{"id":9459,"date":"2017-04-26T13:01:32","date_gmt":"2017-04-26T18:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/?page_id=9459"},"modified":"2026-04-11T19:02:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T00:02:18","slug":"1520main","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/thebooks\/1520main\/","title":{"rendered":"1520 MAIN"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"eddsection\">\n<div class=\"eddfloat_dl\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"eddcover_dl\">\n<figure class=\"b10mwx\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/b10mediaworx.com\/covers\/main\/main-200x300.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"b10mwx\">Tales of Dunham #9<br \/>\u00a92019 Moriah Jovan<br \/>207,000 words (634 pages)<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<article>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"eddtitle_dl\">Book 9 in the Dunham universe<\/p>\n<div class=\"linksbuyblock\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"Buy 1520 Main\">\n<p class=\"linksedd\">Buy direct:<\/p>\n\t<form id=\"edd_purchase_19730\" class=\"edd_download_purchase_form edd_purchase_19730\" method=\"post\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"edd_price_options edd_multi_mode\" >\n\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t<li id=\"edd_price_option_19730_epub\"><label for=\"edd_price_option_19730_1\"><input type=\"checkbox\"  checked='checked' name=\"edd_options[price_id][]\" id=\"edd_price_option_19730_1\" class=\"edd_price_option_19730\" value=\"1\" data-price=\"9.99\"\/>&nbsp;<span class=\"edd_price_option_name\">EPUB<\/span><span class=\"edd_price_option_sep\">&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"edd_price_option_price\">&#36;9.99<\/span><\/label><\/li><li id=\"edd_price_option_19730_pdf\"><label for=\"edd_price_option_19730_2\"><input type=\"checkbox\"  name=\"edd_options[price_id][]\" id=\"edd_price_option_19730_2\" class=\"edd_price_option_19730\" value=\"2\" data-price=\"9.99\"\/>&nbsp;<span class=\"edd_price_option_name\">PDF<\/span><span class=\"edd_price_option_sep\">&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"edd_price_option_price\">&#36;9.99<\/span><\/label><\/li>\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div><!--end .edd_price_options-->\n\t\n\t\t<div class=\"edd_purchase_submit_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"edd-add-to-cart button has-edd-button-background-color has-edd-button-text-color edd-submit\" data-nonce=\"18970f0e35\" data-timestamp=\"1776029824\" data-token=\"1cb8173650f9074407677083c5aa479f9dc6bfc442af56b014f99682c1922054\" data-action=\"edd_add_to_cart\" data-download-id=\"19730\"  data-variable-price=\"yes\" data-price-mode=multi data-price=\"0.00\" ><span class=\"edd-add-to-cart-label\">Add to Cart<\/span> <span class=\"edd-loading\" aria-label=\"Loading\"><\/span><\/button><input type=\"submit\" class=\"edd-add-to-cart edd-no-js button has-edd-button-background-color has-edd-button-text-color edd-submit\" name=\"edd_purchase_download\" value=\"Add to Cart\" data-action=\"edd_add_to_cart\" data-download-id=\"19730\"  data-variable-price=\"yes\" data-price-mode=multi \/><a href=\"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/checkout\/\" class=\"edd_go_to_checkout button has-edd-button-background-color has-edd-button-text-color edd-submit\" style=\"display:none;\">Checkout<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"edd-cart-ajax-alert\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"edd-cart-added-alert\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"edd-icon edd-icon-check\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" viewBox=\"0 0 28 28\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M26.11 8.844c0 .39-.157.78-.44 1.062L12.234 23.344c-.28.28-.672.438-1.062.438s-.78-.156-1.06-.438l-7.782-7.78c-.28-.282-.438-.673-.438-1.063s.156-.78.438-1.06l2.125-2.126c.28-.28.672-.438 1.062-.438s.78.156 1.062.438l4.594 4.61L21.42 5.656c.282-.28.673-.438 1.063-.438s.78.155 1.062.437l2.125 2.125c.28.28.438.672.438 1.062z\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAdded to cart\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!--end .edd_purchase_submit_wrapper-->\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"download_id\" value=\"19730\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"edd_action\" class=\"edd_action_input\" value=\"add_to_cart\">\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t<\/form><!--end #edd_purchase_19730-->\n\t\n<p class=\"linksedd\">&nbsp;<br \/>\n\t\t<span class=\"small85\">Amazon<\/span> <a class=\"main\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07SJ8RZMJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kindle<\/a> \u2022 <a class=\"main\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0986127183\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">paperback<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<span class=\"small85\">Barnes &#038; Noble<\/span> <a class=\"main\" href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/1520-main-moriah-jovan\/1131793944?ean=2940161355374\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nook<\/a> \u2022 <span class=\"small85\">paperback<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<a class=\"main\" href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id1466148333\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple iBooks<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<a class=\"main\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=i86aDwAAQBAJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Play Books<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<a class=\"main\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/1520-main-tales-of-dunham-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kobo eBooks<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"eddmaintag_dl\">Kansas City, Missouri<br \/>1929<\/p>\n<p class=\"eddsum_dl\">Trey Dunham, a mid-level cog in the Pendergast Machine during Prohibition, runs 1520 Main, Boss Tom\u2019s most prized speakeasy featuring good booze, hot jazz, and beautiful women. Trey wants to buy the joint and scrapes together every penny he can by running errands, guns, and booze. But Boss Tom likes the arrangement and would never sell the speak at any price, keeping Trey digging graves in Brush Creek and making sure all the dead folks in Jackson County get to the polls. Twice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"eddsum_dl\">Then Boss Tom, seeing an opportunity to avenge an ancient grudge against one Reverend Gil Scarritt, offers 1520 Main as bait. If Trey can get the good reverend\u2019s daughter Marina knocked up in two months without marrying her, Tom\u2019ll give Trey the bar lock, stock, and barrel. If he fails to get her pregnant at all, well&nbsp;\u2026 Trey could find himself swimming in the Missouri River.<\/p>\n<p class=\"eddsum_dl\">Trey never samples his own wares and he never bets against the house. But Tom\u2019s an inveterate\u2013and very bad\u2013gambler, and Trey\u2019s got several other reasons to take that bet because he\u2019s only ever wanted two things:<\/p>\n<p class=\"eddsum_dl\">Money and respectability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"eddsum_dl\">And he doesn\u2019t care what he has to do to get them.