Dialing Murder (Amateur Sleuth Cozy Mystery)

by Belle Astor

  Mrs. Hopkins called the girls for dinner and when she saw Lily's hair exclaimed, "what would your mother say, Lily Bantry. What have those girls done to your lovely hair?"

  Mrs. Hopkins was beside herself at Lily's new look, and Lily collapsed into tears again. Maisie reckoned that since Mrs. Hopkins had no children of her, she saw Lily and George as substitutes. Given her bond with their mother.

  "You've gotta move with the times, Mrs. Hopkins. Nothing for me, Mrs. Hopkins," Katie declared, "my beau is taking me for a light supper. I must get ready."

  Maisie comforted Lily as every time Mrs. Hopkins looked at Lily's hair, she tutted.

  "You shouldn't have let them talk you into such things. Next things you'll be smoking."

  There was a knock on the door, and they could hear Katie telling them to leave it, that it was for her. She looked dazzling in her dropped waisted silver dress and her hair jewelry.

  "You sure look swell. Just like you stepped out of a magazine, Katie." Maisie was impressed. Katie was very fashionable but tonight's look had everything the modern girl wanted. Her delicate dress sparkled as did her head piece.

  Katie soaked up the attention. Mrs. Hopkins mumbled about young women showing off too much flesh.

  "Don't wait up!" Katie said cheerfully as she left the house.

  "I lock up at 11 pm, Katie. You heed that," came Mrs. Hopkins' response.

  Maisie and Lily ran to the window to pull back the curtains. They could see a handsome man greet Katie. He had a swanky car.

  "He looks old," Lily observed.

  "I think Katie's looking for a daddy. Perhaps she has found him."

  "Okay, girls, back to the table. I am sure that is enough excitement for one night."

  Maisie kept an eye on the grandfather clock that stood in the hallway. Where was George? They must know something by now.

  Mrs. Hopkins went to bed, and soon Lily couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. As she said goodnight, she paused, "did I tell you? Miss Carnegie is putting me on the main switchboard tomorrow. She's a strange one, isn't she? Normally she's so put together, but yesterday she had some stray hairs on her. So unlike her."

  "Goodnight Lily." Maisie was too preoccupied to pay her much attention.

  She settled into her reading her book, but the words kept getting mixed up as though they moved across the page. It struck midnight on the clock.

  "George, you said you'd call by." Maisie was getting frustrated.

  She looked out the window, to give a final look before going to bed and then she saw them. Katie and her beau were cuddling in his car. Then she saw Katie slap him. Maisie closed the curtains and closed the dining room door so Katie wouldn't notice her. Maisie wasn't in the consoling frame of mind.

  The front door opened and closed. She could hear Katie sobbing. Maisie was about to make herself known when there was a ratatat on the window. It was George and Maisie put her finger to her lips and pointed towards the door. George nodded and waited.

  Once Maisie was satisfied that Katie had gone to her room, she opened the window.

  "Thank heavens. I saw the car just as I arrived. Did you see the slap she gave him?"

  "Never mind Katie. Come in George and tell me about Mrs. Jenkins. You have to be quiet. I don't want Mrs. Hopkins to wake up."

  George slid through the window and sat in the armchair opposite Maisie.

  "She said she reported him missing when he left her initially. They lived in Boston at the time. Mrs. Jenkins hadn't heard or seen her husband in all that time. She moved to New York six weeks ago to live with her brother. She does seem to be on the up and up but she's an angry woman for sure."

  Maisie was anxious to know if Detective Blake had approved her viewing Mrs. Jenkins.

  "He thought it was a marvelous idea. Detective Blake has arranged for Mrs. Jenkins to sign a statement tomorrow. He wonders if you might come to the station. We will have Mrs. Jenkins sitting so you will have full view of her."

  Maisie was ecstatic. She would get to be involved again.

  "George, what about work? I'll have to tell Miss Carnegie the police need to see me again. I'll come by at lunchtime. Will you bring Jack the peeper too? He probably got the best look at our mystery woman."

