Paul glowed with pleasure. He didn’t think he'd ever get into the police force, they weren’t partial to people like him, but maybe this was his chance. He continued to help those stuck. The grumbling beneath his feet continued. It got worse when three powerful tugs arrived having been ordered to break the ice to allow the boats free travel once again.
“Look out,” someone shouted.
A large ice floe pulled away from the others and began moving seaward. Paul estimated there were about fifty people still on this piece of ice. He made a grab for one man but missed.
“Time to get yourself to safety, son. Leave the rest of it to us.” The kindly policeman ordered Paul to get out of the river. He gladly complied. He didn’t relish the thought of landing out at sea on an ice cake despite the jokes being made by those traveling on it.
He climbed up the ladder, and then pulled it up behind him. He brought it over to the café and paid the café owner to store it in his backyard. He didn’t want anyone nicking it. He went inside and gave Mark and his brother a couple of coins to keep their eyes on the ladder. Paul wanted to go back and help rescue those stuck on the ice if he could, but the café owner told him to sit down and eat something warm. “You done enough, son, your ma would be proud of you. Get something hot inside you now or you will sicken for something.”
Paul’s stomach rumbled so he stayed sitting. As he ate, he listened with horror to Mark and his brother as they told him what they had witnessed since the storm began.
“Where are you going now?” Paul asked as he finished his meal.
The boys exchanged looks before shrugging their shoulders.
“Come home with me. My uncle will know what to do,” Paul said impulsively. Michael Byrne may box his ears but he wasn’t going to turn two young’uns out in the cold. Not after the sights they witnessed. Anyway, he could pay their way for a bit. Paul patted his pocket full of coins. He couldn’t wait to see his uncle’s face when he showed him the fruits of his labors.
Chapter 8
Train Depot
“Doherty, Wake, Freshly and Madstone. You need to pair up and lead a team of lads out to dig out the trains. Can’t leave the toffs sitting in snow up to their backsides.”
Charlie exchanged a glance with Derek. They had finally been able to escort the travelers stuck on the last train to safety. It would be madness going back out in this weather, but he supposed someone had to. At least a British gentleman from the last train had given Charlie and Derek some fresh clothes. They would be a bit warmer this time around.
The railroad wasn’t going to pay them to sit around idle. Charlie pushed through the snow, it was almost worse than it had been during the blizzard. His ears, nose, fingers and toes were all freezing. He thanked God he was wearing his thickest coat, although a pair of gloves would have been handy. He gestured to the group behind him to follow closely.
“Charlie how much farther man? I can’t feel my feet or me ears,” Derek grumbled. “We got to get to the train. We won’t survive if we stay out in this.”
“I vote we head back to the depot. They’re likely all dead anyway,” one of the other men said.
“Not your call Jackson. Boss put me in charge and I say we go forward,” Charlie said.
“I ain’t in the army, lad. I’m not putting my life on the line for some rich twit. I’m heading home. Back to the wife – she’d have something to warm me up.”
Charlie didn’t argue and the men kept complaining, but they moved forward. They knew the chances of finding anyone alive were slim, but they had to try. Leaving anyone to die alone was unthinkable. They moved the shovels to their other shoulders as they trudged on. Charlie was glad they hadn’t tried to take the wagons, the horses wouldn’t have been able to cope with the snow. What they needed were sleighs.
“There she is. Up ahead. Jeez, looks like there was a fire,” Jackson said, going as pale as the snow.
“Come on lads, let’s see if we can find anyone who needs our help,” Charlie surged forward, the men following behind.
They worked as quickly as they could. Charlie prayed they wouldn’t have to deal with any burnt bodies. He doubted he’d have the stomach for it. The fire had destroyed a couple of cars but it looked like they had been empty before it took hold. But where were all the passengers? The driver and his mate? The train was eerily silent.
“Looks like they took off walking, Gaffer,” Jackson commented.