<\/p>\n<div class=\"navblock\">\n<p class=\"leftnavblock\"><a class=\"arrowsmall\" href=\"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/thebooks\/lionsshare\/\">\u2190 Book 8<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"rightnavblock\"><a class=\"arrowbig\" href=\"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/thebooks\/rag\/\">Book 10  \u2192<\/a><br \/>Sometimes the only thing a poor little rich girl needs<br \/>to reevaluate her life is the pool boy\u2019s contempt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wingding\">\u203b<\/p>\n<p class=\"mainepigraph\">If you want to see some sin, forget about Paris.<br \/>\nGo to Kansas City.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mainpart\">THE FIX<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptdate\">Kansas City, Missouri<br \/>\nApril, 1929<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cDON\u2019T GO GETTING above yourself, boy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey slid a glance at the old man beside him, his eyebrow raised in question.<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom Pendergast\u2019s glance slid across the street toward the prim young woman who\u2019d caught Trey\u2019s eye. She was short, her cheeks filled out, with clear peaches\u2019n\u2019cream skin. She had sleek chocolate brown hair rolled up into a fat bun, which meant it was long and thick and straight. She wore a fashionable blouse and trousers of good quality fabric and construction, but they were all the wrong cut and color. He could only guess at her figure, but he\u2019d seen hundreds of women nude, so he had a pretty good idea she was an hourglass with just enough plump in all the right places.<\/p>\n<p>She and another girl were walking toward Kresge\u2019s with their schoolbooks clutched to their chests, chatting and laughing. Her friend was blonde, with a cute permed bob and she was wearing a pretty dress.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou know who that jane is?\u201d Boss Tom asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot Albright. Her daddy\u2019s a Mormon bishop.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s eyebrows shot into his hairline. \u201cOn your payroll?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom shook his head. \u201cNot him, no. He\u2019s straight, works for himself. He just doesn\u2019t get in his congregants\u2019 business, even if their business is with me. And you know those folks\u2019re armed to the teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey was too, and he wasn\u2019t somebody who could legally be shot on sight. \u201cBut they let their girls wear trousers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe one in trouser\u2019s Gil Scarritt\u2019s daughter. Marina.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey pursed his mouth. That was&nbsp;\u2026 interesting, especially when the girls suddenly caught him staring. The pretty blonde in the pretty dress curled her lip.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTold you not to get your hopes up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The interesting brunette in the trousers blinked at them innocently then looked at the pretty one with a scowl. Their lighthearted discussion turned into something more contentious.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo preachers\u2019 daughters,\u201d Trey mused. \u201cWhy\u2019s a Pentecostal lettin\u2019 his girl wear trousers?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHis idea of a chastity belt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey nodded approvingly. \u201cThat\u2019s logical,\u201d he said. \u201cInconvenient and a damned shame, but logical.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHer?\u201d Boss Tom hooted. \u201cMarina?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeh. Pretty girls are a dime a dozen and I got a dozen of \u2019em on my payroll. How old is she?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSixteen. What is wrong with you? She\u2019s no looker.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLikely not to anybody else, no.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have weird taste in dames.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s taste was in <em>interesting<\/em>-looking dames. As he watched, the pretty one dragged the interesting one into the drugstore, with one last sneer over her shoulder at them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrust Reverend Albright\u2019s girl to know what\u2019s what,\u201d Boss Tom muttered, turning away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought you said he was a bishop.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe is. Reverend\u2019s his given name.\u201d Trey had heard stranger. \u201cDunham,\u201d Boss Tom rumbled, amusement heavy in his deep voice. \u201cYou wrestle that bluenose into bed and knock her up, I\u2019ll turn the keys to 1520 over to you, as is, free and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey was so shocked he barely kept his cool. \u201cMarina, you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, Marina. Albright stays out of my way and I stay out of his.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey thought about that a few seconds. Finally he said, \u201cThat\u2019s some bounty, Boss. I might start thinkin\u2019 you don\u2019t like the good Reverend Scarritt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t start up thinkin\u2019 again, boy. People get in trouble that way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Not Trey. And what Trey thought was that this wasn\u2019t a bet so much as an order. Trey didn\u2019t hesitate to take orders he had several good reasons to carry out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAn\u2019 if I don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom gave him a stone-cold glance. <em>Definitely<\/em> an order. Shit. \u201cTell you what, Dunham. I know you want to buy 1520 Main. I also know you are nowhere near being able to buy it at my price and you never will be.\u201d That was debatable. \u201cSo I\u2019m giving you a sporting chance. You have two months. And if you think marrying her\u2019s gonna get the job done, think again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marriage was not in Trey\u2019s plans. \u201cConsider it done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mainpart\">PART I<br \/>\nSPEAKING IN TONGUES<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">1<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cMARINA,\u201d DOT SAID low as they turned away from the two men who were looking at the drugstore the girls were about to enter, \u201cmake like you didn\u2019t see them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina glanced at Dot, confused. \u201cThey weren\u2019t looking at us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes they were,\u201d Dot said firmly, grasping her arm and directing her into the entryway, then through the door, then to their usual booth. \u201cYou can\u2019t pay them any mind or they\u2019ll take it as an invitation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThem <em>who?