The Detective Bride

by Sylvia Damsell

  Susannah started to move slowly to the side of the stage, not over happy with what was happening even as she liked being appreciated. At the previous performances a tomato had been flung towards her which landed on her dress, the only frightening incident but which remained in her mind. It had been meant for one of the violinists, she was told afterwards, but knowing that did not make her any easier, even as she was glad it wasn’t aimed at her. She reached the wings, bowed once more and moved out of sight of the audience.

  A man walked over to her holding a glass of water and she drank it appreciatively. Just a few more songs and this phase of her life would be over, hopefully before anyone realised what a fraud she was. Not because she didn’t have a good voice. She knew she did. Mostly because Susannah Crane was not a famous singer called Mirelle Noir, and somebody would cotton on soon, she was sure. To get to the stage she had for two subsequent performances in a large New York theatre would normally take years. Hers had taken days and a clever manipulation of a few people made by the detective agency for whom she worked.

  It was imperative that she prove herself. If she wanted to follow in the footsteps of Kate Warne, who was a detective employed by Alan Pinkerton, she had to not only think like her but act like her. She felt that maybe she was achieving her goal but they still hadn’t apprehended anyone yet.

  She peeped through the curtains and her boss was sitting a few seats back, with Noah a couple of seats behind him. But where was Rafael sitting? Definitely not with the run of the mill rather boisterous crowd directly in front of her because he was obviously a wealthy man.

  Hopefully not with them, because scanning all the faces of the three thousand people in the theatre was difficult and time consuming. She had watched people come in before the concert began but had not seen anyone with a scar on his left cheek.

  She had to pinpoint him. If she didn’t and Rick got to him he would never be caught and nor would they. The orchestra struck up again and she prepared to go on stage at the point which had been arranged. As she did so she looked briefly into the orchestra pit where Hank sat.

  He glanced up at the boxes above and she gave a sigh of relief. Rafael, who was sitting in one of them. Rick was sitting below and obviously had not spotted him as he kept looking round him. But then he looked up and his gaze fell on the box where Rafael sat. He stood, made for the exit but Rafael stayed where he was, maybe, Susannah felt, because he did not know what he looked like.

  She needed to let Noah know, but how? Even when she did he could not be in two places at once. Yet he needed to be because both Rick and Rafael must be apprehended. Hank she would have to deal with herself and had no idea how she was going to sing as well as try to work out what to do. But she had to sing and at least Hank was occupied with his guitar playing which should keep him in the building.

  The audience quietened and she suddenly noticed three people sitting in one of the boxes above. Her parents and Jason and what would they have to say? But she must not be distracted because she had a job to do and it had to be done properly. The orchestra began to play and she started to sing.

  “Gypsy love of mine is there never time? On your path to show the way that I must go? Gone the joys I knew. They all went with you. What is left to me is just a memory.”

  And now was the time to make Noah and Albert aware of where the men were and there was only one way to do it. She carried on singing but now the words had nothing to do with the popular Russian song.

  “Scar is on his face, left side in a box. Dark hair to his collar, accomplice nearly to him. Oh, for apprehension as there’s a transaction. Seller wearing gloves and has the ring.”

  She carried on singing the proper words as Noah tore to the back and up the stairs and Susannah altered the words once again. “In the orchestra pit, playing his guitar. Diamonds in the piano where they both left them.”

  She reverted to the words of the song and noticed Rafael sliding round the edge of the box towards the door. Rick opened it and Noah appeared. He grabbed both of them and two policemen stood near the door to the box as Susannah altered the words again back to what they should be.

  Hank leapt from the orchestra pit. His hand went in his pocket and Susannah knew what would happen next. But as he brought out the gun and lifted it, and before he could take aim at Albert who was running towards him, she took a flying leap onto his back and the gun flew. Albert vaulted over the low division which divided the orchestra pit from the stage and audience, grabbed the man and a policeman took the gun.

  Susannah carried on singing and the piece ended, Hank was led away and someone yelled from the back. “Sing again, lady, or are there anymore villains?”

  “You have all been amazing,” she replied. “What would you like me to sing?”

  “Abide with me,” someone else shouted, a song she fortunately recalled from childhood. Sung in a church the family would attend but she didn’t ever go to church now. She looked down at the orchestra and they started to play while Susannah’s full, rich voice filled the auditorium.

  “Abide with me; fast falls the eventide. The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and comfort flee, help of the helpless, O abide with me.”

  She carried on singing and the audience started to sing also which, she noticed, included her parents and Jason. They sang quietly at first and then in full volume as she led it with the recently patented microphone in front of her. The sound as it filled the huge auditorium was spectacular and made Susannah feel good.

  “I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless. Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still if Thou abide with me.”

  The audience stood as one as they reached the final verse. “Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes. Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee. In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.”

