B00CZBQ63C EBOK (12 page)

Daniel’s voice in the background lured her attention.

Heat climbed the back of her neck, Samuel’s hand like a lead weight. Laurie lowered her voice, keeping it barely above a whisper. “I’ll try.”

“That’s my girl.” He squeezed her hand and lifted it to his lips. “I knew you would want to help.”

Her stomach clenched. Samuel Brown was a good man—perhaps the first worthy man she’d met. Why couldn’t she relax and allow herself to enjoy this?

She cast one last glance over her shoulder. Her eyes met Daniel’s.
That’s why.

Chapter
20

D
aniel tossed off the bedcovers and sat up, switching on the light.
Brown’s nothing but a cunning fraud. Why can’t she see that?

The cold floor stung his bare feet as he strode to the kitchen, reaching for the icebox. Pulling out a plate of leftovers, he banged it onto the counter, the harsh sound echoing through the nearly empty rooms
.
Jamming the leftover meatloaf between two slices of bread—a bachelor sandwich—he carried it to the table he’d set against the front windows. The downtown street echoed with the sounds of folks searching for a good time. From his vantage point, he could see light spilling from the wide-open doors of the card room down the street. Several other storefronts stood open, bawdy music pouring out into the evening air.

Daniel leaned against the cool glass and gazed out. He raised the window sash and listened to the sounds of their celebrations. Drunken singing wafted upwards.

In his isolation, the walls started closing in on him, his skin crawling with desire. He shuddered with the knowledge that he wouldn’t have to go far to find relief. He wouldn’t even have to leave the building. His storeroom key lay conspicuous on the counter.

“I don’t want that life anymore.” Out of habit, he reached for the temperance coin, forgetting he wore only pajama pants. His eyes strayed back to the street.

Samuel Brown wouldn’t have to search long for his underground speakeasies. Why bother Larson’s Drugs when anyone with two eyes could spot the culprits without even trying? Daniel shoved his fingers through his hair. The police and Prohibition agents in Seattle were notoriously corrupt. He hadn’t expected to find the same here in Port Angeles.

He took a bite, the chewing motion breaking his concentration. After a few bites, he stopped cold. Perhaps Brown was shaking the Burkes down for a bribe, as well. He dropped the sandwich to the plate as the thought washed over him.
Maybe Brown knows about Johnny’s involvement with the rumrunners and is using that information against Laurie.

Daniel blew out a long breath, the weariness of the day pulling on his shoulders.
Or maybe I’m just jealous.

The sound of breaking glass yanked Laurie from a sound sleep. Her heart beat a deafening rhythm as she clutched at the bedcovers. A final few clinking noises followed as she sat up in her bed and swung her feet over the side. Tiptoeing across the floor, she opened her bedroom door a crack.

Muffled sobs wafted through the house.

“Daddy?”

Light glowed from the crack under the bathroom door. The sobs stilled, but she could hear his ragged breathing.

She padded through the hall. “Are you hurt? Open the door.”

When there was no answer, Laurie turned the knob. Jagged pieces of the shattered mirror lay in the sink and on the floor, mixed with pieces of a busted whiskey bottle. Her father sat cross-legged in the mess, his head tipped back against the wall, tears running down his ruddy cheeks. “Laurie, I—” He drew his shaking hands, smeared with blood, close to his chest. “Just go away.”

She sank against the doorframe, her stomach a bubbling cauldron. Closing her eyes, she shut down her emotions. She learned years ago that no good came of engaging with him in his pain. The only thing to do was to clean up the mess and go back to bed. He’d forget by morning. She wouldn’t. Laurie picked up the whiskey bottle from the sink. Broken and empty—like so many other things in her life.

Dad’s hands dropped to the floor, streaking blood across the dirty tiles. “Leave it be.”

Laurie waited until her father staggered off to bed, his bloodied hand resting on top of the quilt. It shouldn’t prevent him from working, assuming he was sober by morning.

With a sigh, she hurried to the bathroom to clean up the latest mess. Laurie trembled as she lifted the large shards of glass and placed them into the wastebasket. The broken bottle lay on the floor. She picked it up and turned it in her hands. It wasn’t from the pharmacy.

A sick feeling gripped her stomach.
Johnny wouldn’t bring him liquor.
Would he?

She brushed away the ridiculous thought. Her father could have bought it from anyone. Even with the Prohibition laws, booze could be obtained without much difficulty. There was no reason to believe that the bottle she held in her hands came from Johnny’s late night trips to Canada.

One by one she relaxed her fingers, her grip on the bottle loosening until it dropped, smashing down into the wastebasket full of broken pieces. She picked up the basket and gazed down into the mess. A thousand broken splinters, just like her family.

And here she stood—cleaning up the pieces.

Chapter
21

D
aniel strolled down the raucous street, his hands jammed into
his pockets, soaking in the jazz piano strains wafting out into the night. As long as he stayed outside, he’d be fine.