Charlie nodded. He looked around him for a trace of what direction they may have taken but it was hopeless. The continued snowfall would have covered their tracks.
“What do we do now?” Derek asked Charlie.
“Let’s dig the cars out and have them ready for when they clear the tracks. We’ll have to get an engine down to tow it back. Jackson, see what you can do about rustling up some warm drinks,” Charlie ordered.
“I got my own supply right here, Gaffer,” Jackson said.
Charlie turned and hit the bottle out of the man’s hand. “You know better than to bring drink on the job. Do you want to lose your place?” Charlie snapped back in anger.
“Steady on Gaffer, it was only a small drop.”
“You need your full mind Jackson. Keep the boozing for when you’re off the job.”
“Yes, sir.” Jackson’s face was a picture.
Charlie walked away knowing Jackson was only itching for an excuse to hit him. Being the gaffer offered limited protection.
He picked his way through the cars examining each to make sure nobody lay silent. They were all empty, but the belongings the passengers had left behind suggested they had left in a hurry. Charlie hoped whomever had led them to safety had reached their destination. There were far too many stories of bodies turning up now the snows had started to melt.
He almost walked into the body of a young girl. It was only the purple feather in her cap that stopped his next step. Thinking it was a small bird; he had taken off his glove to free it. Instead, as he brushed away the snow, a young girl’s face came visible. He yelled for his men as his hands moved more rapidly. She looked like she was sleeping but she wasn’t. He said a quick prayer over her before grabbing a blanket and putting it over the body. He figured it was best leaving her where she lay than moving her into the train. They’d need the police out here.
Jackson surprised him by leading the group in prayer. “Not right that. Poor young thing. All her life ahead of her and she dies in a storm. Wonder who she was? Where her parents are?”
Charlie wondered the same and then found himself thinking deeper. If anything had happened to him, who would mourn him? His mam and da, his siblings, maybe some friends but there was nobody else. Nobody special.
“Could do with seeing the wife and kids right now, just to make sure they were all right,” Jackson said softly.
“Wish I was with Mary. She’s fine—I checked on her after the storm, but it would be nice just to sit with her for a while. Get those images out of me head,” Derek agreed.
Charlie listened as the men exchanged stories of their sweethearts and families. There was no point in him joining in, he had nothing to add.
Chapter 9
Lily, dressed in her warmest clothes, slipped out from the hotel without being caught by Mick or Aaron who wouldn’t like her walking alone around the streets. She didn’t intend to go far. She just wanted to reassure herself there weren’t any people lying huddled in old barrels or empty packing boxes in the nearby streets. Should she find anyone, she was determined to bring him or her back to the hotel with her. She wasn’t able to go far, the snow had formed large drifts and it was difficult to walk down the street. She could only get so far before she found herself blocked by a huge wall of snow. Disappointed to find there was nobody nearby, she made her way carefully back to the hotel. Nora, Robbie, Tommy and Lizzie were all sitting in the lobby when she walked in.
“Come over here and warm yourself up. I’ll get you a hot cup of tea,” Lizzie fussed over Lily as the men moved up to
let her sit down.
“Where were you?” Tommy asked.
“I went for a walk,” Lily said, feeling embarrassed.
“In the snow? Are you mad?”
Lily stared at Tommy. “Yes, I guess I am. I just couldn’t bear the thought that there could be children lying on doorsteps nearby. I was hoping I could bring them in and give them some hot food.”
“This is not a charity, regardless of what your friends seem to think, Miss Green. It’s a hotel and a superior one at that.”
Lily wanted to stick her tongue out at Mr. Floyd but decided that wasn’t particularly ladylike. But she didn’t want to be a lady sitting around all day drinking tea and talking about clothes. She wanted to do something.
