Tide and Tempest (Edge of Freedom Book #3) by Elizabeth Ludwig

known Doc better. And the crewmen who still lived? How well did he know them? He thought of Bozey, who’d joined the crew of the Marie almost three years ago, and then trickled over the rest of them, settling at last on Donal.
    “Any idea who might have known about Doc’s circumstances and used the information to bribe him?”
    Finch’s shoulders rose. “He wasn’t shy about seeking odd jobs in order to raise enough money to move his family out of the city and into a warmer climate. I suspect it could have been any number of people. Although . . .” He tapped the desk with his forefinger. “There was a man, Irish, I think, who spoke to him concerning a job. It was right about the time he went to work for you, if I remember correctly. We were all surprised that he would consider leaving his wife and the child to become a ship’s doctor.”
    Morgan dug through his memory, searching the days and weeks surrounding the period when he’d been without a doctor. Just before leaving New York to return to Dublin, Doc had approached him saying he’d heard Morgan was looking.
    He gave himself a mental shake. Impossible. It wasn’t until the next voyage to America that Braedon McKillop had come aboard the Caitriona Marie as a passenger. How could Doc—or anyone—have known? Unless . . .
    McKillop’s coming hadn’t been by accident.
    He clenched his jaw, a blast of anger rushing through him at the thought that someone would use his ship to accomplish their sinister purpose. A second later, reason replaced the anger.
    Composing himself, he stood, shook Finch’s hand, and thanked him for his time. After informing him of the address of the boardinghouse and how long he’d be staying, he asked him to kindly get in touch should he remember anything he thought would be helpful, and then he left.
    Free to reflect on what he’d learned once he left Finch’s home, Morgan scowled and hurried his steps toward Ashberry Street and Cass.
    If what Finch had told him was correct, if someone had paid Doc to take a job on the Caitriona Marie , then somehow convinced McKillop to board the ship for America, the plot, and the danger to him, Tillie, and his brother, was far greater than he imagined.

12
    Business at the millinery hastened now that Tillie had accepted the position Mrs. Ferguson offered. Having received Sister Agnes’s blessing, and Sister Mary’s hearty approval to boot, she’d been happy to inform Mrs. Ferguson of her answer and begin with her new responsibilities.
    She lowered the wick on an oil lamp until it went out, then carefully set it aside and stooped to remove her reticule from a cubby beneath her worktable. The shop was quiet now that the last customer had left and all the employees had gone home. Only she and Mrs. Ferguson remained, the latter approaching with a jingle as she held her keys aloft.
    “So, my dear, what did you think of your first day?”
    Tillie gave her tired eyes a rub. The stress to her fingers had been far less, but her mind was far more fatigued than on a normal workday—as was her back from bending over the table as she’d examined the orders being prepared for delivery. “I never realized how many ventures we had going at once.”
    Mrs. Ferguson chuckled merrily. “Just wait. The summer season is almost over, but come fall, when people submit their orders for the holidays and Christmas, we’ll see our numbers double.”
    Tillie shook her head. “How have you managed it on your own all this time?”
    Separating one of the keys from the ring in her hand, she shrugged. “I had little choice after Mr. Ferguson passed away, but things are different now. Business is better, and I can afford the extra help. Good thing.” She patted her graying hair. “The pace of running this place is rapidly becoming too much for this old lady.”
    Tillie smiled. Mrs. Ferguson’s advancing years had proven to be good fortune for her. “I’m glad I can help.” She motioned toward the windows,