Lillie slipped the envelope out from her handbag. Grace recognized Walt’s handwriting on the front.
“I’ll get you a lemonade,” Theo whispered into her hair. His hand grazed the curve of her back.
Lillie looked between them and gave Grace a single, subtle look. She accomplished it with the slightest lift of her eyebrow.
“There’s a lot I need to tell you,” Grace said, biting her lip.
She trailed off as Earnest came up behind them.
“Grace, I didn’t realize you would be here tonight,” he said, smiling.
“It’s Mitzi,” Grace and Lillie said at the same time.
He didn’t miss a beat.
“Rumors are that President Roosevelt isn’t here yet, but he will be arriving soon. In the meantime—care to dance?” he asked Lillie.
She took his hand. “I want to hear everything,” she said to Grace over her shoulder as he led her away.
Grace wove through the crowd, past the formal musicians with their gleaming instruments. All the while, she was surreptitiously looking over her shoulder for Frannie.
Instead, she caught the profile of the man who had approached her at the diner. She froze. He was turning toward her.
She backtracked, whirling on her heel until she found the ladies’ room. She slipped inside and locked herself into a stall so she could think.
How much trouble would she be in if they found her here? Could she be arrested?
As she waited, heart hammering, she reached into her bag and slit open the envelope Lillie had put into her bag.
Walt’s handwriting was still the same, albeit a little shakier.
I’m sorry for everything, Gracie. I did get some information—writing it down before I forget. I found someone who saw Harriet Forbes that morning in the Tunnels. She met with a man and spoke to him for five or ten minutes. The man was tall and had no distinguishable features other than reddish hair. Not bright red but reddish gold.
Hope this helps.
Walt
She looked up.
Red hair.
So Harriet hadn’t gone to meet her sister Penelope in the Tunnels. Grace thought back to what she had seen written in Harriet’s planner. Harriet had secretly planned to meet someone named Penny in the Tunnels.
Grace stood.
Penny.
Red hair.
And suddenly, it clicked.
She emerged from the ladies’ room, keeping her head down and skirting along the wall.
As the crowd parted, she saw him. A tall, handsome man with red hair.
Of course. Penny. A clever pseudonym forCopper, if you didn’t want anyone to know.
Harriet had gone and secretly met Earnest’s friend Copper.
