Page 55 of Romancing the Rumrunner
Tony shrugged. “If I’m not, there’s no harm done. You’ll just raid an empty club, like you’ve done a dozen times before.”
“Stick a cork in it, Solomon.”
Tony snorted and turned his attention back to the Dalton Street exit. He wasn’t sure whether to hope that he was right or wrong. Or whether to hope Jessie made it out or got pinched. Too many what-ifs, no matter which way he looked at it. But none of them had him coming out looking like the good guy. At least, not to Jessie. He’d lose her. But maybe he could save her from herself, and a few bootlegging goons, in the process.
…
Jessie looked over the crowd, for the first time wishing it wasn’t quite so big. Maybe she should have kept the club closed this week, just to be safe. She was relatively sure Tony would go by what he’d overheard in the cellar, especially since she’d reinforced that afterward. But there was always the chance that he’d try to call her bluff.
They had their escape route in place, and an exit strategy that shouldn’t fail. She grabbed a tumbler that Joe had just filled and took a sip. She didn’t drink much, but she needed something tonight. Her nerves were shot. Joe cocked an eyebrow and filled another glass for the couple who was waiting.
Maude sashayed over to her and slipped onto the stool next to hers. Jessie had no idea how the woman moved like that, almost like her feet weren’t touching the floor at all.
“Honey, I’ve been waiting for you to show all night,” Maude said, slapping her left hand down on the counter in front of Jessie. “Take a gander at that shiny handcuff, will you?”
“Oh Maude! It’s beautiful,” Jessie said, grabbing Maude’s hand so she could see the ring better. “Who proposed?”
“Tommy Gallagher.”
“The tailor from down the street?”
Maude nodded, a faint blush staining her cheeks, and Jessie smiled. Her friend looked genuinely happy. Jessie was a bit surprised. Maude had never seemed the type to want to settle down with one man, but Jessie supposed that the right man could make a woman change her mind. After all, one had almost changed hers.
Jessie shied away from that thought and threw her arms around her friend, giving her a hug. “I’m so happy for you. That’s wonderful news.”
“Thank you, Jessie. That means so much to me. I was afraid you might be upset…”
“Why would I be upset?”
“Well, Tommy said he doesn’t care if I keep singing, but I think he’d rather I didn’t. Singin’ in a speakeasy…well, I keep strange hours and since Tommy works all day, we wouldn’t get to see each other much if I was here all night.”
Jessie reached over and grabbed her friend’s hand. “Don’t you worry about it another second. I can always take over if I need to and besides, I’m not sure how much longer I’ll keep this place going, anyhow.”
“Jessie! You’re not thinking of closing down?”
Jessie shrugged. “I never meant to keep this joint open long. With the Feds always sniffing around and now Willie poking his nose in, too, it seems like it might be a good time to bow out.”
Maude’s sharp eyes looked her over. “And what about your handsome Mr. Solomon?”
“He’s notmyanything.”
“You could have fooled me, ducky.”
Before Jessie could respond, a sudden flash of darkness drew her attention to the entrance tunnel. Another lamp was extinguished and a collective gasp of the suddenly panicked crowd had Jessie jumping to her feet, her pulse thundering in her ears. Raid!
She’d been stupid, so stupid! Hehadbetrayed her. She should have kept the club closed. Damn it all!
There was no time to kick herself. She shoved aside her roiling emotions and focused past her heartache and fear to what was immediately important. Jessie ducked under the makeshift bar, helping Joe pull the set of shelves across the alcove where they stashed the liquor before turning to help get the bar down and stacked against the wall. When they were done, the bar area looked like a pile of old doors rotting next to a set of old storage shelves laden with years’ worth of old junk.
The club was almost entirely dark now. The band members had led most of the patrons out through the tunnels toward the Dalton Street exit. But they weren’t quick enough. The sound of a dozen pairs of boots stomping down the entrance tunnel had Jessie’s heart pounding in her throat.
“This way!” she yelled, grabbing Maude’s hand and waving to Joe. They ran for her office, slamming the door just as the first agent burst through the tunnel. Jessie turned the key, though she knew that wouldn’t keep them out for long.
“Joe, help me,” she said, running to the bookcase.
Together, they shoved it aside. Someone pounded on the door and the trio quickly slipped into the tunnel beyond the secret door. Joe closed it behind them, securing it with a thick plank of wood.
They took a deep breath, leaning against the wall and panting.
