“Yes, well, he wanted a son and made no attempt to disguise his disappointment.” She chided herself for sharing this intimate detail of her life. No doubt it would only make him all the more curious.
“Men can be fools,” Micah replied, “and it would seem you’ve had your fair share of fools in life.”
Kenzie frowned. “Why would you suppose that, Dr. Fisher?”
He fixed her with a serious expression. “Given that your father was disappointed in you and that your fiancé was a complete cad, what other conclusion could I draw?”
One of the young women from the church skated up to them. “Kenzie—oh good, Dr. Fisher, you’re here too. Come quick. Judith has taken a fall and hurt her ankle.”
Micah got to his feet. “It would seem duty calls.”
Kenzie nodded and watched as he followed the young woman across the rink. She felt almost sorry for Micah. He was clearly trying to win her over, but it was hopeless. She would never stop loving Arthur.
Patrick had barely buttoned his shirt when he heard someone knocking on his door. He hoped it wasn’t Mrs. Ryan again. Twice she’d come to him just before he needed to leave for work with requests that he help her with one problem or another.
He stuffed his shirttail into his trousers with one hand and opened the door with the other. He found Mr. Wong on the other side. The man bowed and extended a piece of paper.
“Miss send you message.”
Patrick took the note and unfolded it.
Patrick,
I must see you. I have information about Caleb and why he was at the dance hall. Please come for breakfast, and I’ll explain.
Camri
“You have answer?’ Mr. Wong asked as Patrick refolded the paper.
“Tell her I’ll be there in the morning.”
Mr. Wong nodded and immediately left.
Patrick closed the door and frowned. If she had information, that meant she wasn’t staying out of it like she’d promised.
“She’s a stubborn woman for sure,” he murmured to no one and finished tucking in his shirt. Still, thoughts of Camri brought a grin. He’d wanted more than anything to have a chance to win her over. Now that he knew she felt as strongly about him as he did about her, he wanted more than ever to sort out the past and reclaim his father’s business. He couldn’t very well ask a woman to marry him, after all, if he didn’t have a means of supporting her.
He finished dressing for work, then slipped from the apartment as quickly as he could to avoid Mrs. Ryan. The sun had set, and with the heavy clouds overhead, it was already growing dark. It seemed these days he saw very little daylight, and it was beginning to wear on his spirit.
Daniels was nowhere in sight when Patrick arrived at the dance hall, but already there were plenty of patrons. Nelson gave him a nod as Patrick approached the bar.
“Gonna be a busy one tonight,” Nelson said. He reached below and came up with a pistol. He handed it to Patrick, as was their routine each night.
Patrick slipped the piece inside his coat. “When’s it not busy on a Saturday night?”
“True, but tonight promises to be even worse. Three ships came into the bay a while ago, and Daniels sent runners to bring the sailors here to do their drinking.”
The runners were men who worked for the sailors’ boardinghouses, of which Daniels owned six. It was a tradition that went back well over fifty years. A corrupt, devious trade that benefited ships’ captains and boardinghouse owners, but not the sailors. The runners inundated the sailors with free liquor and enticements of generous accommodations. Generally, within half an hour of a ship dropping anchor, the runners had managed to remove almost every sailor. But those free enticements quickly disappeared once a man signed a boardinghouse contract.
Daniels was adept at getting all he could. His contracts appeared generous on the surface. The sailor was given room and board without any money up front on the promise that when he signed on to his next ship, the amount due would be paid in full. Of course, that usually meant the sailor was left with nothing. Not only that, but he soon learned the accommodations weren’t very good and the food was meager at best.
Daniels wasn’t a fool. He was a man of greed and ruthless ambition. He didn’t care about the men who came to seek entertainment and comfort at his establishments. He didn’t care about the girls he used for his business. His only interest was money and plenty of it.
“No doubt there will be competitors seeking to steal away our customers. Probably a few will get heavy-handed,” Nelson said as he returned to discreetly watering down the whiskey.
