He sighed when she stopped in front of him. “I was beginning to get impatient,” he said, and the pleasantness in his voice made Vivian shudder. “Sit down, please.”
Reluctantly, she took the seat across from him, and he slid the second drink he had ordered to her. “My treat,” he said, lifting his own glass in a toast. “To your health.”
“That’s a bit rich, if you’re here to arrest me,” Vivian said, but she took a sip of the drink anyway. It was top-shelf. Of course it was.
The commissioner laughed. “I didn’t say how long that healthwould continue,” he said, and Vivian hoped she didn’t look as ill as she felt. “But you can calm down. You’re bristling like a cat, you know, and there’s no reason to. Not yet. I’m just here with a message.”
“From who?”
He raised his brows. “From myself, of course. I don’t run errands for other people.”
“Why bother coming then?” Vivian asked. Her own voice was shockingly calm to her ears. If she didn’t know better, she’d think they were old friends. “Why not have one of my shadows say whatever needs saying?”
The commissioner raised his brows at her. “Do you have a shadow tonight?”
Vivian stared coolly back at him. “I guess I just assumed you put some new guy on me after I gave the other one the slip. Hope he didn’t get in too much trouble,” she added, not meaning a word of it.
The commissioner shook his head. His expression could have almost been called a smile. “You were good practice for them. My boys get too complacent sometimes. And some of them aren’t used to playing by your sort of rules.” He took a drink. “Lovely stuff, that. My compliments to your employer. But to answer your question, young lady, you don’t have a shadow. I’m not a cruel man, you see. I thought you might like one final night to yourself. I came here in person to say so.”
Vivian had been counting down the days, but his words still felt like a fist to the gut. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. For a moment, she wondered if she’d ever breathe again.
“One final night,” she repeated softly.
“Indeed.” He smiled. “Enjoy it. Tomorrow I’ll expect you at my office at nine o’clock in the morning.”
“And if I’m not there?” Vivian asked, still speaking quietly. If she raised her voice at all, she wasn’t sure what would come out.
The commissioner didn’t blink. “Then at nine thirty, I’ll sendsomeone to arrest your sister. I’m sure I can find a good reason. At ten o’clock, I’ll find that husband of hers—it’s so easy to have the Chinese tossed out of the country, you know. And then at ten thirty…” That small smile hovering around his mouth again. “Well, Mr. Green and I have already discussed what happens next.”
“I’ll be there,” Vivian said, her voice shaking. She thought of Maggie Chambers and the letter under her pillow. “But don’t count me out. Not yet. I might have a thing or two that throws a wrench in your plans.”
He raised his brows. “Do you think that makes a difference to me?”
Vivian pressed her lips together, trying to ignore the cold, tight feeling inside her chest, and met his eyes. “Doesn’t mean I won’t try.”
“If you like. I hope you understand, it’s nothing personal, young lady.” The commissioner stood and retrieved his hat. “I’ll expect you at nine o’clock tomorrow morning.”
Vivian stared after him as he walked toward the stairs, two plainclothes cops that she hadn’t noticed before falling in beside the commissioner as he strode toward the door. Or maybe they were his personal muscle. It didn’t matter. Did anything?
“Viv!”
It took Vivian a moment to realize where the shout was coming from. Bea was shoving her way through the crowd. Up on the bandstand, the bass and the trumpet were improvising a quick, lively duet while the other musicians took a breather. Bea’s eyes were wide as she ducked around dancing couples.
“Was that—” She stared after the commissioner’s retreating back, then looked at Vivian with hopeful eyes. “He’s walking away. That’s good news, right? He’s—”
“He’s expecting me in nine hours,” Vivian said, closing her eyes against the stricken look in Bea’s.
“But… but there’s something we can do, right? God, there has to be something we can do. If they arrest you for murder, you aren’t walking out of that jail again.”
“I know,” Vivian said softly.
“There will barely even be atrial. Do you know what they do to murderers in this city?”
“I know.”
“We have to—”
“Bea.” Vivian shook her head. “That’s it. I’ve got my orders.”