Dark blinds obscured the view into some of the establishments, but light poured out of the windows of one and Daniel identified some of the soda fountain regulars circling the gambling tables.

A woman in a low-cut flapper dress leaned out a second story window and called to him. “Hey there, handsome!” Her fingers twisted a long string of jet beads, accentuating the milky white skin of her bare shoulders. “Why don’t you come in and have some fun?”

He pushed back his hat. “It’s a nice evening for a walk.”

She stuck out her lower lip in a childlike pout. “I think it feels a little nippy out there.” She wrapped claw-like fingers around her lanky arms, the ornate dress sparkling in the low light. “Why don’t you let me warm you up a bit, first? It’s a great night for dancing, if you got a mind to. Or I can deal out some cards. Anything you’d like!”

He chuckled and shook his head.

She sat down on the edge of the sill, dangling one long leg over the edge. “I’m sure we could find something you’d enjoy.”

He waved off her siren song and walked away down the street. If she’d leaned any further, she would have fallen into his arms. He wouldn’t mind having a beautiful woman fall for him, but he’d rather it happened the old-fashioned way.

And he’d rather it be someone like Laurie.

He could hear the woman calling out to someone else as he wandered away.

A man’s voice echoed back, “Hey, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”

Daniel’s gloom returned.
Maybe that is the old-fashioned way.

A shadowy figure barreled out of the alley, ducking around the side of the building. Daniel dodged, his shoulder colliding with the brick wall. Walking downtown at night was always risky—too much temptation and too many drunks.

“Daniel?” Johnny Burke clutched a slack burlap bag, his chest heaving.

Daniel grunted, rubbing his shoulder. “I thought you were working tonight,”

Johnny grasped Daniel’s good arm and tugged him down the street. “I am—well, sort of. You live over the store, right? Do you mind if I hole up at your place for a bit?” Johnny fidgeted like a hunted rabbit.

Daniel tried to follow his gaze, but Johnny jerked his arm. “Don’t look back.” Johnny set off toward the drugstore.

“What’s going on?” Daniel hurried to catch up.

“I’ll tell you when we get there.” Johnny pressed the bag into Daniel’s hand. “Here. Take this, would you?”

Daniel thrust the empty bag under his coat, a sick feeling washing over him.

The pair reached the drugstore and Daniel followed his friend up the cement stairs—Johnny hungrily taking them two at a time. When they got inside, Johnny shoved the door closed and leaned against it, his chest heaving. Dark circles shadowed his eyes and creases lined his brow.

Daniel dropped the bag on the table. “So what is this? What’s going on?”

Johnny’s eyes shifted. “I was making a delivery.”

Daniel put the kettle on the stove, knowing his friend would open up in time.

Johnny closed the window blinds. “I saw that Brown fellow skulking around and it made me a little jumpy.”

Daniel leaned back against the kitchen counter. “I thought you were just running booze, not selling it.”

The color drained from Johnny’s face. “But I’m not—”

“You’re a rotten liar.”

Johnny paced the room. “I told Laurie to keep quiet. When I get my hands on that girl—”

Daniel raised his hand. “Don’t bother. I put it together when I saw her out by Crescent Beach that first night.”

“You—” Johnny’s stopped in his tracks. “You saw her at the beach?” He slumped into a chair. “Nothing goes without notice in this town.”

Daniel’s chest tightened. “I can understand you getting messed up in this business. You’ve always had some sort of scheme going. But why would you get Laurie involved in it?”

Johnny lifted his head, eyes narrowed. “I didn’t. She wasn’t supposed to know.” He balled his fist. “She always does this to me. She sticks her nose in where it doesn’t belong and then I’m stuck babysitting her.”

Reaching in to the cupboard, Daniel pulled out mugs and a canister of tea. “So now you’re selling it, too?”

Johnny sank lower in the chair. “I was just supposed to help with the boats. But one of our guys weaseled out, so I had to make the drop tonight, too.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s a good thing I spotted Brown, or I’d be sitting in county lockup.” He shook his head, the corner of his lip twitching into a faint smile. “Remember when we used to play cops and robbers in the tunnels under downtown? I never imagined I’d ever use them to actually duck the law.”

Daniel filled his cup, the scent of chamomile filling the kitchen. “What’s Laurie’s part in all this?”

His friend’s face grew dark. “She ain’t got a part. I told you that.”

Daniel frowned. “It doesn’t look that way to me. When I met her on the bluff that night, she said she was helping friends—presumably you and your buddies. And now she’s conveniently ‘seeing’ Samuel Brown. Did you put her up to that?”

Johnny jumped to his feet, his face turning red. “I told her to stay away from him.”

Daniel took a sip, letting the hot liquid roll around on his tongue. “Apparently she’s not listening.” He set the cup down on the table, the image of Agent Brown and Laurie together gnawing at his gut. “You don’t suppose she’s actually falling for him?”