“I’ll be on m’guard,” Patrick said.
Nelson nodded with a sneer. “Well, that’s what you’re paid for. ’Course, I never did meet an Irishman who earned his pay.”
Patrick didn’t like the barkeep but said nothing more. There was no sense starting new problems when he still had so many to resolve.
CHAPTER
23
Sunday, January seventh, was cold. It had rained most of the night and was continuing to rain that morning, much to Patrick’s frustration. The walk from Daniels’ place to Caleb’s house was considerable, but spending extra money for the trolley wasn’t an option. Aside from paying his rent and feeding himself, Patrick was saving all the money he could to buy a proper headstone for Ophelia.
By the time he knocked on the Coulter house door, he was drenched and shivering. Mrs. Wong took one look at him and called to Camri.
“Take him to Caleb’s room so he can change his clothes.” Camri looked at Patrick and sized him up. “You have a few pounds on Caleb, but I think most of his things will fit you. If not, I know he has a robe you can wear until your clothes dry. Speaking of which, Mrs. Wong, be sure to take Patrick’s clothes and hang them in front of the fire.”
Patrick smiled. She was ever the practical one. “For sure I’m grateful, but I don’t want to be a bother.”
Camri shook her head. “On second thought, Mrs. Wong, take him to the bathroom.” She looked at him with concern. “You should have a hot bath to ward off getting sick. Mrs. Wong will bring you a robe, and there are plenty of towels in the bathroom cupboard. Take as long as you like.”
“But what about our talk and breakfast?” he asked in a teasing tone. “Or was that all just a tease to see that I got a bath?”
Camri laughed. “I’m sure after spending your time at Daniels’, you probably need one, but no, it wasn’t a tease. I’ll send Kenzie and Judith on to church and wait to take my breakfast with you. Mrs. Wong will see to you. Now go, before you truly do catch your death. I’ll lay some clothes out on Caleb’s bed for you to put on after your bath.”
Patrick didn’t argue. It’d been a long time since he’d been able to soak in a tub, and he wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity.
It wasn’t until an hour later that he emerged wearing a pair of Caleb’s gray flannel trousers and a long-sleeved white shirt. His reddish-brown hair was still damp, but Camri didn’t seem too concerned. In fact, the look she gave him betrayed her thoughts. She wasn’t at all displeased.
He threw her a smile. “Yer brother’s clothes fit a bit snug, but not bad. I must say, I like his slippers. Ne’er had a pair like these.” He held up his foot to show off the quilted, tassled footwear.
“I hope you feel better now?”
“I felt better the minute I walked into the house.” He grinned. “But I’m thinkin’ ye already know that.” He glanced around. “Did the ladies go ahead to church?”
“Yes. Dr. Fisher—Micah came and picked them up in his automobile. Judith hurt her ankle skating yesterday—nothing serious, just a sprain—so Micah wanted to keep her from too much walking.”
“That was kind. He’s a good man. Caleb spoke highly of him.”
“You’ve never met him?” Camri asked picking a strand of hair off her bodice.
Patrick thought she looked rather nervous. Perhaps nearly as nervous as he felt. “I met him once, but it was just a brief encounter.”
She looked up. “Well, he is very kind and helpful. I think he’s interested in Kenzie, but she can’t be bothered to give him the time of day.”
“For sure, a man can be blind when it comes to love.”
She blushed and headed down the hall. “Breakfast is waiting, if you’re hungry.”
“Starved.” He followed her into the dining room and helped her into her seat. “Smells good.”
“Ham and eggs,” she said as if he’d asked for the menu. “Toast and jam, and of course tea.”
“Of course.” He smiled and took a seat opposite her.
“I hope you don’t mind us serving ourselves. I told Mrs. Wong to just see to your clothes.” She picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup, then poured him one as well.
He took several pieces of ham from the platter in front of him before handing it to Camri. “I’m not one to have anyone waitin’ on me, as ye probably already know.”
