“So this one knows, too?”Eliza directed at Emily the moment they were over the threshold.She flicked her chin at June.
“She does,” Emily said.
“Well, yer not gonna strong-arm me,” Eliza said to June.“I already told Emily no.It inn’t worth gettin’ caught.I’m not spendin’ a month in the hole when there’s nothin’ in it fer me ’sides endin’ back up in me da’s house, or on the bleedin’ street.”
Emily was growing uncomfortable.She needed Eliza’s help, yes, but didn’t want to force her, because that would likely backfire anyway.Eliza had to be willing.
“I know that,” June told her, and her tone was softer now.“Because I’ve been there, kid.My mama was a whore.I was on the street as long as I can remember.She got me to school during the day sometimes until I was eight, then…” Emily glanced at June, who was blinking rapidly.“She ended up in a bad brothel, and the pimp there took advantage of me.”She paused, and Emily’s stomach twisted.“I know a girl like you needs protection,” she told Eliza.“Grown women do, too.That’s why I run my place the way I do.’Cause whoring is all some women can do to feed themselves in this man’s world, and they deserve not to die for doing what they need to do.”
Eliza stared at June, and Emily saw a glint of a tear forming in the corner of her eye.
“If you do this for us,” June continued, “I’ll give you a job.You don’t have to go back home, and you don’t have to be on the street, either.”
“I don’t wanna be a—”
“As amaid,” June clarified.“You’re a thorough cleaner, Emily says.You come clean my place, do some cooking and dishes and the like, you can have an attic room to yourself.It’s small, but it’ll be your own.”
Emily watched June with fascination.She did seem to understand Eliza, how to woo her.
Eliza’s mouth was tight, eyes still locked on the madam.“I don’t want any men comin’ at me,” she said firmly.
June nodded.“They won’t touch you.I’ll make sure they know you’re off-limits.I promise.Those men pay good money for my girls; they know not to cross Mama, or they’ll never be let in my place again, and they’ll have to take their chances with the dirty street whores.You’ll be safe.”
Eliza shifted her feet, exhaled.“But I could get some cleaning job someplace else, there’s lotsa—”
“Who’s gonna hire a little thief, a jailbird, to clean their nice big house?”June challenged.“Nobody.Sorry, kid.But you come work for me and I’ll give you a chance.Don’t steal from me, my girls, or clients, and I’ll be true to my word.I’ll give you a place where you’ve got some protection until you’re grown, then, well…what you do then is up to you.But I know at your age, I would have traded my left arm for the deal I’m offering you now.”
Eliza’s gaze darted between Emily and June.They waited.
“How big’s this attic?It have a window?”Eliza demanded.
June let out a snort.“Big enough for a bed and dresser and a bit of room to move.And yes, there’s a window.And a lock on the door.”
“You got meat in yer icebox?”
“Yes.”
“Rats?”
“Only in the alleyway behind.”
Eliza scrutinized June, creases of suspicion streaking her forehead.“All right.I’ll do it,” she said finally, looking at Emily.“When?”
Emily’s heart leapt.“As soon as possible.”
“Show us what you got, then, kid,” June said, her large arms akimbo.Emily might have blanched under the intensity of June’s stare, but Eliza seemed to rise to it, like a sunflower trying to prove how high it could stretch its stem.
“Well, what is it exactly that ye need?”she asked, looking skeptical.
Emily filled her in on the details, that they needed to find proof of the drug trial in Stone’s personal files.
“All right,” Eliza said.She studied the floor for a moment as the distant sounds of the recreation room’s chatter floated down the hall.They still had a little time before lights out.
“There’s really only a coupla ways to do this,” Eliza said thoughtfully.Emily could see the gears turning in that strawberry-blond head of hers.“The first way would be to try to bribe or blackmail one of the infirmary matrons to nick it fer us.”
Emily looked at June, who was already shaking her head.“That opens us up to risk even more,” Emily said.“Enough people already know who I am and why I’m here.I don’t fancy having to pay off a matron to keep quiet about it.”
“We came to you because theft is the most straightforward method,” June said.
