The Harrison: A Beautiful Place to Die (Madeline Donovan Mysteries Book 2) Read Free

You may not yet have a storefront, but you now have a customer.”
    “You are wonderful. I thought you did not approve of this endeavor. You would be the last person I would have thought would encourage me in this.”
    “No one is helping her, and she needs someone she can trust, not some charlatan who will fleece her, and end up just spending his time at the local drinking establishment.”
    “Do you know the sister’s name?”
    “She told me, but I don’t remember it. She should be here any moment. She might bring her brother with her or her husband. I gave her pills to calm her; so hopefully, she will be able to be questioned without crying or having too much anxiety.”
    Madeline was intrigued—not only had her father initiated a meeting that involved her possibly employing her sleuthing activities, but there was also this mysterious disappearance. Of course, there was always crime in any big city, and Chicago was no exception, but she had never involved herself before in this capacity.
    She was busy arranging the flowered centerpiece when Rosa Silvestri and another man arrived.
    “Please come in. My father has explained why you are here. I am Madeline, Madeline Donovan.”
    “I am sorry if I do not behave properly. I am quite distraught over the disappearance of my sister, Maria. This is my brother, Louie Falco. I don’t mean to impose, but I don’t think I can get through this without him.”
    “Of course, it is no imposition. Father had already planned for an additional guest. We will be having simple fare for dinner. I hope you do not mind.”
    “I will probably eat very little, thank you just the same,” said Rosa.
    Of Italian descent, Rosa was slightly shorter than her, and Madeline believed her client might be five-foot-one or so. Louie was somewhat taller, perhaps by two inches, but still shorter than most of her male acquaintances. He was, however, dauntingly handsome, with raven, curly black hair, black eyes, olive skin, and dressed fashionably in a bowler hat, dark gray dinner jacket, waistcoat and trousers, all accented with an ascot tie. Rosa was also quite becoming, with lighter, chestnut-brown hair, and wearing a royal-blue, simple day dress.
    “Your father has given us the hope that you might be interested in helping us find our sister. The police have disregarded our concerns and believe she is in the city sight-seeing, or that perhaps she has found a male partner to spend her time with. This is all nonsense, of course, but they showed us their crime journal. The officer continued, saying every day the amount of real crimes that come across their desk is overwhelming and suggesting that we just wait a few more days and that we would probably hear from her by then. I can tell you I am in a state; my sister is gregarious, likes to flirt, and enjoys her freedom, but not to the extent that we would not have heard from her…impossible,” said Louie.
    Rosa looked as if she were about to faint, just hearing Louie speaking about Maria.
    “Rosa, may I get you a glass of wine?” asked Madeline.
    “Yes, that would be very nice, thank you,” Rosa replied.
    Madeline's father entered the room and took Rosa’s hands, “My dear, I hope you are feeling better. Who is this you have brought with you?”
    “This is my brother, Dr. Donovan, Louie—Louie Falco.”
    “How do you do, sir…welcome to my home. Please, let us go in for dinner. I believe our cook is ready to serve. We are just waiting on one of our tenants, Mr. Henry Dabrowski,” said the doctor.
    Madeline thought her father was a most distinguished gentleman. His fine, grayish-white hair was as straight as a line; but was puffed up a little across his forehead. Gold framed spectacles that slid down his nose gave him the habit of constantly pushing them back up to his eyes. He stood at five-foot-ten inches, hunched somewhat from worry and older age, but carried himself to her, as if he stood ten feet tall. Always the gentleman and always