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Автор Виктория Томпсон
—— Synopsis ——
Murder in Little Italy
A deadly delivery arrives with the eighth novel in the bestselling, Edgar-nominated Gaslight series.
When midwife Sarah Brandt visits Little Italy to check up on a new mother who delivered her baby just the day before, she finds the young woman dead. The family insists that the death was from complications of childbirth. Sarah thinks not. Neither does the woman’s own mother, an Irishwoman who spreads the story that the girl was murdered by her Italian in-laws, the Ruoccos-an accusation that inflames tensions between the two immigrant groups.
A second death in the tenements nearly leads to riots in the streets as political factions and organized crime take sides and square off over wild rumors and newspaper accusations.
Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy is going to need Sarah’s help to unravel the secrets of these troubled families, bring a killer to justice-and restore order to the volatile community.
A Novel by
Victoria Thompson
Book 8 — Gaslight Mysteries
Copyright © 2006 by Victoria Thompson
Dedication:
Chapter 1
SARAH BRANDT WAS just clearing away the luncheon dishes when she heard someone ringing her front doorbell. She felt a small stab of disappointment, and when she looked down at the little girl helping her carry dishes to the sink, she saw that disappointment mirrored in her brown eyes. They’d both been looking forward to a quiet afternoon playing with baby dolls, but now a real baby’s arrival was probably going to ruin those plans.
“Should I get it, Mrs. Brandt?” Maeve asked. Maeve worked as a nursemaid for the child Sarah had begun to think of as her daughter.
“No, I’ll go. You two can finish up here,” she said, taking off her apron. Sarah smiled down at little Aggie, who made a disgusted face. She knew a knock at the door most often meant Sarah had to go off to help deliver someone’s baby. Aggie didn’t like it, but she also couldn’t stop Sarah from going. Sarah had explained many times that it was how she earned her living and paid for their food and clothes and home.
Sarah dropped a kiss on Aggie’s silken head and then hurried to answer the persistent ringing of the bell. As she’d suspected, a young man stood at the door, looking anxious.
“Mrs. Brandt, can you come? The baby, he’s coming soon. ”
“Mr. Ruocco, isn’t it?” Sarah asked, recognizing him as one of the three handsome brothers she remembered. “From Mama’s Restaurant. ”
“Yes, that’s right,” he confirmed. Mama’s was one of the most popular restaurants in Little Italy. Sarah had enjoyed many fine meals there. “I’m Joe. Can you come? Right away?”
“Of course. I’ll just need a few minutes to get ready. Please, have a seat,” she offered, inviting him into the front room that served as her office.
He didn’t sit down, though. They never did. Instead he stood shifting his weight from one foot to the other, restlessly, as if his constant motion would hurry her along. With practiced ease, Sarah checked her medical bag—the one that had belonged to her late husband, Dr. Tom—to make sure all her necessary supplies were packed. Then she went and changed into her working clothes, the dark skirt and jacket that didn’t show the stains. Mr. Ruocco helped her with her cape and offered to carry her bag for her.
