Read Online Time of Fog and Fire: A Molly Murphy Mystery (Molly Murphy Mysteries) by Rhys Bowen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rhys Bowen
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danger. But if a trained police captain was in danger, what could I, a mere woman hampered by a small child, do to help him? And how exactly did he expect me to help him? It was extremely puzzling. If he needed help, surely there were other policemen he could call upon in a big city like San Francisco. Or he could telegraph Mr. Wilkie and have another agent sent to him. The more these worried thoughts flew around inside my head, the more I questioned whether I had misinterpreted the letter and would be making a stupid mistake by going out West. There had been upheavals in my life. I had been in danger myself and undertaken great journeys, but I don’t think I had ever felt as sick or as scared as at that moment.
Eight
There was no sense in putting it off. I started to pack the valise. I had no idea what the weather was like in San Francisco. If Daniel was in a sea of fog, it could well be cold. So I made sure I included a shawl for myself and a warm jacket and hat for Liam. Daniel’s letter said he was staying in a mansion. I stood with my wardrobe door open, staring at the dresses hanging there. Two of them were evening gowns. Would I need such a dress if I were to fit in with fashionable San Francisco society? But that would necessitate bringing a bigger suitcase with me. Maybe even my cabin trunk. And if I was only there a few days, that that would seem to be superfluous. Then I reasoned that Daniel had written that letter from a mansion. If he were staying there, then I too would be invited to stay. And I didn’t want to let my husband down by appearing dowdy and poorly dressed. And small children needed frequent changes of clothes.
So I sighed, went up to the attic, and dragged down the cabin trunk I had taken when we went to Paris. Then I packed the evening gown and the rose silk day dress in tissue paper, as well as my evening cape. For travel I would wear something more sturdy—the dark-blue two-piece costume I had had made in Paris last year, and my overcoat in case the weather was cold along the way. The trunk was then filled with Liam’s clothes and diapers. I was glad that potty training was well under way as it would mean less accidents and less laundry. But who knew whether he would go back to more babyish ways when he was far from home on a long journey?
After I closed the trunk and dragged it down the stairs I packed a carpetbag for the train. I expected the trunk would travel in the luggage van and I wouldn’t be able to get at it until we arrived in San Francisco. To our nightclothes and toiletries I added his favorite toys—some blocks, a little wooden train, as well as the stuffed bear he slept with. Then I stood looking at the pile of luggage and couldn’t bring myself to move. Should I try to catch this evening’s train, or wait one more day, just in case?
Just in case what? I demanded of myself. Don’t put it off. If you’re going, go.
I waited expectantly for the mailman, just in case another letter arrived saying: Forget everything I told you yesterday. All is now well. Or something along those lines. But the mailman passed by without putting anything into my letter box. When Bridie came home from school I told her the plan. She looked at me with big eyes, obviously scared by this sudden turn of events.
“How long will you be gone?” she asked.
“I really don’t know, my darling girl. Not long, I hope. But Miss Walcott and Miss Goldfarb will take good care of you. You know that.”
She nodded. “I know they will. But I was thinking about you. How will you manage with Liam on your own? You know he likes me to sing him to sleep. And I make him laugh when he’s in a bad mood. I could come with you if you like.”
“I know you’re a marvel with him,” I said. “But your schooling is more important right now. I don’t want you to miss your lessons. So you stay here and study hard and the ladies have said you can read the books in their library … and you know how many
Eight
There was no sense in putting it off. I started to pack the valise. I had no idea what the weather was like in San Francisco. If Daniel was in a sea of fog, it could well be cold. So I made sure I included a shawl for myself and a warm jacket and hat for Liam. Daniel’s letter said he was staying in a mansion. I stood with my wardrobe door open, staring at the dresses hanging there. Two of them were evening gowns. Would I need such a dress if I were to fit in with fashionable San Francisco society? But that would necessitate bringing a bigger suitcase with me. Maybe even my cabin trunk. And if I was only there a few days, that that would seem to be superfluous. Then I reasoned that Daniel had written that letter from a mansion. If he were staying there, then I too would be invited to stay. And I didn’t want to let my husband down by appearing dowdy and poorly dressed. And small children needed frequent changes of clothes.
So I sighed, went up to the attic, and dragged down the cabin trunk I had taken when we went to Paris. Then I packed the evening gown and the rose silk day dress in tissue paper, as well as my evening cape. For travel I would wear something more sturdy—the dark-blue two-piece costume I had had made in Paris last year, and my overcoat in case the weather was cold along the way. The trunk was then filled with Liam’s clothes and diapers. I was glad that potty training was well under way as it would mean less accidents and less laundry. But who knew whether he would go back to more babyish ways when he was far from home on a long journey?
After I closed the trunk and dragged it down the stairs I packed a carpetbag for the train. I expected the trunk would travel in the luggage van and I wouldn’t be able to get at it until we arrived in San Francisco. To our nightclothes and toiletries I added his favorite toys—some blocks, a little wooden train, as well as the stuffed bear he slept with. Then I stood looking at the pile of luggage and couldn’t bring myself to move. Should I try to catch this evening’s train, or wait one more day, just in case?
Just in case what? I demanded of myself. Don’t put it off. If you’re going, go.
I waited expectantly for the mailman, just in case another letter arrived saying: Forget everything I told you yesterday. All is now well. Or something along those lines. But the mailman passed by without putting anything into my letter box. When Bridie came home from school I told her the plan. She looked at me with big eyes, obviously scared by this sudden turn of events.
“How long will you be gone?” she asked.
“I really don’t know, my darling girl. Not long, I hope. But Miss Walcott and Miss Goldfarb will take good care of you. You know that.”
She nodded. “I know they will. But I was thinking about you. How will you manage with Liam on your own? You know he likes me to sing him to sleep. And I make him laugh when he’s in a bad mood. I could come with you if you like.”
“I know you’re a marvel with him,” I said. “But your schooling is more important right now. I don’t want you to miss your lessons. So you stay here and study hard and the ladies have said you can read the books in their library … and you know how many
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