{"product_id":"murder-on-union-square-isbn-9780399586613","title":"Murder on Union Square","description":"\u003cb\u003eWhen a murder hits close to home, Frank finds himself in an unusual position--the prime suspect in the latest installment of the national bestselling Gaslight Mystery series...\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSarah and Frank Malloy are enjoying married life and looking to make their family official by adopting Catherine, the child whom Sarah rescued and has been raising as her daughter. The process seems fairly straightforward, but at the last minute, the newlyweds discover that Parnell Vaughn, Catherine's legal father, has a claim on the child, and his grasping fiancée is demanding a financial settlement to relinquish parental rights. Even though exchanging money for a child is illegal, Frank and Sarah's love for Catherine drives them to comply. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen Frank returns with the money and finds Vaughn beaten to death, all evidence points to Frank as the culprit. A not-quite-famous actor with modest means, Vaughn seems an unlikely candidate for murder, particularly such a violent crime of passion. But Frank soon uncovers real-life intrigue as dramatic as any that appears on stage. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSarah and Frank enlist those closest to them to help hunt for Vaughn's killer as Frank's own life--and the future of their family--hang in the balance.\u003cb\u003ePraise for the Edgar® and Agatha award-nominated Gaslight mysteries\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Tantalizing.\"--Catherine Coulter, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"[Thompson's] Gaslight series is a consistent winner.\"--\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Thompson vividly re-creates the gaslit world of old New York.\"--\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Victoria Thompson shines...Anne Perry and Caleb Carr fans, rejoice!\"--Tamar Myers, national bestselling author of the \u003ci\u003ePennsylvania Dutch Mysteries\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A fascinating window into a bygone era.\"--\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Gangs of New York, eat your heart out--this book is the real thing.\"--\u003ci\u003eMystery Scene\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Enthralling...Fascinating characters with a story to tell.\"--\u003ci\u003eFresh Fiction\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eVictoria Thompson\u003c\/b\u003e is the Edgar® and Agatha award-nominated author of the Gaslight mysteries--including \u003ci\u003eMurder in the Bowery, Murder in Morningside Heights, Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eMurder on Amsterdam Avenue\u003c\/i\u003e--as well as numerous historical novels. She lives in the Chicago area with her family.1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e What do you mean, we can't adopt Catherine?\" Sarah asked the      attorney.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Michael Hicks gave her a look that told her he shared her      frustration. \"I'm sorry-\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I thought Mr. Wilbanks settled all of this in his will,\" Sarah's      husband said. Frank Malloy reached over and took her hand, giving      it a reassuring squeeze. They'd come to Michael's office today      expecting good news. Plainly, they were going to be disappointed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I thought David had settled everything, too,\" Michael said. \"And      I know he certainly intended to as well. My father-in-law was a      very careful man, but you see, I didn't draw up his final will.      Estates are not my area of expertise, and it would be unethical      for me to prepare a will for a family member in any case, so I      referred him to a colleague of mine, Bill Jonson.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Are you saying this colleague made a mistake?\" Malloy was angry      now but trying not to take it out on poor Michael. Sarah      understood completely.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Not a mistake.\" Michael was being very diplomatic. \"My      father-in-law was careful but also very private. He didn't believe      he needed to tell Mr. Jonson all the sordid details about      Catherine's birth.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Which ones did he leave out?\" Malloy asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Michael winced. \"I, uh, I've asked Mr. Jonson to join us, if you      don't mind, so he can explain it all to you.\" He got up and went      to his office door to admit a man who had obviously been waiting      for this summons.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Michael introduced Mr. Jonson, who was a distinguished-looking man      of middle age wearing a conservatively cut, tailor-made suit and      immaculate shirtfront. When they were all seated again, Michael      said, \"Bill, I have informed Mr. and Mrs. Malloy that they cannot      adopt Catherine, but I haven't explained exactly why yet. I      thought you could do that better than I.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Of course.\" Mr. Jonson gave them his best reassuring smile. \"You      see, Mr. Wilbanks told me that Catherine was the illegitimate      child he had with his mistress, an actress named Emma Hardy.      However, he didn't think it necessary to explain that Emma Hardy      also happened to be married to a Mr. Parnell Vaughn at the time of      their affair. He probably thought it was none of my business.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But what difference does that make?\" Sarah asked. \"Even Mr.      Vaughn admitted he couldn't possibly be Catherine's father because      he and Emma were separated when she met Mr. Wilbanks.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Which is why Mr. Wilbanks didn't think it necessary to mention      Mr. Vaughn at all,\" Jonson said. \"Unfortunately, the law is rather      unforgiving when it comes to matters of paternity.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What does that mean?\" Malloy asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It means that the law considers a woman's husband to be the      father of her children, regardless of any evidence to the      contrary.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But that's ridiculous,\" Sarah tried.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"In some cases, yes, but it is nevertheless the law.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So you're telling us that the law considers Parnell Vaughn to be      Catherine's father?\" Malloy asked, no longer bothering to hide his      anger.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes,\" Michael said, \"and that's one reason why David decided to      leave part of his estate to Frank rather than directly to      Catherine.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You mean he knew about this paternity law?\" Sarah asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No, I'm sure he didn't,\" Mr. Jonson said. \"And I certainly didn't      explain it to him because I had no idea Miss Hardy was ever      married to Mr. Vaughn. Rest assured, I would have made sure to      settle the matter prior to Mr. Wilbanks's death. Even without      knowing about Mr. Vaughn, I was already very concerned that if he      left Catherine a great deal of money in her own right, she'd be a      tempting target for any greedy family members Emma Hardy may have      had or anyone willing to pretend to be her family member. A large      inheritance would also make her a target for fortune hunters later      in life.