“Nah, Laurie’s got more sense than that. She thinks she can throw him off our trail or something. It’s too risky, though. I don’t like it.”

“That makes two of us.”

Jazz music drifted up through Daniel’s open window, dancing across his thoughts. How easy it would be to fall back into that lifestyle.

His friend hunched forward over his teacup, clenched brow shadowing his eyes.

A prickle of suspicion drifted through Daniel’s heart. “Why are you doing this?”

Johnny started, as if Daniel’s voice had awakened him from a dream. “I need the money. I didn’t get your fancy education.”

“You’ve got a decent-paying job. What’s so desperate you’re risking your neck—and your sister’s?”

Johnny sneered and pushed his hand through his hair a second time, making it stand up in blond spikes. “You don’t know nothing.”

Daniel leaned forward in his chair. He’d known Johnny long enough to recognize his junkyard dog routine. Growl, bark—anything to scare you away from the truth. “So, educate me. What’s so important? Gambling debts?”

His friend pushed to his feet, jutting out his chin. “Just because I stayed here, doesn’t make me stupid, Daniel. I know better than that.”

The music outside kicked up a notch, as if keeping pace with their conversation. “Are you in some sort of trouble?” He lowered his voice. “Is it—is it Amelia?”

Johnny turned on him, his face clenched. “Don’t you ever say anything like that about Amelia.” He grabbed his jacket and strode to the door.

Daniel blocked his path. “No way. You can’t ask for my help and then rush out without a word. I have a right to know what’s going on.”

Johnny sidestepped and yanked at the knob, but Daniel threw his shoulder against the door.

Johnny turned on him, his fists clenched. “I don’t want to knock you down, Daniel. But I will. You know I can take you.”

Daniel pushed away the childhood memory. “I remember. But I also remember that after you were done blowing off your steam, we were better friends.” He clenched his jaw. “So let’s get it over with, so we can get to the truth. I can’t help you or Laurie until I know what’s really going on.”

“Get out of the way.” Johnny’s voice shook.

“I can understand you running booze. I can get that you’re selling it to that card shark next door. But letting your sister sacrifice herself to that loser Brown? Are you going to let her move into that brothel next? Is that what you want?”

Daniel didn’t even see the fist coming.

The sun crept upward in the sky as Laurie finished cleaning and bandaging her father’s hand in silence. The morning oatmeal bubbled in the cook pot.

“I’ll stop at the glass shop on my way home from work.”

She filled their bowls and brought them to the table. “Don’t bother. I have a mirror in my room.” With her father’s current inclination for glass breaking, it seemed pointless.

“You never said anything about your trip to Lake Sutherland. How was it?”

She shrugged. “Beautiful. As always, I guess.”

Dad bobbed his head as he chewed, his face hanging low over his bowl. “We should go out there and do some fishing. You and me and Johnny.”

The cereal sank into a deep pocket of her stomach.

“No, wait . . . ” His eyes brightened. He raised his bandaged hand, the spoon dangling between his thumb and forefinger. “Let’s go up to Hurricane Ridge. Maybe we could stay a few days.”

“Sure. Why not?” The sarcasm tasted as bland as the oatmeal. She reached for more brown sugar.

He brought his hand down hard on the table making the silverware jump. “I’m trying here, Laurie. Don’t give me lip.”

Laurie grabbed her bowl and coffee cup and marched to the back door. Using her shoe, she pushed open the screen door and let it bang shut behind her. The fresh morning air lifted the edges of her hair and cooled her face. She settled into the wicker bench and propped her feet up against the porch railing, knocking flecks of white paint to the ground. She shoveled the cold oatmeal into her mouth where it sat on her tongue like a wad of glue.

The screen squeaked. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, counting her father’s slow shuffling steps. Opening her eyes, Laurie gazed across the lawn at the big maple tree.

He faced her, lowering himself to sit on the porch rail. The old wood creaked.

Acid rose in her throat. She didn’t need another mess this morning.

Her father grimaced and pushed back to his feet. “I should get out here and repair that, I suppose.”

Fire erupted in Laurie’s chest. “You won’t. You should, but you won’t.” The words hissed from her mouth, like steam escaping the teakettle. “Just like you won’t go to Hurricane Ridge or Lake Sutherland or anywhere else. You’ll go to work and you’ll come home and drink. It’s all you do. It’s all you ever do.” She pitched the bowl at the railing.

Laurie pushed herself to her feet. “I cleaned everything up. It’s what I always do.” Tears sprang to her eyes, but she threw up her fist to brush them away. “It’s what
we
always do.”

His shoulders slumped, hands hanging limp. “I’m sorry. I can do better. I’ll quit.” The long-desired words fell flat. “I’m done. No more drinking.” He repeated the words, as if saying them again would somehow make them true.

Laurie swallowed. “I have to get ready for work.” She pushed through the door, leaving behind her broken bowl.
Let him clean up something for a change.