[MG&M Detective Agency 04] - The San Carlos Affair by Rick Adelmann

Author:Rick Adelmann [Adelmann, Rick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, General, Historical, Private Investigators, Traditional
ISBN: 9781649140401
Google: BTwHEAAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Columbine Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2020-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

New House Guests

During the drive home, the two girls remained quiet. Each time they caught me looking over my right shoulder, they turned their heads toward the window.

We arrived home around mid-afternoon. Pulling up to the rear door, I stopped and turned to our passengers. “Anneka and I live here with her two sisters and my two friends.” I spoke to them in even, mild tones, hoping not to scare them.

“Greta and Gerda are young ladies, not much older than you two,” Anneka added. “I think you’ll get along fine. Fred and Liz raised Jim from the age of seven. They’re a German couple who mean the world to both of us.”

“You’re not going to be here long,” I said. “Grazia will be going home to her family shortly. However, only when you are ready, my dear.” I nodded to the petite Italian girl.

“As for you, Emma,” Anneka said. “I’m not sure how long you’ll be here. The police matrons told me they’re searching for your family. We’ll know more once they get back to us. I’m sure our home has got to be better than an orphanage.”

Emma looked at Anneka will dull eyes. “There are others who came from that place. Why did you choose me?”

“Two reasons. You were Grazia’s friend, and she wanted you,” Anneka said, while the two girls hugged each other. “Number two, the dicky seat can only hold two little bodies.”

They smiled for the first time, transforming their tight, frowning faces into the expressions of two young, pretty girls. Emma and Grazia’s change lightened my heart. “Are you ladies ready to come inside to meet our family?”

They both nodded and began climbing out of the Bentley.

“We need a larger car, don’t we?” I said to Anneka.

She nodded, helping the girls down. Grazia’s thick black hair fell to her mid-back, and she had round, soft-brown eyes. I could see her resemblance to her older sister. Emma had golden hair, cut short to her neck. Her eyes were an appealing shade of blue. She had a pixie-like beauty about her. With all she had gone through, her eyes still had a luster to them.

“Follow me,” I said.

We walked to the back door with its sheer white curtains at the window. Liz stood at the kitchen sink, working on dinner. Fred sat smoking his pipe at the table, thumbing through a newspaper.

When we entered, both Liz and Fred turned to watch the four of us file through the door. The girls stood quietly; their long, shredded nightgowns hung to the floor. They glanced at the elderly couple. Liz and Fred just watched us, questioning. “We have a couple of houseguests.” Anneka stood behind the girls, putting an arm around each. “The dark-haired young lady is Grazia Gabriella, the blonde girl is Emma Krause.”

Fred looked at me. “So, you busted the place, huh?”

“Yes, we did,” I answered. “We rescued a dozen poor girls.”

“And they let you keep two of them?” he asked, pointing his pipe at the girls.

“Oh, Fredrick, what an awful thing to say,” Liz said.

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