I shook my head, but didn’t deign to reply any other way. However, being as close as we were to the stage, and under the intense lighting, I couldn’t help but notice a few cracks in the face Iris wore. There were the barely-perceptible crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, and the softening of her throat muscles that caused a touch of sag.
Dolios sang many songs, each more moving than the last. The final tune brought many to tears, and when she finished, the house rose, giving her an uproarious applause. The boys behind us whistled and shouted their praise.
Dolios bowed several times as the announcer from earlier walked on stage with his arms full of flowers. Her eyes lit up, and she accepted as many of the bouquets as she could carry. Her laugh carried over the applause.
“Thank you so much!” she cooed as she held up her bouquets. “Thank you, and you all have a pleasant evening!”
The man and she strolled off stage, and the audience followed suit, exiting up the aisles and through the doorways. The boys, however, leaned over the backs of our seats, their faces stretched with their grins.
“Well, Seastorm, what’d you think of it?” Ben wondered.
“A very interesting rendition of some old songs,” he commented.
I lifted an eyebrow at him. “You knew most of the songs?”
“They’re sea songs from Rynek. Any child would know them who grew up there.”
“Then ain’t ya glad we bought those tickets for you?” one of the lads spoke up. Hearty nods of approval followed.
A sly grin slipped onto Marc’s lips. “I’m so thankful for that and your company that I’m going to give you fellows another mission.”
One of the boys laughed. “That’s fun to us, Seastorm!”
Henry elbowed him in the gut. “Keep your mouth shut about the name in public, Stephen!”
Stephen clutched his wounded stomach and glared at his leader. “What’re you talking about? Nobody’s here anymore.”
“You don’t know who might be listening in,” Henry scolded him before he turned back to us. “What’s the mission, sir?”
“Some of you will find out what you can about Calder Crestmoor. The rest of you will follow him.”
Ben wrinkled his nose. “So, info gathering or watching some guy drive around? That doesn’t sound like much fun. Can’t we do something to him while we’re watching? Maybe pull some pranks.”
“Don’t even look at him strangely,” Marc warned him as he met each of their eyes. “I have a feeling this fellow might be more than just a merchant, but until we find out what he’s up to, you need to treat him as someone more dangerous than even the Managers. Do you understand?”
Their heads bobbed up and down, and Henry pushed off the back of our chairs and stood. “Yes, sir. We’ll start tonight.”
“And take this with you.” Marc reached into his coat and drew out his coin purse, which he held out to the lad. “You might need it to bribe a few of Crestmoor’s more tight-lipped acquaintances.”
Henry took the bag and nodded. “We’ll be sure to bring back what’s left.”
“You’d better not,” Marc teased as he stood and helped me out of my seat. “The whole lot’s for you, and the only thing I want back is the empty bag.”
All their faces lit up, and Jimmy jumped up and down. “Let’s go start spending it right now!”
A great cheer arose from the boys, and they scampered off to fulfill Jimmy’s suggestion.
Marc nodded at a door to our right and set into the same wall as the stage. “Now let’s go see if we’re expected.”
Chapter 34
Marc led us through the door, where we stood in a long, narrow hall that ran perpendicular to the inner depths of the concert hall. All was quiet and dark, as there were no windows and the only light source was gas lamps that hung from hooks on the walls. The wallpaper stretched over the clapboard walls had long ago peeled away in strips, revealing the weathered wood. The floor was once covered in fine linoleum, but many of the squares had chipped or been broken, leading to a patchwork quilt. All in all, the area behind the curtain was rather dreary.
“What did you think of the concert?” he inquired.
I perked up at his question and bobbed my head. “It was great. I haven’t been to one that big in years, and she sang so beautifully.”
My stomach shifted. “Boring.”
