“Don’t worry, Waterson,” Coleman said because it appeared he really was worried about something. “I’m going to close this deal as fast as I can.”

Waterson gave him a thin smile. “My clients will be very pleased.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Freddie wants to help,” Anna told Elizabeth. She had come by on her way home from class on Monday afternoon to convince Elizabeth to let her new friend participate in the Madame Ophelia con.

“I’m sure she does if you’ve made it sound as exciting as you think it is,” Elizabeth said. “But what could she actually do?”

“You don’t know her like I do. She could do anything.” Anna looked so determined. She had really developed self-confidence since she had started studying at Hunter College.

They were sitting in the parlor with Mother Bates, who was working on a needlepoint pillow cover. She didn’t even look up. “So you think she could do anything? That is an impressive recommendation coming from someone who first helped Elizabeth by committing a murder.”

“You see,” Anna said with a smug grin. “You probably didn’t think I could shoot someone when you first met me, either.”

“Of course, I didn’t,” Elizabeth admitted. “You were like a little mouse, but you grew into a tiger.”

“Freddie is already a tiger. You don’t know her background. She was raised on a farm, so she’s used to hard work and slaughtering animals.”

“Oh dear, I don’t think we’ll need to slaughter anyone, or at least I hope not,” Elizabeth teased her.

Anna refused to be discouraged. “What are you going to do for your next prediction?”

“I don’t think I really need to do anything much. My last prediction killed a man, after all. How do I top that?”

“And you think Madame Ophelia is going to be terrified on the basis of a horse-race win, a found will, and the death of a man she never even set eyes on?”

Elizabeth frowned. “Anna, you are far too astute. You may also be entirely correct. I probably do need another prediction, just to seal it.”

“And it should be of hair-curling importance,” Mother Bates said, still engrossed in her needlework.

How did she do that? Elizabeth would either forget the needlework to think or think and end up stabbing herself with the needle.

“Hair curling, I like that,” Anna said. “I think Freddie would, too.”

“I wish you could help, Anna,” Elizabeth said wistfully. “I trust you, but Freddie is so innocent. . . .”

“She’s very pretty.”

Naturally, Anna thought so, but . . .

“Jake thinks so, too,” Anna said as if reading her mind.

“Did he say so?”

“Grudgingly, I think,” Anna admitted.

“He’s jealous.”

“Maybe a little.”

“She seems very nice. Very sweet,” Elizabeth added, reminding her.

“She has brothers. Older brothers. She can stand up for herself. You should hear the way she argues with our professors.”

“Arguing with professors can’t require that much courage.”