Lily walked around, checking the few patients that remained in bed. Most of the people who had taken refuge in the hotel were fully recovered from their ordeal. Well, physically. Whether anyone would recover from losing family members or friends so suddenly was anyone’s guess. She smiled at Sadie O’Riordan who was still on bed rest as ordered by Doc Erin. Sadie was keeping the younger patients intrigued with stories and games. She had really helped lessen the workload.
Tommy, Sadie’s now fiancé, was outside shoveling snow with a lot of other men from the hotel including Mick and Aaron. Doc Erin was fussing over her husband telling him to watch his leg and not get too cold. Lily smiled as Mick just nodded to Erin and then went and did exactly what he wanted. He was his own man and, much as he loved his Missus, he would do what he felt right.
Lily looked up to find a man giving her a look of admiration. She knew that look and nothing but trouble ever came from it. She tried to turn away, but he stopped her.
“Miss, do you know where Nora Doherty is? She’s my niece. I heard she was seen here.”
“She was here Mr…” Lily waited for the man to introduce himself.
“Sorry, the name’s Michael Byrne, this here is my nephew Paul Headford and these two scamps are Mark and Kevin. I need to find Nora to try to get word to my family that we’re safe and then I want to take the kids to see a doc. Just to make sure they have no lasting problems from the snow.”
“Doc Erin will see to the children. She’s looked after many of the blizzard victims. If you take a seat, Mr. Byrne, I will go find Nora for you. Would you like some tea or coffee?”
“Something a bit stronger if you have it?” He smiled in what he obviously thought was a charming way.
“Tea or coffee only. Doc Erin doesn’t allow alcohol until she has assessed each patient.”
Lily knew she was so short she was almost rude but his continued admiration was making her uncomfortable. She moved off quickly in search of Nora.
“Nora, your uncle and cousin are in reception looking for you. And they brought in two little boys for you to look at, Erin.”
“Are they hurt?” Nora asked, her face pale.
“Your uncle definitely isn’t. Your cousin seems fine too. The two young’uns look like they’re half starved, but I didn’t see any obvious injuries.”
Nora rushed off to greet her family but Erin touched Lily on the arm. She looked up to see Erin’s face full of concern.
“Lily, what happened? You aren’t usually so withdrawn, especially when talking about children.”
“Nothing happened doc. I’m just tired.”
‘Lily...” Doc’s gentle tone made her smile.
How she would miss this woman.
“Sorry doc it must be me. He didn’t do anything really but I was just really annoyed with him.”
“Who? Nora’s uncle?”
“Yes, he came in here looking like he was God’s gift to women. I mean he seemed like he expected me to drop at his feet.”
Erin laughed causing Lily to glare at her.
“Sorry Lily, but that is funny. I am sure Michel Byrne didn’t mean anything. He has a reputation as a ladies’ man. The gift of the Irish as many would say. Seems he can charm the birds from the trees.”
“Not this bird.” Lily hissed.
“Lily darling, you are a lovely looking young woman in a city full of men. You are going to have to learn to deal with harmless flirtation. I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm. But if that opinion changes, I’ll set Carmel Doherty onto him. She will shake him up soon enough.”
Lily smiled. She had yet to meet Mrs. Doherty in person but she’d heard a lot about her, not just from Erin and Nora, but also from Robbie who reckoned he would prefer to take on just about anyone other than Carmel Doherty.
“Thanks Erin, I guess I am over tired.”
“Not surprising given how much you’ve done. In fact, you need a nap. Off you go now. Don’t let me see you downstairs for the next few hours.”
“Yes ma!” Lily responded joking as she gave Erin a quick hug, picked up her skirt and moved quickly to the stairs. There was something about Michael Byrne that made her uncomfortable and she wasn’t about to answer what that was. Not even to herself.
Chapter 10
Sliders Pub, Hells Kitchen
Ned erupted. The decanter hit the wall, shattering glass everywhere. The scantily clad girl jumped but he noticed she didn’t dare look at her boss. He was terrifying enough on an ordinary day, but the last few days he had been in the worst mood ever.
