“Don’t think about that for now. As I said, we can supply you with linens and dishes enough to keep you going. Then you can choose your own at leisure.”
“You’re always so kind,” I said.
“Nonsense. You and Liam are the closest thing we have to family these days.” She plumped up the pillow on my bed, not wanting to betray emotion. “Do you want anything more to eat, or maybe a glass of milk to help you sleep?”
“Nothing, thank you. I always sleep so well in your house.”
“Sid has some wonderful sleeping powders if you need one,” Gus said. “You might find the pain in your ribs wakes you up during the night. Why don’t you take one tonight, just to be sure?”
“I want to hear Liam if he cries,” I said. “He’s been through the same traumatic event as I have. He might well have nightmares about it.”
“We’ll listen for Liam,” she said. “And we’ll come and wake you if he’s inconsolable. I’ll bring you the sleeping draft, all right?”
“All right,” I agreed.
She soon returned with the promised cocktail. “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite,” Gus whispered as I drained the glass. I lowered myself onto the pillows as Gus turned out the electric light.
* * *
The next thing I knew I heard Liam crying and woke with a start to find birds chirping outside my window and the sky streaked with early-dawn light. I had slept a dreamless night and felt clearheaded and ready for anything, although I still experienced twinges of pain as I tried to sit up, and more pain as I lifted Liam from his bed, indicating that I wasn’t ready to be on my own yet. When I went to change him I realized, of course, that his clothes were all back at the apartment, and I didn’t want to ask either Sid or Gus to make the journey to the Upper West Side. Maybe Daniel would have time to fetch what we needed later in the day.
I need not have worried. Sid sat beside me, as I fed Liam a boiled egg, with a notebook and pencil in her hand. “Now,” she said. “List of what you need. Your clothes. Liam’s clothes and the door key.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” I said. “Daniel can…”
“Daniel’s involved in a tricky case. We know that,” Sid said. “How much trouble is it to collect a few clothes?”
“But the El won’t be operating, after yesterday’s crash.”
“So I’ll take a cab. More pleasant anyway.”
“But expensive.”
“Don’t be silly.” Sid patted my hand as if I was a child. “Where do I find the key?”
I directed her to my purse. An alarm was sounding inside my head. If someone was watching my apartment building he might be able to follow Sid to this house. Then I told myself I was worrying too much. She’d be in a cab. He wouldn’t be able to follow. And besides, why would he be watching our building? He’d think I was still in the hospital. And if he found out I’d left, he’d think I was in an undisclosed private clinic.
Sid departed. I played with Liam and kept an ear open for Daniel. He didn’t come all morning, but then I’d learned that I could never count on his appearing when he said he would. Sid returned with bags of clothing, and I had just gone upstairs to change my clothes when Daniel arrived.
“She’s just getting dressed,” I heard Sid say. “I’ve been to your apartment to bring clothes for her and Liam.”
“Oh, it was you. Thank God,” he said. “I went to the apartment myself and was told by the caretaker that someone had just been there. You had me worried.”
“Worried that someone might have broken into your apartment?” Sid asked. “You’re not still afraid that the Italian gang is out to destroy you, are you? I thought that matter was all settled.”
“No, nothing like that,” I heard him say as he came up the stairs. “I thought Molly might have been foolish enough to have attempted the journey herself.”
“No, she’s been resting like a good girl,” Sid said. She tapped on my door. “Molly, dear, are you decent? I’ve a young man to see you.”
Daniel came in, saw me sitting at the vanity putting pins into my hair, and nodded with satisfaction. “Well, you’re certainly looking much better,” he said. “Well rested?”
“Perfectly, thank you. And it feels good to be in clean clothes. Did Sid tell you she was kind enough to go and retrieve some of our things?” I wasn’t going to let him know I had overheard the whole conversation and the worry in his voice.
“Yes, she did. Mrs. Heffernan gave me a shock when she said someone had been up to our place. I thought for a moment…” He broke off, then managed a smile as he came across the room to me.