  For a few moments there was absolute silence and Susannah felt she had a foretaste of Heaven. Would she have gone there if it had become ugly and she was killed? Probably not because she never did pay much attention to God. She hadn’t even asked for His assistance in or protection over what she did.

  And then the applause was thunderous. There was stamping. There was whistling. There were shouts of “thank you.” Two men from the orchestra pit leapt up and lifted her on their shoulders and the applause increased. Noah below stood grinning at her.

  She looked briefly up to her parents and Jason’s box and her mother was dabbing her eyes with a dainty handkerchief. Was that because of the hymn they just sang or because her daughter had been in danger? The noise slowly died down, everyone settled and she spoke into her microphone, her speaking voice as musical as her singing one.

  “Thank you. You’re very kind.”

  A young man shouted. “Could you sing one more song, ma’am?”

  One more, but what? “Could you sing amazing grace?” a lady’s voice called out.

  Was it what had happened which was making the audience want religious hymns, Susannah thought. There was nothing like the sight of a gun to instil fear into people, even though she knew the area around was far from free of crime.

  “Yes, that,” shouted a man and once again the hall reverberated with the beauty of the music and the words.

  She celebrated with the cast and orchestra afterwards, still in her role of Mirelle Noir. Her next case would probably not be so glamorous and she was determined to make the most of it. They danced, ate, chatted. Some of them became progressively more drunk. All of them were in a celebratory mood.

  It was well after midnight when the party finally broke up and she wasn’t too keen on going back to her hotel. What she really wanted to do was go home and back to normality. She made for the front door and sighed with relief at what she saw.

  Noah. The height of him, his physique and his strength was just what she needed. He stepped forward and held up his arm for her to put he
r hand through it.

  “Did you enjoy yourself?”

  “I did but everyone got a bit rowdy at the end. There was plenty of alcohol. Personally I don’t like the stuff.”

  “Do you belong to one of those temperance societies?”

  She smiled. “No. I just don’t like the taste.”

  “Nor do I.”

  She looked at him with interest. “You don’t? I thought most men did.”

  “Well, I haven’t actually tasted it. My father liked his drink too much and I was at the tail end of his drunken bouts very often. I’m not sure if it runs in families so I decided not to try it. I’m happy with fruit juice, tea or coffee.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “I’m not sure. He made off with a lady and after that we had a more peaceful life. My mother married again and the man she’s with is a real gentleman. She’s very happy. Shall I hail a cab or shall we walk to the hotel?”

  “What I’d really like is to go home. My parents were at the concert and they’ll be worried, I’m sure. Will you come with me? We can go very early in the morning to collect our stuff from the hotel. What will happen to Rafael?”

  “I’m not sure. It depends on the jeweller. He’ll probably get away with it if he hires a good lawyer but he’ll have to leave the country.”

  “He was going back to France tonight, anyway.”

  “Yes.” They walked in silence for a few moments, then. “I haven’t asked you before. Why are you doing this kind of work? It can be dangerous. It has been dangerous.”

  Why indeed? She never really was sure. “I don’t know but I’ve always wanted to be a detective. I used to make up mysteries when I was at school and my friends and I would act them out. Have you read any of Poe’s books?”

  “All of them. I read them after I joined the detective agency. But a lady being involved is another thing because there can be danger, which there was this evening and with what you did earlier.”

  “I can take care of myself,” Susannah said. “Women aren’t helpless.”

  “You did a good job jumping into the orchestra pit.”

  “I did, didn’t I? I learnt a lot at a posh boarding school I attended. The school was posh but the students weren’t. My mother would have a fainting fit if she knew all the things we got up to.”

  “I didn’t know ladies did that. Clark said to tell you not to bother to come in for three days. I think he’s already got another assignment for you.” Noah walked over to a waiting carriage. “Tomorrow you have to leave New York publicly on a liner but we’ll pick you up a little way off shore. The ship leaves early in the morning.”

  Susannah looked at her watch. “I know. I want you to come home with me and meet my parents. I know they will want to thank the man who has been protecting me.”

  Noah put his hand out as she went to climb on the front of the carriage then walked to the other side to take the reins. “I’m not sure who protected who. Your parents won’t want to see me.”

  “Of course they will or is it too late?”

  He looked at his watch. “I’ve done later.”

  “All night, you mean. I could never have done this without you.”

  “I’d like to do more things with you, that is, apart from work. Could we go for a meal in a few days and not discuss work at all?”

  Go for a meal? That sounded really tempting. “Thank you. I’d like that.”

  “But I won’t come in tonight because it’s very late and you need to collapse.”

  “I can sleep all day tomorrow.”

  And Noah couldn’t get away as her parents ran from the house when the carriage pulled up in the drive. They had obviously been waiting and Susannah was glad she had come home. It gave her a feeling of stability though she knew the urge to do something else would soon return. Noah said he must be going but they virtually dragged him into the house.

