Page 76 of In Want of a Suspect

“Oy, who’s there?” called a voice.

Lizzie recognized the voice—it was Parry, the foreman. They’d known there was a chance that someone would be standing guard, but they hadn’t seen him at all in their reconnaissance. From the direction of his voice and the weak light, he was at the front of the building, but the light was moving closer to them.

“Go,” Marianne whispered. “I’ll distract him!”

Before Lizzie could question her, Marianne was trotting toward the street. “Marianne!” Elinor hissed after her, but her sister disappeared around the corner.

Never one to waste an opportunity, Lizzie refocused her attention on the foothold she found. It was at approximately hip height. “Elinor, give me a boost.”

“Hurry,” Elinor said, kneeling in the mud to offer her knee and hand to Lizzie. In the distance, they could hear the sound of Marianne’s voice calling out a greeting. She sounded merry, and although Lizzie couldn’t quite make out what she was saying as she hoisted herself up on Elinor’s knee, she could hear Marianne’s words slur together.

Elinor let out a small grunt, but Lizzie worked quickly. From there, she wedged her foot into the foothold and stretched to reach the top of the fence. She wobbled, but her fingers couldn’t quite reach. As she braced her palms against the rough wood, she felt her center of balance tip.

“Got it?” Elinor huffed.

“Not... quite!”

“Hold on.” And before Lizzie could guess at what would come next, Elinor’s hands came beneath her foot and she lifted Lizzie the last little stretch she needed to grasp the top of the wall—and just in time, too. Elinor let go with a small “oof” but between her grasp on the top of the wall and her foothold, Lizzie was able to push up with her leg and pull up with both arms. Muscles she had not realized she had screamed in protest, andonce she had lifted herself up, Lizzie realized that she now had to find a wayover. And then down.

“Surely you’re jesting!” Marianne protested. “Why, a big building like that and there’s nowhere for a lady to relieve herself inside?”

Lizzie had to gulp back a laugh. Marianne sounded drunk.

“No,” came Parry’s gruff response. “Move along.”

Lizzie kicked her free foot over the edge of the fence, gritting her teeth as the hard edge of the board cut into the softness of her belly. But luckily for her, the drop was not far, for there was a platform a mere two feet down on the other side. She fell shakily onto it.

“No? But surely you aren’t being entirely forthcoming?” Marianne’s voice sounded cajoling. “I know you don’t let in just anyone off the streets, but I am not just anyone, sir!”

“Lizzie?” Elinor whispered.

Lizzie’s heart was racing but she sat up and peered over the edge. “Fine!”

“You’re trouble!” Parry said, sounding louder. “You look like you come from around here, but that don’t mean you’re not trouble like the rest of them.”

“How dare you!” Marianne exclaimed, and Lizzie noticed that she sounded closer, too. She rose to a crouch and looked toward the street. The corner of the building obstructed her view, despite the advantage of her elevation, but she could see light bobbing about, like a lantern being carried by someone approaching.

“Elinor!” she whispered, looking down. “You have to come up! Now!”

“I can’t!” came the scandalized response.

“See here,” Marianne shouted. “Do you mean to march me up this street, sir?”

That was as good of a warning as any.

Lizzie missed Parry’s response. She kneeled on the platform of the scaffolding and reached her hand down to Elinor. The other young lady looked wildly about, as if there were any other option to be found in a dark alley. Out of the corner of her eye Lizzie could see the lantern light drawing closer. “Hurry!”

Elinor was taller than Lizzie, with longer legs, so she hoped it would be enough that she could reach and pull her up. But Elinor’s foot could not reach the foothold that Lizzie had used without getting hopelessly tangled in her skirts. Lizzie looked on desperately as she heard Parry say, “I aim to march you ’round the perimeter of this buildin’ and see what sort of distraction you believe yourself to be!”

Elinor heard his words, too. And in a move that shocked Lizzie, she reached down, pulled her skirts up to her waist, exposing her drawers, and placed her foot in the hold. Then, she hopped from her other foot, giving herself the boost she needed to catch Lizzie’s outstretched hand.

Lizzie had thought she was prepared to haul Elinor up, but despite being rather willowy in build, Elinor was much heavier than Lizzie had anticipated. She gritted her teeth and clenched Elinor’s hand while Elinor’s other hand came to clutch Lizzie’swrist in return. Using the exhilaration that came with the fear of being caught, Lizzie hauled Elinor up until she was close enough that Lizzie could grab her waist and pull her over the wall. They dropped onto their bellies on the gritty platform and tried to breathe silently as they heard Marianne protest, “Sir, what is down this dark alley? I hope you aren’t about to take advantage of a lady! I warn you, I shall scream.”

Parry didn’t respond immediately, but Lizzie could sense his confusion as she heard his boots tromp down the alley and saw the light from the lantern throw wild shadows against the wall. Elinor and Lizzie stayed absolutely still. They were out of sight and Lizzie was certain that as long as they didn’t move or make a noise, they would be safe.

“Thought I heard something,” Parry said finally, although he seemed to linger in the alley.

“Rats,” Marianne pronounced with disgust. “Or stray cats, maybe?”