The bar and kitchen opened, but very few customers showed up. After the late-night partying, most people were still recovering.
Cain had called earlier to tell her he had some things he needed to take care of and asked about Will. Jenny assured him Will Price had been looking out for her since she had walked out of her room that morning.
She spotted him seated at a table just a few feet away, watchful, leaning back in a captain’s chair, sipping a cup of coffee.
Jenny sighed. Between Will and Cain, she never had a moment to herself. She hated living like a prisoner, but for now, she had no choice.
She was continuing to work on the receipts when she glanced up to see a woman pushing through the batwing doors. Silver-gray hair worn in a buzz cut, tiny round spectacles. Evelyn Dunning. Jenny rose and walked toward her, hope rising that the librarian had found something useful.
Jenny smiled. “Evelyn. It’s good to see you.”
“It’s nice to see you, too. I brought some information I thought might interest you.”
“Great. Why don’t we sit down?” Jenny led Evelyn over to the table where she had been working, and both of them sat down.
“So what have you found?” Jenny asked anxiously.
Evelyn took out a copy of an old newspaper article and set it on the table.
“The JeromeDaily News,dated June 1904.” She slid the copy over to Jenny’s side of the table. Jenny skimmed the page and began reading the article out loud.
During an arrest attempt by Sheriff John Mackey, a miner named Boris Koblinsky was shot and killed in front of the Cuban Queen Bordello on Queen Street. He was wanted in connection to the murders of three known prostitutes who died between the years 1898 and 1904.
“Wow.” She glanced up. “A miner who was shot in the street in front of a brothel. Maybe this is him.”
There was more to the article, including the names of the women: Sadie Murphy in 1898, Blanch Milford in 1900, and Lily Dubois in 1904. Each of them had been strangled to death. The article went on to say that there may have been others, but there wasn’t enough evidence to include them in the charges.
Strangled.She thought of the journal and Mary Dennison. She thought of what Leslie had said.
Jenny finished the article, both appalled and excited. “This could be what I’ve been looking for. Thank you so much for working on this.”
“Now that you know the date and the names of the people involved, you can probably find out more.”
She nodded. “Yes. I’ll definitely look into it.” But she wanted to talk to Cleo first. “Can I buy you some lunch? It’s the least I can do.”
Evelyn rose. “Thanks, but I have to get back to work.”
Jenny walked her to the door, then gave her a grateful hug. “Thanks again, Evelyn.” She smiled. “Whenever you’re ready, I still owe you lunch.”
Evelyn laughed. “Not necessary. Research is what I do.”
As soon as the librarian walked out the door, Jenny grabbed her cell phone.
“Hi, Cleo, it’s Jenny. I think I may have found what we were looking for. Or actually, Evelyn Dunning over at the library found it.”
“Good. The more we know, the better our chances of getting rid of the bastard.”
“I’ve got names and dates. Cain’s busy, so as soon as I can take a break, I’ll go back to the library and take another look.”
“You do that, and then we’ll get together.”
“Great. Thanks, Cleo.”
Cleo just grunted and hung up the phone.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CAIN WAS ON HIS WAY DOWN THE HILL TO THECOPPERSTAR WHENhis cell phone rang. Nick Faraday. One of the few people who had his private number.
