he’d one day control, now with a brother to care for.
He shook off those morose memories as their little group reached the main salon.
“Are you all right?” Justine said out of the side of her mouth.
“Fine.”
She paused and lingered on his face, watching him. “Would you prefer to wait downstairs?”
“And leave you here alone? Absolutely not.”
Now in the room, she put a hand up to block her mouth and dropped her voice. “It’s a room full of women, Mulligan. I think I’ll be safe.”
He’d heard numerous stories over the years that might point to the contrary, but he didn’t mention as much. Instead, he marveled at her concern. For him. When was the last time someone had worried about him? His throat tightened and he cleared it, shoving away any pesky tenderness. “Stop coddling me and get to your questioning.”
“You know, if you weren’t smiling right now, I might take offense to being ordered around.”
“Ladies,” Polly was saying. “This is Mr. Mulligan and his friend. They wish to ask you all a few questions.”
Jack looked carefully around the room. The women were young but appeared well cared for. No bruises that he could see. They were smiling and clear-eyed, their dresses old but clean. The tension between his shoulder blades eased somewhat. He still didn’t like it, but he wouldn’t need to intervene.
Justine presented her sketch to the girls on the left side of the room. “Ladies, I am searching for a Mr. von Briesen. Here’s a sketch of what he looks like. Please pass it along, if you will. He is German. Has a wife and two small children. They are quite concerned about him since his disappearance.”
Each girl studied the picture, shook her head and passed it on. It wasn’t until the next to the last girl before they had a reaction.
“Oh, I know him,” she said with a nod. “He’s the shoemaker. Every Thursday like clockwork.”
“When did he stop coming to see you?” Jack asked.
“He hasn’t. Was just here last week.”
“We were told he was robbed by some peter players downstairs and put out on the street.”
“Not that I heard.” The girl exchanged a look with Polly. “That is to say, we don’t have peter players here.”
Jack nearly snorted at the bald lie. “Can you tell us anything about him? Where he lives, for example?”
“I know he likes his bum hole tickled while he’s getting sucked off.” All the girls laughed and clapped, and Justine turned a bright shade of scarlet. Jack hid a smile.
“Anything that might help us locate him?” Justine asked. “A neighborhood or family member he talks about?”
The girl shrugged. “None that I am able to recall.”
Jack could see the direction this was headed. It was already Tuesday. “What time does he usually arrive on Thursdays?”
“Nine o’clock,” the girl answered. “Might be a few minutes early but he’s never late.”
“I’ll be here to have a chat with him. Do not say anything to alert him or give him cause to disappear until I arrive. Is that clear?” He glared at both Polly and the girl so there would be no misunderstanding.
“I’ll come, as well,” Justine said. Jack didn’t contradict her, but under no circumstances would he allow her to return here during the evening. Jack would deal with von Briesen himself.
“You’ll need to pay for the time,” Polly said.
Jack nodded once. “I’m good for it.”
“I bet you are, sweetheart,” one of the women drawled.
Everyone laughed, including Justine, and Jack had a sudden urge to get her alone. He wanted to kiss her smiles and swallow her laughter. He wanted her all to himself. He tipped his chin toward the exit. “We should go.”
“Thank you, ladies,” Justine said, withdrawing the fifty-dollar bill from her purse. “You’ve helped us immensely.”
Before she could hand the bill to Polly, Jack snatched it. “See that it’s evenly distributed,” he said to the proprietress. “Fairly and equally.”
Though she paled, Polly gave a brisk nod. Jack pressed the money into her palm. “Ladies, that money is for all of you. I’ll check on Thursday to make certain you all received an equal share.” He paused for effect. “And if you haven’t, if even one of you has been cheated, there will be consequences.” The last bit was directed at Polly.
Convinced he’d made his point, he led Justine out of the room and toward the stairs. It was time to collect on his good deed.
Chapter Twelve
Justine could sense Mulligan’s dark mood. Something had changed in him the instant they’d entered the second