  George had it arranged. He also told Maisie where Mrs. Jenkins was staying.

  "Why does that seem familiar?" Maisie scratched her chin. There was something familiar about it but she was too tired. George left the way he had come in and Maisie went to bed. This was so much more exciting than working at the exchange.

  As she predicted, Miss Carnegie didn't take the news well. Maisie was there to work for the telephone exchange company, not work for the police. She relented and Maisie was counting the time until she could leave. One call after another kept Maisie preoccupied.

  She accidentally plugged into an active call. About to disconnect, Maisie paused. She recognized the voice. It was the man who had mentioned Mrs. Leech's but who was he talking too?

  "They know it's Jenkins," the voice said. "Meet me in five minutes, at Harford's place. It's two blocks away."

  The call ended. She realized that the man had been talking to someone in her exchange. She looked around but the other girls were acting normally. She looked over to where the public sat in booths to make their calls. A shifty looking man stood up. It must be him she thought. Then another man with a scar on his face left. It was one of them. It had to be. Who would she follow?

  Maisie quickly called the police station. "Message for Officer Bantry," she told the desk sergeant who answered the phone. "Tell him to meet Maisie Mills at Harford's." She hung up before he could reply.

  She had to go now. There was no time to talk to George but at least he would get the message. To her dismay, the shifty man had disappeared when she got outside. But as the scarred man was tall, she soon saw him and followed him. He was certainly going in the right direction. Harford's was a speakeasy. Not that Maisie had been there but she had heard Katie mention it.

  "I must remember to talk to Katie tonight," she told herself. Maisie stopped as the man slowed his pace. Was she too close? He turned his head and Maisie bent down to pretend to attend to her shoe. A shiver passed through her spine. She felt like someone was watching her, from behind. She looked behind but nothing seemed out of place.

  As she walked on, she knew why Mrs. Jenkins address sounded familiar, it was around here. The man began to quicken his pace and Maisie continued to follow him. The sensation that she was being followed was getting stronger. She turned around and thought she saw someone duck into a shop door. If she lingered to see who might be following her, she would lose sight of who the man she was following.

  She saw the sign for Harford's but the tall man disappeared down the alleyway beside it. Maisie would have to be careful. Her decision was to walk by and see if there was some place for her to hide. Luck was on her side and there were crates and barrels along the wall. She was petite enough to hide among them.

  The man had disappeared. She wondered where he had got to. Then she saw a door at the end of the alleyway. Her heart was pounding as she gingerly made her way closer to it. Where was George, she asked herself. The door opened and thankfully opened out into the alley, giving her time to duck behind the crates. She could not see from her hiding place, but she could hear men talking in a foreign language. She didn't understand what they were saying.

  A rat scurried along the wall, causing her to call out. Suddenly the men stopped talking. Her plan was to say still but their footsteps were coming towards her. She stood up to run away but everything went dark.

  Maisie stirred. Why did her head hurt so much? It was pounding. She put her hand to the back of her head.

  "Don't move, Maisie." The voice said.

  Her eyes were still trying to focus and then George's face came into view.

  "There's no need to speak, Maisie. I've sent for the doctor. You got a nasty bump to the head."

  George's voice was comforting but Maisie
was confused. She wondered what the fuss was about. She tried to sit up but she felt very dizzy. Her head hurt and she touch the sore. But she caught sight of redness on her hand. It was blood. Rather than consider her injury, Maisie remembered why she was there in the first place.

  "George, George, the men, they were here. I heard them on the phone again. Did you catch them?"

  "There's no need to worry about that now. Here's the doctor."

  The doctor attended to her wound.

  "Officer Bantry, it looks like the young Miss was hit from behind and then cut herself as she fell. I'd say she knocked her head off this pipe. Whoever did it must have got a fright and took off? Do you know her?"

  "Yes, doctor. She's the bravest woman I know."

  Maisie still hadn't regained full awareness. However, the doctor was happy the wound was only superficial.

  "Let's get you up and get a cab to take you home."

  She was aware of other officers around her. They were carrying her.

  "I'm like Nefertiti, George," Maisie smiled at them.

