Halstead Street, Chapter 54
by Simahoyo
A/N We are finally approaching the end. For those of you who stuck with this, thank you! When you finish, please review.
Hans walked toward the police precinct, then turned back. He thought of himself as a. harter kerl, tough guy. He didn't need anyone to see him going to the police–not on his own anyway. What if Gill or Jack saw him and thought he was telling them about their numbers running? What if Kate got herself kidnaped or killed?
He turned back to the police station. Kate could be stupid for someone so smart. Yeah, book smart and people dumb. Hans made himself stomp right up those steps. He yanked open the door, looked at the desk Sargent, and nearly closed the door again.
"Kate needs to be protected.", he told himself. Hans walked up to the desk Sargent,
"I'm looking for Officer Loftus.", he said.
The desk Sargent looked at him skeptically. "What's your name, kid?"
"Hans Munk. Mrs, Frenchman sent me."
He watched the desk Sargent fiddle with the speaking tube, then speak into it.
"Loftus, there's a kid here named Hans Munk, says Mrs. Frenchman sent him." A look of surprise crossed his face. "Oh, right."
"He'll be right here."
Hans smirked. He watched the Irish cop come in, look at him and motion for him to follow.
They stopped at a desk.
"Sit down, Hans. I'm Officer Loftus. Anna Frenchman explained why I want to talk to you?"
"Yes." Hans sat, and crossed one leg over his knee, his other knee bent at an angle.
"Mrs. Frenchman, Hugh Martin and I are very worried about your sister. We believe she might be in real danger."
Hans uncrossed his legs. He started shaking one leg. "What kind?"
"This castle might be a place where women are being murdered."
Hans stood, and looked around–distressed.
"How can we stop that?"
Loftus waved his hand at the chair, but Hans was pacing.
"I need to know where this castle is."
"I have the address. I can even draw a map."
"Show me."
Hans grabbed some paper and a pencil off Loftus' desk, drawing a simple map including the streetcar line and stop. Then he pulled a scrap of paper out of his pocket. It was the address..
"Hans, I am told there is no stopping her from investigating something when she wants to."
Hans gave a bitter laugh. "Oh ja, That's my sister. Book smart and people dumb."
Loftus was nodding. I can only follow her part of the day. When does she usually go there?"
"She works at a bank, and cleans and cooks for Mrs. Fraiser, the lady whose house she lives in. So, I expect she might go right after the bank closes, maybe an hour after or after supper. Most likely on Sunday because she doesn't work on Sunday.
"You don't have school on Sunday, do you?"
"No, but I have to attend church–or else."
"What time do you get out?"
"About noon. Then we have required Sunday Dinner."
"When can you get away?"
"About two-thirty."
"Wow. Your Sundays are full. Could you follow your sister after that?"
"If I knew where she was, yes."
"Do your parents have a telephone?"
"Yes."
"If I can track her the first part of the day, can you do it after I call and tell you where she is?"
"Yes, but I don't have much money. I need to pay the streetcar fare."
"I'll see if we can help you out with that. Wait here."
Bill went back to the boss' office, knocking on the door.
"Come in."
Bill walked in. "Remember the possible disappearing women from the World's Fair?"
"Yeah, you find out anything new?"
"Yes. We need to follow someone who is setting herself up as a decoy. I had nothing to do with it. It's a stupid idea."
"Hell yes it is! Can you stop her?"
"From all reports, no. So I think we need to follow her. I can't do it all the time, but her brother is willing, if we help him out with his streetcar fare."
"Sheesh, he can't afford streetcar fare?"
"He's barely fourteen and his Father doesn't pay him for working for him. He's still in school."
"Oh, yeah. What is it, ten cents?"
"Each way. Yes. He'll need it on Sundays."
"Okay. It will be hell to explain, but I'll get it before Friday. You can get it to him?"
"Sure, not a problem."
"Come back Friday, and I'll have a stack of dimes for you."
"Thanks."
"Keep an eye on that young lady."
"I will sir."
Loftus came back with a smile. "He said he would cover your streetcar rides on Sundays. I'll get the money on Friday. What's your father's telephone number?"
"358."
Loftus wrote it down. "I also need your sister's address."
Hans wrote it down and handed it over. "I'd better go. Father will ask questions. I made an excuse, but I have to do inventory today."
"Hans, here's my telephone number. And the store number?"
"839" Hans put the number in his wallet. Then he caught the streetcar to the store, while the Ride of the Valkyries played in his head.
