But if they were talking to her or about her, they made no indication.
So Hetty continued on.
The arguing around the piano was still going on in hushed whispers, but it stopped as Benjy simply took the music from Penelope. “You win—we’ll do the pieces you suggested,” he said.
Penelope’s surprise lasted for a few moments before she noticed Hetty. Eyebrows raised, she said, “I wondered where you went. I thought Mrs. Evans might have gotten you to perform some small errand.”
“Just the mending,” Hetty said, “although I heard the hens clucking.”
Penelope chuckled. “That’s what they do. Who was it, Frances or Sallie?”
“All three. I heard my name.”
“And what?” Benjy asked.
“That’s it, I heard my name. That means there’s something to talk about. Because my name wouldn’t be on their lips otherwise.”
Benjy just laughed. “Let them cluck—they don’t have anything important to say.”
“That’s the problem. Such things are always more interesting to talk about.”
If there was time, Benjy might have been able to convince her she was wrong, but there was no time.
Service would start shortly, and they had to prepare. So, Hetty retreated to the pews, and the whispers that followed were louder than usual in her ears.
She had only polite conversation as things began, and no one even looked her way when midway through service Frances Fields gleefully described the events at the excursion during the church announcements.
Hetty began to let go of her suspicions. Clearly she heard wrong. The whispers had nothing to do with her.
Once the service ended, Hetty made her way through the crowd to speak with Cora before the older woman disappeared to help set up the picnic outside. She had just nodded in passing to some people she knew when she looked up to see the trio that Benjy said to ignore were circling him.
“Persistent, aren’t they?” Cora’s voice floated into her ear.
Hetty looked to find Cora at her elbow. “Have you heard the gossip? What can you tell me?”
“I’m surprised you want to know,” Cora said.
“You haven’t heard a thing then?”
“I heard a few things, but let them gossip about the excursion. Better than something more personal.”
Hetty gave the older woman a second look, seeing a double meaning in those innocent words. Cora’s eyes twinkled, and she looked as pleased as the day Hetty told her about her engagement. If they were anywhere else, Hetty might have dared to ask what she meant, but she lost her nerve.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Hetty settled on saying.
“I’m sure you will. Ladies,” Cora said, as Frances, Sallie, and Gilda approached. “I need your help.”
As the gossipy trio passed Hetty, they gave long looks. Although Hetty said nothing, and did nothing more than nod, she knew more embellishments were made in their minds.
Benjy was alone at the piano, tidying up what sheet music lay about.
“They’re not hens, they’re vultures.” Benjy didn’t look up as Hetty leaned against the piano. “How do you handle them? Feeding them false tales leads to more trouble.”
“Just ignore them,” Hetty said, echoing his advice from earlier. “They have nothing important to say.”
Benjy scowled at her. “Very funny.”
“What did they ask you?”
“Just details about the excursion. It was hard to say if they were checking facts or fishing for more.”
“Both at the same time,” Hetty said. “They won’t give up until they get their answers.”
“Then there’s only one thing we should do.” Benjy reached for her hand. “Let’s go home before we get caught in the rain.”
“Too late for that.” Pastor Evans approached them. “Fat droplets are starting to come down, which means a bit of storm. They’ll need help bringing things inside before it’s all ruined.” The pastor looked at Benjy rather significantly.
“I’ll go see if they need a hand,” Benjy offered.
“Or two,” Hetty added.
“Not you,” Jay said to Hetty. “I’m afraid I must ask you a favor. This week’s collection needs counting, and with Matthew out sick, I don’t trust anyone else to give me accurate numbers.”
“Someone stealing?” Benjy asked. “Do you need help with it?”
“Just bad numbers.” Jay shook his head as thunder rumbled some distance away. “I hope.”
The pastor led Hetty down in the cellar. The cellar itself was quite a large space, used for all manner of events and meetings. There were four rooms down there: a classroom that doubled as a nursery during the week, a small kitchen with a stove that managed to keep a few hundred fed, the church office, and a tiny closet of a room for quiet reflection. It was in this room that the basket of tithes and offerings was locked.
“I hate to ask,” Jay said again as Hetty settled onto the stool, “but I know your numbers will be right.”
While Hetty was pleased at the compliment, there weren’t many bills or coins to go through. He could certainly count this himself. So she wasn’t surprised when Jay settled in a chair opposite her, dabbing his handkerchief along his forehead.
“There are far too many wagging tongues in this congregation. Perhaps it should be the subject of my next sermon.”
Hetty stopped shuffling through the coins. “You don’t need to do that! I must confess, there is some truth to it.”
“There is?” Pastor Evans frowned. “Tell me we misunderstand each other, since I’m certain Benjy would never loot graves!”
Her full attention fell to him with those words.
Penelope’s cousin Maybelle had said something similar about grave robbing, but only the act and nothing of this nature.
“Looting graves?”
“Told in one flavor of the gossip. The rest is concerned about how little you’ve done about it.”
“We can’t stop grave robbing any more than we can any other crime.”
“Well, your stories”—here his eyes gleamed with amusement—“make it seem you can do anything.”