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But after seeing how much you loved Catherine, Frank,\" Michael      said, \"David decided you were the man who could and would protect      her from both of those dangers.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Malloy winced and glanced at his wife. \"He should have left the      money to Sarah.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm afraid David was also old-fashioned. He would never trust a      female with so much money, and besides, Sarah had already told him      she wouldn't accept it.\" Michael smiled slightly. \"I must also      tell you that Mr. Jonson did not approve of David making you one      of his heirs, Frank.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I certainly did not,\" Jonson said. \"Even though Mr. Wilbanks's      will instructed you to become Catherine's legal guardian, there      was no way to compel you to do so. Such a provision causes an      attorney great concern.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes, it does,\" Michael said. \"Bill was almost apoplectic about      it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So was I,\" Malloy said. \"I wish I'd suspected he was going to do      it so I could have threatened to refuse it like Sarah did.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Which is why he never informed you, I'm sure,\" Michael said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mr. Jonson still looked distressed. \"You see, after you received      your inheritance, you could have abandoned Catherine completely,      and even now you have no obligation to share any of the money with      her.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But we would never abandon Catherine,\" Sarah said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"David believed that, I know,\" Michael said, \"which is why he did      what he did, but the fact remains that he has put you in a      difficult position. You can't adopt Catherine as long as Vaughn is      legally her father.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You might get a judge to name you as her official guardian,\"      Jonson said, \"but it would mean a court case and publicity you'd      find distasteful and a scandal that could follow her all of her      life. You'd probably win in the end, although there's no guarantee      of that, but even if you did, you still wouldn't be able to adopt      Catherine, and Vaughn would always be there.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You might never hear from him again, of course,\" Michael said,      \"but whenever there's money involved, people do tend to make      nuisances of themselves. There's no telling what he might do, and      after what happened before . . .\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You don't think he'd try to kidnap her?\" Sarah asked in alarm,      remembering the horror of her first encounter with Catherine's      blood relatives.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It wouldn't legally be kidnapping,\" Michael said. \"In the eyes of      the law, he's her father, so he could be entitled to custody.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sarah couldn't help groaning.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So what can we do about this?\" Malloy asked impatiently. \"I know      you lawyers always have an answer for everything.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Michael glanced at Jonson, who said, \"We do try, but there isn't      always an easy answer for everything. In this case, you would need      for Vaughn to relinquish his parental rights. I could have the      documents drawn up and when he has signed them, you could then      proceed with the adoption.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"And Vaughn couldn't come back later to reclaim Catherine?\" Sarah      asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No, he couldn't.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I wonder how much he'll want in exchange for his signature,\"      Malloy said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Uh, that's another thing we need to discuss,\" Michael said      uneasily. \"It's illegal for you to pay him to give up custody.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What?\" Malloy nearly shouted. \"Why would that be illegal?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Because it's considered selling a child, and selling human beings      is illegal in the United States, I'm happy to say.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sarah wanted to weep. \"So we're supposed to convince Mr. Vaughn to      sign Catherine over to us out of the goodness of his heart?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm afraid so.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"And if he doesn't have any goodness in his heart?\" Malloy asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Michael and Mr. Jonson exchanged looks again. \"Let's just hope he      does.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e What are we going to do?Ó Sarah asked Malloy the moment MichaelÕs      office door closed behind them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We're going to find Parnell Vaughn and convince him to sign      Catherine over to us.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What are the chances he'll do it?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sarah didn't like Malloy's expression one little bit. \"Very small,      I'd guess.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sarah wanted to weep again. \"He'd do it if we paid him, I'm sure.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I know, which is why I think we'll have to pay him.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But Michael said that's illegal!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Which means we're stuck either way.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What do you mean?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I mean, when Vaughn finds out he's legally Catherine's father,      he'll probably decide he'd be a fool to sign her over. He'll know      that as long as he has the right to claim her, we'll be willing to      keep paying him off to keep him from doing so.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But if he signs the papers . . .\" Sarah said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Which he won't do unless we pay him, and if he knows that's      illegal, he'll always have that over us, too. If we don't keep      paying him, he'll accuse us of 'buying' Catherine and try to get      her back again.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So, we're back to my original question: What are we going to do?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm going to find Vaughn. We can't decide anything until we've      talked to him.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He was right, of course. \"He's probably touring in some theater      company, though.\" Vaughn was an actor, too, which was how he'd met      Emma Hardy. \"How will we track him down?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Same way we did before, and with any luck, we'll find out he      drank himself to death since we last saw him.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh, Malloy, we don't really wish him dead,\" Sarah said, although      she couldn't help thinking how Vaughn's death would make      everything so much simpler.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mr. Malloy is right,Ó Maeve said. ÒIf Vaughn was dead, that would      make everything so much easier.