Sure enough, when he got to the store late, Father was glowering at him, pocket watch out, hanging by its chain as he pointed at the time.
Johannes, you are late."
"I know Father, I'm sorry. I was talking to a policeman."
"What?!" What have you done now? These pranks of yours..."
Hans quietly held one hand up. "Father, I was telling him something I saw. I was a witness."
Ftaher seemed to shrink a bit. "Oh. Then I should not have assumed. It was a good thing you did."
Hans smiled at Father, knowing it was a hard thing for him to do. "I'll get started."
He put on an apron and got his papers and pencil. He looked at where Hugh had left off and started the boring process of counting cans, tins, boxes and so forth. He did look up when Hugh came in from a delivery."
"Hello Hans."
"Hugh, I need to talk to you but not...you know..."
Hugh nodded. He took his time removing his jacket and cap. Hans stood looking at the shelves.
"The policeman and I can take turns following her on Sundays. I'll tell you where the castle is in case we ever need reinforcements."
"What about the rest of the week?"
"I can only get away on Sundays."
"If I keep her busy the other nights, that should limit her dangerous activities to Sundays."
"Maybe Mrs. Fraiser could help."
The door opened and Hugh hung up his jacket and cap.
The plot was hatched and Kate was kept busy by extra requested from Mrs. Fraiser, invitations from Hugh, and once, a visit from Anna and Baby Ella. This left her Sundays to do her investigating.
The co-conspirators reckoned without the cunning of Kate in Kay Vann mode. She waited until no one was home to borrow a small carpet bag from her mother. She stopped by the old clothes man's cart for some clothing she would not ever wear to work. The outfit was out of fashion, and frayed around the cuffs and hems. The shoes she wore for jobs like cleaning out the cistern. She put everything inside the carpet bag.
She had taken to wearing another sort of disguise–her Sunday best to walk around the castle and watch women go in and not come out. This worried her. There seemed to be one man who brought women to the castle, and who always left alone. And another who only left occasionally.
She could also feel someone following her, doubled back and noticed Hans. Oh well, she could deceive him any time she chose.
That Sunday, all Kate's study and observations reached the point where she determined to act.
She had studied the situation od the castle for three weeks. She was afraid that if she didn't get inside soon, the opportunity would be lost. She put on her disguise, covered it with a big shawl and left for the street car. She rode to the stop near the castle, and decided to be sure Hans wasn't on her tail.
Kate by now was an expert on the streets, alleys and tenements in the area. She twisted her way through her chosen path, darting down an alley, up the space between tenements, around a knot of horses and wagons jammed up and not moving. Kate was young and healthy, so she raced up some stairs and into the catacomb-like interior of the narrow halls running through the tenement.
Bill Loftus was angry to lose her. Mostly with himself. He worked his way back to his post across from the castle, hiding behind a big elm tree. It was nearly ten minutes before he spotted her. She was in disguise, carrying a small carpet bag and a large shawl was wrapped around her. Loftus looked at his pocket watch. Hans was due any minute.
Bill was still trying to decide when Han's streetcar pulled up. Bill ran to the streetcar stop and met him before he could be seen by Kate.
"Hans, she's ready to go. I'll attract her attention if you'll hide behind the tree and watch for her."
Hans nodded as Bill started running down the street.
"Stop thief! Stop thief!"
He watched as Kate stared at him. Bill stopped.
"Young lady, did you see a dark haired man run past here? He took my wallet."
"No, I haven't seen anyone for about fifteen minutes. I'm sorry you lost your wallet."
Bill hung his head and walked past Hans, signaling he was going back to the police station. Hans went back to watching his sister.
Kate walked up and down the sidewalk for a few minutes until she got her courage up. Then she went up to the hotel door and walked in. Hans ran for the nearest store and felt inside his trouser pocket for change. He felt one dime which he needed for streetcar fare home, plus a few pennies.
"Do you have a telephone? It's an emergency."
The man behind the counter looked puzzled. Hans mimed using a telephone, picking up the earpiece and cranking with his other hand. The man nodded and pointed. Hans pounced, cranking the phone, and when the operator picked up, Hans' asked for the number of the store.
The phone rang until Hugh picked up.
"Hugh, you need to get her. She went inside alone."
"Okay, stay and watch. If you hear anything wrong, get in there."
"I will. Otherwise, I'll wait for you–just hurry."
