Mercy Street Read Online Free PDF

exasperated breath. “Plus, one of my best detectives, Catherine Pawley, left on maternity leave three weeks ago, so I’m down to two and right now they’re both a bit busy. I got a new hire, but he isn’t starting for another week yet.”
    “Guess the number of candidates for promotion from the ranks is pretty slim.”
    “Not funny, Mal.”
    “It wasn’t meant to be.” Mallory chewed a cuticle. “It could be a challenge for me just to get my hands on a copy of the police report, depending on who’s working the desk when I make the request.”
    “I can get that for you.”
    “Oh, swell, let’s start that talk up all over again, shall we?”
    “No one who knows you—no one who matters—believed any of that crap.”
    “Enough believed it to make my life a living hell.”
    When he didn’t respond, she added, “I know you mean well, and I appreciate your thinking of me. But no one in that department will give me the time of day.”
    “I’ll put the request for copies of the reports and the statements in Father Burch’s name.”
    “And won’t that give him confidence in me? That his private investigator can’t even get a report from the same department she worked for for nine years?”
    “It would if you told him what really happened.”
    “I’d appreciate it if you’d put that story to bed once and for all. I’ve tried to put it all behind me, thank you very much. I don’t see any reason to relive what was the worst time in my life.”
    “How ’bout we do this: I’ll get everything you’ll need and I’ll drop it off at your house on my way home from work. You can meet with the priest after you’ve reviewed the file.”
    “I’m sorry, did I say I was going to do this? I don’t remember saying that I would do this.”
    “Just look over the material, Mal. Just take a look and if you don’t want to take on the job, give Father Burch a call and let him know.” Joe paused. “Though I’d really be interested in hearing your take on the case. I think once you start looking into it, you’re going to be hooked.”
    “I’m not licensed to work as a PI, Joe. I couldn’t take this if I wanted to.”
    “Getting a license is not going to be a problem for you. Nine distinguished years as a detective—”
    She snorted.
    Joe ignored her. “—and you know your references will be the highest. Me, the DA…hell, even the mayor. You had a lot of admirers, Mal.”
    “And some who didn’t admire me at all,” she reminded him.
    “So don’t ask them for a reference. I think you only need five.”
    “I have no idea what I need.”
    “So you’ll find out.”
    “I cannot think of one good reason why I should do this.”
    “I can think of two.” Joe sounded unexpectedly cheerful. “One, because it’s a really complicated case, and that always gets you going. It’s what you do best. And two, because until you sell that book on the Preston case, you probably need the income.”
    “Income didn’t come up. We didn’t talk about money, but I’m sure I’m not likely to get rich off what this priest is going to be able to pay.”
    “Didn’t he tell you?” Now Drabyak sounded flat-out amused.
    “Tell me what?”
    “Father Burch isn’t footing the bill. His cousin is.”
    “And his cousin is what, the monsignor?”
    “Robert Magellan.”
    There was a notable pause.
    “Robert Magellan, super-rich guy? Mogul? The one whose wife and baby disappeared last year? That Robert Magellan?”
    “Yes.”
    “What’s his connection?”
    “Magellan and Father Burch are more like brothers than cousins. And I’m sure he told you that the boy is his parish secretary’s grandson.”
    “Not hard to connect those dots.”
    “So why don’t you think about it and let Father Burch know by tomorrow afternoon if you’re going to take the job or if he should look for someone else.”
    “All right.” Mallory sighed. “But I’ll come into the station today and get the report myself.”
    “Are you sure