She was still jumpy as she climbed the stairs, wishing she could go to work just as she was. But her clothes, borrowed from Honor the night before so she had something other than a dancing dress to wear, were wrinkled and dusty and didn’t fit her right. Miss Ethel would have a fit if she showed up like that. If there even was a store left to show up to. Vivian shuddered, imagining what state the shop might be in. But there was nothing she could do except get dressed, get Florence, and show up to work on time, looking as innocent as possible.
If she even got that far. Vivian’s steps slowed as she reached the top of the stairs. She could see down the hall from where she stood, and the door to her home was clearly standing open. Vivian froze, heart pounding. But before she could decide what to do, someone pushed the door open from inside.
Bea stepped out into the hall.
“Viv!” She frowned in worry. “What’s wrong? Why are you such a goddamn mess? And why are you wearingtrousers?”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Bea, you just about made my heart give out,” Vivian gasped. She had been clutching the banister for support, but she managed to straighten her spine and walk forward on legs that were shaking from relief. “Get inside, will you? I’ve gotta get changed for work.” She glanced around, hesitating. “Was the door locked when you got here? Did it look like anyone had been by?”
“Locked?” Bea frowned. “Of course it was locked. What would it look like if someone came by?”
“I don’t know,” Vivian said, going to the bedroom. Two neatly made beds were just as she and Florence had left them, both with Saturday’s laundry still hanging on the foot and headboards. As far as she could see, everything was where it was supposed to be. “Never mind. I don’t think… Never mind.”
“You look like you slept half the night in an alley,” Bea commented as she closed the door behind them. “You gonna tell me what happened?”
“Yeah,” Vivian said, checking the washbasin. It was still half-fullfrom the day before, the water tepid and a little dusty, but it would do. She didn’t feel like making the effort to go to the washroom and get a new bucketful. She yanked her shirt over her head, her voice muffled as she said, “If you tell me why you’re here.”
“I was looking for you,” Bea said. She still looked worried, Vivian saw as she emerged from the unfamiliar clothing and began scrubbing her face and arms. “You disappeared last night, and the neighbor said you and Florence haven’t been around since yesterday. And I couldn’t find Honor—” Her eyes widened. “Were you with Honor last night? Are thoseHonor’s trousers?”
Vivian glanced down, then quickly stripped off the clothing in question. She grabbed one of the dresses from the footboard of her bed and pulled it on quickly. Changing clothes in front of Bea didn’t bother her, but talking about Honor made her feel exposed. “Sort of, but not the way you mean—”
Vivian broke off, staring at Bea, noticing for the first time that her friend was wearing a new necklace. It was a beautiful gold pendant that looked like it might be a locket, hanging so that it just nestled in the hollow of her collarbone. And etched into it was a single, stemmed rose.
Vivian had heard someone describe a necklace like that just a few days before.
“Bea,” she said slowly. “Where’d that come from?”
“Where’d what—Oh, this?” Bea asked, seeing where her friend was looking. Her fingertips brushed against the pendant, and her smile took on a pleased, self-conscious edge. “Abraham gave it to me last night. Said he wanted to get me something pretty to cheer me up. He’s such a sweet fella. Honestly, I think I end up more crazy about him each day.”
“Where did he get it?” Vivian asked.
“What do you mean, where did he get it? At a store, I guess?” Bea laughed.
It was the first time she had laughed since Pearlie died, and Vivianwanted to be happy about that. But she couldn’t when she felt cold all over.
She liked Abraham. He was quiet, sure, but he was kind and reliable and friendly enough when he was in the mood. And most of all, she liked how good he was to Bea. But if he had something to do with those letters…
Bea had just noticed she wasn’t laughing along. “Viv, what’s going on?”
“Have you ever asked Abraham where he goes when he’s out nights?” Vivian asked.
“Have I asked… He drives a cab, he’s all over the city every night. Why would I ask him where he goes?”
“And I bet he hears a lot of gossip from the back seat,” Vivian said slowly. “Maybe about folks who’ve come into a little money, or who have a little something pretty stashed at home.”
Bea was staring at her now. “Are you trying to say you think Abraham has something to do with those letters? You think he had something to do withPearlie getting killed?” Tears welled in Bea’s eyes as she said her uncle’s name. When she spoke, her voice was shaking. “How the hell are you jumping to that conclusion? Because he owns acab?”
“Bea—”
“Are you really so sore that I’m feeling a little happy with him?” The hurt in her voice was painful to listen to, but she didn’t give Vivian a chance to interrupt. “That I’ve got someone who thinks I’m a catch and a half and likes to show it?”
“That’s not—”
“You couldn’t stop glaring at Danny the other night, and all he did was dance with your sister. Now you’re coming for Abraham?” She shook her head, brushing the tears from her lashes with impatient hands. “Look, I know you were upset about how things went with Leo, but you’ve got no call to be pointing fingers atmyfella just because you don’t know how to pick ’em.”
“I’m not upset about Leo. I’m just worried that Abraham—”
“Then why does it matter that someone who likes me bought me a necklace—”
