Page 6 of The Journal of a Thousand Years
“She has something I don’t. A gun,” he added when Gabe arched his brows.
“She could be hours. I think the airman she met with is more than a friend.”
Willie’s interest in both men and women was the reason I wasn’t shocked when I’d learned about Melville Hendry’s homosexuality. But I had thought Willie was monogamous. “Has something happened between her and Nurse Tilda?”
“She told me to mind my own business this morning when I asked,” Gabe said. “I value my life, so didn’t press her.”
The taxi pulled over and Alex opened the door for the three sisters. Once they were on their way, he invited Evaline to travel with us in the Vauxhall.
Thirty minutes later, we alighted at the main gate to the Petersons’ paper factory on Bethnal Green Road. The sky was murkier here, thanks to the smoke spewing from the chimneys, and the air felt cloying. A lorry drove slowly through the gate and headed up the street, most likely on its way to deliver paper around the city. The Petersons supplied small stationery shops like Petra’s, as well as large institutions, including the Bank of England. It was a lucrative business, and one that I’d been accused of coveting for myself when I was attempting to discover if Walter and Evaline’s father was also my father. Neither sibling had accused me. It was their long-time employee who’d suspected I was a fortune hunter.
It suddenly occurred to me thathecould be the fellow Evaline wanted us to meet. I didn’t know his name, but there was a resemblance between him and the three sisters.
Evaline asked us to wait for her in her brother’s large office in the administration building while she went in search of Mr. Cooper. The Hendry sisters sat, but I couldn’t settle. Gabe and Alex’s good manners meant they wouldn’t sit unless I did, so the three of us stood by the window that overlooked the courtyard surrounded on three sides by buildings. That’s how we saw Evaline striding towards us with her brother. There was no sign of a third person.
I smiled at Walter when he greeted me and listened as Gabe introduced him to the Hendry sisters. I didn’t really hear the conversation, however. I had the strange sensation of being outside the scene, as if I were standing in the wings watching a play being performed on stage. I knew before Evaline spoke that the man known as Cooper couldn’t be found.
“He said he was feeling unwell and went home early,” Walter added. “It’s unlike Cooper to be ill. He rarely takes time off.” The frown looked unnatural on the usually cheerful man.
Evaline paced the floor, her hand pressed to her chest. “I mentioned the Hendry family to him this morning in all innocence. I thought he was a distant relative. I never suspected he was a Hendry himself, but now it seems as though I triggered his flight.” She stopped in front of me. “I am so sorry, Sylvia.”
Walter shook his finger at her. “We don’t know for certain if that’s why he left. I’m prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. Cooper has been a loyal employee and a solid worker for a number of years.”
“None of that matters if he’s trying to remain hidden,” Gabe said.
Rosina clicked her tongue in irritation, while Myrtle muttered, “Typical Melville,” under her breath.
“We don’t know if Mr. Cooper is Melville,” Naomi reminded her sisters.
“He must be, or why avoid this encounter?” Myrtle turned to Evaline. “You say you mentioned we three to him, and told him about Sylvia, too?”
“I simply told him he might have a relative who was a young paper magician. I didn’t mention her name, nor that she’s searching for her father.”
Walter threw doubt over the idea that I was Mr. Cooper’s daughter. “He had one son, who I believe died, although I’m not entirely sure, now that I come to think about it.” He frowned. “He rarely speaks about family.”
“Because he was avoiding us,” Rosina muttered with a bitter edge.
Naomi looked sheepish. “We didn’t get along with Melville,” she told the Petersons. “Not when we were children, and certainly not as adults. He avoided us, and we him, then he disappeared altogether.”
I rubbed my arms as a chill rippled through me. He didn’t get along with his sisters, and I suspected my mother didn’t likemy father. Indeed, she was most likely afraid of him. It was too much of a coincidence.
Walter strode toward the door. “We have Cooper’s address on file. I’ll send someone to check on him.”
“We’ll go,” Gabe said.
Walter hesitated before nodding. He left to speak to his assistant in the outer office and returned moments later with a large photograph. “My assistant reminded me of this. It was hanging out there on the wall.” He showed it to the Hendry sisters. “It was taken a few months after war was declared. When we realized a lot of our men would enlist, we had a photograph taken of all the staff.”
Evaline peered over Naomi’s shoulder. “We lost some young men in the war, then the influenza outbreak took more.” She pointed to a figure in the photograph which had been taken in the courtyard. “There. That’s Cooper.”
Rosina and Naomi squinted at the photograph while Myrtle removed a pair of spectacles from her bag.
“That’s him!” Rosina cried. “That’s Melville.”
“Are you sure?” Naomi asked.
Myrtle took the photograph from Walter and inspected it. “That’s him. Older, yes, but it’s definitely him.”
Walter removed a magnifying glass from his desk drawer and handed it to Naomi. “When did you last see your brother?”