Ó\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sarah gave her nanny a look meant to chasten her, although she was      sure such efforts were wasted on the girl. \"We do not wish Mr.      Vaughn ill, Maeve. We simply want him to sign some papers.\" Sarah      had gone straight home after their meeting with Michael Hicks,      while Malloy had gone to find out what he could about Parnell      Vaughn. Maeve had just returned from the Lower East Side, where      she was supervising the workmen who were turning the old house      Sarah had purchased into a maternity clinic that would provide      services free of charge to women in need. She'd wanted to tell      Sarah how she'd outsmarted the workmen yet again and terrorized      them into doing exactly what she demanded, but she'd forgotten all      that when Sarah told her about their meeting with the attorney.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh no, I don't wish Mr. Vaughn any misfortune,\" Maeve assured her      with just the right amount of sincerity. \"But I'm afraid your      lawyer is right. People act strange when money is involved.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Then we'll deal with that when we must. In the meantime, tell me      how the clinic is coming along.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Women are still coming to the door every day wanting to know when      we're going to open,\" Maeve said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I know. You've told me that before. I'm sure everyone knows the      midwives have moved in, too, so that probably doesn't help.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Those two women you hired are going to be perfect, and having      them move in to make sure the place is occupied at night was a      very good idea. They're already making home visits, and Miss      Hanson delivered a baby last night.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"She did?\" Sarah couldn't have been more delighted. \"Oh, I do miss      those deliveries.\" Sarah had made her living as a midwife for      years before her marriage.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I already told them they'll need to let you deliver a baby every      now and then.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Thank you,\" Sarah said with a grin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh, and I almost forgot, you'll never guess who I saw today.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sarah didn't particularly care, since her mind was still focused      on Catherine and their situation, in spite of Maeve's best efforts      to distract her. \"Who?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That fortune-teller, Serafina Straface.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Serafina? Really?\" Sarah asked in surprise. \"How long has it been      since we saw her?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A couple years, I think.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What did she want?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Maeve gave her a pitying look. \"The same thing all the other women      want.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh!\" So Serafina was expecting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes. Apparently, she's still telling fortunes or whatever it was      she did.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"She's a medium.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Maeve rolled her eyes at such a notion. \"So she says. Then I guess      she's still a medium, but I gathered she's looking for a private      place to have her baby.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I suppose she married her young man, Mr. DiLoreto.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You can suppose that all you want, but when she told me her name,      she said it was Straface.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh dear.\" The world was not kind to unwed mothers. Then she      remembered. \"In Italy, women don't take their husband's name.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Really?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes, really.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That's interesting. But I guess in America, actresses don't      either. Emma Hardy didn't.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You're right, she didn't. So Serafina is interested in using the      clinic?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I think she was just interested in using you as a midwife. She      said she went to your old house, and they sent her to the clinic      to find you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Our neighbors have been very good about not telling people where      we live now,\" Sarah said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes, they have, and it sure cuts down on the number of people      coming here looking for a handout,\" Maeve said with a smirk. \"She      didn't tell me when, uh, she'll need the clinic, but she seemed      glad to hear it should be ready in a few days.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Do you think so?\" Sarah asked in surprise.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"If I have anything to say about it, it will. I have those workmen      terrified of Mr. Malloy, especially after they tried to pretend      they didn't know they were supposed to fix the wall in the back      today.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Maeve, you missed your calling.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I know. I should've been a man. I would've been good at it, too.      Better than most men, anyway.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sarah couldn't help laughing, in spite of everything, which she      guessed had been Maeve's intention. \"I didn't mean that. I meant      you should have been a . . .\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Maeve waited a few seconds while Sarah tried in vain to think of      some profession to which a woman could aspire that would use      Maeve's talents. \"See? You can't think of anything. I was right. I      should've been a man.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"But instead you're going to help other women.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I suppose, and maybe someday Mr. Malloy will let me work for      him.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Finding Parnell Vaughn turned out to be much easier than Frank had      anticipated. As an actor, Vaughn often worked for touring      companies, and he might have been anywhere in the country. The      last time theyÕd tried to locate him, heÕd just been returning to      New York from a tour. Frank tried the theatrical agent who had      helped him then, only to discover that agents represented shows,      not actors, and Vaughn was no longer appearing in any of that      agentÕs shows. Frank had to visit only a couple more agents,      however, before he found his quarry.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh yes, Parnell Vaughn,\" Mr. Dinsmore said with obvious distaste.      \"He's having quite a successful run with Mrs. Hawkes at the      Palladium Theater.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Mrs. Hawkes?\" Adelia Hawkes was one of the most famous actresses      in the country. \"Are you sure? It's Parnell Vaughn I'm looking      for. Maybe you have him confused with someone else.\"","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304134660325,"sku":"NP9780399586613","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780399586613.jpg?v=1767733161","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/murder-on-union-square-isbn-9780399586613","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}