Murder In Chinatown

Read Online Murder In Chinatown by Victoria Thompson - Free Book Online

Book: Murder In Chinatown by Victoria Thompson Read Free Book Online
Authors: Victoria Thompson
Ads: Link
“They’ll be mad that we lied to Mr. Lee.”
    “I won’t say anything to them, but they’re bound to find out. If you tell them yourselves, they won’t be as mad at you.”
    They frowned, not certain they trusted her logic.
    Sarah took two of her calling cards from her purse and laid them on the table in front of the girls. “If you think of anything else that might help, please let me know. Or you can tell Angel’s mother or her auntie Cora. You can even leave a message for me at the Prodigal Son Mission on Mulberry Street.”
    Una picked up the card and stared at it for a moment. “Do you really think Angel is in trouble?”
    “I think there’s a good chance that she is.”
    “She’s not,” Biddy said with certainty. “She’s married, and she’s happy.”
    Sarah smiled. “I pray you’re right.”
     
    S ARAH THANKED THE TWO MOTHERS WHEN SHE RETURNED to the front room.
    “Did they help you at all?” Biddy’s mother asked.
    “I’m not sure,” Sarah hedged. “They were able to answer a few questions, at least.” She turned to Minnie. “We should be going.”
    Before the other two could protest, Sarah thanked them again and ushered Minnie out into the hallway. Minnie waited until they had walked down the first flight of stairs before stopping Sarah. “What did they say?” she asked in a whisper.
    “Angel was seeing a young man named Quinn O’Neal.”
    Minnie gasped. “How? When?”
    Sarah briefly explained.
    “I don’t believe it! Angel never…I never knew her to lie!”
    “Young love is a powerful force,” Sarah reminded her.
    “What can we do now?” Minnie asked helplessly.
    “That’s up to you,” Sarah said. “I wish I had more information about this Quinn fellow, but Angel was very discreet, and the girls apparently weren’t interested in learning a lot of details.”
    “You think he sold her, don’t you?” Minnie asked, her face ashen.
    Sarah could feel her anguish. “I honestly don’t know. Maybe he really did elope with her, like the girls said. Either way, finding this Quinn is your best chance of finding Angel.”
    “I need to tell Charlie,” Minnie said. “He’ll want to know the whole story. Will you come with me? I’ll never remember everything.”
    For an instant, Sarah imagined what Malloy would say about this, but only for an instant. “Of course,” she replied.

4
    C HARLIE LEE WAS AT THE LAUNDRY HE OWNED . M INNIE sent one of the children playing around the front stoop for him, then took Sarah up to her flat to wait, after they’d checked on Cora and brought her up to date. Minnie made them some tea, more to keep busy than to be a good hostess, and Sarah was enjoying the fragrant brew in the kitchen with her when they heard the front door open. Minnie hurried out to meet her husband, and Sarah could hear her explaining the situation to him in the other room. A few moments later, Mr. Lee appeared in the kitchen doorway.
    Sarah wasn’t sure exactly what she had expected. The only Chinese men she’d encountered with any frequency were the ones who operated the chop suey restaurants that had sprung up around the city. Charlie Lee was nothing like them. Although he wasn’t a large man, his presence filled the room. He wore a tailored business suit with a boiled white shirt and neat tie. A gold watch chain stretched across his trim waistline, and a diamond ring winked on his finger. His dark eyes took in Sarah with a glance, seeing everything he needed to know about her in those few seconds.
    “You are Mrs. Brandt?” he asked. His accent was noticeable but not heavy.
    “Yes,” she said. “I’m so sorry about your daughter, Mr. Lee.”
    His expression didn’t waver, but she thought she detected the slightest flinch at the mention of the girl.
    “Why do you care what happen to her?” he asked in challenge.
    “I care what happens to every young girl in the city,” she said quite honestly. “I can’t protect all of them, but I do what I can. I’ve

Similar Books

Kiss Her Goodbye (A Thriller)

Robert Gregory Browne

Owning Skye

Elizabeth Hendricks

Being Kendra

Kendra Wilkinson

The Riddle

Alison Croggon

Why Leaders Lie

John J. Mearsheimer