Time of Fog and Fire: A Molly Murphy Mystery (Molly Murphy Mysteries) (34 page)
Read Time of Fog and Fire: A Molly Murphy Mystery (Molly Murphy Mysteries) Online
Authors: Rhys Bowen
“It certainly feels that way at the moment,” Daniel said. He closed the door behind them, leaving me standing in the hallway fighting off frustration again. I went back to the kitchen and got on with preparing our evening meal. I had bought Daniel a steak to celebrate. I waited impatiently but it was a good half hour later that the door opened again and Daniel emerged with Mr. Wilkie.
“Regrettable, but inevitable, I suppose,” Mr. Wilkie was saying. “But don’t worry. We have the evidence. We’ll try to retrieve that safe-deposit box. We’ll get them when the time is right, you’ll see.”
“I hope so,” Daniel said.
“And that other matter. You’ll think about it then?” Mr. Wilkie asked as they shook hands.
“I’ll think about it,” Daniel replied.
It was as if I was watching a scene replayed. My heartbeat quickened.
Was
Daniel being sent off on another dangerous assignment?
“Good-bye, Mrs. Sullivan,” Mr. Wilkie said. “And if you are ever interested, I am sure that I could make good use of your skills as well.”
“Oh, no, thank you,” Daniel said quickly. “She’ll be too busy looking after the children.”
And he opened the front door, reacting with surprise when he saw two people standing outside. One of them was Sid, now walking with the aid of crutches, and the other I recognized after a moment as Mr. Graves, who had insisted on interviewing me for his magazine.
“Molly, guess what?” Sid called to me before Daniel could say anything. “Mr. Graves published your interview and received such a positive response from so many people. You are deemed to be a champion of the women’s movement. And when I met him today and he heard about your adventures in California he is determined to get the scoop on that story too.” She looked up and appeared to notice Daniel and Mr. Wilkie. “Oh, I’m sorry, Captain Sullivan. Have I just interrupted something?”
“It’s fine, Miss Goldfarb,” Daniel replied. “Mr. Wilkie was just leaving. Let me find you a cab, sir.”
And he bundled him off down the street before he could ask any more questions.
“You published my interview?” I asked. “Without telling me?”
Mr. Graves looked sheepish. “You were gone for an indeterminate amount of time and the material was good. Miss Goldfarb said you wouldn’t mind…”
He broke off as Daniel returned to me. “What is this all about, Molly? Interview? Magazine?” he asked.
I smiled sweetly. “I can have my little secrets just as you do, Daniel Sullivan. And I’ll be happy to recount my adventures in San Francisco, Mr. Graves. Just not right now. I’m about to cook my husband’s dinner.”
We parted company. Daniel followed me into the kitchen.
“So what did Mr. Wilkie want this time?” I asked. “He wants to send you off on another dangerous escapade?”
“No, he wants to offer me a job,” he said.
“A permanent job? With him?”
“Yes.”
“And it would mean moving away from here to Washington?”
“Yes.”
“Leaving my friends and going to a new city?”
“Yes.”
“And spending your life in constant danger?”
“Molly,” he said, “I didn’t say I’d take the job. I said I’d think about it. Discuss it with you. But if I’m going to be forced out of the police department here … well, it’s good to have some alternatives, isn’t it?”
“But Washington, and danger … you’ve a family to think of, Daniel Sullivan.”
“I know. I’m quite aware of that.”
I had a sudden idea. “It might not be so bad,” I said. “After all, Mr. Wilkie did offer me a job too, didn’t he? I’d rather like to get into the spy business. It could be fun…”
And I enjoyed watching Daniel’s face.
RHYS BOWEN
is the author of the Anthony Award– and Agatha Award–winning Molly Murphy mysteries, the Edgar Award–nominated Evan Evans series, and the Royal Spyness series. Born in England, she lives in San Rafael, California.
Visit her online at
www.rhysbowen.com
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Also by
Rhys Bowen
The Molly Murphy Mysteries
The Constable Evans Mysteries
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Contents
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
TIME OF FOG AND FIRE.
Copyright © 2016 by Rhys Bowen. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Jacket design by Danielle Christopher
Jacket photograph of woman by Shirley Green
Jacket photograph of painted ladies houses, San Francisco © Amit Basu Photography/Getty Images
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Bowen, Rhys, author.
Title: Time of fog and fire / Rhys Bowen.
Description: First Edition. | New York: Minotaur Books, 2016. | Series: Molly Murphy mysteries; [16]
Identifiers: LCCN 2015044228 | ISBN 978-1-250-05204-9 (hardback) | ISBN 978-1-4668-5337-9 (e-book)
Subjects: LCSH: Murphy, Molly (Fictitious character)—Fiction. | Women private investigators—New York (State)—New York—Fiction. | BISAC: FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths. | FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Historical. | GSAFD: Mystery fiction.
Classification: LCC PR6052.O848 T56 2016 | DDC 823/.914—dc23
LC record available at
http://lccn.loc.gov/2015044228
e-ISBN 9781466853379
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First Edition: March 2016