  "Tell Detective Blake what happened," George said to the other policemen. "I'll make sure she gets home safely."

  "George, you should be a detective," Maisie said. Her knock on the head making her quite chatty. "This headache is killing me. What happened to me, George?"

  "Maisie, we're almost at Mrs. Hopkins now. I'll tell you when we get inside."

  As George opened the cab door, Maisie was aware of Mrs. Hopkins, Lizzie, and Lily coming her to her aid.

  "We were so worried about you Maisie. Thank God you weren't killed. You silly girl." Mrs. Hopkins was in tears as she listed all the dreadful fates that could have descended upon Maisie.

  "I saw you rush out. Lizzie and I rang George's station but we didn't know where you'd gone. By the time I ran outside, I couldn't see you. Oh, Maisie, you gave me such a shock." Lily was so pale as she spoke.

  Once Maisie was comfortable, George asked the ladies to give him room. Maisie had crossed the line, he told her in no uncertain terms.

  "But George, it was a clue. The men were speaking a foreign language. I did think I was being followed but whenever I looked behind I couldn't see who was there. I was very careful. It was the person following me did this, not the men I followed. I'm sure of it. We must go to the station."

  George shook his head. Her services were no longer required. Maisie looked at him.

  "George, I'm invested in this case. Look I'm fine. This was only meant to scare me. Please let me help you."

  "The wife is not the woman from the Park. She got quite annoyed sitting there as we pretended to be busy with other work. But no one recognized her. Even Jack didn't react when he saw her. I took your lead and promised him sweets. I was sure Detective Blake was ready to fire me on the spot."

  Maisie frowned. This wasn't working out as she expected. The victim's wife was in the city and lived close to Harford's. It is possible she came across her husband by accident.

  "But George what do you reckon by them saying his name, Jenkins?"

  George almost choked on the tea he was sipping.

  "Who said what?"

  "George, at the exchange. I accidentally plugged into the wrong call. They were talking about how the police knew the victim was Henry Jenkins. They said they would meet at… where was it again," Maisie rubbed her sore head. "I telephoned as you told me to do, George. I left a message for you to meet me at Harfords."

  "But I didn't get the message until after Lily and Lizzie called. By the time I got there, there you were, lying on the ground. My heart was in my mouth thinking you were dead. Never do that to me again, I beg of you."

  Despite her tiredness, Maisie had a moment of clarity.

  "George, it's the wife's brother. We could have this all wrong. The woman with him may have been a lady friend who is afraid to come forward. I would, if my sweetheart died when we were…" She blushed and didn't finish her sentence.

  "Do you think Mrs. Jenkins is a foreigner? I know they weren't speaking Gaelic or Italian. I'd know those accents."

  George took a moment to consider what she was saying. "You have a brilliant mind, Miss Maisie Mills. That could be it. I'll return to the station and see what I can find out about Mrs. Jenkins and her brother. Take care. But no more sleuthing. You must promise me."

  Maisie promised. She would do no more sleuthing tonight. With George gone, Maisie was helped to her bedroom. She viewed her bump and wound as badges of honor. She was on to something but what? Perhaps tomorrow would bring more information.

  Chapter Seven

  With the following day being a Saturday, there was no need for Maisie to wake early. It was a good thing too, she didn't know how her head would take the constant hum of work. Her headache was waning but still present. She propped herself up on her pillow and thought about the week. For someone to follow her, Maisie must know something but what could it be.

  She had more excitement in the last week than in all her two years in the city. George would call by later, and they could go through what they knew. Maisie knew her mind needed to work, not do the same thing over and over again.

  It was time to get up. As she opened her door, she could hear crying coming from Katie's room. There has been no time to catch up with Katie since Maisie had seen her return so upset from her date. She tapped at the door.

  "Katie, may I come in? It's Maisie."

  The sobbing stopped.

  "I'm coming in Katie. I need to talk to you."

  "No, Maisie. I don't want you to…."

