All Through the Night

Mary Higgins Clark

Alvirah Meehan, the lottery winner, once again finds a mystery to puzzle out. Willy, her husband, both encourages and discourages her from too much participation. Alvirah is a great character.

An 18-year-old girl leaves her new born daughter on the steps of Catholic church rectory. At the same time, a burglar is robbing the chapel. As he escapes, he sees the baby stroller and takes it with him as a cover. It is not until he arrives back at his aunt's apartment that he realizes there is a baby in the stroller. He tells his aunt the baby is his, knowing his aunt would not kick him out as long as there was the baby.

Seven years later, the mother returns. It is only then she discovers her child was not found by the inhabitants of the rectory. She begins to panic, wondering what has happened to her daughter.

Meanwhile (since this is two mysteries combined into one tale) an elderly woman died and left her house and wealth to her sister. Yet shortly after the funeral, the people renting quarters in the house produce a new will stating the woman had left the property to them as long as the sister was given a place to live. The sister is astonished and despondent. Alvirah is unbelieving.

As much as I enjoy Alvirah's stories, this is not one of the better ones. I could pretty much predict what was going to happen the whole way through. This is a fine way to while away an hour or two as long as expectations are not set too high.

Notice: Suggestive dialogue or situations