“My stories are a bit of fun. People can tell when I stretch the truth.”
“It’s the way you tell them that makes folks believe otherwise. I would like to take credit for that skill, but you had it long before you arrived on our doorstep. You would have made a fine preacher if the job called you. You know how to compel people’s attention.”
“Then I shall tell new tales to make them forget about this nonsense,” Hetty said. “Of all the ridiculous gossip to be had. Why don’t people ever spread good things about others?”
“I suppose it’s not as entertaining,” Jay replied, but his amusement flickered out as quickly as it had come. “Though these cases spark such talk, about grave robbing and—”
“It’s just talk. Nothing to worry about.”
“Then Cora and I should think nothing of how you nearly drowned and didn’t tell us?”
“It was just a small thing,” Hetty began, but one stern look from Jay stopped her from making excuses. “I didn’t think it would be such a popular story to tell.”
“There was an explosion,” Jay said. There was worry in his eyes, and she realized that the rumors chose the most likely culprit for such an excursion, senseless hatred.
“It’s not what you think.” Hetty shifted atop the stool. “We believe this was done in connection to Charlie’s murder. That murderer was there, aware of our investigation, and made me a target. If this is true, it means it might be a member of E.C. Degray.”
“That club,” the pastor huffed, relaxing somewhat but not completely. “There’s something not right about it or those in charge of it, and it’s not because every vice and sin can be found there making nice.”
“I heard you spoke with Charlie about that before he died.”
“I did. He was recruiting people from my congregation. I didn’t like it.�
�� Jay scratched his chin. “After I told him to stop recruiting, Charlie got real quiet. I could tell he wanted to talk to me about something, but he wouldn’t say what it was. He was too anxious. Just kept sweating up a storm and asking me about the state of his immortal soul. I assumed the worst, and asked if what he needed was a friend instead of a pastor.”
“What did he say?” Hetty asked.
“We were interrupted.” Jay frowned. “I forget by who. At any rate, I said we’d speak at the dinner, but we didn’t have the chance since he left early. A pity, since the food was quite excellent. Although the greater pity was that you hadn’t been invited as well. Maybe you could have talked some sense into him.”
“I suspect we weren’t invited,” Hetty said, “because we bring too much excitement.”
“For some people, yes, but for others you are nothing but a delight,” Jay assured her. “Although, that reminds me. Charlie spoke about a building that Degray bought. You remember that school the Quakers ran on Spruce? It closed when they moved across town. Buying it seems to have been Charlie’s idea, something that the club would use. Since he died, I haven’t heard what will happen to it. I think one of your friends, Needham or Loring, has access. Fine fellows, both of them. Can’t believe they’re in that silly club . . .”
He kept on this thought for a bit longer, and, being accustomed to the old man’s rambling, Hetty listened politely while the pastor spoke, waiting for her chance to make a graceful exit. That bit the pastor had said about Charlie was very interesting, though: What could have happened to make Charlie so frightened?
“You will come to dinner this week?”
“Yes,” Hetty answered, before realizing what he had said, and immediately regretted letting the word pass her lips.
Jay grinned, like he always did when he presented her with a clever riddle she couldn’t figure out. Except this time there was no riddle, just an old preacher who knew when people had stopped listening to him.
“Cora will be so happy to hear this. It’s been awfully quiet since you left us. Make sure to invite all your friends, especially Oliver. Cora’s been concerned about him. And so have I. We’re quite fond of him and Thomas, and I know he’s been heartbroken.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Hetty said, and found she actually meant it. For it had been some time since she’d sat around the dinner table with them. “Name a night, and we’ll be there.”
Money counted and put away, Hetty slipped out of the small room to find the church picnic had been fully moved inside. Moving between the tables to the buffet, she had just got her hand on a plate when she heard shuffling behind her, and muffled apologies.
“Hetty!” Penelope rushed up toward her. “Come with me!”
Penelope didn’t explain as she led Hetty to the little room where Sunday school was taught. Although the scribbled letters on the chalkboard pointed to a lesson, there were no children presently.
But it wasn’t empty.
Darlene shook a finger in the face of the much taller Alice Granger. The other woman’s cheeks were flushed with a red that made her look blotchy. As she fussed, Alice drew back her sleeve revealing a wand handle.
“How dare you come here and threaten me! I’ll have you know—”
“I’m looking for your husband.” Alice drew her wand in a single fluid motion. Darlene jumped backwards into the chalkboard. “I don’t care about you.”
A bird swept into the room suddenly, blue and glittering with stars. It dove at Alice and brought with it a swirl of wind that sent papers—and Alice’s wand—flying across the room.
“Luckily,” Hetty said, as the other woman’s wand fell into her hand, “I care about you both.”
Alice swirled around and a flash of recognition crossed her face before she snarled, “Give it back!”
“Or you’ll do what?” Hetty twirled the stick between her fingers. “You can’t do magic without a wand.” Alice gritted her teeth, but she wisely remained where she was. “Maybe chanting nonsense words without one leads to magic,” Hetty continued. “I wouldn’t know. I do know you don’t understand how magic flows in this world. I’m not sure what’s going on here, but you’re about to explain it to me.”
