“Mr. Keller.” Justine strode forward with her hand extended, which Keller shook. “Thank you for seeing us.”
“It’s not often that women such as yourselves seek out an audience. Please have a seat.”
The rest of the men in the room disappeared, save Keller and the man who’d opened the door. Justine and Mamie sat, as did Keller. He asked, “How may I help you ladies?”
“I work with my sister Mrs. Tripp and my brother-in-law at the Lower East Side Legal Aid Society,” Justine said.
“I am aware,” Keller said. “You have made quite a name for yourselves in that endeavor. I have known Mr. Tripp a long time.”
Mamie did not seem the least bit surprised to hear it. Everyone knew Frank Tripp.
“Even before that work,” Justine continued, “I spent quite a lot of time downtown helping people through various charities and organizations. Though I’ve had some success, it has often been difficult to get lasting results without authority behind me.”
“That’s not my impression. They speak of you as if you’re some sort of miracle worker.”
“A generous implication at best. I could accomplish much more if I were given a certain level of status with the city.”
“Such as?”
“I wish to join the police force. Not as a matron. I’d like to carry a badge and investigate cases. With full arrest capabilities.”
Mamie went perfectly still but said nothing, thankfully. Keller just stroked his beard and studied Justine. “I don’t understand. I heard you’ve been working with Mulligan.”
Justine’s mouth opened and closed. How had Keller come by such information? “I am not . . . That is, we are not working together. Mr. Mulligan and I are friendly and have collaborated recently on a few projects. However, those have been resolved.”
“Ah. Does Mulligan know that?”
She frowned, uncertain why that should matter. “I believe so. And it is a totally separate issue from what I am requesting.”
“Not exactly separate, but we’ll leave that for now. You are aware there are no female officers in the department.”
“I am aware. However, there are many cases that women could handle exclusively—”
“What you are suggesting would take jobs away from men, men who must provide for families at home. Whom exactly are you providing for?”
“That’s not the point.”
Keller shook his head, as if she were a child incapable of understanding the adults in the room. “That is precisely the point. You wish to take the spot of a man, one without your family’s resources and privilege, and leave him out of a job.”
“But there are cases not being investigated because the department does not have the resources or the ability to follow up on them.”
“Such as?”
“Husbands who desert their wives. Labor issues involving women and children.”
Keller’s lips twisted. “Are you presuming to know more about labor issues than I do, Miss Greene? We oversee the unions in this city. Are we not doing a sufficient enough job for you?”
This was deteriorating quickly. Keller wasn’t understanding her, clearly. “What about the husbands who desert their wives?”
“A family issue, one the police shouldn’t interfere with.”
Justine could feel her skin heating, frustration building in her veins. Remaining calm was normally not an issue for her, but Keller made her want to jump up and scream.
Mamie must’ve sensed Justine’s mood because she spoke up. “Mr. Keller, my sister is not suggesting that she replace a man on the department staff. She is asking to be added, to be allowed to join them, not displace them.”
“Mrs. Tripp, all due respect to you and your husband, but these are not the kind of men who wish to work side by side with a woman. Their jobs are often dangerous. How are we to ensure everyone’s safety if they’re worried about a hysterical woman in their midst?”
“Perhaps Justine is capable of looking after herself. I have seen her in many situations, in all sorts of neighborhoods, and never once has she been close to hysterical.”
“Serving soup and handing out pamphlets hardly qualifies as the kinds of work she’d be involved in as a police officer.”
Mamie’s eyes narrowed at his condescending tone. “Yes, taking bribes and looking the other way from crime requires a special skill.”
The temperature in the room plummeted. Keller’s expression hardened, his eyes cold. “I’m certain our fine officers wouldn’t appreciate such characterization of their work.”
Justine rushed to smooth things over by trying another tack. “Mr. Keller, women make up almost half the city. We should have some sort of representation on the police force.”
“You do. There are matrons, not to mention that most