<\/em> Do you know them? An invitation to what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot sighed heavily and picked up the menu. \u201cMen. Grown men. No, I don\u2019t know them. But you can\u2019t give any man any reason to think you want their attention.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoesn\u2019t your mother tell you <em>anything?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina flushed and looked down at her menu.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMm hmm. Why doesn\u2019t your father let you wear dresses?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina sighed and recited Father\u2019s oft-given sermon on the virtues of women in trousers. \u201cSo we won\u2019t be a temptation to men and to guard us against roaming hands and to remind us that we\u2019re women of God.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes. Those men wanted to let their hands roam on us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn <em>you<\/em>,\u201d Marina muttered, trying not to be resentful. Dot was beautiful. Marina was not.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe old guy, well&nbsp;\u2026 You got me there. He wasn\u2019t interested in us. But the blond was,\u201d she insisted. \u201cIn you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, now you\u2019re just being silly,\u201d Marina pooh-poohed, knowing she could safely dismiss everything Dot had just said.<\/p>\n<p>Dot didn\u2019t argue anymore. She mused over the menu until the waitress came by. \u201cYou gals want anything but your usuals?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina suggested she and Dot split an order of onion rings to go with her catawba flip and Dot\u2019s cherry lime phosphate. While they waited, they were approached by several boys in succession who gave Marina a scant hello then moved on to flirting with Dot, who flirted right back but without giving them any reason to think she <em>wanted<\/em> the attention.<\/p>\n<p>Marina didn\u2019t know how she did it, flirting without seeming to flirt at all, keeping a number of boys on her leash, making them work for her attention, and doing her bidding just for the chance to buy her a phosphate, be invited to one of her church\u2019s dances, or escort her to a moving picture show. It was one reason Marina\u2019s mother had never liked Dot, even though Dot was smart about such things. Another reason was that she was a devil-worshipping <em>Mormon<\/em>. To appease Mother and allow her to keep company with Marina, Dot\u2019s mother had assented to allow Dot to attend Marina\u2019s church on Wednesdays even though Marina\u2019s parents would never allow her to reciprocate.<\/p>\n<p>In spite of Marina\u2019s parents\u2019 feelings, Marina was allowed to run with Dot because God told Father it was Marina\u2019s duty to convert Dot to the true word of God and to save her soul.<\/p>\n<p>No matter how much Marina loved Dot, though, it was depressing watching boys fawn over her but never give Marina anything but a polite smile, if they noticed her at all. Dot accepted the attention as if it were her due, but since neither girl was allowed out alone with a boy, if a boy wanted to spend a Saturday afternoon with Dot, he had to have a friend who would be willing to squire Marina. If the friend didn\u2019t pay enough attention to Marina, Dot punished both boys by never speaking to them again.<\/p>\n<p>Marina hated being a pity date.<\/p>\n<p>After Dot had spent an appropriate amount of time flirting, she shooed them all away with a laugh. \u201cWe have to study, boys,\u201d she cooed. \u201cWe\u2019ll catch up tomorrow, same time, same place.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot gave Marina a wink as they opened their schoolbooks. They began with a math problem Marina had been having difficulty with in class, but in one sentence, Dot\u2019s explanations had left Marina in the dust. Dot didn\u2019t notice. Their sodas and onion rings came, but Marina was now hopelessly lost. \u201cDot, I\u2019m more confused now than I was in class today!\u201d she finally wailed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe I can help,\u201d came a deep voice from above them. They both jumped and, to Marina\u2019s shock, it was the blond young man from outside\u2014and he wasn\u2019t staring longingly at Dot.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUm&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d Marina began warily, even as Dot harrumphed. He ignored her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour friend&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;?\u201d He then lifted an eyebrow at Dot.<\/p>\n<p>Her mouth compressed, and she pointedly refused to give her name. He turned back to Marina. \u201cShe loves math too much to teach it well, which I do not mean as an insult.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>You<\/em> probably can\u2019t add two and two,\u201d Dot said caustically.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot!\u201d Marina gasped. Embarrassed by her friend\u2019s behavior, she scooted to her left to allow the stranger to sit beside her. \u201cI am so sorry. Dot\u2019s never rude,\u201d she said, glaring at her. Dot cocked her eyebrow at her, unrepentant. \u201cMy name\u2019s Marina. Scarritt,\u201d she added, turning back to the man.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrey,\u201d he said affably, casting a vague smile at Dot, the kind of smiles boys usually threw at Marina. \u201cTrey Dunham.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is Dot Albright,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Dorothy<\/em> Albright,\u201d she said pointedly. \u201c<em>Miss<\/em> Albright to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina wanted to demand Dot account for her bad behavior, but now was not the time. \u201cDot\u2019s really smart and I\u2019m&nbsp;\u2026 really not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverybody\u2019s smart in their own way,\u201d he said matter-of-factly, then told the suddenly attentive waitress he wanted a lime rickey. \u201cThank you. And the table\u2019s on me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe can pay for our own food,\u201d Dot said smartly. \u201cWe do it every day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot!\u201d Marina snapped again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m sure you can and do, Miss Albright,\u201d he said politely. \u201cIt would be my pleasure if, for today, you\u2019d allow me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She huffed. \u201cUgh. All right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not sure what I did to offend you, miss,\u201d Mr. Dunham murmured earnestly, \u201cbut I apologize.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not what you <em>did<\/em>,\u201d she said smartly. \u201cIt\u2019s what you <em>might<\/em> do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His eyebrow rose. \u201cI&nbsp;\u2026 <em>might<\/em> ask your friend to have a phosphate with me tomorrow.\u201d Marina gulped down her shocked gasp. \u201cIf that\u2019s okay with you.\u201d There wasn\u2019t a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He was earnest. He really wanted Dot\u2019s approval.