Nella opened the door to her room, locked it behind her, and groaned. How could sitting in a chair for hours on end be so tiring? It was probably from nerves. Having men stare at her, try to get her to go to her room with them, whisper disgusting things they wanted her to do to them. All the while not saying a word. Thank heavens Jack was behind her most of the night warding off the most enthusiastic ones.
Evidently there was a long list of men who would return tomorrow night to enjoy her ‘charms,’ as many of them so aptly put it. Huh. She’d charm them right out the bedroom window. Disgusting pieces of . . .
“How did it go?”
Her heart practically in her throat, she jumped. So lost in her thoughts, she’d forgotten Stuart was in the room.
“As one would imagine in a brothel. I guess word is out that Edda has a new redhead. They’ll be lined up outside the door, or so Edda says.” She removed a wrap draped over the screen, pulled it around her shoulders, dropped onto a chair, and propped her feet on the bed.
“We’d better get this solved before tomorrow. There is no way I’m going back out there. It was scary and creepy. There was one man who gave me more attention than the others. And with Edda and Sophie Rose’s nasty glares, I have a feeling there was more to this man.”
“What did he look like?”
“Tall. Rather thin. Dark hair. Dressed well.”
“Did he wear a black coat and a top hat?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“Word is there is a man who pays special attention to this brothel. I have a feeling he actually owns it.”
“Interesting.” Nella stretched her calves. It had been days since she’d gone for a run. Her body was tightening up. “How did it go here?”
“Quiet. I did find something earlier. Look.” He pointed to the scratch in the windowsill. “I think someone got into the room using a grappling hook.”
Nella dropped her feet to the floor, knelt on the floor, and fingered the indentation. “Interesting. It certainly would be easier than tying sheets together.”
“Which means the person used it to get into and out of the room.”
“Which means it couldn’t be anyone from the brothel.”
Stuart shook his head. “Not necessarily. If Ruby kept her door locked, someone could have snuck out of the building and climbed up here.”
The faces of the soiled doves ran through her mind. With the exception of Sophie Rose, she couldn’t see any of them going through the effort of shimmying up the side of a building. Not only would they not have the upper body strength, but they didn’t seem the type. But one never knew. As in her books, she had no idea who the bad guy, or girl, was.
“I don’t know, Stuart. There has to be someone else.”
“Well, we aren’t going to solve anything tonight. I’ll take the floor again.”
Nella opened the screen, and changed into a long, white nightgown Minnie had given her. It might be too warm, but it was better than sleeping in her clothes again. “Can we leave the window open? It’s stuffy in here.”
“Good idea.” Stuart’s voice was muffled.
Had he fallen asleep already? Jerk.
* * *
Roused from a dream of dancing with Stuart, Nella rolled over and stared at the open window.
“Shh.” Stuart put a warm hand on her ankle. “I hear something. I’m going to get on the other side of the bed. You stay here. Pretend to be sleeping.”
Where the heck would she go? Her heart skipped a beat. In another beat, something clanked against the wood. A thick rope draped over the ledge. Was this the killer?
Nella held her breath. No. Keep breathing. Deep breaths as if she were sleeping. She bit her bottom lip and rolled over so her back was to the window. Then she could keep her eyes open.
Time seemed to drag until there was a thud on the floor. Someone was in the room. A hand crept up her hip.
“Wakey, wakey, my lovely. I’m gonna have me a little fun before I take care of you. Jest like I did with Ruby.” He ran his hand over her bare skin.
His odor was revolting. His touch nauseating.
“C’mon, girly. Wake up. Time for Benny boy to get some pleasure. Miss Edda said you could be mine for the night.”
Edda? Edda knew this disgusting animal? Nella rolled over to face him. She didn’t recognize him. “Edda sent you?”
He nodded. “It be my job to take care of them women who Edda believes will take her man away from her.”
“Man? What man?’
“The bloke who owns this place. Edda hates anyone he pays attention to.”
Sounded like the man who’d given her so much interest tonight. “How do you know?”
“’Cause she told me. She’s my sister.”
Ugh. She couldn’t even imagine one of her brothers letting her be a prostitute, let alone kill anyone who might get in the way of being happy. “That’s disgusting.”
“It’s the way of the world, sweetie.” He yanked her upright. “Now, give me a little kiss.”
What was Stuart waiting for? He needed to get his rear in gear. She turned her face away from the man’s fetid breath.
“Don’t fight me. There’s nothing you can do to stop me.” He tore her nightgown down the middle.
“Stop right there.”
Finally. Benny let go of her. Her head hit the headboard. White dots filled her eyes. Like an echo chamber, the men’s voices were hollow.
“Who are you?” Benny’s voice rose an octave.
“Deputy Adams. Now get your hands up and sit in the chair.”
Nella rose on her elbows. Stuart pointed a gun at Benny.
“Nella, get the rope from my bag.”
With shaking hands, she handed him the rope. While she’d written characters who used guns, she’d never been this close to one pointed at a human being. It was quite disconcerting. On top of it, Stuart handed her the gun.
“Keep your finger off the trigger, but keep it aimed at him. I’ll tie him up.” He tied Benny’s arms behind the chair and his ankles to the chair’s legs.
“Wrap some around his waist, too.”
Stuart raised an eyebrow at her.
“He was going to rape and kill me. Make the knots tight.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You’re not going to get away with this.” Even though he tried to look tough, his words had no bite.
“Well, Benny. That’s where you’re wrong. I heard everything you said.” Stuart took the gun from Nella and leaned against a wall and crossed his ankles.
Nella kicked Benny in the shin. “And don’t forget. I’m alive and will tell the sheriff everything you said.” Too bad they didn’t have tape recorders. “And the word of a deputy will hold more power than yours.”
“Ha. Who is going to believe a whore?”
“I’m not a whore. I’m helping catch Ruby’s killer.”
“Now. This is what we’re going to do, Benny. I’m going to have Nella scream. Scream loud enough to wake the entire town.”
Benny stuck out his chin. “Sounds dumb to me.”
“It should bring your sister running.” Stuart nodded at Nella.
“Now?”
“Now.”
She’d never had to scream before. Recalling how she was almost raped, she dug down deep, opened her mouth, and screeched for all she was worth. Then again. And once more for good measure.
In a matter of seconds someone pounded on the door. “Benny? You in there?” Edda must have been waiting outside the door. “Is it over?”
Stuart opened the door and stood behind it, letting Edda rush into the room. He shut it behind her.
Edda stopped at the end of the bed. “What? What’s going on here?”
“Why don’t you tell us, Edda.” Nella folded her arms over her chest. “Tell us you don’t know this man. Tell us you haven’t had him kill women you want out of the way.”
“Why, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Tie her to the other chair, Nella.”
Did securing the knots tight enough to make Edda wince make her sadistic? Probably, but so be it. The woman had wanted her dead.
“Will you be all right here while I go for the sheriff?”
“Yes. But hurry. I want this over with.” When he left, she sat on the edge of the bed. When Benny and Edda’s yelling at each other got to be too much, she tore strips from the bottom of her nightgown, tied them around their mouths, then leaned against the tub.
So, Ruby’s murder was solved. What did that mean for her? She was still here, wasn’t she? No sooner had the words entered her head, then the room grew hazy. She closed her eyes. Her head spun. Her stomach pitched, and everything went black.