Free Fallen Women by Sandra Dallas

but like Beret’s mother, Varina was also compassionate. “The other servants liked Lillie, too?”
    “As far as I know.”
    “Then why did she leave? What I don’t understand, Uncle, is why she left this house and went to work in a brothel.”
    The old man looked into the fire, watching as a log snapped, sending up sparks that lit his face. “Don’t you?”
    Beret turned away and closed her eyes, then gave an involuntary shudder. Despite the fire, she suddenly felt cold. “He’s here, then.” It was a statement, not a question.
    John did not answer.
    “A prostitute the detective talked to said she was seen talking to a dark-complexioned man—twice.” Beret did not mention that she had talked to the prostitute, too. “But even if he was here, that’s no reason for her to leave this house.” Beret thought that over and added, “Unless you asked her to.”
    “No, no, of course not. But I believe she must have left because of him.”
    Uncle and niece sat lost in thought for a moment. Then Beret asked, “Was there anyone else? Was she seeing someone?”
    “A young man. Lillie met him at one of your aunt’s soirees, the son of a friend.”
    “Who?”
    “His name is Joseph Summers. His father, a stiff-necked old soul, has mining interests. Joey’s a wild sort. I never cared for him, but I didn’t say anything to Lillie. I thought he was her business.”
    “Did she care for him?”
    Beret’s uncle shrugged. “She saw enough of him. Lillie could be wild, too, you know.”
    “I suppose so.” Had Lillie been wild all along and she hadn’t noticed? She was confused. She had learned so many things about her sister that day.
    The judge rose then, slowly, as if he were weary. “We can talk about it later, the two of us. It would be best if we didn’t discuss this in front of your aunt. She has had a hard enough time of it. Just hearing Lillie’s name spoken aloud is enough to send her into tears.”
    “I’m sorry I’ve brought this on you.”
    “You didn’t.”
    “Yes I did.”
    “It was not your fault, and the sooner you realize that, the better off you’ll be.”
    “Then if not I, who bears the fault?”
    The judge went to the fire and hit a log with a poker. It broke apart, the halves settling down into a soft glow. “It was Lillie’s.”
    He left the room, his footsteps echoing as he walked across the marble foyer, but Beret stayed, so intent on watching the fire die that she didn’t notice the shadow that passed across the window again. The house was silent, as silent as death, Beret thought, as she closed her eyes only to rest a little, but fell asleep in her chair. When she awoke, the room was dark, the fire dead, and she was covered with a blanket taken from the back of a chair. The idea that someone, even a servant, had stolen into the room while she slept unnerved her.

 
    Chapter 5
    Detective Sergeant McCauley sighed audibly the following Monday as Beret walked briskly through the squad room and stopped beside his desk. He stood, and without greeting the woman, he said, “I was hoping your uncle had forbidden you to come here.”
    “So I understand. But he did not.” Beret hoped she sounded more confident than she felt. That morning, when her aunt had asked again what in the world Beret could bring to the search for Lillie’s killer, Beret hadn’t answered. But now she knew: passion and determination.
    “Well, he certainly was surprised to find out he’d given his blessing to your interfering in this investigation.”
    “I am not interfering. I am participating. And once I explained that to him, he assured me that I had his blessing.”
    “My bad luck.” Mick pointed to the chair beside his desk, and they both sat down.
    “What do we have scheduled for today?” Beret asked.
    “We?” Mick scoffed. “ I was going to talk to Miss Hettie. I’d have left before now, but I got held up. More bad luck. You’ll recall Miss Hettie owns the whorehouse where your sister was