Capturing the Devil (Stalking Jack the Ripper #4)(87)
“Those infused sugar cubes are one of our bestsellers.” A familiar young woman stepped around the table, her smile infectious. “Miss Wadsworth. Mr.
Cresswell.”
“Miss Williams,” I said, hugging Minnie warmly. “It’s lovely to see you again. How are you enjoying your stenography course?”
“It’s good. There’s always much to do, so I’m quite busy. I split my time between that and watching the counter here until Henry hires another girl. We rent a few rooms out upstairs and I tell you, I can’t keep up. It’s hard to find reliable employees lately. Everyone wants to be at the fair, not stuck behind a counter.” Minnie plastered on a smile, though it didn’t light up her face the way acting had. “Enough with talk of work; I’m so pleased you both came to see me!
Just look at this!” She held up her hand, showing off a beautiful wedding band.
“We married a few days ago. It was a private little affair, but I couldn’t be happier. Henry’s found us a place in Lincoln Park. We’re almost settled in, and I’d love if you’d come visit. He’ll be traveling for a bit and it’ll just be me in that big old house. Not that I’m complaining—it’s simply darling.” Her attention strayed to where Thomas was still lifting boxes of sugar and breathing in their aromas. “You’re welcome to take a few home, Mr. Cresswell. I’m sure Henry won’t mind.”
Thomas lifted his gaze to mine, his expression hopeful.
“I’m your fiancée, not your keeper, Cresswell.”
Actually, I wasn’t technically either. I must have frowned because his eyes darkened into two pools of trouble. I braced myself for whatever untoward thing was about to come out of his mouth to distract me. Sugar cubes forgotten, he tossed them aside and took a quick nip at my ear. “Who needs sugar when you’re sweet enough to satisfy me, Wadsworth?”
Poor Minnie appeared as uncomfortable as anything. I gave Thomas my most exaggerated eye roll and shook my head. “Will you look around for anything else you might be interested in?” I raised my brows, hinting at our ulterior
motives. “Perhaps you’ll find something of note.”
Thomas looked ready to dazzle me with another of his flirtations, and before he could utter something silly, I turned to Minnie. “The pharmacy is lovely. I’ve never seen so many tonics in one place. There must be over one hundred different jars.”
“Oh, goodness.” Minnie eyed up the shelves as she stepped out from behind the counter. Bottles filled with powder and different colored liquids were stacked two and three rows deep. “There’s closer to three hundred! Henry is gifted with his elixirs. He’s got tonics for headaches and backaches and even creams for smooth skin. People from all over the city come in to purchase his tinctures.”
“Well, with a collection so grand, I can see why.” We walked through the store, my cane clicking pleasantly. “Minnie,” I began slowly, not wanting to frighten her, “have you heard about a Miss Julia Smythe? Or her daughter, Pearl?”
Her brow crinkled. “No, I can’t say either name sounds familiar. Are they friends of yours? I might ask around if you need me to.”
I caught Thomas’s eye across the store; he gave me a slight shake of his head.
A warning to not reveal too much. “No, one of our friends came across her picture in a paper. Julia worked at the jewelry counter on 63rd Street and was last seen on Christmas Eve. Her family is quite worried. A Miss Van Tassel did work here and recently disappeared, too. Have you heard of her?”
“That’s awful!” Minnie’s expression didn’t shift, though her tone did. “Henry hasn’t mentioned anyone by that name before, though the pharmacy across the street is run by that strange man. I wonder if that’s where they both worked. He sells jewelry there, too.” She seemed genuinely concerned. “I swear there’s something not quite right about him… the way he watches each move a person makes like they’re ready to steal from him. Henry’s warned me to not draw his attention.”
I was momentarily taken aback. I hadn’t counted on there being two pharmacies in close proximity to each other. Now I was unsure if Miss Van Tassel and Miss Smythe and her daughter were linked to this one or the other.
“Have you had many dealings with him?”
“Goodness, no.” She shook her head. “I told Henry about the last time I stopped in there and he said to stay away from that wretched man and his shop.”
She shuddered. “My Henry never speaks poorly of anyone, so I took his warning seriously.”
Thomas had inspected almost every inch of the store and was now standing
close enough to overhear our conversation.
“I do hope you find that missing woman and her daughter,” Minnie added. “If she worked for him, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d buried them in his basement.
He seems the sort to have a collection of blasphemous things.”
That certainly sounded as if it could fit with our suspect. “Thank you, Minnie, you’ve been very helpful. We must be on our way, though. We’ve got to speak with the proprietor of that pharmacy, too.”
“Oh, he’s not in,” she said, nodding toward the giant window. “He drew the curtains and the CLOSED sign has been displayed for a week now. No one seems to know where he’s gotten to. I can’t say that I mind, though. The less I see of him, the better.”