The Fall Of White City (Gilded Age Mysteries Book 1) Read Online Free

The Fall Of White City (Gilded Age Mysteries Book 1)
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for everyone, so I stayed upstairs with Elsa. Franz had the room across from us.”
    It occurred to Evangeline that Patsy might be the source of valuable information that could lead to Elsa’s killer. She began gently so as not to alarm the girl.
    “Patsy, I’d like to talk to you some more about Elsa.”
    The girl’s eyes grew wide with alarm. “I don’t dare, miss! Ma already told us that Elsa brought shame on our house and that the less we all said about her the better!”
    “Well, I don’t think there’s any need to distress your mama with this matter.” Evangeline’s tone was serene as she accented the second syllable in “mama.”
    “I... I guess I don’t understand.”
    Evangeline linked her arm through Patsy’s in a conspiratorial fashion. “We don’t have to tell her, do we?”
    Patsy blinked as the idea began to sink in. “But, how’s that possible? Ma keeps a close watch on me.”
    Evangeline paused to consider the dilemma. “Saturday is a half-day for factory workers, isn’t it?”
    “Why, yes. That’s so. We quit at noon.”
    “Very good. Then I shall meet you at your factory gates this Saturday at noon.”
    “It’s the Van Ryn Garment Factory on South Ashland,” the girl offered doubtfully.
    “Never fear, I’ll find it.”
    “But what about ma? What’ll I tell her when I don’t come home right away?” The girl glanced over her shoulder nervously. Her mother was still deep in conversation with Freddie, leaning on his arm for support. The poor fellow looked as if he were locked in the embrace of a python.
    “I’m sure your factory always needs willing souls to work overtime on Saturdays, doesn’t it?”
    Evangeline paused, allowing Patsy to digest that stratagem for a moment. “Trust me, child. I’ll arrange matters so that no harm will come to you.”
    Evangeline gave the girl’s arm a gentle squeeze. “I should be very grateful for your help.” They had nearly reached the exit to the cemetery.
    Patsy smiled timidly. “I’d like to talk about Elsa some more. It would help. She was the only one who listened to me, and I miss her.”
    “Yes, she was a very kind person.” Evangeline scowled as a new thought struck her. “I always thought she and Franz were just alike. I don’t understand why he isn’t here!”
    Patsy came to a dead stop, as if her feet had taken root. “But... Miss Engie . Didn’t they tell you?”
    Evangeline regarded her young companion with puzzlement. “Tell me what, my dear?”
    Patsy showed signs of increasing agitation. “I’m sorry. Ma thought you knew. We all thought you knew.”
    “Knew what, Patsy?”
    “The police came yesterday night. They took Franz away. They say he killed Elsa.”
    A blast of wind sent a chill through Evangeline’s bones. She began to shiver. “But that’s impossible!”
      The two were standing just inside the cemetery gates. The rest of the group caught up at that moment and, after another round of handshakes and lamentations, went their separate ways.
    As Evangeline and Freddie walked back toward the streetcar line, the fog around them seemed to swirl into the core of Evangeline’s brain. She could still hear Patsy’s last words, and they drowned out the street sounds, the voices, the horses’ hooves. She barely heard Freddie when he said through gritted teeth, “I’m placing you on notice. The next funeral we attend together will be yours.”

Chapter 3—Anarchy’s Red Hand
    The morning following the funeral, Evangeline found herself in an unusual place—staring through the bars of a cell in Chicago City Jail. She stood back as a guard unlocked the door and let her step inside. The room was narrow and deep with a double row of cots lining the wall to her right. Only one prisoner occupied the cell: a man in his early twenties with a blond beard that seemed somehow too long and flowing for someone his age. He sat leaning over the edge of the lower cot , clasping his hands and unclasping them, mutely
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