Hans left his pennies on the counter and ran back to watch. It was awfully quiet on the street. Hans began to shake. His stomach hurt. Time slowed–or was it moving too fast.
Hugh grabbed his jacket and cap, then leaned over and grabbed his father's blackthorn cudgel he had suddenly started taking to work with him. He looked around the store until he noticed Franz Georg in the corner. With Father gone to another store, Franz Georg was the only other person there.
"Kate's in danger. I'm going to get her. Watch the store."
Hugh bounded olut of the door just as Father was pulling up in his carriage.
"Mr. Munk. Kate's in danger. I'm going to her."
Father's face went for neutral to frightened.
"Take my carriage. Go!" Father handed Hugh the reins.
"Thanks!" And Hugh jumped into the carriage pushing the horse into top speed as quickly as possible. He drove like Ichabod Crane with the headless horseman following him. Hugh's heartbeat was faster than ever. When he finally drew up to where Hans was standing, he pulled the horse to a halt, and jumped out.
Hans grabbed the reins. "She's still in there."Hans, water that poor horse, but have him ready to go."Hans reached down to the hitching post, and tied the reins on, then he looked around for a place with water out front. He grabbed a bucket from the rear of the carriage, and ran for water.
Hugh had his cudgel and ran into the door of the World's Fair Hotel. He reached out with his feelings when the desk area was deserted. Something urged him up the stairs. He followed the feeling, running up the stairs. Hugh reached out again with his feelings of love for Kate, and ran up another two flights of stairs.
There she was, standing just outside a open door, with a well-dressed man whose hand was on her back, pushing her inside.
"There you are! Unhand my wife now!"
Kate glared at him. The man pushed harder on her back.
"My wife has run off and I came to fetch her home. Moira, come with me now!"
Kate was thinking at top speed. Hugh could tell she was working things out.
Hugh took the cudgel and swung it near the bigger man's hand. He let go of Kate and backed up. Kate stood behind Hugh. As she went by, the big man grabbed at her. Hugh had practiced fighting with this Irish weapon, and easily sung it across both on the man's writs. He heard the twack and Hugh grabbed Kate's hand as they tore down the stairs.
They had gone down one flight when Hugh heard footsteps behind them. Kate ran faster while Hugh stayed behind her, cudgel at the ready,
"Kate, I have an idea. Don't wait for me."
Kate kept running while Hugh hid himself at the landing. When the man ran past, Hugh tripped him. The sound of him falling got Kate and Hugh moving even faster. They went past him sprawled on the stairs and ran to Hans, who started to unhitch the horse. The three jumped into the carriage and Hugh and Hugh drove them at top speed back to the store.
"What was that about?", asked Kate.
"He's a murderer."
"I suspected that myself. And I was on my way to prove it."
Hugh felt anger rise in him. Katherina Margaretha, he was on his way to killing you. What possible good would you being dead do?"
Kate's eyes flashed. Hans looked at her. "Don't be such a dumkoff. Every woman I ever saw go in there didn't come out except you. Thank him for saving your life, Don't yell at him for messing up your story. What's more important?"
Kate was very quiet. She looked at Hugh with an expression he had never seen on her face before. What was it?
"Hans is right. I was being a dumkoff. Than you for getting me out of there."
If Hugh hadn't been driving so fast, he would have looked into her eyes. He quit being so frightened, and realized he could slow down now. The poor horse had been through her own personal hell..
Moving slower, the three of them relaxed a bit.
"Too bad father and mother didn't see that. It might have persuaded them to allow our marriage."
Hans swung his legs in excitement. "Like Sigfried. Oh, that might even convince Mother. "
Kate looked at Hans. "When did you get so smart, Hansie?." I can't overplay it, but it's true, you did come flying in there like, like..."
"Saint George after the Dragon?"
"Lutherans, remember?"
"Oh drat. Oh, oh, what about Paul Revere?"
"Closer. More like Votan on his flying horse."
"Uh, I've heard the name before. Who is Votan?"
"King of the German gods.", said Hans.
"I can't even remember the name."
"Just say Sigfried. You've heard of him before, right?", asked Kate.
"I've read the Ring of the Nibelung, well, part of it."
"Brave and a scholar.", said Kate.
Hugh took her hand and held it until he needed both to drive.
When they pulled up at the store, Hans jumped out, prepared to telephone Officer Loftus–suddenly he turned back, pointing at another carriage.
"Hugh, Kate–Mother is here."
