The Chimney Sweep's Tale

The Chimney Sweep's Tale

A Mimi Delboise Mystery

New Orleans, Louisiana - October 1891

________________________________________

PART FOUR: "The Network"

At the Morley mansion, Mimi's inquiry about Gautreaux was met with stiff formality. The housekeeper's tone suggested the topic was closed: "Mr. Gautreaux is no longer in our employ. Left three weeks ago, claiming better prospects elsewhere."

Three weeks ago: shortly after the Beaumont thefts escalated. After considerable negotiation, she secured an interview with Morley himself, a portly man whose florid complexion suggested good living and little exertion.

"Gautreaux was excellent," Morley said from behind his massive desk. "Experienced, knowledgeable about proper household management, familiar with wealthy families' requirements."

"Then why did he leave?"

"Irregularities. Small missing items, questions about his access to restricted areas. Nothing provable, but enough to create suspicion." Morley paused. "Most disturbing was his knowledge of hiding places and security measures he shouldn't have known."

"Did you report these suspicions?"

"What would be the point? No proof, impeccable references from previous employers. Besides, domestic staff problems are handled privately among families of standing."

Wealthy families' preference for discretion meant servants like Gautreaux could move between households, carrying their crimes while victims remained silent to avoid embarrassment.

"Do you know where Gautreaux went?"

"Mentioned returning to private consulting. Claimed specialized knowledge of household security that wealthy families might value." Morley's skepticism was evident. "Given our experience, I'd hardly recommend his services."

________________________________________

Two days passed as Detective Thibodaux's investigation proceeded. Dr. Tran's clinic remained quiet in the late afternoons, the sounds of the Quarter's daily activity muted by the thick walls and closed shutters. Tommy appeared to be resting comfortably, his color improved from the morning's pallor, though his leg remained immobilized in its splint.

"How is he?" Mimi asked, settling into the chair beside his bed.

"Healing well," Dr. Tran replied. "The leg will require several weeks of rest, but there should be no permanent damage." She paused, then added quietly, "He's been asking about the investigation. I think he's frightened that whoever tried to hurt him might try again."

Tommy's eyes opened at the sound of their voices, immediately alert despite his injuries. "Miss Delboise? Did you find him? The man in the walls?"

"I think so. His name is Émile Gautreaux, and he's been using his work as a butler to steal from wealthy families." Mimi pulled her chair closer to the bed. "Tommy, I need to ask you some more questions about what you saw and heard at the Beaumont house."

"Yes, ma'am."

"When you heard this man talking about the 'Bordelon cache,' did he mention anything else? Any details about where it might be hidden or how much it might be worth?"

Tommy's brow furrowed with concentration. "He said something about 'the old man's paranoia' and how 'they never thought to look behind the false wall in the wine cellar.' And he was real excited about it: said it would be worth enough to retire somewhere far away."

"Did he see you before you fell?"

"Yes, ma'am. When I knocked the soot loose, he looked up and saw me watching him through the grate. He looked scared at first, then... then he looked angry. Real angry, like he was thinking about how to fix the problem I represented."

The image was disturbing: a grown man calculating violence against a child who had accidentally witnessed his crimes. It spoke to a level of callousness that suggested Gautreaux would not hesitate to kill again if he felt threatened.

"Tommy, I want you to stay here with Dr. Tran until we've caught this man. Detective Thibodaux has arranged for police protection, but I don't want you taking any chances."

"What about Mr. Cork? And the other boys? If this man thinks any of us might have seen something..."

It was a sobering thought. If Gautreaux believed that other members of Cork's crew might pose a threat to his activities, he could decide that additional violence was necessary to protect himself.

"I'll speak with Detective Thibodaux about extending protection to Mr. Cork and his workers," Mimi said. "And we're going to catch Gautreaux before he can hurt anyone else."

As she prepared to leave the clinic, Dr. Tran walked her to the door. "Miss Delboise, there's something else you should know. While Tommy was resting this afternoon, he mentioned that he's seen the same man at other houses where his crew has worked. Not inside the walls, but watching from the street or from carriages parked nearby."

"He's been conducting surveillance?"

"It would appear so. Tommy says he noticed because the man was always well-dressed and didn't seem to belong in working neighborhoods. But he didn't think much of it until after the incident at the Beaumont house."

The information suggested that Gautreaux had been planning his thefts carefully, observing the houses and timing his activities to coincide with the chimney cleaning that would provide cover for any unusual noises or disturbances. It was a sophisticated operation that spoke to considerable intelligence and planning, which made him all the more dangerous.

________________________________________

The Bordelon mansion had been sold furnished, according to records from the real estate agent who handled the transaction. The heirs, living in Paris and eager to liquidate American assets, had disposed of the property quickly without detailed inventory that might reveal hidden valuables.

"They wanted nothing to do with New Orleans after the old man died," the agent explained in his cramped office above a Royal Street jewelry shop. "Said the city held too many painful memories."

"Did they search the property thoroughly before sale?"

"Hired someone for obvious spaces: rooms, closets, storage areas. But old mansions have hidden nooks easily overlooked, especially without architectural familiarity."

The agent produced yellowed architectural drawings from the 1850s, clearly showing elaborate servants' passages and storage areas built into the walls.

"Here," he pointed to the basement level. "Wine cellar with secondary storage behind the main wall. Could be what your suspect referenced."

The hidden space was accessible through servants' passages but invisible from main areas: perfect for concealing valuables. Someone with Gautreaux's architectural knowledge would be ideally positioned to discover its existence.

"Who would have known about these spaces during the Bordelon residence?"

"The architect, certainly, probably the head butler. Sometimes patriarchs shared such information with trusted servants, especially regarding security."

Gautreaux had likely learned about the cache during his employment, then waited for safe retrieval opportunity. Chimney sweeps provided perfect cover: their presence would mask unusual sounds, their reputation for petty theft would deflect suspicion.

"When is Cork's crew next scheduled at the Beaumont mansion?"

The agent consulted different records. "Seasonal maintenance twice yearly. Next scheduled cleaning... Tuesday morning."

________________________________________

Where is Gautreaux now? How will police catch him?

Stay tuned for Part 5 of The Chimney Sweep's Tale as Detective Thibodaux's investigation closes in on the criminals, but will they catch both the mastermind and Tommy's would-be killer?

Follow all of Mimi Delboise's adventures over at The Elephant Island Chronicles and on Medium