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHrmph. We always <em>have phosphates<\/em> together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He inclined his head. \u201cI understand. I\u2019m sure you can find a boy to round out the table.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot was clearly stymied. He wasn\u2019t making fun of her. He was taking her seriously. He understood that Dot was trying to protect Marina. Most importantly, he wasn\u2019t giving up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll right,\u201d Dot said imperiously. \u201cLet\u2019s see your math.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey gestured for Dot\u2019s pencil. \u201cMay I?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She flipped it at him, but he caught it deftly, then turned to Marina. \u201cThe formula is A squared plus B squared equals C squared,\u201d he began. \u201cThese are the numbers you already know.\u201d He drew arrows from the numbers in the problem to the letters. There was one letter not matched up. \u201cYou have to find this number.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina scowled at the paper. \u201cThat\u2019s all?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot started.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes. You just plug in the numbers where they go like a switchboard operator. Whatever you do to one side, you have to do to the other until there\u2019s only one letter and one number. That\u2019s the answer to the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, that seems simple enough,\u201d she said, totally bemused, taking the pencil. It wasn\u2019t that simple, but she managed to get farther into the problem than she had before. \u201cNow I don\u2019t know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou rearrange them until the letter, which is the number you don\u2019t know, is the only thing left on one side of the equal sign and only one number on the other side. Think of it like rearranging furniture.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He demonstrated all the steps he had to take to make one number equal one letter.<\/p>\n<p>And the light came on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">2<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\"><em>MISS<\/em> DOROTHY ALBRIGHT was going to be a pain in Trey\u2019s ass, he thought darkly as Marina dove into the next few problems with glee. He could barely keep himself from returning the girl\u2019s glare. He wondered how subtle he could be in backing her off without Marina getting his point.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMiss Albright,\u201d Trey began respectfully, hating that he had to show such deference to a sixteen-year-old girl. \u201cI appreciate your concern for Marina. It\u2019s not often people have friends as trustworthy and protective as you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot looked at him suspiciously. She knew he was going to take this somewhere, and, Trey thought, she <em>might<\/em> even know where he was going to take it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI imagine it\u2019s difficult to watch out for someone not as experienced as you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n<p>Marina was half paying attention, but too happy whenever she got a problem right, with a little nudge from Trey here and there, to care.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOr perhaps you\u2019re not used to having to watch out for her?\u201d he asked slyly.<\/p>\n<p>Her lip curled.<\/p>\n<p>Then he mouthed, <em>Jealous?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>That made her face flush and her nostrils flare, but she couldn\u2019t very well throw a drink in his face or accuse him of using Marina without in turn being accused of begrudging Marina some male attention.<\/p>\n<p>Trey didn\u2019t think she was. He\u2019d observed her flirt and she was as walled off in her dress as Marina was in her trousers. She simply handled men differently because while she liked the attention, she knew men and what they wanted. She\u2019d known Trey for what he was the second she laid eyes on him and he wasn\u2019t sure she didn\u2019t know Boss Tom on sight if he and her father were acquainted.<\/p>\n<p>He looked her up and down with a sneer because Trey was surrounded by pretty women, some of whom wanted his attention. Dot wasn\u2019t special.<\/p>\n<p>If he accused Dot of being jealous, that could never be taken back and he\u2019d put her on notice that he had no problem doing it. So if Dot cared for Marina at all, she\u2019d keep her mouth shut.<\/p>\n<p>But, as Trey had hoped, Dot got the message loud and clear and casually took a sip of her drink, flipped open a book, and began to read as if that was what she intended to do all along.<\/p>\n<p>Marina, on the other hand, was zipping through her problems. It was simple if one didn\u2019t overthink it, but Trey had had to be taught this way too. He had been as hopelessly lost as Marina and getting all the terms and concepts out of the way had been a revelation to him. He understood exactly how Marina was feeling at the moment and it was the first inkling that, in addition to the fact that he didn\u2019t want to stop staring at this girl, he might actually be able to stand talking to her for more than half an hour.<\/p>\n<p>Then she looked up at him with a delighted smile, her brown eyes sparkling. \u201cThank you!\u201d she breathed.<\/p>\n<p>Trey just stared at her, shellshocked and speechless. No, she was never going to be pretty and at first glance, she was interesting, but now she was arresting. \u201cUm&nbsp;\u2026 you\u2019re welcome,\u201d he muttered, feeling like the uncoolest cat in the world. Then he shook himself because if he didn\u2019t pay attention, his speech would start slipping. \u201cDon\u2019t let your math teacher confuse you tomorrow. It\u2019s just matching up your numbers and letters\u2014you\u2019ll always be one number shy\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes two,\u201d Dot said airily.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, and there\u2019s a way to figure that,\u201d Trey said, tamping down his irritation, \u201cbut you probably won\u2019t have to do that for a while. Then you just work the problem around until you have a letter on one side and a number on the other and that\u2019s your answer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you so much!\u201d she breathed again, her genuine gratitude so disconcerting Trey didn\u2019t quite know what to do or say. His girls threw him a <em>thanks, Daddy-o<\/em> for this, that, or some other thing just because he was the boss, but girls like his knew kindness always came with a price and nobody was grateful for a \u201cgift\u201d they\u2019d have to pay for eventually.<\/p>\n<p>Marina wouldn\u2019t know that, of course, but Trey didn\u2019t know what unconditional gratitude felt like. He didn\u2019t like it at all.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d he repeated softly. So he taught her how to do a math problem. So what. What he did like was that she thought he\u2019d given her something valuable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat do you do for a living?