Murder on Sisters' Row by Victoria Thompson Read Free Book Online Page A

everything that secretary person said.”
    Half an hour later, Sarah could delay her departure no longer. She left Amy with a promise to return as soon as possible. When she reached the kitchen, Beulah led her down a hallway to what she discovered was Mrs. Walker’s office, a modestly decorated room in stark contrast to the rest of the house.
    The woman sat at an elaborately carved desk, still wearing her kimono. She’d been making a list of some sort, and she looked up when Beulah brought Sarah in. When the cook had closed the door behind her, Mrs. Walker said, “Don’t believe anything that little whore told you.”

3
    “ P ARDON ME?” SARAH SAID IN SURPRISE.
    “I already told you, I always assume people are lying to me, and I’m usually right. That’s because I spend so much time with whores, Mrs. Brandt. They’ll say anything to get what they want.”
    “Amy wants her baby to be safe.”
    Mrs. Walker raised her eyebrows. “Nobody’s going to hurt it.”
    “She’s afraid you’re going to take it away.”
    She sighed impatiently. “Of course I’m going to take it away. This is no place for a baby. If men wanted to hear babies crying, they’d stay at home.”
    “Where are you going to take him?”
    “What business is it of yours?”
    Sarah clenched her fists until the fingernails bit into the skin of her palms, but somehow she managed not to scream at this horrible woman. “None, but I know what happens to abandoned babies in the city. I’d like to take him someplace where he’ll be taken care of and perhaps even adopted.”
    “You have high hopes for the little brat, don’t you?”
    “I just think he deserves a chance to survive. He didn’t choose to be born here.”
    “Nobody chooses where they’re born,” Mrs. Walker said. “A midwife should know that. How is Amy?”
    “She’s doing well. She should stay in bed for at least two weeks.” Sarah hoped the girl would be gone long before then.
    “Since she works on her back, that’s not a hardship,” Mrs. Walker said.
    Sarah felt the heat rising in her face, but she refused to let Mrs. Walker make her angry. “She shouldn’t have relations for at least two months.”
    “Two months?” Mrs. Walker echoed in outrage.
    “She could get childbed fever and die. You told me yourself she’s valuable to you.”
    “She’s not valuable if she can’t work for two months.” Mrs. Walker sighed again, this time in disgust. “All right. If you’re finished with Amy, you can go.” She turned back to her list making, but Sarah didn’t move.
    “Will you let me take the baby?”
    Mrs. Walker looked up, annoyed. “What on earth do you want him for?”
    “I told you, I want to make sure he has a chance. I know an orphanage where they’ll take good care of him.”
    “I’m not giving you any money to take him,” she warned.
    “I haven’t asked for any.”
    “Are you going to sell him?”
    “Whom would I sell him to?” Sarah asked in surprise.
    Mrs. Walker smiled unpleasantly. “Lots of people would pay to get their hands on a little baby boy.”
    “Even if that’s true, I don’t know any of them.”
    “You aren’t going to give up, are you?” Mrs. Walker asked.
    “No.”
    “All right then, you can have him. You’ll save me the trouble.” She turned back to her desk again.
    “When should I come for him?”
    Mrs. Walker’s expression turned cunning. “How long until Amy’s milk comes in good?”
    Sarah remembered what Amy had said about that and managed not to flinch. “A week.”
    “Come back when he’s a week old then.”
    “Thank you, Mrs. Walker. That’s very kind of you,” Sarah said sincerely.
    Her eyes widened in surprise, and the color rose in her pale cheeks. “I don’t mean the child any harm,” she said gruffly. “And I don’t know what she told you, but Amy has a good life here. I take care of all my girls. They get the best of everything.”
    Unless they try to leave, Sarah thought, but she said,