Read Online Murder on Fifth Avenue: A Gaslight Mystery by Victoria Thompson - Free Book Online Page B

with…difficult cases. When someone refuses to move out, for instance. We rarely have that situation,” Pitt hastened to explain to Frank. “Most people, when they can’t pay the rent, they stay as long as they possibly can, until they can’t put us off any longer, and when we come back the next day, they’ve vanished. They’re embarrassed, you see. Or afraid we’ll get the law on them or something. Many of them are from countries where the authorities are worse than the criminals.”
    Frank had often thought that was true in New York City, too, but he didn’t say so. “Sometimes they don’t vanish, though.”
    “Yes, and then…Well, it’s foolish to put our employeesin danger. People like that can be unpredictable and…well, dangerous.”
    “And that’s when Mr. Angotti helps you.”
    “Yes. Mr. Angotti enjoys…respect,” he said, choosing the word with obvious care. “When people learn he is involved, they usually behave reasonably.”
    Frank nodded, comprehending the situation only too well. “Why would Mr. Devries have gone to see this Angotti?”
    Pitt suddenly looked very uncomfortable, and he glanced at Watkins as if for guidance.
    “What is it, Pitt?” Watkins asked.
    “I…I had no idea Mr. Devries knew Mr. Angotti.”
    “And yet he did,” Frank said.
    Pitt’s gaze shifted to Frank but didn’t quite meet his before it darted away again. “I can’t imagine how he would. Mr. Angotti…Well, he isn’t the kind of person a man like Mr. Devries would know, is he?”
    “I don’t know what kind of people Mr. Devries might know,” Frank said, “but he did know Angotti. Did you introduce them?”
    The color drained from Pitt’s face. “Certainly not! Mr. Devries would never ask me for an introduction to anyone.”
    But Frank would have sworn that Devries had done just that, however much Pitt didn’t want to admit it. The question was, did he not want to admit it in front of Watkins or in front of Frank?
    “There you have it, Mr. Malloy,” Watkins was saying. “You must be mistaken about this Angotti fellow knowing Mr. Devries.”
    “How can I get in touch with this Angotti?” Frank asked Pitt.
    Pitt’s hands were shaking now. He clasped them tightly together to hide it. “Why would you want to do that?”
    “What do you care?”
    Pitt glanced at Watkins again but received no assistance from that quarter. “I wouldn’t want Mr. Angotti to become offended. He might…He might begin to work against us in the community.”
    “You mean he might burn down your buildings?” Frank asked.
    Pitt blinked several times. “I just meant he might refuse to help us in the future.”
    “I’m sure if you continue to pay for his services, he will continue to help,” Watkins said. “Those people all have their price.”
    Pitt flushed. “May I go now, Mr. Watkins? I’m very busy.”
    “Yes, yes, of course. Thank you for your assistance.”
    Frank didn’t thank him because he hadn’t been that helpful. He hadn’t even told Frank where to find Angotti.
    Which gave him a good excuse to see Pitt again before he left.
    S ARAH WATCHED IN FASCINATION AS G ARNET D EVRIES’S expression smoothed out again, all trace of the emotion that had caused her to glare so murderously at her mother-in-law vanquished. Whatever she felt about her in-laws, her face now revealed none of it. She turned a bland smile to Sarah.
    “I don’t think we’ve met before, Mrs. Brandt.”
    “No, we haven’t. I don’t move in the same social circles as my mother.”
    “Sarah hasn’t been in society for years now,” Mrs. Devries said. “Ever since she married.”
    Sarah didn’t even glance at Mrs. Devries, not wanting to give the impression she was ashamed of not wasting her lifeas a society matron. “I married a physician, and I’ve been very happy in my new life.”
    “I know your parents were disappointed that you refused to return home after your husband died,” Mrs. Devries said.
    Sarah sensed her mother