It is April of 1901, and one of Boston's most powerful men has gone missing. Desperate to find her brother, Harry, the beautiful Abigail Pierson hires upstart detective Ralph Maguire-against her powerful father's wishes. Already smitten with Abigail, Ralph vows to help, no matter what the cost. As Ralph watches Abigail step into her carriage and ride away, he pushes his Colt M1892 into the waistband of his pants and sets his hat on his head. The case has officially begun. With Harry seemingly destined to be the next mayor of Boston, Ralph immediately delves into an investigation that takes him straight to the police department, where his ideas for finding Harry are promptly dismissed. But when the body of another missing man suddenly surfaces in the river and five more men disappear without a trace, Ralph soon realizes that a serial killer has taken up residence in Boston. As the young detective recruits a sidekick to help him find a brilliant mastermind before he murders again, they embark on a dangerous investigation that takes them from Boston to Liverpool. In this fast-paced murder mystery, a simple missing person investigation soon turns into a lethal race against time to stop a killer and save a beautiful woman from a dreadful demise.

Blood in Boston

A Ralph Maguire Adventure By Brian McComb

Abbott Press

Copyright © 2012 Brian McComb
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4582-0426-4

Chapter One

Ralph Maguire was sleeping soundly on the couch in his study, the Boston Herald he had been reading covering his torso like it was a make shift blanket. The first knock on the front door stirred him slightly in his sleep. The second knock pulled him out of his dreams and back into consciousness.

He sat up on the couch as the Boston Herald fell to the ground. Ralph began rubbing his eyes and reached into his pocket pulling out his pocket watch. He looked down at the time, seeing it was ten thirty in the morning. His nap had lasted longer than he had intended for it to. The third knock came from the front door; Ralph stood up and made his way out of his study.

He hadn't been expecting anybody this morning, he thought, as he opened the front door. Ralph suddenly became more awake by the person standing there. She was a younger woman, probably in her early twenties with long flowing brunette hair. She wore a flattering dress that seemed to exude high society. Ralph was almost speechless at the pure beauty that stood in front of him. Sensing the uncomfortable silence, Ralph opened his mouth.

"Yes, can I help you miss?"

She gave him a slight smile and said, "Are you Ralph Maguire, the detective?"

"Yes, yes, please come in."

Ralph stepped aside as the woman entered his house. He watched her move; she was tentative in every motion. He watched as she slowly looked around the room, taking in every facet of his home.

"May I ask how I can be of service to you?" Ralph asked as he closed the door behind them.

"I need your assistance in finding my brother."

"Perhaps, it would be best to talk in my office. Just follow me."

Ralph made his way out of the living room and into his office. As he entered the room, he walked up to his couch and quickly knelt down and picked up the Boston Herald that was lying on the ground. He moved to the desk and set the paper down. He turned and watched as she entered his office.

Ralph motioned to the couch, "Please have a seat."

He sat down in his chair behind his desk and watched as she gingerly sat on the couch.

"Mr. Maguire, my brother has been missing for three days and quite frankly I am out of places to turn for help."

"Please call me Ralph and what shall I call you?" Ralph asked smiling.

"I'm sorry Mr. Maguire, I completely forgot to introduce myself, I'm Abigail Pierson."

The name registered immediately in Ralph's head, "Any relation to Terrence Pierson?"

"Yes, he is my father," Abigail replied.

Terrence Pierson was one of the most important people in all of Boston, having single handedly gotten the subway system off the ground. He was also one of the eight members on the Board of Aldermen, the second hand men to the Mayor.

"And you say your brother has gone missing, have the police been notified?"

"Oh yes, however, they have not been able to find out any information so far," Abigail replied with a somber tone.

"With your father's political status, I'm curious, have there been any ransom demands sent your way?"

"Nothing, this is what is so troubling Mr. Maguire. It's as if Harry has just gone up and vanished."

Ralph studied Abigail Pierson and he could see the sadness written all over her face. He could tell that she had spent time more of her time crying than actually sleeping. There was a deep loss that resonated in her eyes.

"Where was Harry seen last before he disappeared?"

"He gave a speech at the dedication ceremony at Horticultural Hall. That was the last time anyone has seen him."

"Was Harry delving into politics like father?"

"Oh yes, he was about to run for Mayor this coming year. He was actually making considerable strides in his campaigning."

Ralph was a little befuddled, How could one of the most prominent men in Boston have his son disappear without a trace? Ralph thought to himself.

"Who is the leading the investigation for the Police?"

Abigail began to remember the Inspector's name, "Its Marnibey or something like that. He hasn't been the most helpful which is why I'm forced to try another avenue."

"Mariney, Flynn Mariney, that's quite interesting," Ralph replied.

"Do you know him?"

"We go back a little ways. I'm just not sure if I can do anything that the police haven't already done for you."

Abigail stood up from the couch and walked to the edge of Ralph's desk. She put her hands down on the desk and stared directly down at him.

"Mr. Maguire, my brother is missing and I need to help him. I'm begging you, please help me find him. He is all I have in this world, please, say you will find him," Abigail said as tears began to form in her eyes.

Ralph looked up at her and felt his heart get heavy. He knew that he had to help her, to at least try to find Harry Pierson. He stood up from his chair.

"I'll do whatever I can for you Abigail. I am quite confident that the Police are not going to assist me in any way on this, actually, I'm positive they won't. Still, I will see what I can find for out for you."

Abigail's face brightened a little and she offered her hand out to Ralph. Ralph graciously took it and shook her hand.

"Thank you Mr. Maguire, there is something about you that makes me feel at ease about this."

Letting go of her hand Ralph smiled back at her, "Please call me Ralph."

"Thank you Ralph, should I pay you now?" Abigail asked.

"Don't worry about that until I have something for you. I will contact you as soon as I can," Ralph replied.

They began to walk out of the study and towards the front door. Ralph couldn't help himself for some reason he was already smitten with Abigail Pierson. He wanted to come through for her at whatever cost. As they got to the door, Ralph opened it.

"I will be in touch Abigail."

Abigail stepped out of the house, stopped and turned back to Ralph.

"Thank you again, Ralph"

"You can thank me when I find Harry," Ralph said with a grin.

Ralph watched as Abigail turned and walked to the street. A horse and carriage were waiting for her there. He watched as she climbed in and then rode out of sight. Closing the door and heading back to his study, Ralph went straight to his desk and opened the top drawer. He reached in and pulled out a brown case, set it on the desk and opened it. He took the Colt M1892 out of the case and checked that it was loaded and then set it in the waist of his trousers.

Ralph walked over to his coat rack and pulled down his blue blazer and put it on. Reaching out, he grabbed his Homburg hat and set it on his head. Ralph Maguire was ready. The case had begun.

Chapter Two

Ralph made his way down Beacon Street and hopped onto the trolley heading towards Huntington Avenue. He absolutely abhorred this type of transportation. Ralph had never been a big fan of change; he was more of a horse and carriage kind of guy. Boston was changing and it was changing fast, faster than Ralph would have liked.

The trolley made its way down Dartmouth Avenue. Ralph stared out into the streets he called home all of his life. With the growth of Boston, homes were being demolished and tenements were going up with three to four stories where families lived on each floor. The turn of the century had turned Boston into a faint cry of what it had been.

The trolley turned onto Huntington Avenue,...