would anyone pull off such a gruesome stunt?” he said in a more normal voice now.
“I’m not quite sure yet, but it has something to do with the body in the trunk and the disappearance of Houdini,” I said.
“Molly!” He wagged a finger at me. “Are you still pursuing this when I made it very clear that you were to have no part in a criminal case?”
“I’m still employed by Houdini’s family,” I said cautiously. “They want him found and I’m trying to find him.” I felt bad as I said it, but then I reasoned that I wasn’t lying to my future husband. I was just leaving out the whole truth about Mr. Wilkie. “You can’t stop me from doing that,” I added to make myself feel better.
“Actually I can. I could have you arrested for interfering with police business,” he said.
“So have the police discovered what happened to Houdini yet? Has his body been discovered? Have they come up with any suspects or a motive for the crime?”
“Not as yet,” he said cautiously.
“Then maybe the police could use a little help,” I said.
He looked at me, head tilted sideways, then he laughed. “You’re impossible, do you know that?”
“So you’ve said before.”
“And you think that this Lily person is somehow responsible for Houdini’s disappearance? What motive would she have?”
“I’m not sure of that yet,” I said cautiously. “I will probably be able to tell you by tomorrow. How long do you think it will take to have the blood tested on this cloth?”
“I’ll have it sent round to the laboratory that does this kind of testing for us,” he said. “I don’t believe it should take them long.”
“Then let me know immediately,” I said. “I’ll be at Houdini’s house, keeping Bess company.”
“Thank heavens for small mercies,” he said. “At least you can’t get yourself into more trouble if you stay there with Mrs. Houdini and one of our men outside the door.” He put down the parcel and opened his door for me. “You’re really going directly there?”
“I really am,” I said.
“At least I’ll know where to find you for once.”
I paused in the doorway and looked back at him. “By the way, have you found Scarpelli yet?”
“No. We’ve pretty much given up looking for him,” he said. “We decided we’d never be able to prove that the unfortunate incident wasn’t accidental. And if it really turns out to be another illusion, then I’ll be glad we haven’t wasted the manpower.”
“His agent thinks he might be in Boston if you want him,” I said. And I gave him a big triumphant smile as I swept from the room.
Thirty-two
I was feeling pleased and excited as the train took me slowly northward to Harlem. I had proved that I was a real detective. Oh, I had solved cases before, but sometimes more by luck than by observation and deduction. Paddy Riley, my former mentor, would have been proud of me. I thought Mr. Wilkie would be equally impressed. I had the drawings of the underwater escape to give him and the piece from the magazine that hinted at possible invasion. And I had an illusionist who had recently been in Germany and had pretended to be a doctor when a girl pretended to die. Not to mention a bag full of counterfeit money and a house with a printing press in the basement. All in all a most satisfying day.
I peered out of the train window, hoping to spot a clock somewhere. Really, I would have to save up enough money to buy myself a watch soon. I thought it couldn’t be later than four, so I’d arrive at Houdini’s residence in good time to meet Mr. Wilkie. I left the train at Ninety-ninth Street and felt a spatter of raindrops. I had been in such a hurry that I had forgotten to pick up my brolly when I had been at Patchin Place. How shortsighted of me, as the clouds overhead loomed black and menacing and from the east came the growl of thunder. I quickened my step. Houdini’s house was several blocks away and the first spatter of raindrops sizzled onto the hot sidewalks. Thunder clapped nearby now and a horse neighed and reared in alarm as it stood waiting in the shafts. I looked for an awning to shelter under, but I had already left the commerce of Third Avenue behind and the street ahead of me was purely residential, so I had no choice but to push