Finn said his ear, “What are we looking for, Bossman?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
They traced the edge of the room, careful not to step on the feet of the spectators watching the floor flushers. The singer finished her lyric and turned the song over to the cornet player, who blew with abandon. The dancers suddenly parted, as if on cue, and a trio of women dancers donned in white silk and fringe took to the floor. One of them was Flo Russell, El’s friend who had introduced Dash to Zora Mae. She was in the lead position, and Dash could see why. Her movements were so agile, so natural, it didn’t look like a planned dance at all. Rather it was a story, an extension of the singer’s melody, conveying heartbreak, anger, sadness, and triumph through movement. It was exhilarating to watch.
Halfway through the dance break, Dash saw Flo looking at him. Though the smile stayed on her face, her eyes darkened. She was not pleased to see Dash.
The singer came back in with the vocals, and the whole floor swarmed with people again, Dash losing sight of Flo in the throng.
When the song was finished, the dancers took a break and Flo came straight over to Dash.
“What are you doing here?” she said without preamble.
Her abruptness took Finn by surprise.
Dash too. He said, “Zora Mae invited us.” Which was mostly true.
“Uh huh. You can’t stay away from trouble, can you? I told you nothing better find El or me.”
Panic filled Dash’s chest. “What happened, Miss Russell?”
“What happened is now I gotta work this party on account of introducing you to Miss Mae. That goddamned bartender gave me up and somehow, she tracked me down. I had to give up my spot tonight at Connie’s to an understudy who is just itchin’ to take my spot. Every night I’m not there, she’s weaseling her way into the director’s good graces. Now, downtowner, I didn’t dance my soles off to be replaced by some young thing with two left feet and two pennies for sense.”
“I apologize, Miss Russell, I—”
“Don’t apologize, just leave.”
Finn spoke up. “But we just got here, dearie, and I don’t know about you, but I am just in love with the whole aura of this place. Classic decadence in classic décor. I mean, what more could a girl ask for? It’s all so capital!”
Flo stared at Finn, not sure how to react.
Dash replied, “We will, as soon as we find Miss Mae.”
Flo jammed her pointer finger into Dash’s chest. “I mean it, downtowner, do not cause any more trouble. Or you’re gonna find my dancing shoe in a place shoes don’t belong.”
She turned on her heel and stormed off.
Finn said, “My, my, making friends wherever you go.”
Dash shook his head and turned towards Finn. “I don’t see Miss Mae up here. Let’s see if we have better luck in Purgatory.”
Finn snorted. “Now that’s a sentence you don’t hear often.”
When the first doorman had mentioned “pausing” in Purgatory, he wasn’t lying. The room must’ve been a salon, but it was hard to tell, given that all the furniture had been removed. On the floor were piles upon piles of pillows, all upholstered with plum and burgundy fabric. On top of the pillows, stretched out in a hazy bliss, were men and women, still in their glad rags, eyes blank, slight smiles on their faces. Lying beside them were long bamboo pipes.
Opium.
Finn made a move to go further inside the room. Dash put a hand up, stopping him. Finn gave him a puzzled look, and Dash shook his head, saying softly, “We need to keep our wits about us tonight.”
Finn, for once, agreed. “Shall we go to Hell then?”
Dash smiled. “I thought Walter Müller already sent us there.”
“Good one, Bossman.”
They found a steep staircase heading down to the basement. The lighting here was much darker. The lightbulbs had been painted red, casting a crimson tint over everything and everyone. Unlike on the other two floors, in here there were shadows. A face or two was visible, but the darkness cloaked their actions. Given the urgent whispers and the sudden gasps, Dash had an idea of what the shadows were hiding. The chalky brick walls and the dusty floors led to a bar at the other end of the room, where two men were mixing and pouring drinks.
Finn said, “You can deprive me of men, but you will not deprive me of a drink.”
He strolled over to the bar, leaning forward to whisper into the bartender’s ear.
Dash stood where he was and looked around. He expected the Hell portion of the party to be the loudest yet. The gnashing of teeth, as the Bible had promised. Instead, Hell was quiet, seductive. Like the Devil himself.
Like Nicholas Fife.
And Walter Müller.
A husky voice began to sing over a piano. In the corner next to the bar was a shiny, black upright piano. And behind it sat El Train in her black tuxedo. He shouldn’t have been surprised to see her. If Flo was here for introducing him to Zora, then why wouldn’t Zora also get Flo’s best friend to accompany her? A woman as powerful as Zora Mae would want to have a woman as famous as El Train at her grand party.
El sang the intro, slow and smoldering:
I just saw a maniac
Wild, and tearing his hair
Jumpin’ like a jumpin’ jack
Child, you should’ve been there
Laughed so loud I thought I’d cave in
When I heard that silly, daffy dilly ravin’
El noticed Dash standing there for the first time. She gave him a flat look, arched an amused brow, and continued to sing, turning a fox trot number into a minor key simmer.
Five foot two, eyes of blue
But oh, what those five feet could do
Has anybody seen my girl?
Turned up nose, turned down hose
Flapper, yes sir! one of those
Has anybody seen my girl?
A female voice said behind Dash, “Hello, there.”
Dash turned around. The Baroness of Business Zora Mae had appeared from the shadows. He
