Murder on Marble Row by Victoria Thompson Page B

the information to frighten Alberta, to get her to tell us everything she knows.”
    Frank felt a familiar tightening behind his eyes, the first symptom of the headache Sarah Brandt frequently gave him. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger and got hold of his temper before replying. “Mrs. Brandt, you keep using the word ‘we,’ but I believe I already made it clear that you are not to be involved in this case.”
    â€œYou told me to stay away from this house because it might explode,” she reminded him. “I don’t think I’ll be in much danger going downtown to see Creighton Van Dyke.”
    â€œYou are not going into a den of anarchists!” he said, forgetting not to shout this time.
    She didn’t even blink. “Creighton was my partner in dancing class when we were children, and I’ll be bringing him a message from his sister. He has no reason to harm me.”
    He wanted to shake some sense into her, but he knew that wouldn’t do any good. Her head was like a block of marble. “You aren’t going, and that’s final.”
    â€œHow will you find him, then?” she asked, pretending concern.
    â€œI’ll get his sister to tell me where he is.”
    She shook her head. “She won’t tell you a thing, and if you try to make her, she’ll cry and scream and even faint, and Lilly Van Dyke will have you thrown out, and you’ll never be able to ask anyone in this house another question. She’ll probably even ask Teddy to take you off the case, and you’d be disgraced.”
    Fury turned his face hot. He hated it when she was right. He hated it even more when she tricked him into getting her way. He said the only thing he could to salvage his pride. “Then you’re not going down there alone . I’m going with you.”
    â€œOf course you are,” she said, surprising him all over again.
    He had to clear his throat because it was all clogged with the arguments he was going to use to convince her. “We should go right away, before he has a chance to disappear.”
    â€œThat’s just what I was thinking.”
    Before he could blink, she opened the door to the study and went out into the hall. Once again he was left to follow.
    Frank had thought they might get away unnoticed, but the parlor door opened just as they passed, and Sarah’s mother stepped out, followed by a tall, distinguished-looking gentleman in a clerical collar.
    Mrs. Decker didn’t look pleased to see Frank and her daughter together, and Frank couldn’t blame her. “Sarah, you remember Reverend Carstens, don’t you?” she said, ignoring Frank. He didn’t mind. He’d already met the man when he first came in.
    Sarah and the minister exchanged greetings and remarked on how terrible the tragedy was. He asked after Alberta Van Dyke, and Sarah told him she was too ill at the moment for visitors. After a few more minutes of meaningless conversation, he took his leave.
    The moment he was out of earshot, Mrs. Decker said, “Is Alberta seriously ill? Should we call a doctor in?”
    â€œNo, that won’t be necessary,” Sarah said diplomatically, “but she really isn’t up to seeing anyone at the moment. She needs some rest. The next few days will be difficult.”
    â€œThey certainly will.” Mrs. Decker looked at Frank, her eyes dark with concern. “Are you finished here?”
    â€œNo, but I have to leave for a while. I’ll be back tomorrow to finish questioning the servants.”
    â€œI can’t imagine why you’re wasting your time here when he was killed at his office,” she said with a frown.
    â€œMother, Mr. Malloy knows what he’s doing,” Sarah said to his surprise. “The explosion may have happened at his office, but the killer probably came from someplace else entirely.”
    â€œDo you honestly think someone here did