The Paper Daughters of Chinatown - Heather B. Moore Page 0,107

the porch. “Did they try the next house? Maybe the girl is there.”

“She’s not there,” Ruef growled, pushing on the door. “Let us in. We will search for ourselves if you refuse to bring her to us.”

Still Dolly didn’t budge from her place. “Do you have a search warrant for these premises, Officer Cook?”

He gave a stiff nod, and Dolly knew he hated to be on this errand. “We do, Miss Cameron.” He took his time fishing it out of his jacket pocket, then handed it over.

Dolly grasped the search warrant and again took her time reading every single word.

“Well, Tien, it appears we must let these gentlemen inside to search.” Dolly sighed. “Please be quiet. Most of our residents are asleep, and some of them are young babies. Abandoned, you know, by their Chinese fathers.”

Ruef moved past Dolly, bumping her shoulder and offering no apology. The instant he crossed the threshold of the mission home, it was as if someone had cracked a horse whip. Six men were suddenly inside the house; two of them headed toward the kitchen, while the other four pounded up the staircase to the higher floors.

Officer Cook remained by the door, his hands on his hips, a scowl on his face.

So much for keeping any semblance of quiet. Not that any of the Chinese girls were sleeping. Still, Dolly prayed that Mei Lien’s hiding place in the basement would keep her safe. Hopefully these men held the usual Chinese beliefs that evil spirits lived below ground, which suited Dolly just fine.

She and Tien followed the men up the stairs in order to make sure they didn’t disturb too much. All the girls knew to tell any man who asked after another girl to claim they didn’t know her.

Dolly walked into the bedrooms the men had left, quickly reassuring each girl that everyone was fine, everyone was safe.

When she stopped by Lonnie’s room, the girl wrapped her arms about Dolly’s waist. “Will they find her?”

“Hush,” Dolly whispered. “Everyone is safe.”

Lonnie nodded vigorously, her eyes welling with tears.

Dolly bent and kissed the top of the girl’s head. “Don’t cry. We must be strong and have faith.”

Another nod, and Dolly had to move on. There were many more girls and women to check on and offer comfort to. And all the while, she listened to the men going through each room, searching. It seemed hours had passed before they left, but it had been only a half hour. When they reached the lowest level above ground, they peered into the dark basement below.

Dolly watched from the top of the corridor, holding her breath, as she waited to see whether they would enter. Their murmured voices were indistinguishable, but Tien joined Dolly and whispered, “They think that is where you leave the girls you poison.”

Dolly might have laughed if the situation weren’t so grave. The men were literally feet away from stepping into the same space where Mei Lien was hiding. Dolly clasped her hands behind her, clutching her fingers together.

Tien, with her astute observance, said, “They will not go down there. They are more afraid of what might be lurking in the dark basement than of any punishment they might receive from Zhang Wei.”

Sure enough, the men eventually left without going into the basement. The moment Dolly had clicked the last lock on the tall, double doors, she turned and rushed to the door leading to the basement. There, she found Tien already inside, with her hand in Mei Lien’s.

The trembling young woman stepped out of the darkness and into the dimly lit corridor. Tears stained her face, and her skin was as white as a goose egg.

“Was it Zhang Wei?” Mei Lien whispered.

“It was the men who work for him.” Dolly stepped to the woman’s side and rested an arm about her shoulders. With Tien translating, Dolly said, “They found nothing, and no one gave you away. You are safe here, just as I told you.”

Mei Lien nodded, then suddenly, she turned toward Dolly. Dolly pulled her close and held her as sobs racked her body. Tien simply stood and waited. Despite the lateness of the hour and the disruption to everyone’s sleep, neither of them was in a hurry to get Mei Lien to bed.

After several moments, Mei Lien lifted her head and drew away. Dolly offered her a handkerchief. Mei Lien wiped at her face. Then she folded the damp cloth into a square, and folded it again. She continued twisting the handkerchief between