Murder on Pleasant Avenue

by Victoria Thompson

  “You don’t need to learn how to cook,” Gino teased.

  She blushed and gave him a swat. “I said I help. And people need to learn how to cook American food. They have a nursery and a kindergarten for children so their mothers can go to work. They even have a playground. They bought five houses in a row and combined all the backyards.”

  A playground in the city was a rarity and would attract the children who would, in turn, bring their parents. Someone knew what they were doing.

  “You said the people who work there are volunteers,” Frank said. “Where do they come from?”

  “From all over. They went to college first, even the women,” she added in wonder. “Miss Harding just came a few weeks ago, after she graduated.”

  “Is she from the city?” Frank asked.

  “A town up north somewhere,” Teo said. “I forget the name.”

  Up north could mean anywhere, but certainly not a place like New York City. A naïve young woman would have been easy prey for anyone in East Harlem. Didn’t the settlement give their workers instruction in how to stay safe? Frank should give this head resident—whatever that meant—a piece of his mind.

  For the rest of the trip, Teo told them all about the settlement and the work they did. By the time they reached the place itself, which was just a short walk from the El stop on 116th Street, he saw it was just as Teo had said, a group of five row houses that looked pretty much like all the others on that street except for a large sign that read HARLEM SETTLEMENT HALL and additional lines of what looked like gibberish to Frank but which was most likely the same thing in various languages. As Teo had explained, the settlement served everyone in the neighborhood, which included Germans, the Irish, and Jews from Eastern Europe, in addition to the Italians who were relatively new to the area.

  No one paid them any more attention than two strangers in the neighborhood would normally draw, but Frank figured if Miss Harding really had been kidnapped, someone would be watching the settlement house to see if the police had been notified. People had always recognized Frank as a cop, even though he’d worn regular street clothes when he was a detective sergeant with the police force, and they still often assumed he was one. Hopefully, someone would know he wasn’t, especially if that might put Miss Harding in even greater danger.

  Teo led them into what appeared to be the main door. She didn’t stop to speak to anyone but took them down the hall and upstairs, past several rooms where classes seemed to be going on. Instead of children, though, the students were adults of various ages, some quite elderly. Upstairs, what had once been bedrooms had been transformed into offices. Teo stopped outside one of the doors that stood open and rapped on the door frame. “Mr. McWilliam?”

  “Mrs. Donatelli, you’re back,” a voice said, and a man appeared in the doorway. Christopher looked to be around thirty, an ordinary enough fellow in a suit and boiled shirt that seemed a bit limp for so early in the day. His otherwise pleasant face was drawn and his eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn’t slept.

  Teo introduced the men. “Have you heard anything?” she added.

  “Nothing. Please come in, Mr. Malloy and Mr. Donatelli. Thank you for coming so quickly. I’m sure Mrs. Donatelli explained the urgency.”

  “I will be downstairs if you need me,” Teo said, closing the door behind her.

  Frank blinked in surprise. Sarah and Maeve would have assumed they were welcome at a meeting like this. He’d have to let Sarah know that Teo Donatelli needed to be a little more modern.

  Mr. McWilliam directed Frank and Gino to the somewhat worn sofa that sat against one of the walls. McWilliam’s desk took up another, facing the windows that overlooked the street. A bookcase stood against the third wall, filled with books and papers stuck in haphazardly. McWilliam turned his desk chair around to face them. “I’m sure Mrs. Donatelli has told you everything we know.”

  “Why don’t you tell us again yourself,” Frank suggested. “Tell us everything you know about Miss Harding, too.”

  McWilliam took a deep breath, as if he had to fortify himself for this, and he probably did. To have a young woman under his protection disappear would reflect badly on him and his whole organization, not to mention the horror that Miss Harding would suffer. “Miss Harding is missing. From what we have pieced together, she went to call on some new arrivals over on Pleasant Avenue, to invite them to some activities here. She left them—they verified this—around three o’clock. Some children saw her speaking to a man who stopped her on the sidewalk. No one knows who the man was, or if they do, they’re afraid to say. At any rate, no one has seen her since.”