\u201d she asked out of the blue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI sell insurance,\u201d he said by rote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh,\u201d she said, a bit bewildered. Maybe she didn\u2019t know what that was, but high school girls wouldn\u2019t need to, he supposed. \u201cThe only thing I know about insurance is that the offices are boring when you\u2019re waiting on somebody to finish their business.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He smiled. \u201cSay something bad happened to your house,\u201d he began. \u201cIf you had bought insurance, the insurance company would pay to rebuild your house and replace all the stuff you lost. You buy an insurance policy and then you make payments. Then when the bad thing happens, you get that back and a lot more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her brow wrinkled. \u201cWell, what if nothing ever happens to your house? Do you get that money back?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. You\u2019re making a bet. You\u2019re betting that it <em>will<\/em> happen. The insurance company is betting that it <em>won\u2019t<\/em> happen. Nobody who loses a bet gets their money back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut neither of you <em>want<\/em> it to happen, not like horse racing, where you\u2019re betting <em>for<\/em> the thing you want.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey risked a peek at Dot, who seemed interested in the conversation in spite of herself.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrue. So what I do,\u201d he continued, \u201cis get people to bet me that something bad will happen to them. They throw their money in the pot. They never see that money again unless something bad does happen, in which case, I have to pay whatever the terms of the bet were.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you still have money left over because there are so many other people betting, but nothing happens to them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d he said, sort of surprised she came to that so quickly. \u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow old are you?\u201d Dot asked abruptly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwenty-four.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019ve got some nice duds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI make a good living,\u201d he replied patiently, still trying to hold his tongue. He looked back at Marina. \u201cEnough to support a wife and family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Both girls stilled. \u201cYou already <em>have<\/em> a wife and a family?\u201d Dot asked carefully, not in challenge, but to verify what she thought he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d he replied with as unthreatening an expression as he could muster.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh,\u201d she said softly, relaxing. Her permanent scowl faded a little and she gave him a tight smile. She began fussing with her napkin and her drink, wiping off the table, the base of the glass. Marina, flushed, worried the pages of her math book.<\/p>\n<p>No, he wasn\u2019t going to marry her, but the only way to get in any preacher\u2019s daughter\u2019s trousers was to let her think he was seriously courting her.<\/p>\n<p>Except right now it was time for a strategic retreat. He slid out of the booth. \u201cMiss Scarritt,\u201d he said soberly. \u201cMiss Albright.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot wouldn\u2019t look at him, but Marina gave him a very shy glance and smile. \u201cThank you again,\u201d she said softly. \u201cI can\u2019t stop saying it, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The corner of Trey\u2019s mouth turned up a little. \u201cYou\u2019re welcome. May I&nbsp;\u2026 Will you be here tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe come here every day after school,\u201d she said shyly. \u201cUntil our homework\u2019s done. We have to be home by six.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMm hm. Well, ladies, I\u2019ll see you around.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">3<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">TREY DIDN\u2019T KNOW whether to be mad or glad about the afternoon\u2019s success, which put him in an unsettled mood for the evening. Freshly bathed, dressed, and shaved, he headed to the mezzanine of the speakeasy he\u2019d spent the last four years managing for Boss Tom, turning it from a rundown barely speak serving sodas and near-beer (with stronger libations available for those in the know) into a successful speakeasy with only three raids to his name. Furthermore, last year\u2019s Democratic National Convention had been <em>very<\/em> good to him, bringing in more resident customers who hadn\u2019t known 1520 Main existed.<\/p>\n<p>His customer base was a good bit of black and white, middle class and rich, Irish, Italian, and Jewish, commingling on the dance floor to long jam sessions with a collection of cool cats who knew how to blow horns and play bass. His burlesque show was a draw and his poker tables were full. His meager menu was decent, but people didn\u2019t come to 1520 to eat. His female whores were bright, pretty, and popular. His male whores were good at their jobs and kept their mouths shut. He carried the finest cigars Cuba could manufacture, his dope was pure, all his whisky was branded and uncut, and he was the only purveyor of Remus whisky in town.<\/p>\n<p>As long as Trey didn\u2019t make his own alcohol (which could be smelled), didn\u2019t run a race wire as part of his gambling operations (the results of which he would be pressured to give to certain Machine associates before the bets were called), had a bona fide restaurant (that did an adequate amount of business), didn\u2019t offer honk-and-hooch curbside delivery, and didn\u2019t allow teenagers, the cops not on his payroll left him alone, the Prohibition crusaders didn\u2019t care about him, and William Rockhill Nelson\u2019s <em>Kansas City Star<\/em> had bigger fish to fry.<\/p>\n<p>Trey had good hooch, good cigars, good food, good drugs, good music, good games, good whores, good service, in a clean, classy space specially tailored for the middle class who wanted to feel rich and upper middle class who just wanted a good time and some Remus whisky.<\/p>\n<p>It was true Trey wanted to buy 1520 Main. It was true that on Trey\u2019s salary, he had enough to dress the part of a successful speak manager but should not have enough to buy the business. It was true that even if he did buy the business, he would no longer be under Tom\u2019s protection unless he paid for it. It was also true that there were a few cats in town slobbering to take Trey\u2019s place as 1520\u2019s manager, and Trey suspected that if he couldn\u2019t get Marina pregnant at all, he\u2019d be replaced or worse. He\u2019d worked far too hard to step aside for someone else, and he certainly did not want to take a swim in the Missouri River.<\/p>\n<p>But Boss Tom didn\u2019t know what he didn\u2019t know, which was, first, that Trey\u2019s long-held bootlegging operation was still operating in the shadows and he was hiding his profits from Boss Tom; and, second, that Trey was skimming Boss Tom\u2019s profits off the speak. He was careful about stashing it. He knew how to hide it in the books Boss Tom examined every month. He kept a relatively large payroll and ostensibly paid his people higher-than-market wages, which Boss Tom took to be generous and therefore worthy of approval. Trey slept on the couch in his nicely appointed office and worked alongside his employees to keep the place in tip-top shape.