After everything came out right with the test copy, Elizabeth turned to the ladies that set the type.“I have a new article for the front page today.”She pulled it from her folio and set it on the table.A collective gasp rang out at the headline.The ladies all gathered around to read the article.
Jessica shook her head.“Poor Mary Beth.I was wondering where she got off to after her da kicked her out.I told her she should come here and work for you.But she was too good fer it.”Jessica sniffed.“Some dream of hers to be a singer on the stage.Not very respectable, my ma says.”
“And look what happened to her,” Katie chimed in.
Well, that explained more about her row with her father.Elizabeth had to agree with Jessica’s mother.Being on the stage was hardly respectable.She dearly hoped that the Blue Angel hadn’t lured Mary Beth in with false promises of helping her get on the stage.Elizabeth’s mood darkened.These dens of vice played on people’s weaknesses and ruined lives.
“To be fair, it’s not the hell’s fault she is dead.There is a pattern here.Someone is on a killing spree.I want all of you to be careful when going out at night.Stick together, coming and going from work.”
The four women all nodded solemnly.
“All right, let’s get this article set.We’ve an edition to get out.”
Chapter Four
Matthew slumped intohis desk chair and closed his eyes.What a fucking night it had been.He reached blindly for his coffee and took a deep gulp.Bright afternoon sunlight burned against his eyelids.
“Rough night?”The deep gravel of Seaton’s voice came from the doorway.
“That’s an understatement.”Matthew took another sip of coffee.
His best friend sauntered into his office and sat across from him, stretched his long legs out, and crossed them at the ankles.“I heard about the girl.Zeke said she was strangled?”
Matthew ran a hand down over his face.“Yeah.A garrote, I think.She had a thin cut from the wire, but hardly any blood.Fucking hell, she was killed right at my back door.”
“Thinking it was a message?”
“Rutledge, that bastard, he wouldn’t blink about doing something like this.He’s so fucking jealous over our success.”
“That’s cause he’s still hooking crates and dodging excise men while you’re living in luxury and charming ladies and gents every night.”Seaton cracked his knuckles.“I should have killed him a long time ago.”
Matthew couldn’t help but smile briefly.“The hell is the sweetest way to relieve people of their money.Lot better than working the odds at the fights, that’s for sure.”
Seaton nodded his agreement.“What do you want to do about Rutledge?”
“Nothing for now.Don’t know for sure it was him.I’m going to look into it.I don’t even know why she was out in the alley with only fifteen minutes till the show started”
“Could be one of Rutledge’s boys was romancing her.Had her meet him out back.”
Matthew nodded.It was the best theory so far.He was strict about the girls in the show.They needed to be professional, on time, and keep their beaus out of the club.He stared down into his mug.“Her mother tore into me last night.Her grief just spewed out in the form of righteous anger.How dare I lure her daughter into a life of dissolution?I tried to explain that she was in the show.Dancing.Not whoring.But she wouldn’t listen.Just kept yelling.”
Seaton shrugged.“Why do you care what she thinks?”
“Because I run a legitimate show.I watch out for those girls, dammit.A lot of them have gone on to work at the Globe and the Highgate.It’s true some of them are looking to find themselves rich benefactors.But there is nothing wrong with that.”
“No, there’s not.Everyone’s got to eat; take care of themselves.Listen, you can’t protect them all.You don’t make their decisions for them.Like last night, you didn’t send her outside to her death.”
“I suppose.”Everyone at the Blue Angel was like his family.Most had worked for him for the last five years since he’d opened the place.Anger mixed with the acid of the coffee in his stomach, leaving him feeling sick.He’d find out who killed her and punish them.
“Boss.”
Matthew glanced up.Ben stood in the open doorway.Poor Ben had been maybe the most devastated last night.He took his unofficial job of mother hen seriously, and he blamed himself.“Come in.”
Ben shuffled in.He nodded to Seaton.“Thanks fer lending your boys last night.”
“Anytime.What’s mine is yours.”
Ben turned to Matthew.“Boss, you’re gonna want to see this.”He handed over a newspaper.
