Murder on Fifth Avenue: A Gaslight Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

the door. “I’m sure Elizabeth will call on you as soon as she hears the news.”
    Frank wished he could talk to Decker’s wife, Elizabeth, before she made that call. She had once assisted him on an investigation, and surely she could learn some useful information on this one if he told her what to ask. Unfortunately, Decker had no idea his wife had been involved in a murder case, and Frank wasn’t going to be the one to tell him.
    Paul rang for the maid again to show him out.
    “Mr. Malloy can walk out with me and wait downstairs for the valet,” Decker said.
    Frank thanked them for their help, although they hadn’t helped him at all, and followed Decker out. He had the feeling Decker wanted a minute alone with him, but when they reached the front hallway, a man who could only be the valet Roderick was already waiting.
    Decker took his hat from the maid and turned to Frank. “I’ll look forward to hearing from you.”
    Frank figured he would.
    S ARAH B RANDT WAS ENJOYING A RARE DAY AT HOME. AS A midwife, she had to be available night or day to go on a delivery, but no babies had seen fit to enter the world today, leaving her free to enjoy her foster daughter, Catherine. Her mother had also stopped by for a visit, although Sarah knew she had mostly come to see Catherine, who filled her need to have a grandchild.
    They were all in the child’s bedroom, sipping make-believe tea from a tiny china set, when the front doorbell rang.
    Catherine’s bottom lip immediately popped into a pout.
    “I’ll answer it.” Her nursemaid, Maeve, jumped up from her place on the floor. “Maybe it’s not a birth. Maybe it’s Mr. Malloy,” she added with a wicked grin. Catherine clapped her hands and Sarah smiled. The child adored Frank Malloy.
    “Have you seen Mr. Malloy lately?” Mrs. Decker asked from where she sat on Catherine’s bed.
    Sarah wasn’t fooled by her mother’s seemingly innocent question. “No, not lately.” She pushed herself up from the floor. Whoever was at the door would probably want to see her even if they didn’t need her for a delivery.
    A man’s voice rumbled below.
    “Heavens, that sounds like your father,” Mrs. Decker said.
    “What would he be doing here?” Sarah couldn’t remember the last time her father had been to her modest home. Surely not since her husband, Tom, died, over four years ago.
    “Maybe he’s looking for me. Oh, dear, I hope nothing bad has happened. Sarah, you really should get a telephone. You have no idea how convenient they are.”
    “And you have no idea how expensive they are, Mother.” Sarah left the room with her mother and Catherine close behind. From the stair landing she caught Maeve looking up, her expression mirroring her own astonishment.
    “Father, what a nice surprise.”
    “I hope it is.” He blinked. “Elizabeth, I didn’t know you were here.”
    “You didn’t? We thought you might have come looking for me.”
    “No, I…I needed to speak with Sarah, but I’m glad you’re here. It will save me having to tell it twice.”
    Sarah felt a tug as Catherine peered from behind her skirts. “Darling, you remember Mr. Decker, don’t you?”
    The child nodded.
    “I’m very pleased to see you again, Catherine,” he said. “I believe you’ve grown since I saw you last.”
    Catherine looked up at Sarah.
    “I believe she has.” Sarah couldn’t blame Catherine for not answering. Her father spent his life intimidating his own business associates. Even when he was trying to be charming, he could seem frightening to a child.
    “Should I take Catherine upstairs, Mrs. Brandt?” Maeve asked.
    “Yes, please.”
    “We won’t be long, I’m sure,” Mrs. Decker said with a smile that held all the warmth her husband’s did not. “Then I’ll be back to finish our tea party.”
    Sarah saw her father’s eyebrows rise, but he said nothing as his wife stroked Catherine’s smooth cheek before Maeve took the child’s hand and led her back up the