  “How well do you know Miss Harding?”

  McWilliam shifted uneasily in his chair and glanced at the door, as if checking to make sure it was closed and they couldn’t be overheard. “I know her very well. I’ve known her since she was a little girl.”

  “Your families were friends, then?” Gino guessed.

  “Yes. We lived in the same town. Saratoga Springs. Jane, I mean Miss Harding, was about eight years younger than I, so I never paid her much attention until she came home from her first year of college. She had grown into a . . . a remarkable young woman,” he said, although Frank thought he meant she had gotten a lot prettier. “I was home for a visit, you see. I had already begun my work here. We opened the settlement house about five years ago. I wasn’t here in the very beginning, but some of my friends from college had gotten involved with the settlement movement, and I thought I’d join them.”

  “And now you’re in charge?” Frank asked.

  “I’m the head resident, yes, for about two years now. I know that’s an odd term,” he added at their puzzled frowns. “We call the volunteers who come to live here residents, and I supervise all of them, so I’m the head resident.”

  “And you recruited Miss Harding?” Gino asked.

  “I . . .” He glanced at the door again. “This isn’t generally known, but . . . I told you I began to notice Miss Harding while she was attending college, and I started to court her. With her family’s blessing of course. We . . . I had proposed to her, but I have decided to make the settlement house my life’s work, and she thought she should experience it herself before giving me her answer.”

  Gino nodded wisely. “In case she didn’t like it.”

  “That’s not how she phrased it, but yes. And I had to agree. I wouldn’t want her to be miserable, since my work will necessitate my living here in the city among the people I serve.”

  “And she probably wouldn’t want you to give up your calling just to please her,” Frank speculated, mostly to get a feeling for Miss Harding.

  “She did say that, almost exactly,” McWilliam admitted with obvious pride. “She really is a remarkable young woman.”

  He’d described her that way twice. Was he just smitten or was Miss Harding really something special? Frank’s wife was certainly remarkable, and he knew many women really were, but was Miss Harding one of them? “Is it possible,” Frank said, trying to sound apologetic, “that Miss Harding decided she really cannot accept this way of life and simply left the city and went home?”

  “Without even speaking to me?” McWilliam asked, appalled at the very suggestion.

  “She might have wanted to avoid a very painful conversation.”

  “No, absolutely not. She isn’t like that. She isn’t a . . . a coward. She would have told me if she couldn’t . . . No, she wouldn’t have just gone off like that. If nothing else, she wouldn’t want to worry people. Besides, I’m told she didn’t take any of her things with her.”

  “Have you spoken to her parents to be sure?”

  “I . . . I didn’t want to alarm them.”

  “I can understand that, but we do need to make sure she isn’t safely at home. Maybe you can telephone them about something else. Maybe a surprise you’re planning and you need their advice or some
thing. If she’s there, they’ll be upset with you and let you know it. If she’s not there and they haven’t heard from her, they’ll behave normally.”

  “I see, yes. We should make sure, I suppose,” McWilliam said with obvious reluctance. He certainly wouldn’t want to frighten them unnecessarily.

  “And meanwhile, Gino and I will begin our investigation. I know you’re concerned for Miss Harding’s reputation, so we’ll be as discreet as possible. First of all, I’d like to speak to the lady who was kidnapped, the one Mrs. Donatelli told us about.”

  “Mrs. Cassidi,” McWilliam said with a weary sigh. “She won’t speak to you. She won’t even see you or any other man. She even turned away her priest. I think she finally allowed one or two of her closest female friends in, but she’s still very upset by what happened to her. Terrified of everything, or so I’m told.”

  “That’s understandable,” Frank said, his mind racing. This Mrs. Cassidi was the only person who might give them some insight into how to find Miss Harding. And if she wouldn’t see a man . . . “Do you have a telephone here, Mr. McWilliam?”

  “Yes, we do. You’re not thinking you’ll telephone Miss Harding’s parents, are you?”

  “No. I need to telephone my wife.”

