There was no talking now, not to each other, or anyone else. That was another one of the rules she’d set down. No one could know they were sisters. There were people who knew Father had three daughters and they had to be careful to not be recognized.
Several blocks later, they stepped off the trolley, one at a time, and in single file, as if they didn’t know each other; they walked down the block to the Laundromat. The door led to an entranceway that had another door that led down a set of steps where they had to knock and give the password.
The Rooster’s Nest was busy again tonight, and Betty scanned the area, looking for a flat brown hat, black hair, and blue eyes. He wasn’t at the table in the corner, nor sitting at one of the many stools along the bar.
She moved slowly, searching the people sitting at tables and those on the dance floor. Not one of them was him. A sickening feeling formed in her stomach by the time she’d made a complete round of the room, including the narrow hallway that led down to the powder rooms.
There was no reason for her to be sick over not seeing him, or even disappointed. She hadn’t wanted to see him. Not ever again.
She sat down at the nearest empty table, the one that was behind the piano player. That just so happened to be same one he’d been sitting at last night. She’d sat at this table because it was handy and not because she could see if he walked through the door.
Actually, if he did walk through the door, which she could clearly see from where she sat, she would move. Find someone to dance with so she wouldn’t have to talk to him. That was what she was here for. To dance. Have fun.
Thinking that was exactly what she was going to do, she stood, and jolted slightly as someone laid a hand on her shoulder. Twisting, her heart somersaulted and started pounding at the set of unique blue eyes.
“I was beginning to think you wouldn’t be here tonight,” he said.
Willing her heart to slow down, she said, “It was a last-minute decision.”
“Why?”
How? was the question in her mind, specifically how he’d suddenly appeared at the table.She’d searched the entire joint for him. It wasn’t that large of a place, and there had been no sign of him anywhere. She’d been facing the door since she’d sat down and he had not walked through it. There was another door, behind the bar, but it led into a narrow alleyway and only deliverymen used it. Murray, the bartender, kept it locked.
Too curious not to, she asked, “How did you get in here?”
“A door.”
She shook her head. “I was watching the door.”
“I said a door, not the door.” He grasped the back of her chair. “Would you care for a drink?”
“What do you mean ‘a door’? The only other door in this joint is behind the bar and it’s locked.”
He lifted a brow. “You seem to know a lot about this place.”
“I made it my business to.”
“Why?”
“I have my reasons.” She was trying her best to act aloof, because that was what he seemed to be. Aloof and mysterious with how he’d suddenly appeared.
“I know.”
A shiver rippled down her spine. “You know what?”
“About you.”
Her insides shrank and so did she, but she managed to land in the chair as her knees gave out. All she could hope was that he hadn’t yet told her father. That had to be what he meant. There was nothing else to know.
“I’d like to talk to you about that,” he said while lowering himself onto the adjacent chair.
Her sisters were going to be so upset. So very, very upset. Betty closed her eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat. “What about it?”
He glanced around the room, then leaned closer. “Perhaps we can make a deal.”
It was over. Her father was going to be so angry. Her mother so disappointed. Her sisters so mad. Betty glanced past him, at Jane on the dance floor and Patsy sitting at a table talking to Lane Cox.
Sorrow filled her insides. This, going out at night, was the only fun they’d ever had, and they’d deserved to have that fun. She had, too, and she hated that it was all about to end.
“We need to find a quiet place to talk,” he said.
She glanced up as he stood. The music had started up again and the crowd was lively and loud. There wouldn’t be a quiet place anywhere in the room. She shook her head and shrugged.
“I know of a place.” He held out his hand. “It will be of your benefit to hear me out.”
Nothing had ever been to her benefit, but if it would benefit her sisters, she would listen to what he had to say. She was responsible for them, right down to their happiness.
Henry wasn’t surprised she followed without question. He’d seen her expression when he’d said he knew about her. Besides the way she’d gone white and sank into the chair, her eyes had been as big and round as silver dollars. A sure sign she knew she’d been found out.
He’d felt bad for a moment, at shocking her, but he wanted answers and she had them. Nothing was going to stand in his way to get them. The tunnel was his only option for a place to question her with Lane Cox sitting at a table near the door. Lane had been there most of the night, and that had Henry wondering if Lane was looking for him. Lane was a good guy, but he couldn’t tell him anything; there was too much at stake.
Making sure that no one saw them, Henry led her behind the gold brocade curtain that went from floor to ceiling next to the wall, and into the storage room. The two lightbulbs hanging down from the
