Chapter 1 #2
The new neighborhood of town houses and homes was modern, with paved streets and walkways and every modern convenience built in.
It was not overly large, nothing to compare to Shellington, but she did not need nor want it to be.
Mr. Turnbull, the Shellington coachman for several decades, had come with them and settled in the rooms she furnished above the carriage house, but otherwise there were mostly new staff, including her butler, Mr. Oliver, a cook, and three maids to manage the cleaning, laundry, and help in the kitchen when necessary.
She still had not hired a secretary, which she must do soon as her mail was piling up in the small office off the dining room.
For now, Mr. Oliver was managing the invitations and some correspondence.
“This room turned out so beautiful! I just love it,” Colleen said. “The dark blue-and-pink fabric and curtains are perfect.”
“How are your rooms coming along?”
“Just fine. I do so appreciate having a separate sitting room when you are not in need of me.”
Virginia smiled. “We’ve discussed this, Colleen. You are no longer a maid. You’re a companion and are entitled to your own time to shop or entertain or visit the library or whatever you’d like to do.”
“I can’t help but feel that I’ll be shirking my duties somehow,” she said with a glance to Virginia. “I would never want you to feel as though I wasn’t attentive to what you need.”
“I need a friend and a companion, and you have always been those for me. You fulfill all sorts of duties in my absence, including some of the work with the charities I’m involved with. Your salary is worth every penny to me.”
“I was so fortunate to be hired on as your maid shortly after Mrs. Wiest passed away. My life has been exciting and fulfilling, and I’ve been able to save a nest egg with your father’s advice. And now this! I feel like we are starting a brand-new chapter! Independent women on their own!”
Virginia laughed. “Agreed! It does feel very much like we’re finally adults!”
They both turned when they heard a knock at the front door.
“This isn’t like Shellington, where we would never know we had a visitor until Mr. Smith came for us,” Virginia said. Mr. Oliver came to the door.
“You have a visitor, Miss Wiest. Miss Sarah Brown,” he said.
“Oh! Show her in right away, and can you see about a tea tray for us? Thank you, Mr. Oliver.”
Sarah Brown hurried into the room a moment later. The look on her face told Virginia this was not a casual visit. “Sarah! What is it?”
Colleen took her by the arm and led her to the sofa and sat down beside her. “Would you prefer to wait until Mr. Oliver has returned with the tea tray?”
Sarah shook her head. “I don’t care who hears. Do you remember Timothy Sweitzinger? Phillip’s friend who is on the Baltimore police force?”
“Yes, of course,” Virginia said. “I’ve met him on a few occasions and danced with him last spring at the dance at Minehew’s Barn. Colleen did as well. Has something happened to him?”
Sarah nodded, and tears filled her eyes. Mr. Oliver arrived then with the tea tray, and they waited until he had retreated to bring their attention back to Sarah while Colleen served the tea.
“What has happened?” Virginia asked.
“He’s been charged with murder!”
“Murder!” Colleen said. “I can hardly believe it!”
“I don’t believe it,” Virginia said. “At all. Does your brother know?”
“One of Timothy’s men came to the house to get Phillip. It was near sunup, and the two of them hurried out the door. I don’t know anything else! Phillip hasn’t been home, and there’s no one to ask!”
“Oh dear. Do you think he’s home yet? You did say he’s been gone since early this morning. Let’s go back to your house and wait for him,” Virginia said and stood to pull the bell. “Mr. Oliver, would you please ask Mr. Turnbull to bring the carriage to the front? I’d like to go to Wolfe Street.”
“Right away, miss.”
Phillip lingered outside Station House Five and spoke to as many of the officers who came out of the building as possible, trying to piece together what had occurred. Danny Hendricks came out near five in the evening.
“Danny,” Phillip said. “I need to talk to Timothy.”
Hendricks looked around and leaned close. “He’s getting transferred to Station Ten some time tonight.”
“I’ll never get past Bender once he’s at Ten. I’ve got to talk to him tonight.”
“Let me see what I can do.”
Phillip watched him go back inside and leaned against the brick building behind him. It wasn’t long before he heard the door open again. But it wasn’t Hendricks. Instead, it was Captain Murphy.
“I don’t need to have you out here interviewing my officers!
We’ve got a man accused of murder in custody, and I intend to follow the law,” he shouted.
Phillip could see others glancing their direction and nodded as Murphy continued his diatribe.
But just as he started to the door of the station house, Murphy leaned close. “Go to the back entrance. Right now.”
Phillip hurried away but turned a quick corner and went down the alley behind the station.
He went past some stablemen spreading feed for the horses and some brushing their animals down.
He hurried down the two steps and turned the handle on the door.
It opened smoothly, and he stepped inside.
The stone floor was swept clean alongside the barred cells.
The air was cool and the light dim. All was silent, other than the sounds of someone farther down the row, retching.