  The description of what the case had been was graphic and Susannah brought Noah into the conversation continually, proud of what he had done but trying not to show it too obviously. When he finally left it was two in the morning and she felt ready to drop into bed.

  “He’s a nice man,” her mother said as they turned away from the door.

  Susannah smiled, “Don’t start matchmaking. He’s just a colleague.”

  “As if I would.” Rosemary put her arms round her daughter and hugged her. “You could take up singing professionally. They were all mad about you.”

  “I was French. I probably wouldn’t be so popular as American.”

  “I think you would.”

  “And it’s safer than what you’re doing now,” Susannah’s father said.

  “Papa!” Her tone was exasperated. “Don’t start that.”

  “Sorry.”

  “You’re not sorry at all and if I don’t go to bed I’ll sleep where I am. I haven’t had a lot of sleep for a few days.”

  “Can I get you anything?” Rosemary asked.

  “No, thank you. I probably won’t wake until midday at least.” Susannah paused. “Except that I’m leaving publicly on the ship early in the morning so I have to be awake.”

  “What time?”

  “The cab is picking me up at eight at the hotel but I must be back there by six.” Susannah frowned. “Maybe I should go back now.” She walked towards the front door. “Yes, I’ll go back now.”

  “I’ll take you,” Jason said, but when they went outside Noah was waiting on the front of the carriage he had hired.

  “He is good,” Susannah’s mother said. “Marry him. He’ll look after you well.”

  “You won’t get rid of me that easily.”

  Susannah walked towards the carriage and Noah jumped down. “I thought you’d rethink,” he said.

  “Look after her,” Rosemary called after them. “And make sure you bring her off the ship safely.”

  He smiled. “I will, ma’am.”

  They pulled away and the night was a short one before they had to rise early to be at the docks.

  Chapter 5

  It was a month later when Albert Clark handed Susannah an envelope from where he sat in his chair behind his desk and she stood in front of it. Not given to much chivalry, he rarely stood when she came in though he did stand for women clients of which he had a few.

  “Your wage for this month,” he said. “I’ve added a bonus for your apprehension of the two men and the jewellers have also given us a reward of which I have passed on twenty percent.” He held out another envelope. “And that is your next assignment and the money you will need for it.”

  She looked inside the envelope. “I want thirty percent,” she said.

  “I have a detective agency to run. You’re only getting part of the reward because the jewellers stipulated it.”

  “Thirty.”

  “Twenty.”

  “Thirty.”

  “Twenty five.”

  “Alright and Noah twenty five also. That leaves you fifty. Show me the proof of what you received.”

  He held out a piece of paper, handed over some more money and she pushed it in the envelope before opening the second one. She read quietly before looking up. “I would like to choose my own pseudonyms,” she said.

  “Helen is quite a nice time.”

  “Susannah. I shall keep my Christian name. Smythe? Why not just Smith?”

  “It gives it a ring of class. I would like you to leave day after tomorrow. You’ll need new gowns so I’ve rung our usual store. Buy six and whatever else you require, under garments, that sort of thing. You’ll meet your husband when you arrive. The marriage isn’t a real one but you’ll need to act married. Can you do that?”

  “I can do anything and I’m going to be Susannah Smythe,” she said.

  “I’m beginning to believe that. His name is Blair Wilde.”

  “His real name?”

  “The name he gives. He works for one of my agencies in Los Angeles.”

  “Where is Lone Pine?”

  “Not
too far from Independence. You will be in Lower Pine, which is a few miles distant. There are three Pines, Lone, Middle and Lower.”

  “Are there lots of pine trees?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “And who is the client?”

  “It’s in your instructions. It’s a man called Larson Miles. He claims the body who have bought the land for a hospital, university and seminary have stolen it from him. He wants you to prove that they have.”

  “And how am I going to do that?”

  “That you and your partner will have to work out between yourselves. He says the papers must be false but he needs help proving it. Your presence as Mr. Wilde’s new wife will give authenticity to the situation which will mean you can snoop around without being suspected.”

  “Are they building already?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then what does Miles want, the land or compensation?”

  “Both and he wants them to stop building. He doesn’t mind the hospital because he says that is on the edge of his land but he says they have to stop building the university and seminary.”

  “Are they fighting him?”

  “They have documents to prove they bought it fair and square. He says they’re false.”

  “New York is a couple of thousand miles away. Why are you involved?”

  “Because I have a woman detective and Los Angeles doesn’t. Women go out west to marry men there so you will not be regarded as suspicious in any way. Wilde is already there and is renting a small plot of land which has a house on it. He arrived a couple of weeks ago.”

  Susannah walked over to sit on a comfortable chair. “Wilde?”

  “Blair Wilde, your future husband.”

  “So I’m a mail order bride?”

  “Yes. You’ve never met and will marry in Independence where we have a phoney minister to preside over the ceremony. Wilde is to all intents and purposes a widower.”