  * * *

  * * *

  Sarah Malloy found the Harlem settlement house easily enough. Malloy’s instructions had been very clear. What was not clear was why he had summoned her. He couldn’t discuss it on the telephone, he’d said. No one discussed sensitive information on the telephone since you never knew when the operator might be listening, and newspapers were always willing to pay for bits of gossip that might make good news stories.

  She wasn’t sure exactly what to do now that she was at the settlement house, though. At The Daughters of Hope Mission where she volunteered and the maternity clinic that she had founded, visitors must knock and be admitted, for security. Here, however, she noticed as she approached the entrance, people came and went freely. In any case, she didn’t have to decide anything at all because a lovely young Italian woman came out to greet her when she started up the front steps.

  “You must be Mrs. Malloy,” she said. “I’m Teodora Donatelli.”

  “So nice to meet you, Mrs. Donatelli. I assume you’re married to one of Gino’s brothers.”

  “That’s right. Rinaldo. Mr. Malloy and Gino are waiting for you inside. I will show you.”

  She took Sarah in and down the hall to what appeared to be a classroom, empty now. Malloy and Gino were waiting for her there. They had been discussing something in whispers but they jumped to their feet when she and Teo appeared.

  “You made good time,” Malloy observed, coming to greet her. “And you brought your medical bag. Good.”

  “I must admit you have me intrigued. Is someone giving birth?” Sarah asked with a teasing smile.

  “Not exactly, but we need your help.”

  “I will be outside if you need me,” Teo said, turning for the door.

  “Would you stay, Mrs. Donatelli?” Malloy asked. “I’m sure Mrs. Malloy will have questions only you can answer.”

  Mrs. Donatelli was surprised but apparently pleased to be included. She closed the classroom door and took one of the chairs Gino had pulled into a small circle so they could talk easily and keep their voices low. They told Sarah what they had learned about Jane Harding and her abduction.

  “So Miss Harding and Mr. McWilliam are engaged?” Sarah asked.

  “Not yet,” Gino said. “We gather she came to the settlement house because she wanted to see what she’d be getting into before giving him her answer.”

  Sarah turned to Mrs. Donatelli. “Mr. McWilliam said their relationship was a secret, but did you know about it?”

  Teo wrinkled her nose. “Everyone knew. They didn’t speak of it of course, but you could tell how Mr. McWilliam feels about her.”

  “Ah yes, love and a cough cannot be hid, as they say,” Sarah said, although she noticed Teo had not mentioned the way Miss Harding felt about Mr. McWilliam. She might have managed to hide her feelings better or perhaps her feelings had cooled when she realized the kind of life she would have as his wife. “So exactly what is it you need for me to do?” she asked Malloy.

  “McWilliam is naturally afraid of what the Black Hand will do to Miss Harding, and she must be absolutely terrified, so we want her returned as quickly as possible. We’ll have a difficult time getting people in the neighborhood to talk to us, though.”

  “No one will speak of those people,” Teo confirmed solemnly.

  “So we thought if we could question Mrs. Cassidi about where she was held for so long, we might be able to figure out where it was and find Miss Harding.”

  “That’s assuming they were kidnapped by the same people and taken to the same place,” Sarah said.

  “The Black Hand is very organized,” Gino said. “They kidnap people regularly, so they must have a place they can keep them without worrying they’ll be found.”

  “But Mrs. Cassidi will not talk to anyone,” Teo said.

  “Not to any men, at least,” Malloy said. “I’m hoping we can convince her husband to allow a woman to see her.”

  “But if she doesn’t want to see anyone at all . . .” Sarah protested.

  “If her husband tells her she must, she will do it,” Gino said with a confidence that annoyed Sarah. Poor Mrs. Cassidi.

  “But who will convince the husband?” Sarah asked.

  “I think he will help us if we tell him what we’re trying to do,” Malloy said. “If we succeed, we might even be able to break up the Black Hand and stop the kidnappings.”

