here claims to be your wife,” Mulligan said. “She said you have abandoned her and your five children. Have you anything to say about that?”
“She’s a liar.”
“How dare you—”
Justine squeezed Mrs. Gorcey’s arm. This wasn’t the first time a husband had lied when presented with evidence of his misdeeds. She turned to Mr. Gorcey. “You are saying you’ve never seen her before?”
He shot Justine a look full of venom—one so fierce she nearly flinched. “That’s what I’m saying.”
“So, if she were to reveal something about your person, like a birthmark or a scar, we wouldn’t be able to verify that?”
He gave no response, just clenched his jaw and stared at the wall.
“Mrs. Gorcey?” Mulligan asked. “Is there such an identifying mark?”
She nodded and pointed to her right wrist. “He has a scar here from a fight in a saloon. He also has a mole on the left side of his chest.”
Mulligan arched a brow. “Gorcey, I’ll strip you down if I must to get to the truth. So, is what she says a fact? Before you answer, remember that I don’t care for liars nor do I care for having my time wasted. Do you know this woman or not?”
“Aye.” The word was bitten out, filled with resentment.
“She is your wife?”
“Not any longer. I told her I wanted to leave and she told me to go.”
“That’s not true!” Mrs. Gorcey said.
“It is, too.” Gorcey’s lip curled as he focused on his wife. “You have no claim on me, woman.”
Justine quickly intervened. “Did you marry her, Mr. Gorcey?”
“Yes, but—”
“Are you the father of her children?”
“I don’t know,” he mumbled. “They coulda been fathered by anyone.”
“You son of a—” Mrs. Gorcey started before Justine squeezed her arm again.
“Miss Greene, Mrs. Gorcey,” Mulligan said as he rose. “I’d like a moment alone with Robert. Excuse us, won’t you?”
Without waiting for Robert’s cooperation, Mulligan strode to an adjoining door and walked out. There hadn’t been a stated threat of any kind but Gorcey’s throat worked, his face going alarmingly pale. Without delay, he quickly stood and followed Mulligan from the room.
“Can you believe the nerve?” Mrs. Gorcey hissed when they were alone. “Saying our children were fathered by another man. How dare he?”
“I wish I could say I am surprised. I’ve heard just about every excuse from these wife deserters.” One man had continued lying even when presented with his eldest son, who was the spitting image of his father. That merely illustrated how easy it was for men to shirk their paternal responsibilities.
“What do you think Mr. Mulligan is saying in there?” Mrs. Gorcey’s voice was hardly above a whisper, as if she feared Mulligan overhearing her.
Justine thought back to those bloody knuckles and winced. This isn’t my blood. Would he beat Gorcey into cooperating?
“I don’t know,” Justine said. “I hope it’s something to help your husband admit the truth.”
“All I want is financial support,” Mrs. Gorcey said. “I don’t want him back.”
“No one is saying you must take him back. And if this fails, I’ll find a way to bring your husband to the police. So, we aren’t out of options yet.”
The door reopened and Gorcey appeared first. His blank expression lacked all traces of the animosity from before. Mulligan strolled in next, all smiles. He slapped Gorcey on the back, as if they were the oldest of friends. “Go on, Robert.”
“I’ll pay her ten dollars a month,” Gorcey said. “Until the children are of age.”
“Twenty-five,” Justine countered. “There are six mouths to feed.”
Gorcey’s face darkened. “That’s absolute robbery!”
Mulligan cleared his throat dramatically.
Gorcey’s anger withered instantly. He nodded eagerly. “Of course. Twenty-five.”
“Hallelujah!” Mrs. Gorcey said.
Justine pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. They weren’t quite done yet. “You are to maintain a respectable distance from Mrs. Gorcey at all times. If I discover that you are harassing or abusing her in any manner, I will set the police on you.”
Gorcey’s gaze glittered with repressed hatred and burning frustration. These men were the most dangerous, in Justine’s opinion. She would not put it past him to try and hurt Mrs. Gorcey or the children to get out of making the payments.
“If I am providing for her like a husband, then I intend to claim my—”
“He won’t go near her,” Mulligan interrupted. “I’ll ensure it. The payments will come directly to me and I’ll see them forwarded to Mrs. Gorcey.”
“No.”
The room paused at Justine’s refusal. Even Mrs. Gorcey appeared confused. “I don’t understand,” the other woman said under her breath.
Justine focused on Mulligan.