She nodded. “I do.” She added eggs and toast to her plate and then picked up the jam. As if sensing Patrick’s gaze, she looked up and shrugged. “I like this strawberry jam. One of the ladies at the church made it.” She slathered a liberal amount onto her toast. “It’s delicious.”
“Aye. I can see for m’self it must be.”
She handed him the jar. “Judith said it was similar to a jam she used to make.”
Patrick sampled the jam on his toast. Camri seemed anxious for his opinion. She watched him with such intent that he smiled. He put the toast aside and gave a nod. “’Tis nearly as good as me Ma’s, but not quite.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
For several minutes she focused on her food. Patrick pretended to do the same, all the while studying Camri. She was dressed quite simply in a pale-yellow gown. It wasn’t done up with all sorts of ruffles and lace like most women preferred. Fact was, he’d never seen Camri wear much of anything that bore those things. She was sensible, and he liked that about her.
When she finally braved a glance up, Patrick couldn’t help but tease her. “Ye commanded me to come for a talk, but ye’re silent. Cat must have yer tongue.”
“I didn’t command you,” she said, straightening. A bit of fire came to her eyes. “I asked you to please come.”
He laughed. “Well, I’m here, so tell me what ye need to say.”
Camri put down her fork. “I talked to the Wongs and learned about Liling.”
He looked up from cutting his ham. “I thought we agreed ye were gonna stay out of it.” He eyed her like a father chiding his child. “For sure I remember a promise.”
“I didn’t go outside of the house looking for clues or contact Mr. Johnston about what he knows,” Camri defended. “I simply asked the Wongs who Liling was. She’s their daughter, and she’s trapped at the dance hall. Forced to—to work there.” Her cheeks reddened. “Caleb was trying to find her so that he could bring her back to the Wongs.”
Patrick frowned. Caleb had said nothing to him about this. “So Caleb went to the dance hall to find their daughter and never returned?”
“Exactly. That’s why they blame themselves for his disappearance. The room number written on the handbill—the handbill you stole along with those other papers—was Liling’s room.”
“Could be.”
“You mean you don’t know?”
Patrick shrugged. “I haven’t had any experience with the rooms. I know there are a few just off the dance hall by Daniels’ office, but that’s for private card games. I’ve been in the lower level beneath the dance hall, but never upstairs where most of the . . . entertainin’ goes on.”
“Have you ever heard anyone talk about Liling?”
“Not that I recall. For sure men sometimes come askin’ for a girl by name, but thankfully, I’m not the one who has to handle that matter.”
“What . . . exactly do you do there?”
The hesitation in her voice made him smile. “Nothin’ ye need to be knowin’ about, but to put yer mind at ease, I mostly keep the peace.”
She glanced down at her plate. “I didn’t mean to pry. I just don’t like the idea of you having to be there. I don’t like that you’re putting your life in danger. I’ve heard such foul things about those places.”
“Ye can’t be knowin’ the half of it, but I can handle the dangers so long as ye keep yerself out of ’em.”
Camri squared her shoulders. “But I came here to find Caleb. My parents entrusted me with that job, and I mean to see it through. Life can be dangerous no matter where you are, but I won’t let that keep me from doing my part.”
“Well, given what ye’ve just told me,” Patrick said, recognizing the fight in her tone, “I’d say that things have changed, and with it your part has changed too. I figured from the start that Caleb’s disappearance was due to our snoopin’ and tryin’ to see Ruef taken down. Now it would appear that may not be the case. If Caleb went to Daniels and tried to get him to release Liling, Daniels may not have taken to it well. He doesn’t like to be threatened.”
“What if Ruef knows Daniels and it’s all tied together? I’ve heard that most of the businesses in San Francisco answer to him in some way. Surely the corruption of the Barbary Coast is even more under his control.”
“Aye, to be sure.”
“Then it’s possible, maybe even probable, that Ruef could have paid Daniels to take my brother.” Her brows knit together and a frown lined her lips. “Or kill him.”