  A worthy endeavor, Sarah had to agree, but . . . “Why do you think Mrs. Cassidi will talk to me even if her husband forces her to see me?” she asked Teo.

  “If you tell her you are trying to stop the Black Hand, she probably will not. She will be too frightened. But Mr. Malloy said you are a nurse.”

  “I am, and a midwife.”

  “Maybe Mr. Cassidi thinks his wife is not well after her ordeal,” Teo said. “Maybe he thinks she needs to see a nurse to make sure she is all right, but someone who is not from the neighborhood who won’t spread gossip.”

  “That’s a really good idea, Teo,” Gino said, although he sounded a little too surprised for Sarah’s taste. He should expect Teo to have good ideas.

  “It is a good idea,” Sarah said. “That’s how you should advise Mr. Cassidi to present it to her, Malloy.”

  Before Malloy could agree, someone knocked on the door and a man came in without waiting for a response. Malloy introduced Sarah to Mr. McWilliam, who looked as worried as she would expect a man whose beloved had gone missing to look. He wasn’t, Sarah noted, particularly handsome or even impressive, the way some men are. He looked like the kind of man Sarah’s mother would have called a sensible choice for a husband—steady and kind—but was he a man who a young girl would give up everything for and live in a place like this for the rest of her life? Perhaps she had misjudged him.

  “I telephoned Miss Harding’s parents,” he said, running an unsteady hand over his face. “I made up some story about wanting to surprise Jane with a visit home and asked when would be a convenient time. They were happy to hear from me and gave no indication that they’d heard from or seen Jane.”

  “I know that was difficult for you,” Malloy said, “but we had to be sure. Now we can proceed with our investigation.”

  “What can I do to help?” McWilliam asked.

  “Just try to appear as normal as possible. People will probably notice Miss Harding isn’t around, but don’t act like you are alarmed.”

  “I could say she went home for a few days,” McWilliam said.

  “Yes, that would work,” Malloy said. “If we hope to protect her good name, we don’t want people to start talking about her disap
pearing and wondering where she is.”

  Quickly, Malloy explained to McWilliam what their next step was going to be.

  “And what if Mrs. Cassidi can’t tell you anything that helps, or what if she won’t speak to Mrs. Malloy at all?” McWilliam asked.

  “Then we’ll think of something else,” Malloy said.

  “You must not lose hope, Mr. McWilliam,” Teo said. “I know Gino and Mr. Malloy will do everything they can to find Miss Harding.”

  McWilliam nodded almost absently, as if he had no confidence at all. “Who is going to speak to Mr. Cassidi?”

  Sarah expected Malloy to say he would, but he turned to Gino instead. “Do you think he would take my advice?”

  Gino shook his head. “He’d be too suspicious of you. He’d see you as a policeman. Besides, I don’t know how well he speaks English.”

  “That’s what I was thinking, too. You’re the only one who can do this, Gino. Do you think you should take Mrs. Donatelli with you?”

  “Me?” Teo asked in surprise.

  “Yes,” Sarah said. “You can speak for Mrs. Cassidi. Tell him she may be injured or sick and not want to tell him for fear of worrying him.”

  “I suppose I can do that,” Teo said uncertainly.

  “Of course you can. If he cares for his wife at all, he must be at his wits’ end to know how to help her. We’ll offer him a solution.”

  “Should we go to see him now?” Gino asked. “He’ll probably be at his office.”

  “The sooner we see him, the sooner we can see Mrs. Cassidi and the sooner we can find Miss Harding,” Malloy said. “Do you know him, Mr. McWilliam?”

  McWilliam started at the sudden attention. “I . . . yes, he has been a big supporter of the settlement. In fact, Mrs. Cassidi has been taking classes here. Or rather she had been before . . . Well, anyway, he also encourages his workers to study English here.”

  “Then you should go with Gino and Mrs. Donatelli, to introduce Gino. And you will have to tell him one of your volunteers has been kidnapped, too. Then Gino will explain that Mrs. Malloy will see his wife to be sure she isn’t ill and also to ask what she remembers that might help us find the missing woman.”