“And was an autopsy ever conducted?”
She looked confused now. “An autopsy? Mrs. Sullivan, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law were burned to death. Their charred bodies were found lying on the iron frames of their beds. It was quite clear what killed them.”
I wonder, I thought, but did not say.
Eleven
“Well, that’s a rum do, isn’t it?” Sid asked, as she returned from escorting Mrs. Hamilton to the front door. “Poor woman. Poor child. I hope you’ll be able to help her, Gus.”
“I hope so too,” Gus said. “Now it’s come to an actual case, I’m questioning my skills and wondering if we shouldn’t write directly to Professor Freud to ask for his recommendation. He may know of a qualified alienist who is working in America.” She looked from Sid to me. “This is something really serious we’re dealing with. Not just the sanity of a young girl, but a possible criminal case. It’s not for my amusement any longer.”
Sid turned to me. “What do you think, Molly? You clearly read more into this from the beginning, with the questions you asked. You think it’s possible that Mabel killed her parents, don’t you?”
“I haven’t met the girl yet, so I can’t make a judgment on that,” I said as I rescued the sugar bowl from my overcurious son. “But I do think there is something fishy about the whole thing. The parents burned to death in their beds while the girl is found completely unharmed and apparently asleep in the garden below. It doesn’t add up, does it?” I put Liam down on the tiled floor and he promptly began to totter toward the open back door. I saw what Mrs. Hamilton had meant about boys being a handful. I leaped up and grabbed him before he could go down the step headfirst.
“I’ll tell you one thing,” I said. “There was a reason why those people didn’t leave their bed when the fire started. I’ll talk to Daniel and see if he can look into it.”
“And will you come with us when we go to see the girl?” Gus asked. “With your background as a detective you might pick up things that neither Sid nor I would find suspicious.”
“I’d very much like to,” I said. “I admit to being curious. Although it might be difficult now that Daniel’s mother is arriving.”
“Au contraire,” Sid said. “You’ll have your babysitter, and you’ll need to be shopping for the hundred and one things she’ll point out that you lack.”
I laughed. “You’re even more devious than I am. But it is true. She will be able to look after Liam—if anyone can,” I added as he squirmed to get down from my lap and almost launched himself into midair. “Speaking of which”—I stood up with him—“I had better get back to my task across the street. And I’ll need to do something about food for tonight. There’s nothing in the larder yet, and I’ve all my staples back at the apartment. Let’s hope Daniel has had time to pack and arrange for everything to be delivered. But I’ll still need something for tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s breakfast.”
“Give me a list of what you need right now,” Sid said. “I’ll pop down to Gambarelli’s and have them deliver.”
“Delivered?” I said. “Well, just this once, I suppose.” I laughed. “I better not get into the habit of having things delivered. Daniel will think I’ve picked up expensive habits in Paris.”
Then I had another thought. “Actually, why don’t I go to Gambarelli’s? It’s only just across the square. A short walk and fresh air might do me good.”
“Molly, it’s no trouble,” Sid said. “We’re here at your disposal, you know.”
“Then could I ask another big favor, and have you dust the living room before my mother-in-law arrives? She is bound to notice every particle of dust. I just tried, and the act of reaching up to dust is still quite painful for me.”
“Of course it is,” Sid said. “We’re happy to do it, and the shopping too.”
“I’m sure a short stroll will be good for me, and it’s a lovely day,” I said. “But I will take your advice and have them deliver, just this once.”
“One of us should come with you,” Gus said. “In case you suddenly feel faint.”
I smiled. “I’d rather you kept an eye on my son, if you don’t mind,” I said. “I’m sure I’ll be just fine. And if I feel wobbly on my pins, I’ll just turn around and come home.”
I put Liam down for a nap, then set out down Patchin Place. The warm sun on my shoulders felt good and I tried to breathe in the smell of Mrs. Konigsberg’s roses before another jolt of pain shot through me. I’d just have to accept the fact that I could not make myself heal quickly just by willing it. Maybe I had been foolish to go out for this walk. But as I reached the end of Patchin Place and headed for Washington Square, my confidence returned and I strode out quite briskly.