Free Delivering the Truth by Edith Maxwell

as well, of course?” Surely they had.
    â€œWell, there’s the problem. He claims he didn’t do it.”
    â€œHe said as much to me, too. Surely people like him lie about their crimes all the time.” I leaned forward, my hands clasped in my lap.
    â€œIt’s just that he was in McFarley’s Pub at the time the fire was getting started, Miss Carroll—I mean, Miss Rose. He’d been there for several hours and stayed until the alarm was raised. A dozen men attest to it.”
    I sat back in my chair as if I’d been pushed there. “With his crazy ideas and burn marks all over his hands? But a dozen men wouldn’t lie, I suppose.”
    â€œEspecially not for a disturbed person like young Hamilton.”
    â€œIf not him, then who else could have set the fire? Who would want that factory, and all the others, incinerated?”
    â€œIt’s my job to find out.” He tapped his hand against his leg. “And with Hamilton out of the picture, my job just became much harder.”
    â€œI don’t envy thee this profession.”
    â€œThat is the cause of my visit.” He cleared his throat. “I wondered if you might keep your ears and eyes out. You most certainly travel in circles I have no place in. Your midwifery affairs and your Quakers and all.”
    â€œI’d say that is true. I don’t suppose thee would ever attend a birth in progress or sit in a group of silent Friends for an hour or more.”
    â€œNo, no.” He smiled. “And you seem like an intelligent woman and a courageous one. Can you keep a listen out for me, Miss Rose?”
    â€œThee doesn’t have to call me Miss.”
    â€œOld habits.” He shrugged. “I can’t call you simply Rose. It isn’t right.”
    â€œAs thee wishes. I’m not sure how much help I can be, though. I’m a midwife. I’m not trained in the art of detecting. I’m not sure I’d know a clue if I saw one.”
    â€œLeave the clues and such to me.”
    I thought of something. “Does thee use the lines on people’s fingertips to convict them? I read about it in Twain’s memoir.”
    â€œWhat, Life on the Mississippi ?” He snorted. “That’s more likely fiction, Miss Carroll. Although I have heard rumblings about how it might have basis in fact. We’re still waiting for the science on it to be presented.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œBut much of detecting is simply watching people, listening to them. That you can do.”
    Which was what he had done at the reception after Isaiah Weed’s service, after all. He had been watching and listening. “I agree, then,” I said. “I’ll try to help the investigation. I admit to hearing quite a lot in my practice that might not otherwise be said. Should I learn something pertaining to the destruction of Carriage Hill, I’ll tell thee if I can.”
    â€œIf you can?”
    â€œKevin, I’m at times like a counselor of sorts to my laboring mothers. If I learn something said in confidentiality, I feel I must keep it to myself.”
    When he began to object, I held up a hand. “I’ve said I’ll help thee with the search and I will.” I looked out at the street for a moment, then back at Kevin. “Should the people of our town fear another fire? Are we in danger?” I frowned.
    â€œWe could be. It all depends on why the fire was set in the first place. It’s almost too bad the arsonist isn’t Stephen Hamilton. The town would now be safe. But this is my job, and I’ve brought in plenty of criminals in the past. I’ll find this one, too.” He stood. “So I’d best be off and back to the job. I thank you for agreeing to assist. Don’t do anything that puts you at risk, of course. But if you happen to hear anything, see anything—that’s what I’d like to be knowing.”
    I stood, too, and followed