The Edge of Dreams(18)

“An order?” I sat up straight now. “You think you can order me around, Daniel Sullivan?”

I was staring him straight in the eye.

“You’re wanting to do field investigation on my case, and I give the orders to my team of officers,” he said. “And as your husband, I’ll do anything within my power to keep you safe.” He reached out and stroked my hair, which was hanging loose over my shoulders. “I don’t want to lose you, Molly. I nearly lost you and Liam earlier this year. I want to be able to get on with my work, knowing that you are both out of harm’s way. Don’t you understand that?”

His hand caressing my hair had a disturbing effect. All the fight evaporated from me. “I do understand, Daniel, and you’re right. It would be like offering myself as bait, and I can’t do that.” At least not yet, I added silently.

“Did I mention recently that you have lovely hair?” he said, looking at me with a sparkle of desire in his eyes. “You’re a very attractive woman.”

“Don’t get any ideas, Daniel. I’ve ribs that are all strapped up and hurt me to breathe.”

“And a minute ago you were suggesting running all over town talking to street urchins,” he said. “But don’t worry. I’ll save the thought for later, when we’re back in our own home.” He stood up. “I should be going. I haven’t had a thing to eat since God knows when.”

“I’m sure Sid and Gus could find you something.”

He shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m not in a mood for small talk and politeness. I’d rather pick up a pint and a sausage in a bar.” He bent to kiss me. “Stay put and stay safe, my love. Don’t do anything foolish. I’ll stop by in the morning with the details I promised you on the various notes and murder victims, and you can ponder them at leisure.”

“Maybe Sid and Gus would have some brilliant thoughts,” I said. “Three heads are better than one, and they are both highly educated women.”

“Oh, no, please.” Daniel held up his hand. “I must insist that you mention none of this to your friends. This is an ongoing police investigation, Molly. I am only including you this once as I feel I owe it to you to be as informed as possible. But it cannot be discussed with anyone else, especially not with your friends. It could jeopardize our operation.”

“I hardly think that anything my friends do could damage your investigation, Daniel,” I started to say, but he cut in.

“Molly, I must have your word on this. It is not to be discussed or even mentioned. Do you promise?”

“If it’s so important to you, then I suppose so,” I said grudgingly. Daniel had never really taken to Sid and Gus, thinking them to be outlandish and frivolous, which they were in some ways. But he had never come to appreciate their kindness and generosity and their great love of life that was infectious to all those around them. I looked upon them as the sisters I had never had, and I couldn’t picture life without them.

After Daniel had gone, I realized, of course, that he was right. Sid and Gus did tend to look upon detective work as an exciting game. And if they knew that someone had tried to kill me, I wouldn’t put it past them to shadow me everywhere I went. At least I knew I was safe in their house for now, and if a deranged man in New York City had really tried to derail a train to kill me, he would think I was still in the women’s ward in Roosevelt Hospital.





Six

Gus put her head around my door. “The lord and master has departed, so it seems. I heard the front door slam. I take it he was not pleased that we had sneaked you away from your hospital bed. At least that’s what we guessed from the way he came barging in and stormed up the stairs.”

I gave an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry for my husband’s rudeness, but in his defense he was more frightened than angry. He had not received the message I sent him and arrived to find my hospital bed empty and a vague rumor about my having been taken off to a private clinic. He deals with some pretty ruthless characters, as you know, and was terrified I’d been kidnapped.”

“Oh, I see. Then we’ll forgive him this time. I was about to ask him to stay for dinner.”

“I suggested you’d be able to rustle up a bite to eat for him, but he was in no mood to be sociable. He has a lot to contend with right now, Gus. A difficult case and the commissioner of police on his back.”

“He mentioned it, remember, when you came to see your house. And we volunteered your services.”

“Not much chance of anyone in the New York police inviting me to help,” I said guardedly. “Besides, in my current condition I’m not much use for anything. I was so looking forward to moving back in across the street, but now I don’t know when I’ll be able to go shopping for all the things I need to make the house habitable.”