“You know her?” Alice cried. “I should have known not to trust you!”
“You’re the one who contacted me.”
“I was told I could trust Henrietta Rhodes, but I didn’t know she was friends with a liar!”
“Why don’t you explain that bit to me,” Hetty said.
“Her sister was a teacher at my school.” Darlene drew herself up. “I fired her because in the evenings she taught Sorcery. I have nothing against magic classes, but I draw the line at Sorcery. Do you know what trouble it could have brought us and our students?” She eyed Alice reproachfully. “Especially when the teacher is someone whose entire life is a lie!”
“You’re the one who’s a li—”
Hetty snapped her fingers. Yellow light flashed around Alice’s face. The woman staggered, and when she regained her balance she started talking once more. But while her lips moved, no sound could be heard by anyone. Once she realized that, Alice’s pretty little face contorted with rage.
“Stars!” Penelope exclaimed. “I didn’t even see the sigil you used!”
“Tell me,” Hetty said, ignoring Alice, “how do you know her?”
“George and I ran into her outside of Judith’s apartment,” Darlene said. “Judith still had some of my primers and I wanted those back. But also, George wanted me to give her the job back. We’re shorthanded, which is why he keeps asking you to teach. The door was open when we got there, and we went in thinking Judith was inside.”
“Was she?”
“No, she was long gone. But she was there.” Darlene jabbed an angry finger in Alice’s direction. “She thought we scared off her sister. When I saw her at Charlie’s funeral, I thought she had come to confront me, but I saw her talking to you and then I got worried—”
“That she was telling me you might be involved with her sister’s disappearance?”
Darlene nodded. “Since then you—both of you,” she added, including Penelope, “were treating me so distantly. I thought you suspected the worst of me.”
Penelope’s face flushed with guilt, but Hetty remained serene.
“Why is Alice upset with you?”
“She went round to Judith’s apartment yesterday. A neighbor said there was a man waiting outside from E.C. Degray, so she’s convinced it was George. But it wasn’t him—we’d gone to see a doctor about Lorene.”
“Lorene?” Hetty’s line of thought was disrupted at hearing the baby’s name. “Is she all right?”
“Oh, no, nothing’s wrong. We’ve noticed some things that were strange,” Darlene said. “The doctor said it’s because she can’t hear.”
Penelope gasped, a hand lifting to her face. “She’s deaf ? That explains why she always looked so scared when we were out of sight—”
Pink light pulsed in the air, and they turned to watch as Alice broke through the binding on her voice.
“Give me my wand back,” Alice rasped.
“Certainly,” Hetty said. “I have no use for it.” Hetty held it out before her. “When I find your sister, you’ll know. I will tell you myself or send her to you.”
Alice sniffed but said nothing else as she tucked the wand into her sleeve. She straightened her clothes and exited the small classroom, nearly colliding with Benjy and Oliver in her haste to leave.
Benjy stepped aside, but Oliver remained planted in place to force Alice to step around him instead. She did so with a sniff, too insulted to speak.
“For someone who was too scared to go looking for her sister,” Benjy said, “she sure keeps turning up like a bad penny.”
“Only in places where she is comfortable. Apparently Judith used to be a teacher at Darlene’s school.”
He nodded, absorbing this fact, but said nothing more.
“Why did yo
u come down here?” Hetty asked.
“I noticed a ripple of magic and I figured you were the source.”
“You always tend to be,” Oliver added. He had yet to step into the room, lingering in the doorway. “Which is why I said we’re wasting time.”
“What’s the hurry?” Hetty asked. “And why are you here?” She eyed Oliver, who had certainly not been there for church this morning.
“Good news.” Benjy smiled as he said this. “Would you like me to tell?”
“What is there to tell?” Oliver grunted. “Thomas is coming home, hardly anything special.”
“Hardly special? This is wonderful news!” Hetty exclaimed, her words echoed by Darlene and Penelope.
Oliver flushed, but tugged at his collar. “He won’t be here anytime soon. I just found the letter this morning. I want the cellar emptied out, and it’s going to be taken care of today.”
“Someone will be coming by tomorrow to give the unknown man a pauper’s grave,” Benjy added. “Oliver and I are going over to take Alain Browne to his family and tell his wife the news. We’re headed off now.”
Hetty nodded. “You will go home afterward?”
Benjy cleared his throat. “Not quite. There’s another lead about Charlie and his betting that I want to chase.”
“I have one of those myself,” Hetty said eagerly. “Darlene said there was someone in the Degray club who showed up at Judith’s apartment. That’s the reason Alice Granger was here. She thought it was George.”
“But George isn’t involved,” Benjy said rather pointedly.
“Thank the stars!” Penelope exclaimed, loud enough to startle everyone, except for Benjy. His eyes danced with amusement, and Penelope hid her face behind her hands.
“Yes,” Hetty went on, ignoring this interruption. “I need a list of all the members of the club.”
“So you can match against anything else Charlie was involved in. Or any known associates. Brilliant.”
The Conductors Page 30
