wasnât concerned at first, either, but then she noticed that Grace is . . . is plumper. Not that sheâs getting fat, precisely, but that her stomach is noticeably larger. And so is her . . . her bosom. Graceâs clothes no longer fit her properly.â
âSheâs probably still growing,â Mr. Linton insisted, but Sarah could hear the thin thread of fear beneath the words.
âShe isnât growing anywhere else,â Mrs. Linton said, holding her composure with difficulty.
Sarahâs mind was spinning, trying to think of a logical explanation that would reassure these people. âYou said youâve kept her at home,â she tried. A pregnancy would require a male contribution. Where could that have come from?
âNot literally,â Mrs. Linton said. âShe goes to church, and I take her visiting with me to close friends who . . . who know her and are kind.â
âBut sheâs never alone when sheâs away from the house,â Mr. Linton insisted. âHow could this have happened? As I keep saying, itâs impossible!â
Sarah had to agree, it seemed so. âPerhaps thereâs another explanation for Graceâs symptoms,â Sarah said, although the other explanations werenât likely to be simple or even necessarily good. Ailments that simulated pregnancy were often fatal, even to young girls like Grace. âHave you taken her to a doctor?â
âOf course not,â Mr. Linton said, outraged.
Mrs. Linton gave him a warning look that silenced him again. âWe couldnât allow Grace to be examined by a man. Sheâs a very sensitive girl, and if . . . if she is with child, that means someone . . . someone . . .â
âIt means some man violated my little girl,â Mr. Linton cried, near tears himself.
Mrs. Linton pressed her handkerchief to her lips to stifle a sob, and Mr. Linton covered his face with both hands.
âOf course,â Sarah said in her most professional voice, knowing full well that the least trace of sympathy would completely undo both of them. âYouâre absolutely right not to take her to a doctor. If you like, I can examine Grace and see if I can determine her condition. I may be able to put your minds at ease completely. Considering the circumstances, it does seem very unlikely that Grace could be with child.â She didnât promise that they would have nothing to worry about. The symptoms still concerned Sarah, but perhaps it really was nothing, as Mr. Linton had insisted.
For the first time, Mrs. Linton smiled. It was a sad thing to behold because it was so full of desperate hope, but Sarah smiled back. âThank you, Mrs. Brandt. Mrs. Simpson spoke so highly of you and the care you gave her when her last child was born. I just knew youâd be the right one to help us. How would you like to proceed?â
âWhy donât you introduce me to Grace and let us get acquainted a bit first. Then you can explain to her that Iâm a nurse, and youâve asked me to check her to make sure sheâs healthy or something. Will she believe that?â
âSheâll believe most anything her mother tells her,â Mr. Linton said unhappily.
âIâve never lied to her,â Mrs. Linton said. âSheâll trust me.â
âGood,â Sarah said. âMay I meet Grace?â
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D ETECTIVE SERGEANT FRANK MALLOY THANKED THE elevator operator when he opened the door to let him out on the seventh floor of the office building on Fifth Avenue. Heâd been here before, and the only thing that would have brought him back was a summons from one of the most powerful men in the city.
Nothing had changed here in the months since his last visit. The same middle-aged man, sitting behind the same desk, looked up when the elevator door opened, and he said, âDetective Sergeant Malloy, Mr. Decker is expecting you. Please have a seat while I see if heâs