourself or for any proper person of any age.
