Part Three

Late July 1905

"Ann, have you seen my jacket anywhere?"

Ann set the plates of pancakes in front of Amanda and Alexander. "It's Saturday, what do you need your jacket for?" she called as she cut her son's breakfast into pieces.

Andrew came down the stairs and leaned against the railing. "I think I may be onto something in the Andersen Case. I need to go into the office. Have you seen my suit jacket anywhere?" he told her as he finished buttoning up his shirt.

"Andrew Kline," Ann began, setting down the knife and fork she was using to cut up Alexander's pancakes. "You were going to take the kids to Central Park while I ran some errands, remember?" She walked out of the dining room and over to the stairway with her arms folded.

"I'm sorry, but you know how it is. You get onto something and then-"

"Yes, I know. You don't need to tell me. But what do you expect me to do? They were really looking forward to it."

"I know that, but I don't know what I can do. I'll take them tomorrow, when we can all go. I promise," he told her as he fumbled with his bowtie.

Ann sighed heavily and looked at her husband. "Ann, don't look at me like that," he told her as he took her shoulders in his hands fondly. "Please," Andrew pleaded, smiling his golden-boy smile. "I'm sure Mrs. Simon down the street would be more than willing to watch the little ones while you shop. Just please, don't be mad at me."

She glanced over through the open dining room door at her children, and then to her husband. "Tomorrow, then," she told him. "And if you don't take them, I'll be having the bed to myself for a few nights."

Andrew raised his eyebrows and grinned playfully. "You think you could go a night without me, do you?" He had his hands on her hips and quickly pulled her close.

"You think I'm kidding?" Ann hit him lightly on the shoulder, hiding her smirk.

Andrew responded by reaching down and kissing her swiftly. "Yes," he whispered as he pulled away. "Now have you seen my jacket or not?"

Ann smiled and reached up to straighten his collar. "It's laying on top of the piano in the parlor," she told him. He thanked her and went to retrieve it.

She stood there, at the bottom of the stairs, looking around her small two-story house. She watched as her children ate their food. Amanda, at four-years-old, was Ann's eldest child. She was adorable, with her large green eyes and her father's golden blonde hair. She sat very still, a lady in the making. Alexander, on the other hand, had the light brown hair of his mother, and couldn't seam to sit still. He was only a year younger than Amanda, but he appeared much younger.

Who would have thought that the formerly cold and distant Ann could ever grow up to become a housewife, with children of her own? Some days it was hard for Ann to believe she had come so far. But one look at her son and daughter and she knew that she was in the right place.

It took a while, but after she fed, cleaned and clothed them, Ann dropped her children off at Mrs. Simon's, who really was more than happy to take them.

She strolled down the streets, heading towards her usual grocer. She stopped in front of it, but instead of going in, she decided to enjoy her afternoon alone. Ann continued walking, waiting for the next store she came to, rather than go to the regular one.

Married life had turned out to be very different than Ann had anticipated. She loved her husband and she loved her family, but it didn't give her much alone time. Days were spent with the children, and nights were spent with Andrew. Life had become routine, and occasionally, she liked to switch things around a bit and break the cycle.

She walked around aimlessly for about another fifteen minutes before she came to a building with a sign displaying the name of the establishment. S & S General Store, it read. It looked to be a respectable enough shop, so she pushed open the door and entered it.

The bell tinkled as she went in. It was a small business, most likely run by a family who lived in an apartment above. Small feet scurrying across the ceiling confirmed her belief.

Ann smoothed out the creases in her dark green skirt, and pulled out her written grocery list from her handbag. Browsing through the isles, she could hear two male voices arguing in a backroom behind the counter. She ignored the argument and continued her shopping.

It wasn't until she heard the door slam that she even realized that the argument had come out from the backroom. A man with black hair was standing at the counter rubbing his face with his hands. Ann shrugged it off.

"I'm sorry about that, ma'am," the shopkeeper called, suddenly cheerful.

"It's quite alright," Ann replied over her shoulder. Suddenly acutely aware of someone's eyes on her, Ann turned around slowly. She was beginning to get an inkling of regret that she had decided to break her routine.

Ann quickly put away the item she had been looking at and brought what she had to the counter. She wanted to pay for what she had, and get out of there. Her instincts didn't trust her surroundings.

Ann had always known to trust her instincts, and once again, they proved to be correct.

As she sifted through the contents of her handbag for the few coins she owed him, the man spoke softly. "I can't believe it," he muttered. Ann ignored him and pulled out a couple of nickels.

"Midnight?"

The sound of her money falling to the floor filled the room as Ann's heart stopped.