“She must have quit,” Bea said slowly. “Remember, they kept losing people? They hired me so fast because someoneelsehad quit the day before. It must have been her.”
Vivian let out a breath. “Do you think she left because her boss was killed?” she asked slowly. “Or because…”
“Or because she’d seen whoever it was and wanted to get out of there,” Bea said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Jesus.” She’d picked up her lighter from the dressing table without seeming to notice what she was doing, flicking it open and closed with nervous energy.
Vivian rubbed at her temples. She needed a drink or a dance. She needed something to go her way, just one thing, anything, would be enough. “Bea, I think I need—” She broke off as Bea yawned so big that it made her hands shake, the lighter nearly falling from her fingers. Vivian frowned. “Areyouokay? You look dead on your feet.”
Bea gave her a dirty look. “Gee, thanks,” she said, but her sarcasm was undercut by another yawn. She shook her head. “It’s just the working two jobs, is all. I think I’m going to quit tomorrow. Mama needsme home with the kids more than we need the extra dough.” Glancing at the lighter in her hands, she let out a gusty sigh and turned to search for her cigarette case.
Vivian hesitated. But if ever there was a time to ask for a selfish favor, this was it. “Can you wait one more day? I need to get back into that house.”
Bea met Vivian’s eyes in the mirror, looking wary. “What for?”
“Because they’ll have records, right? People keep that sort of thing about who works for them. And I know she did work there. So maybe I can find, I don’t know.” Vivian shrugged, feeling overwhelmed. She’d been so certain talking to the maid was the key to getting herself off the hook. Now, she was worried that tracking her down would lead to even more trouble. But she had to try. Didn’t she? “Maybe it’ll say where she lives, or where else she’s worked? Something. Anything.”
“Viv, it was already a big risk sneaking you in there once,” Bea said. She was still and serious now, no more fidgeting with her lighter or lipstick. “We got lucky that time. The odds of us getting lucky again…” She shook her head. “If you get caught, they’ll take that as proof you’re guilty. And I’ll probably be headed for the lockup right along with you.”
“I know,” Vivian said, not looking away. She knew it was a risk. And Bea knew why she was asking. There was nothing else to say. She waited for her friend’s decision, sweat trickling down her spine even though her hands were cold.
At last Bea sighed and flicked open her cigarette case. Pulling one out, she lit it and took a drag. Vivian could see her hands shaking. “All right,” she said, very quickly, as though agreeing before she talked herself out of it. “The funeral’s tomorrow, so most folks’ll be out of the house for the morning. Be at the back door at nine o’clock. We should have time to search for…” She shrugged, blowing out a stream of smoke. “For whatever we can get our hands on.”
Vivian let out the breath she had been holding. “Thank you.”
“Just don’t get caught,” Bea said, grabbing the ashtray to stub her cigarette out. “I really don’t want to end up in the slammer.”
“Me neither,” Vivian said with a trembling laugh as Bea headed for the door.
She paused, one hand on the knob, and sighed. “It’ll be okay. We’ll be in and out, just like last time, yeah?”
“In and out,” Vivian agreed, nodding. “Now get back on that bandstand or Mr. Smith’ll be having kittens.”
That made Bea smile. “I’d pay to see that, cool customer like him. Come on. Get yourself a drink. You look like you need it.”
She did need it. And she needed it even more once she saw who was waiting for her at the bar, pacing back and forth while Danny cast grumpy looks in his direction and the other customers gave him plenty of space. As soon as he caught sight of her, Leo fell still, one hand braced on the bar, the other a fist crumpling the brim of his hat.
“I told you not to talk to him,” he said as soon as she was close enough. His voice was quiet, but his anger was clear.
Vivian sighed, sinking down onto the stool. “How’d you find out?”
“Hetoldme,” Leo bit off. “I had a job for him today, and he had the cop I was working with bring me in after just so he could go off at me. And he’s a treat when he’s angry, let me tell you. My favorite part was him saying that if I couldn’t get my girl under control, he’d have to remind me who mattered in this city, because it’s sure as hell not people like us.”
Vivian sighed again. “I’m sorry I made things rough for you.”
“Viv, you idiot, it’s not me I’m worried about,” Leo snapped. He looked like an alley cat, bristling and ready for a fight. “He gets angry enough, he takes it out on you, or—”
“He’s already planning to arrest me, Leo. I’ve got a day left of freedom. One. Day.” She bit the words off, bitterly glad to see him flinch. “What did I have to lose?”
“Or maybe he gets angry enough, and he comes after my dad,” Leosaid, his voice starting to rise. “Or my dad’s friends, or our old neighbors down on Bowery. Did you even stop to think of that?”
“I don’t want to fight, Leo,” she said, feeling suddenly tired. She would have kept her voice to a whisper, but no one would be able to hear them over the band anyway. She propped one elbow on the bar and leaned her head into her hand. “Can we just let it go? Please?”
“Just let it go?” he said, pushing at his own temples with his fingertips. Neither of them wanted to look at the other. “Viv, you told me you wouldn’t—”
“I never said I wouldn’t,” Vivian pointed out. When he opened his mouth to argue, she sighed. “What did you expect me to do?”
The fight went out of him, like a Coney Island balloon deflating at the end of the day. He dropped onto the stool next to her. “Okay.” He blew out a breath. “Okay. You’re right. Let’s just—” He broke off suddenly, his eyes fixed on something over her shoulder.
Vivian, suddenly nervous about what he’d been about to say, would have demanded that he finish. But Leo wasn’t paying attention anymore.
