“Well, Shep and I intend to be around for a while. We figure to stay here with you. You’ve got comfortable beds, and this gives us easy access to the exposition.”
“I don’t care what you do, Hiram, but I will not be a part of it.” Addie retrieved her hat from where it had fallen. She secured it to her head and reached for the door. “I am going to my job at the photography studio. I’ll meet you at the expo-gate trolley stop at noon.”
To her surprise, Hiram said nothing more. He didn’t even affirm that he’d be at the trolley stop. Addie didn’t care. She just wanted to get away from him as quickly as possible. Once she got to the studio, Addie hoped she might figure out what else she could do. Hiram wasn’t going to go awaywithout having his way. She could threaten all she wanted, but Hiram would merely see it as a challenge.
She walked slowly. It was still a good hour before the exposition opened. Addie usually got to the shop early, but this was a little too early even for her. Despite the hour, the exposition was already coming to life. People were preparing for the day. Shops were opening and exhibits were setting up. It wouldn’t be long before the noise level would increase with the sound of machinery and people.
As if on cue, the Ferris wheel started up with music and lights. Addie had thought she would like to take a ride on the contraption but so far hadn’t made it. Now, given all that was happening, she probably never would.
No matter what else happened, she had to protect the people she loved. It really didn’t matter if she gave Hiram her money. He had guessed she had a lot more than a few hundred dollars, even though she had denied it and would continue to do so. She needed to have that gold for her own move.
When she’d first arrived in Seattle, Addie had asked about trading the gold for cash. But it hadn’t been easy to learn what to do without arousing suspicions. The last thing she had wanted to do was present herself as a young woman with a lot of gold, and so the gold and jewelry had gone into the bank box first thing. She knew it would be protected from theft, and she could take some time to think things through. And instead of needing to cash it out, Addie had gotten a job and room right away and hadn’t needed to change her valuables to cash. Of course, Hiram wouldn’t know about her bank box.
She reached the photography shop and found she was thefirst one there. She took out her key and opened the door. Inside was as quiet as a church on Saturday morning. She put away her things and started the routine of preparing for the day. She first checked the cameras and loaded film into them if they weren’t already loaded. With this done, she began setting up the display counter with cameras and accessories. Otis had been so excited by the sales that he had ordered some of the carrying cases and plenty of extra film. Addie arranged them with the pricing information Pearl had created. Next, she decided to change out some of the window photos. It had proven to be a great idea to post photos in the window to draw attention to what the camera could do. Otis had taken some of the more attractive photographs and put them in special frames to make them look all the better.
Once all of this was done, it was close to eight o’clock, and Addie knew the others would soon be flocking in to ready themselves for the day. Her plan was to work the shop in the morning, then meet Hiram and hopefully get back to the shop in time to spend the afternoon out strolling amongst the people visiting the expo. She would check on the girls and make sure they were doing their jobs and perhaps even take a few pictures.
“Addie, you’re here early,” Pearl said, following her husband into the shop.
Turning to face her friend, Addie smiled. Pearl, however, did not return the expression. She looked immediately upset and came to Addie’s side.
“What happened? Where did you get that black eye?”
“Black eye?” Addie hadn’t had a chance to look in a mirror as she dressed for the day. She touched the place whereHiram had punched her. “I fell. I didn’t even notice that my eye was black. Is it truly bad?”
“It is. I have some powder. I suppose we could put some on and make it less noticeable.”
Addie nodded. “That would be good. I’d hate to scare the customers.”
“How did you fall and hit just your eye?”
“Well, my arm hurts too.” And it did. Hiram’s manhandling left Addie sore from her shoulder to the wrist. “I guess my eye just bruised more easily. Of course, I’ve not looked. I could have bruises on my arm as well.”
“What exactly happened?”
Addie hadn’t considered that she might need a more detailed story. Thankfully, some of the Camera Girls entered the store just then. Addie went into the back so that no one else would comment. Pearl eventually joined her and brought her the powder.
“Here, let me help disguise the bruising.” She very carefully powdered the area and stood back to survey her work. “It will do. Today’s looking overcast so perhaps the light won’t reveal too much.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. Thank you, Pearl.”
Addie puttered around in the back, putting extra materials and supplies close at hand for the darkroom and then tidying up and unboxing new cameras. She tried not to think about her upcoming meeting with Hiram. She wanted nothing to do with him, and yet she knew he would continue to haunt her so long as he thought he could get something from her.
“I have to leave Seattle,” she muttered.
That was really the only way to keep Isaac and the others safe. If she fled, Hiram and Shep would follow after her. Ofthis she was certain. Since Hiram already had in mind to sell her off again, he wouldn’t just allow her to flee. She could make her first destination obvious so that Hiram would rush to follow. This would get him away from the people she loved. The second leg of her escape would be more difficult to trace but give Hiram just enough to keep moving away from her friends. By the time Addie was done, she would disappear completely and leave Hiram and Shep wondering where she had gone. And that was the question: Where would she go?
She knew no one and wasn’t at all familiar with any other place. How could she make a new life if she had no idea of where that life should be made? It was obvious that disappearing in a big city would be easier than a small town. Maybe San Francisco. From there she could sell the gold and buy passage on a steamer to New York. That would take Hiram some time to figure out. From New York, she could even go abroad. Now there was an idea. Hiram and Shep would never be able to afford that.
When noon rolled around, Addie found Pearl. “I’m going to be gone for a little while. Maybe an hour or a little more. I have a couple of things that I want to tend to.”
“Would you like company? I’m sure I can put Bertha in charge and get away.”
“No.” Addie hadn’t meant to sound so adamant. She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I just need to have a little time to myself.”
Pearl smiled. “I completely understand. Sometimes a girl just needs that. You’ve been more than faithful to this job and have worked long over the hours owed to us. You take all the time you need.”
“Thank you.” Addie pulled off an apron that she’d put onto keep her clothes fresh. She hung up the apron and took down her straw boater. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
