what’s what. There ain’t no way this side of Hades that Inspector Nivens is goin’ to tell us one darned thing.” She fixed her gaze on the housekeeper. “Do you reckon you can suss out who the killer is without the information we get from the police?”
“I don’t know,” Mrs. Jeffries admitted honestly. “You’re right, of course, Inspector Nivens would never in a million years share anything he learned with us.”
“And that ain’t all,” Luty continued. “With Betsy and Smythe gone, we’re shorthanded. That’s somethin’ else we’ve got to consider.”
“Madam, are you suggesting we’re not up to the task?” Hatchet folded his arms over his chest and stared hard at his employer.
“’Course we’re up to it,” Luty shot back. “I’m just pointin’ out that it might not go as fast or as smooth as other times, especially as it seems like Hepzibah and her sister-in-law don’t much like each other.”
Everyone was used to Luty’s blunt manner, but nonetheless, there was a moment of stunned silence. Then Phyllis giggled, and a second later, everyone else, including Mrs. Jeffries, joined in the laughter.
“You’re right, Luty,” Mrs. Jeffries said. “We don’t much like one another, but for my late husband’s sake, I’m going to try my best to help her. However, everything you’ve pointed out is true. This will be a very, very difficult case, and I won’t hold it against anyone if they wish to bow out.”
Everyone spoke at once.
“’Course we’re not bowin’ out,” Wiggins cried.
“I should think not,” Mrs. Goodge exclaimed.
“Working for justice is what we do,” Ruth declared.
“We ain’t givin’ up just because this one might be harder than the others,” Luty said fiercely.
“Really, Mrs. Jeffries, do you think we’d ignore our duty simply because it might be difficult?” Hatchet sniffed disapprovingly.
Everyone fell silent, and then Phyllis said, “At first I was scared to help out because I was afraid of losing my job and I didn’t think I could do it. But then I saw that I could. What’s more, I realized that what we was really doing wasn’t so much as catching the guilty as it was protecting the innocent.” She stopped and stared at the faces around the table. “That’s what is really important. All of you have kept the police from arresting innocent people just so they could get the murder off the front pages of the newspapers. There’ve been times in my life when I wish there had been people like you about—times when me and my lot needed someone to protect us and there was no one there. That’s why I’ll do anything you ask of me, no matter how scared it makes me.”
For a moment, the room was quiet except for the faint ticking of the clock. Each and every one of them was deeply touched. The maid had come to them beaten down by life and so grateful to have a roof over her head that she wouldn’t say “boo” to a goose. She was still fearful, but despite that, she was willing to get out in the world and try to help others.
“Thank you, Phyllis.” Mrs. Jeffries smiled kindly at her. “We’re glad you feel that way, and we all understandhow difficult it sometimes is to put the interests of justice over our own survival.”
Phyllis shyly returned the smile and reached for her teacup.
“Now, as we’re all agreed we want to move forward, there are some very practical matters to consider,” Mrs. Jeffries said.
“You’re right about that.” Mrs. Goodge sighed. “We’ll not have anyone inside the police helpin’ us.”
“Maybe that ain’t so.” Luty tapped her finger on the tabletop. “Can’t we see if Constable Barnes will give us a hand?”
“That’s an idea,” Mrs. Jeffries replied. “But he’s not on the case—”
Luty interrupted. “That don’t matter. Barnes has been a copper long enough to know how to finagle the system. Even if he ain’t on the case, he can probably pick up enough information to lend us a
“I don’t know,” Mrs. Jeffries admitted honestly. “You’re right, of course, Inspector Nivens would never in a million years share anything he learned with us.”
“And that ain’t all,” Luty continued. “With Betsy and Smythe gone, we’re shorthanded. That’s somethin’ else we’ve got to consider.”
“Madam, are you suggesting we’re not up to the task?” Hatchet folded his arms over his chest and stared hard at his employer.
“’Course we’re up to it,” Luty shot back. “I’m just pointin’ out that it might not go as fast or as smooth as other times, especially as it seems like Hepzibah and her sister-in-law don’t much like each other.”
Everyone was used to Luty’s blunt manner, but nonetheless, there was a moment of stunned silence. Then Phyllis giggled, and a second later, everyone else, including Mrs. Jeffries, joined in the laughter.
“You’re right, Luty,” Mrs. Jeffries said. “We don’t much like one another, but for my late husband’s sake, I’m going to try my best to help her. However, everything you’ve pointed out is true. This will be a very, very difficult case, and I won’t hold it against anyone if they wish to bow out.”
Everyone spoke at once.
“’Course we’re not bowin’ out,” Wiggins cried.
“I should think not,” Mrs. Goodge exclaimed.
“Working for justice is what we do,” Ruth declared.
“We ain’t givin’ up just because this one might be harder than the others,” Luty said fiercely.
“Really, Mrs. Jeffries, do you think we’d ignore our duty simply because it might be difficult?” Hatchet sniffed disapprovingly.
Everyone fell silent, and then Phyllis said, “At first I was scared to help out because I was afraid of losing my job and I didn’t think I could do it. But then I saw that I could. What’s more, I realized that what we was really doing wasn’t so much as catching the guilty as it was protecting the innocent.” She stopped and stared at the faces around the table. “That’s what is really important. All of you have kept the police from arresting innocent people just so they could get the murder off the front pages of the newspapers. There’ve been times in my life when I wish there had been people like you about—times when me and my lot needed someone to protect us and there was no one there. That’s why I’ll do anything you ask of me, no matter how scared it makes me.”
For a moment, the room was quiet except for the faint ticking of the clock. Each and every one of them was deeply touched. The maid had come to them beaten down by life and so grateful to have a roof over her head that she wouldn’t say “boo” to a goose. She was still fearful, but despite that, she was willing to get out in the world and try to help others.
“Thank you, Phyllis.” Mrs. Jeffries smiled kindly at her. “We’re glad you feel that way, and we all understandhow difficult it sometimes is to put the interests of justice over our own survival.”
Phyllis shyly returned the smile and reached for her teacup.
“Now, as we’re all agreed we want to move forward, there are some very practical matters to consider,” Mrs. Jeffries said.
“You’re right about that.” Mrs. Goodge sighed. “We’ll not have anyone inside the police helpin’ us.”
“Maybe that ain’t so.” Luty tapped her finger on the tabletop. “Can’t we see if Constable Barnes will give us a hand?”
“That’s an idea,” Mrs. Jeffries replied. “But he’s not on the case—”
Luty interrupted. “That don’t matter. Barnes has been a copper long enough to know how to finagle the system. Even if he ain’t on the case, he can probably pick up enough information to lend us a
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