  It was too late. Maisie had already opened in the door, but the sight before her shocked her. Katie was sitting in her chemise. The top of her arms covered in bruises and scratches which Katie was tending to.

  "Katie, what happened to you?"

  "Oh Maisie, I have been such a fool. I pretend to be modern, but I'm not really."

  Katie began to cry, and her tears dropped into her face powder. Maisie knelt beside Katie and began to apply the cotton wool to her scratches.

  "I saw you slap him the other night. I wasn't spying. Did he do this?"

  Katie nodded.

  "What must you think of me, Maisie? Mrs. Hopkins will kick me out if she thinks I'm fast."

  Maisie wiped away Katie's tears and told her, "Then she must never know."

  She would tell George about that man and ask if there was anything they could to exact revenge. Maisie went to retrieve Katie's dressing gown and saw the silver flapper dress on the floor. She bent down to pick it up and the shoulder strap was torn on one side. Maisie tutted. How dare her friend be treated in such a manner?

  Katie asked Maisie about the commotion the previous evening. She wanted to stay in her room but knew something was up.

  "I got knocked out yesterday. It's that case I'm helping George with. You should come out with us," Maisie stopped talking as she saw a look of fear on Katie's face. Then she decided to change the subject, "we're going to the picture house this evening. Not through the Park though, I don't want to find any more dead bodies."

  Maisie was happy to see that make Katie smile.

  "I've missed us hanging out, Maisie."

  "Me, too. Forget about men for a while Katie. Have some fun with us."

  With Katie's arm being sore and Maisie's head, they helped each other get dressed. As they went to join the others downstairs, Katie gripped her arm.

  "Please don't tell Lizzie or Lily. They will think I'm foolish. I see the way Lizzie looks at me."

  "That's just Lizzie's face! But your secret is safe with me."

  It was much later in the day than Maisie or Katie had realized. They had missed breakfast, and now Mrs. Hopkins was serving lunch.

  "I understand why Maisie stayed in bed but you, Katie. If I thought you were up to no good, out my door, you'd go."

  "Mrs. Hopkins, she was taking care of me. I had woken earlier and wasn't feeling good, so Katie sat with me."

  "I didn't hear anything," Mrs. Hopkins eyed Kati
e suspiciously, "well, your lunch is ready now. Sit down."

  Lily was excited to go to the movie theater. She had been bored with only Mrs. Hopkins for company. Maisie knew what it was like. Mrs. Hopkins, while well meaning, was too stuck in the past for a young girl eager to explore the city some more.

  "Let's get some air. And swing by Lizzie's."

  Soon the four young woman were together and talked and walked.

  "Maisie, George called by earlier. He wanted to check you were okay," Lily said absentmindedly.

  "Is he on duty?"

  "Well, yes and no. He said he had to go on a stake-out. I don't know what that is."

  Maisie stopped. On a stake-out, without her.

  "Think, Lily. Did he say where he was going?" Lily shook her head.

  "Why didn't you tell me this earlier? I have to find him." But who was going to tell Maisie where he was.

  "I might know," Lizzie said while her face turned a peculiar shade.

  "Spill," Maisie said. Lizzie had been unavailable most evenings, but Maisie hadn't time to consider why.

  "Lizzie, have you been seeing Officer Murphy?" Maisie asked.

  Lizzie began to giggle.

  "He's the sweetest man I've ever met." Lizzie gushed.

  "That's wonderful but did he tell you where George was going?"

  Lizzie nodded.

  "George said he was going to watch Peter Pedrov. He's the victim's brother in law. Apparently, George found out where the man lives…"

  "Lizzie, did he say where this was?"

  Lizzie shook her head. She didn't know anymore, but Officer Murphy was on duty today. Maisie was gone before Lizzie finished talking.

  Arriving at the station, out of breath, Maisie asked for Office Murphy. She managed to get the address from him. "Don't worry, I'll tell him I coerced you," Maisie smiled and headed to find George. She had never been this way before.

  George jumped as Maisie sidled up to him. "Shush, you'll give the game away," she giggled. It hadn't been hard to find George. He sat on a stoop pretending to read a newspaper.