Read Online The Christening Day Murder by Lee Harris - Free Book Online Page A

anything new had come to light.
    “The coroner determined the victim was a young woman—I suppose you know that.”
    “Yes, I heard something on the news.”
    “And the sheriff’s department is trying to find out who she is by looking for old dental records. So far, they have only one dentist who’s checked, and he can’t find a match. I’m afraid if we wait for the law enforcement people to move, another thirty years may go by, so I’m going to look into it myself.”
    “Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if an amateur does better than the professionals. Do you have any idea who she was?”
    “I think she may have been someone who didn’t live in Studsburg but who worked there, like a housekeeper. I wondered if you remembered any families that had young women working for them.”
    “Interesting idea,” he said. “And there were people like that. The ones I think of first off were the Ritters. They were members of the church and they had a girl who came in to work for them a few times a week. I don’t remember her name.”
    “It was Darlene Jackson,” I said, and explained how I knew. “Can you think of anyone else?”
    “Well, let me explain something first about Studsburg. It was not a monolithic town. I’d say it was fairly evenly divided between Catholics and Protestants, although St. Mary Immaculate was the only church in town. And there were a few Jewish families as well. Except for the usual neighborly squabbles, I’d say it was a model community. But as a pastor, I knew my parishioners well, and the other townspeople much less well. There were many families I never met, so I’m probably not your best source.”
    “Did you now the Eberlings?” I asked.
    “Everyone knew them,” he said. “They had a very big house and a lot of money. Their church was in another town. J.J. published the local newspaper, and I used to see him when I went down to put in a church notice. I don’t think I ever met his family. You want to know if a young woman worked for them?”
    “Yes.”
    There was a silence. Then he said, “There was some gossip, Chris. It’s a long time ago, and I’ve never thought much of gossip. I’d feel better if you didn’t ask me about it.”
    “Sure,” I said. “Aside from the Eberlings and the Ritters, were there any others?”
    “There must have been, but I really don’t remember. I know I’m not being very helpful.”
    “But you have been, and I appreciate it. Will it trouble you if I call again?”
    “Not at all, Chris,” he said, sounding genuinely sincere. “I know I balked on the Eberlings, and I have no doubt someone will fill you in on the reason, but I want to know who that poor person buried in my church was as much as you do, and I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
    As I sat down with the paper a few minutes later, I remembered the brief exchange between the Degenkamps the afternoon we met before the baptism. Something about scandals and a sharp caution from Ellie. Henry had eased out ofit smoothly with an innocuous tale of embezzlement. Had that been a quick substitution for the Eberling scandal? I couldn’t be sure, but I knew what my first destination would be after I returned to the old town.
       I put in a full day at Arnold’s office on Friday, taking only a few minutes off to call the convent and confirm our arrangement. I had decided to drive up on Sunday, stay over one night, and return on Monday. My class was Tuesday morning, and I could decide then whether to return. The nun who answered knew who I was and said any time I arrived would be all right, and if I happened to come during evening prayers—
    “I’ll wait in the chapel,” I said.
    “We look forward to your visit, Christine.”
    During the afternoon I took some papers into Arnold’s office, and he invited me to sit down. “I hear you may not be available next week,” he opened.
    So I told him about Studsburg. Give Arnold an entrée into a legal case and he’s all ears. “Thirty