Page 4 of Romancing the Rumrunner
“Agent Jameson. What I can I do for you this evening?”
“Ah now, Jessica. You know you can call me Earl.”
“I know.”
Jameson squinted, a little taken aback, but pushed on. “We didn’t get to chat last time I stopped by.”
“Not to sound rude, but whydoyou keep stopping in? I’m just a butcher, trying to run my business. I have no idea why I warrant constant visits by a prohibition agent.”
“Maybe we just want to make sure butchering is all you are up to. After all, with your past associations…”
Jessie stiffened. Mario had ruined her life in more ways than one. She hadn’t known who he was when she’d met him. Hadn’t known he was part of Willie the Weasel’s organization. And even though she was no longer with him, she was now consideredtainted. Guilty by association. The unfairness of it nearly choked her, but she took a deep, focused breath and forced some politeness to the surface. Aggravating the little twit wouldn’t make her life any easier, fun as it might be.
“As you said, Agent Jameson, those associations are in thepast. I keep to myself now. I just want to run my business in peace.”
“And howisbusiness going? That’s a nice new sign you’ve got above your window out there. Must have cost a pretty penny.”
Jessie kept the smile on her face despite his insinuation. “Business is great. I’ve got the best meat in town and my customers know it.”
“Well, that’s real good to hear. I was afraid things might have slowed down for you. I haven’t noticed too many customers coming in lately. The crowd when I stopped by the other day seems to be the exception now, rather than a regular occurrence.”
Her eyes narrowed and she breathed deeply before answering. “Things are going just fine. And a friend of mine did the sign for me. Gave me a great price on it. Would you like something? Pig’s ear? Beef tongue? I’ve got some nice chicken livers back here. I promise you won’t find better anywhere.”
“No thanks,” he said, wrinkling his nose and giving her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You sure that’s all you’re selling?”
“What are you implying, Agent Jameson?”
He shrugged and leaned against the counter. “A few days ago, the local coppers brought in a man who was trying to sell a case of hooch that was an awful lot like the stuff your daddy used to make. Any idea how he got ahold of that?”
Jessie leaned over the counter, right in Jameson’s face. “And how would you know his gin?”
“I ran it by a few of the other agents.”
Jessie snorted. “The only reason they’d know is because they used to be some of my father’s best customers.”
“Be that as it may…”
She backed up a little and put her hands on her hips. “If it is from my father’s stash then that man probably stole it. I had a break-in a few weeks ago and a couple cases went missing.”
“Did you report the theft?”
“It’s not illegal to own liquor, Agent Jameson. Just to sell it. But you and I both know that had I marched in to the police station to report the theft of a case of bathtub gin, I’d have been locked up faster than some flimflam man.”
She grabbed a rag and continued wiping the counter she’d been cleaning when he’d come in. “I doubt many of the good officers would believe that I inherited a whole cellar full of the stuff.”
Jameson smiled. “Well, you’ve probably got a point there. But if you don’t want any trouble, why don’t you just get rid of what you’ve got left? Remove the temptation, so to speak. From people who’d want to steal it, or sell it.”
“I’m saving it for a rainy day,” she said with a smile. Jameson didn’t return it.
“That gin is all I’ve got left of my father. And someday when this silly Prohibition stuff is over with, I might be able to do something useful with the stock I’ve got. Until then, I’m sitting on it nice and tight.”
Jameson studied her for a minute and then finally nodded. “I’ll let it go, for now. But if you are caught selling it…I won’t be able to protect you from the consequences.”
Jessie looked him right in the eye. “I give you my word that I’m not selling liquor, of any sort, out of my store.”
He nodded again. “Well then. You have a good night, Jessica.”
“Good night, Agent Jameson.”