Patrick felt an uncontrollable desire to comfort her, but at the moment he needed to make certain she stayed away from Daniels and his place. “Aye. Daniels doesn’t care about anythin’ or anyone. He’s only on this earth to make money. If the price is right, there’s nothin’ he won’t do.”
“Perhaps if I were to make an appointment to see this Mr. Daniels and offer him money, he might give up the truth about what happened to Caleb.”
“Most likely he’d put ye to work in one of the upstairs rooms.” He hated being so blunt with her, but Patrick knew he had to get his point across. “Daniels has no respect for women. He sees them as good for just one thing.”
Her face reddened, and she quickly looked away. She said nothing—did nothing. For a long while it seemed she was lost in her thoughts. Patrick wondered what he could do or say that would give her hope but not entice her to take chances. It was a fine line to walk with someone as independent and headstrong as Camri Coulter.
After a few minutes, she surprised him by picking up the teapot. She poured herself more tea, then looked at him in question. Patrick raised his cup and waited while she filled it.
“Thank ye.”
She nodded and put the teapot back on the table. “I suppose there’s still Liling to worry about.”
“We aren’t givin’ up lookin’ for Caleb.”
She met his eyes. “It’ll soon be five months since he . . . disappeared.” Her voice broke, and tears filled her eyes. “I’m not a fool, Patrick. I know things are looking worse by the minute.” Tears slid down her cheeks, and she lowered her face as if ashamed. “I pray. I truly pray and try to have hope, but . . .”
He stood up and moved around the table to where she sat. Without concern for what she might say or do, he pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in his arms. “Hush now. Ye don’t need to fret. The good Lord is still hearin’ our prayers.”
She cried softly, her face buried against his chest.
Patrick lowered his face to breathe in the scent of her hair. It was lavender and something else, maybe mint. He touched his fingers to her hair. She wore it in a no-nonsense bun pinned at the nape of her neck. It would be so easy to free it from its pins so that he could run his fingers through the dark brown strands.
There was no denying his feelings for her. Without thinking, he put his finger beneath her chin and lifted her face. She had only just opened her eyes in question when he pressed his lips against hers.
Camri looped her arms around his neck. He kissed her for a long, passionate moment
in which he could see his future. He wanted a future that included Camri and their children. He wanted a good life with a place of their own—a place where they could grow old together. He trailed kisses along her tearstained cheeks, determined to get a confession of feelings from her.
“Ah, Camrianne, ye do somethin’ to me. I cannot help m’self when I’m around ye.” He pulled away and gazed into her dark eyes. “I know we’re from two different worlds, and even if it is the 1900s, there are always goin’ to be differences between us.”
She shook her head and looked confused. “What are you talking about?”
“About me bein’ Irish and uneducated.”
“I don’t understand what that has to do with anything.”
“It has to do with me knowin’ that ye come from a higher walk of life than me. That ye have yer college education and friends who share yer love of book learnin’, while I don’t. I’d most likely be an embarrassment to ye in those circles.”
“You’d never be an embarrassment to me, Patrick. You are my friend, and none of those things matter.”
“Aye, but would it matter if I were yer husband? For ye see I love ye, Camrianne, and I cannot be denyin’ it. If I were to ask ye to marry me, I know you’d give up a considerable lot.”
Her mouth was open, but no words came out. Patrick could see he’d stunned her, and for a moment he feared she’d send him packing. It was one thing to steal a kiss or two, and quite another to imply there was something strong enough between them to warrant marriage.
Fearing what she might say, Patrick did the only thing that came to mind and kissed her again. She didn’t resist him, and it gave him hope that she might yet confirm his love for her with a declaration of her own.
“Well, I have to say, I never expected to come home and find my good friend kissing my sister.”
Patrick and Camri all but jumped away from each other at the sound of Caleb’s voice. For a moment, Patrick thought it must be a ghostly vision, but then Caleb began to laugh at their surprise, and he knew it was real.
It was only then that he thought of the shock it must be to Camri. He looked at her ashen face.
In Places Hidden Page 21