<\/p>\n<p>Trey also did most of what Boss Tom asked him to do. He could deliver an impressive number of votes for whatever candidates Boss Tom was backing. He helped needy families get back on their feet whenever Boss Tom was made aware of them. He carried out hits when he felt the cat deserved it; if he didn\u2019t know the cat, didn\u2019t know what he\u2019d done, or didn\u2019t think he deserved it, he politely declined, citing speakeasy business. There were few cats in town who\u2019d say no to Boss Tom, but Trey was very good at his job, he respectfully gave good reasons for not wanting to carry out a hit, and he would help bury a body if nobody else was available.<\/p>\n<p>Trey had also never made the mistake of asking Boss Tom for a favor. The only time Trey went to Boss Tom was with cash or news of a completed errand. Boss Tom didn\u2019t like that Trey was not on the hook for anything, but he did admire it and as long as Trey made money and was honest and loyal, he left Trey alone and made everybody else in town leave him alone, too.<\/p>\n<p>There was nothing about Trey that gave off the stink of dishonesty or wealth. It took time to build up cash skimming and the discipline to resist greed. It took a sharp eye for paper trails and a truck full of patience to continue bootlegging without it being traced back to him. He had enough cash squirreled away to see the underside of rich, but he wasn\u2019t going to get wealthy until he had his own operation.<\/p>\n<p>And once he got Marina Scarritt pregnant in the allotted time, he\u2019d be a speak <em>owner<\/em> instead of a speak <em>manager<\/em>. Boss Tom always kept his promises, particularly if he thought he was being generous, and he would keep this promise if Trey delivered.<\/p>\n<p>Without getting the particulars or thinking too much about the fact that he was obliged to do it in any case, Trey had begun his project right away. Sixteen was about the right age to begin courting, but Marina was a very young sixteen and that made him a little uncomfortable. Except&nbsp;\u2026 it wasn\u2019t a courtship and Trey didn\u2019t have two years to do it right even if he was courting her. Boss Tom expected to keep the speak <em>and<\/em> get whatever revenge on Gil Scarritt he thought he needed to get in such a roundabout way.<\/p>\n<p>Trey wished he\u2019d thought about it before he\u2019d shot off his mouth, but Boss Tom was right: He couldn\u2019t buy the speak outright. It would expose his skimming and bootlegging, which would absolutely earn Trey a concrete overcoat and a swim in the Missouri River.<\/p>\n<p>Well, what was done was done and Trey would think about consequences later, as he usually did. After visiting his mezzanine office and locking it behind him, he headed up to the top floor of the speak. He went into the common lavatory, unlocked and opened an empty closet, locked it behind him, then pulled a ladder down out of the ceiling and climbed into the attic, drawing the ladder up after him, and locking it in place.<\/p>\n<p>This was his real office. Unlike the rest of the speak and the \u201coffice\u201d he kept at the back of the mezzanine, this was spartan. There was a desk. A kitchen chair. A filing cabinet. And one giant safe.<\/p>\n<p>It was hot up here, dusty, dark, cramped, and the ceiling was barely six feet high. Trey, at six foot two, had to stoop, but he spent most of his time here sitting at his desk counting cash and doing books. He flipped on the light, went to his safe, twirled the combination this way and that, opened it, and pulled out several glassine envelopes of different types of drugs to stuff in his inner suit coat pockets. He had to have enough to last most of the night so he wouldn\u2019t have to come up here when the house was rocking.<\/p>\n<p>On the second shelf of the safe were two sets of ledgers. One was for Boss Tom to examine at the end of every month. The other was for Trey\u2019s eyes only. He had a third set in his mezzanine office for Treasury\u2019s benefit, and a filing cabinet down there full of numbers to back them up. Everything was in complete order for any ol\u2019 passerby to peruse\u2014<em>if<\/em> they could read his handwriting.<\/p>\n<p>On the safe\u2019s bottom shelf was a stash of cash Trey didn\u2019t like keeping here no matter how secure. Every once in a while, he took a stack to the bank and it looked to be about time for another run.<\/p>\n<p>Today, however, was payday, so he took out the pay envelopes he\u2019d already prepared and stuffed them in another pocket.<\/p>\n<p>Once he had closed up his hideyhole and clipped down to the mezzanine of the speak, he shot his cuffs out and adjusted his collar. He looked out over the rail to see that the joint was a little quieter than it usually was at eight o\u2019clock, but that was because there were two chautauquas in town and a tent revival\u2014led by one Reverend Gil Scarritt\u2014to boot. On top of that, all his good-time girls were having their bleeding time together, which they did every month, so this week\u2019s take would be slim.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNever trust anything that bleeds for a week and lives,\u201d he muttered. \u201cMean as shit, to boot.\u201d He\u2019d lock them up if he could, just to keep them from slapping every customer he had.<\/p>\n<p>Just one of those things. He managed his cash flow well enough to make up for that one week every month, but though the chautauquas were only one day each, he\u2019d forgotten about them and the tent revival that went on all week. Entertainment was entertainment.<\/p>\n<p>Trey returned to his fake office\u2014where he slept on the divan\u2014and stashed the payroll, then locked it back up and took his throne at the rail of the mezzanine, a corner wall to his back, settling in with a whisky and a cigar to watch the relatively sparse activities and wonder why Boss Tom hated Scarritt so much, and if it was bad enough to wager 1520 Main on it, why he hadn\u2019t just killed the motherfucker.<\/p>\n<p>Scarritt was a fire-and-brimstone Pentecostal preacher. Spoke in tongues, faith healed, the whole works, which was why Trey had been shocked that his daughter was wearing trousers. But in a competition between being able to toss up a girl\u2019s dress or seeing a slight curve in shapeless trousers, he supposed any father would prefer the latter. No cat was going to spend the time to get into a girl\u2019s trousers if she <em>also<\/em> had to be persuaded to take them off.<\/p>\n<p>And now&nbsp;\u2026 that was exactly what Trey had to do if he wanted this speak.<\/p>\n<p>He did.<\/p>\n<p>He wanted this speakeasy so badly he could taste every drop of whisky that had ever soaked into the floorboards. For the last four years, he\u2019d poured his heart and soul into turning this place into the low-key moneymaker it was.<\/p>\n<p>The good Reverend Scarritt lived a pretty fine life on his lambs\u2019 tithes and from all accounts, he was a showman. Maybe Trey should get in the evangelism racket. That had to be a lot less stressful.