“Wouldn’t it be better to have our interview, no matter how brief, in my office, Miss Frazier?” he suggested deferentially.
Miss Frazier shook her head with decision. “No. I just want to ask you one question. Is there any news?”
Mr. O’Brien glanced toward Kate significantly.
“This is my niece,” Miss Frazier informed him but not at all in the way of an introduction. “Tell me, have you the slightest news?”
“Nothing that is very certain. We have a new clue, perhaps. But I cannot go into that before your niece, Miss Frazier.”
“Oh, this is not Elsie. It’s another niece, a blood relation. And I do not intend to climb those stairs to your office. You can surely give me some hint.”
“There is an elevator. You forget.”
“No matter. I am not going up. Be quick, please. Naturally, I am impatient.”
Kate was certainly catching a glimpse now of the bossy Aunt Katherine of tradition.
“Well, we just have an idea. We should like to know whether your other niece, Miss Elsie, ever comes into Boston alone. Has she been in this week, say?”