He wondered what she really thought of him. Not that she would ever say. None of the working girls gave him their opinion. He didn’t employ them for their intelligence but their ability to keep him and the other men, both employees and customers, satisfied. All she should be interested in was keeping him happy, or else she’d feel the back of his hand. Again.
She filled up a glass of whiskey from the spare bottle but he threw it in her face. He wanted her gone.
“Get out. Tell Rory to get his backside in here.”
She stumbled over her own feet in her haste to get to the door. He heard her calling for Rory.
“Shelley, what happened to you? Upset another punter?”
“Shut up, Rory. The boss wants you and he’s in a mean mood.”
Ned grinned despite his bad humor. He liked to see and hear the fear his workers had for him. It told him he was still the boss.
Ned held the paper closer, he should wear glasses but didn’t as he thought it made him look weak. He’d thought he had dealt with the Sun reporter already. He’d played nice on the advice of his lawyer. Instead of giving the man a present of cement shoes and a swim in the Hudson, he’d sent him a warning instead. Got Rory to send two of the boys around to give him a good bashing but that obviously hadn’t worked. The little pig had written even worse things than before. How dare he imply he, Ned Duffy, was bribing all the city officials, judges, policemen and everyone else? Even he wasn’t that powerful. Sure, he had a dossier on a lot of powerful figures, but he wasn’t as secure as he once had been. A number of policemen who had been in his pocket had suddenly been pensioned off; others with lesser time on the force had been kicked out. The reformers were desperate to clean up the streets, and Duffy was a casualty.
He heard a knock at the door and in walked Rory. He was the closest thing to a friend Ned had but he didn’t even trust Rory one hundred percent, despite the fact they had known each other all their lives having grown up together in Hell’s Kitchen.
“You wanted me Boss?”
“Thought I told you to shut up Stillman, the Sun reporter.”
“I got the boys to do a job on him, just as you asked. Last I heard he was in Bellevue getting some bones fixed.”
“You can wipe that stupid smirk off your face, Rory. He hasn’t shut up. In fact, he’s worse than before. See?” Ned threw the paper at Rory who ducked. Not that there was any point, Rory never had bothered to learn to read and write.
“You want me to finish him off?”
The gleam of excitement in Rory’s eyes was a little off-putting. Ned could imagine the type of death his number one would inflict on the reporter. It would be long, lingering, painful and messy.
“I want his tongu
e cut out and nailed to the front door of the Sun newspaper’s office.” Ned hesitated, despite knowing Rory would do what he asked. “Rory, make him disappear but make it look like an accident. Give him an overdose of laudanum. We can get Hopper to leak the fact Stillman became addicted after using the painkiller following this stint in Bellevue.”
“Yes, Boss,” Rory said, his disappointment evident.
“Rory, I mean it. I don’t want you doing anything to make it look suspicious. An accident, understand?”
Rory nodded.
Ned knew his number one had gotten the message. God help him if he hadn’t.
He dismissed Rory with a wave of his hand and turned his attention to the other issues, which led to his black mood. Carmel Doherty and her legion of women picketing his clubs had hit where it hurt: his profits were down. Rory had asked why he didn’t just take out Carmel, but the old woman actually impressed Ned. It was unusual for him to meet someone who didn’t appear to be the least bit frightened of him. If she’d been a man, she’d have been a worthy opponent.
Now his sources told him she’d taken on Father Devine at the Henson Wake. Good job the woman was leaving for Colorado as otherwise he would have to finish her off, admiration or not. He needed Father Devine and Father Donnolly. The priests were helping him build his empire. There was a demand for young innocents and the orphanages under the control of the church provided an untapped supply. He had been careful so far. The children he had arranged to be “adopted” had been placed in good homes. At least that’s what the priests thought. They’d appeared more interested in the large donation he made for their help in giving his friends the child they always wanted. Ned’s face twisted in an evil grin.
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