<\/p>\n<p>Was that Tom\u2019s problem with the reverend? He couldn\u2019t get a piece of Scarritt\u2019s action? One whole dollar could not go to both vice and virtue. One third of this town spent it on vice. Another third on virtue. The last third was trying to survive, and their little extra went to God, too. No more than any ol\u2019 bribe.<\/p>\n<p><em>Hey, God. Please accept this two bits as a token of my esteem for you. Also, if you wouldn\u2019t mind&nbsp;\u2026 I could sure use some help \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p>But Boss Tom would take care of the surviving third if they\u2019d let him whereas Scarritt was never going to do anything for them but take their two bits and promise things on God\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWrestle a sixteen-year-old preacher\u2019s daughter with a chastity belt into bed and get her bakin\u2019,\u201d he grumbled. He had faith in his powers of seduction.<\/p>\n<p>Marina Scarritt\u2019s interesting-looking face flashed in his mind.<\/p>\n<p>Not that much faith.<\/p>\n<p>Almost none.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019d figure it out, though. He had to. He wanted the speak and he wanted not to fail a task Boss Tom had given him, perhaps at the cost of his job. He didn\u2019t <em>know<\/em> what would happen to him if he failed, but the threat was clear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFuckers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They all were, every last one of the people Trey ran with, did business with, dug graves with, and drove out-of-towners to the polls with. They weren\u2019t friends. Or even allies, most of the time. Their currency was favors and Trey preferred a clean exchange: task-cash, cash-task or favors that stacked up to his benefit.<\/p>\n<p>There was almost nothing that could bring a preacher man down faster than his unmarried daughter knocked up by one of Pendergast\u2019s underbosses. Trey couldn\u2019t think of one reason Pendergast would be willing to simply hand over 1520 Main to shame a cat all the way out of his profession instead of simply killing him. Maybe that was worse than death; Trey didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n<p>The music started up again, and the food started coming out of the kitchen at a faster pace. A pretty waitress dressed in next to nothing slid a steak under his nose without a word. In his throne at his table with good steak, good whisky, and a good cigar in front of him, he ran this joint and the one block of Kansas City it was on with Boss Tom Pendergast\u2019s blessing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHey, Daddy-o,\u201d Ethel purred as she slid her ass into the chair next to him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpit it out and get back to work,\u201d Trey said absently.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was gonna be nice about this,\u201d she said testily. \u201cBut since you got nasty, I will. Stop waltzing into the bathroom this time of the month while we\u2019re using it. Better yet, get your own place.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou share your cunt with six cats a night and you\u2019re prissin\u2019 \u2019cuz I take a bath while you\u2019re tending your woman needs? We got <em>one<\/em> bathroom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She snarled at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re lucky I don\u2019t move upstairs and you\u2019re welcome to find a different gig with a pimp who don\u2019t put a leash around his girls\u2019 necks or wanna sample his wares. Won\u2019t hurt my feelin\u2019s none and this town\u2019s lousy with pretty girls who need some cash and don\u2019t mind gettin\u2019 it on their backs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She huffed and flounced off, rattling the chair to punctuate her pique.<\/p>\n<p>It might be nice to have his own place with its own bathroom. He didn\u2019t mind sleeping on a divan, but he sure as hell didn\u2019t like sharing a bathroom with the ten women and three men who lived and worked upstairs. The third floor had eight rooms, another common bathroom, and a very tiny room with two bunkbeds. The eight singles were rented out, and he kept the bunk room empty for emergencies. Commandeering one of the second-floor bedrooms was out of the question because he\u2019d either be sharing it or losing money.<\/p>\n<p>Which left him another problem to solve: He couldn\u2019t seduce Marina when he didn\u2019t have a decent place to do it. He didn\u2019t care about living at 1520 Main because all he needed was a roof and food. It was one of the only ways he could pinch enough pennies to make the risk of getting caught skimming worth it.<\/p>\n<p>So it actually shocked him that he was in a dither over Marina Scarritt. Peeling Dot Albright off her was going to be a problem because the girl had made sure he knew she had his number. Worse, she and Marina did everything together, which was more than likely mandated by their parents.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019d stood in the doorway of Kresge\u2019s and watched Marina sit with a vaguely resentful expression as boys fawned all over Dot. He didn\u2019t think Dot had noticed Marina\u2019s unhappiness, but Trey could read people no matter how much they wanted to hide themselves. Dot wasn\u2019t inviting male attention. She would get it whether she wanted it or not (definitely not), so she was forced to work around it.<\/p>\n<p>As for Trey\u2019s taste in interesting-looking dames, that had always been the case. A girl who caught his eye would invariably be the less-attractive one in a pair. Usually she was smart, could hold a decent conversation, and could give him some frame of reference for respectable speech and behavior. He went with girls who had large vocabularies and good accents. He went with girls who could teach him manners without knowing they were teaching him. He went with girls who wouldn\u2019t give it up until he\u2019d seduced them to capitulation. All he wanted was the <em>yes<\/em>. Once he got it, they weren\u2019t interesting anymore, so he left them with their newly awakened passions unfulfilled. He either disappeared or they got tired of his refusal to pop the question and dumped him.<\/p>\n<p>So the fact that Marina was interesting looking, smart (although she didn\u2019t think so), and more respectable than any girl he\u2019d gone with so far intrigued him. The fact that she was young and painfully na\u00efve for her age bothered him.<\/p>\n<p>It shouldn\u2019t bother him at all.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe what bothered him was that this, he couldn\u2019t forge, fudge, or fuck up. It was too important.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou up over a dame?\u201d asked another one of his girls, who twirled a chair around and straddled it. She was nice and really didn\u2019t belong here, a preacher\u2019s daughter who\u2019d succumbed to a cat with fewer morals than Trey and took what he\u2019d been working for.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSorta,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou need help.