He frowned in concentration. “I’m afraid I don’t remember any of the girls in particular.”

“She was the one who answered the door. Mrs. Wells said she’d been seduced by a man who refused to marry her and her family had disowned her.”

Plainly, he hadn’t seen any reason to remember the incident. “Has she approached you for help?”

“No, not exactly. She was found dead in City Hall Park this morning.”

“Dead?” he echoed in surprise. “A young girl like that? What happened?”

“She was murdered.”

An expression of distaste crossed his handsome face. “How unfortunate. But I suppose you can’t be too surprised with that kind of girl.”

Sarah wanted to demand to know what he meant by “that kind of girl,” but she refrained. She had little hope of changing Richard Dennis’s prejudices. She’d settle for getting his help in changing other people’s lives. “She was wearing my clothes when she died.”

“Your clothes?” he echoed, obviously confused.

“The clothes I donated to the mission on Sunday. That made me think, ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’ I don’t want any other girls to die like that.”

He nodded, his expression grave with understanding, although Sarah suspected he couldn’t even begin to understand. “Certainly not. And don’t worry, I’ll do everything I can to help. Would your mother like for me to give her a list of Hazel’s particular friends?”

“I’m sure she’d appreciate that. I can’t thank you enough for helping with this.”

“I’m glad to do it, but I’m afraid I will have to have a favor in return,” he added with a smile.

“What kind of favor?” she asked, intrigued.

“Some friends of mine are giving a party on Halloween. I was hoping you would accompany me.”

Sarah’s mother would be so pleased. “Of course,” she said.