Miss Soldene directed everyone to the greenroom for a review of necessary changes for that evening’s performance.The meeting was blessedly brief.Only a few changes applied to him, and they’d be easy enough to prepare for after the lunch break.Once dismissed, Ezekiel spied Adler slinking out the door before anyone else.
Ezekiel caught up to him midway down the hall.“Hey, Adler, can we talk for a minute?”
“Certainly, but I have to return to my hotel and pack.We’re leaving on the last outgoing train after tonight’s show.”
Good.At least Adler still planned to leave Cincinnati.“Did something happen last night?I saw you catch a hack over an hour after we’d parted ways.”
“Now see here, Beaumont.Just because you’re the stage manager doesn’t mean you are privy to my private business.”
“It’s my job to see to the safety of the staff and cast, and when I witness someone rushing out of an alley like he’s running from trouble”—or running to cause it—“I have a right to know what that trouble is.”
“The only trouble I was running from was the card shark who’d discovered I planned on leaving without repaying what I owed.”
“He met you in the alley?After midnight?”Doubtful.
“What?You think he’s the type to treat a man to afternoon tea?He was waiting for me when I walked out.Fool that I am, I asked him to let me win back my money and only ended up losing more.I took off an hour later when his back was turned.”
Ezekiel wanted to say more, but an “excuse me” cut into the conversation.He turned.
A clean-shaven man about Ezekiel’s age stood in a plain suit with his hat in hand and a gun poking out from his jacket near his waist.
“Are you looking for trouble, sir?”Ezekiel gestured to the weapon.
“Not trouble on my part.”The man adjusted his coat to better hide the gun.“I’m Detective Abraham Hall.”
Praise God.At least Ezekiel hoped so.“I take it you received my message?”
“I did, as disconcerting as it was.Nora and her friends were well when I checked.”
For the first time since he’d watched Adler follow their carriage, Ezekiel breathed easy.“Allow me to introduce you to Adam Adler.”But the man was gone.So much for the detective knowing who to look for if Adler gave Miss Davis problems.
“Adler, as in the man you mentioned following Nora and the others?”
“Yes.I don’t know how far he traveled, but he appeared to direct the driver to follow their carriage.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t consider that suspicious enough to request a detective be roused from his bed at one in the morning, but as it involved my fiancée and her friends, I appreciate the precaution.Lydia said they hadn’t experienced anything out of the ordinary, so Mr.Adler must have just been traveling in the same direction.However, she did ask me to ascertain if your character is worthy of knowing Miss Davis’s address.”Detective Hall arched a brow.“Something about you fancying her friend and wanting to impress her with making house repairs?”
Ezekiel tugged at his collar.Maybe flirting so openly in front of Miss Davis’s friends hadn’t been the wisest decision.Now he had to explain himself to the detective.“Our mothers are of a similar situation, and she’d mentioned a problem with water coming into the house when it rained.I merely seek to ease her burden since she mentioned she would be the one to make the repair.”
“I see.”And it was all too clear that Detective Hall did.“I’m afraid I don’t have time to take measure of your character just now.Pike’s Opera House is merely on my way to another task.However, if you are available around seven, we can meet at Keppler’s for supper and I’ll gladly play the intimidating older brother role Lydia seems to think necessary.”
“Our evening performance is at eight, so I am afraid I cannot meet tonight.I do have tomorrow off though.”
“Where do you attend church?I can join you for service and then you can join my family for lunch afterward.”
If this was the first of Detective Hall’s tests, Ezekiel was about to fail miserably.“I don’t attend a particular church.I don’t arrive home until after midnight most nights, and I use Sundays to catch up on my sleep.”
The detective’s disapproval was clear.“If you’re too busy for God, you’re too busy for a relationship with Nora.”
“I didn’t say I don’t have a relationship with God.I study my Bible and pray.I even play hymns on my ma’s piano.”Albeit not as often as Ezekiel had when she was home, a sad truth that caused a grief-filled pang in his chest.
“That’s all well and good, but are you in the habit of fellowshipping with other believers?”
And there went his chances with Miss Davis.“Only the ones who work here.”
Theatre life didn’t make it easy to be an obviously practicing believer, let alone meet with other Christians with any regularity.The hours were difficult and rarely allowed for attendance at weekday services.Even with the law that required the closure of theatres on Sundays, he could count on two fingers the times he’d made it to a service in the last year—Easter and Christmas.Then there were the more intangible aspects of theatre life.Much of what was considered scandalous to the general public was applauded and promoted amongst his peers.Vocally opposing anything that contradicted his beliefs could end in being ridiculed, physically taught a lesson, or blacklisted.It was much better to be a quiet Christian than considered a zealot.
“If you are willing to exchange sleeping in for a Sunday afternoon nap, then I invite you to join Lydia and me at Pleasant Avenue Church tomorrow.Nora and her father usually arrive late and leave early, but with him out of town this weekend, she’ll likely join us for the full service.But don’t let her presence be your motivation for coming.”Detective Hall pinned him with a stern warning before extending has hand for a shake.“I hope to see you there, Beaumont.Services start at ten sharp.”