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou know I don\u2019t fuck my own girls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, I mean, I have a friend\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked at her from under his brow. \u201cWho she work for?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her mouth turned down a little. \u201cNobody,\u201d she murmured. \u201cNot yet anyway. I thought\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot lookin\u2019 for a side piece, thanks. She\u2019d be better to find a cat who\u2019ll marry her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sally scowled. \u201cWillya let me finish? That\u2019s not what I\u2019m talking about. She\u2019s got a bun in the oven. She\u2019s on the street. \u2019Bout to give up. She needs a job and there\u2019s plenty to do around here. Hell, she could clean our floor. I\u2019ve been after you for a housekeeper forever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She had a point, but housekeepers made him no money when his whores should be cleaning their own rooms. \u201cYeah, and then what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd then what, she sells the baby and goes on as usual, and then what. You aren\u2019t making any money on the bunkroom anyway and there\u2019s four beds in it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He really did need a housekeeper for the upper two floors. Nobody else would clean the bathrooms\u2014at least, not the way Trey wanted them cleaned. \u201cA\u2019ight, I\u2019ll talk to her, but I ain\u2019t promisin\u2019 anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you, Trey!\u201d she breathed with almost as much gratitude as Marina had showered him with this afternoon. This was still tainted but the conditions were up front and clear-cut.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeh, yeh, yeh. Where\u2019s Gio?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith Mrs. Rogers. She came early.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd often, hopefully,\u201d Trey said approvingly. That lusty broad would be riding Gio all night.<\/p>\n<p>His gigolos made a lot of money during the moon week because some cats were so desperate they\u2019d take a man and a few cats only wanted men. What had surprised Trey was how many well-heeled women there were in town who wanted to taste the underside of life while their husbands were tasting the underside of life elsewhere. And there were more than a few well-heeled husbands who didn\u2019t want to touch their old, fat wives and sent them to 1520 when they got whiny. One old, fat cat brought his young, beautiful wife and watched while Brody fucked her the way her husband wanted to, but couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>1520 Main was the only joint in town that openly kept men, but so far as anybody knew, they serviced women exclusively.<\/p>\n<p>That wasn\u2019t where the money was.<\/p>\n<p>Men slipped up the back stairs if they wanted cock and slipped a godawful amount of cash to Trey, who would keep their names\u2014and the cash\u2014off Boss Tom\u2019s books. Men didn\u2019t pay for sex. They paid for silence.<\/p>\n<p>Lickety split, Sally was back with her friend, who looked like she\u2019d been gassed in the Great War. He gestured to the chair beside him while Sally took herself off to dance with whichever cat had called her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou ever cleaned house?\u201d he asked casually, clipping the end of another cigar.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor my mama, sir,\u201d she said with a trembly voice.<\/p>\n<p>He lit his cigar and puffed on it until the end glowed red. The girl carried herself as though she had been thoroughly betrayed and was too dragged down by life to be able to carry herself upright, much less keep house. It was one reason why he never actually fucked any of the good girls he seduced, not even so much as a finger through their drawers or a flick of their nipples. He might leave them broken-hearted or angry or both, but <em>not<\/em> despoiled or betrayed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d he asked abruptly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIda. Merrifield.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2019Kay. You\u2019ll be responsible for keeping the second floor spic\u2019n\u2019span. You clean the bedrooms, wash the sheets, make the beds, dust the furniture, clean the windows, Hoover the rugs, make sure the second and third floor bathrooms look like nobody ever uses \u2019em. You clean the third floor hallway. Sunday and Monday off. If we need help down here cleaning up after close, you do that, too. Two dollars a week plus room and board till you pop.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t a lot of money, but she looked like she\u2019d been given the world. It was probably more money than she\u2019d ever seen and he was throwing in all her necessities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re cute. You stay past your baby bein\u2019 born and shipped off to some well-heeled family, you go to work on your back and make me money \u2019stead\u2019a costin\u2019 me, y\u2019hear?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That made her turn greenish, but those were his terms. If a stupid hick like him could figure out how to have an end game and save money to get to it, so could she.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll let you work on your feet if you have your own place by then or you can pay me room and board. Got no problem widdat. Get Sally to show you the supply closet and bunkroom, and get your stuff moved in if you have any, grab some food, and go to bed. You start tomorrow, eight a.m.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYessir,\u201d she whispered and scrammed.<\/p>\n<p>By this time it was ten and people were beginning to stream in. Soon the place would be rockin\u2019 with music, dancing, drinking, gambling, fucking, and business, same as any other Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMr. Dunham?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey looked up to see a cat with a shock of red hair, dressed in work clothes, holding his bowler in front of him. \u201cSeamus. You got a message for me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUh, no, sir. I wanted to talk a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey waved at the seat that Ida had just vacated. \u201cMake it snappy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, sir. I wanted to discuss an idea I had&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d He was reciting this speech from memory. \u201c&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;about distributing some of your heroin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMr. Dunham, I know several dens in town that would be happy to pay\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI said no. I control where my dope goes, and it goes here. If the dens want it, they can come to me directly. I don\u2019t do wholesale.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt would be retail, though. A seventy-thirty split, your advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey was about to give him a good piece of his mind when a well-dressed woman appeared at his table. \u201cWhat can I do you for today, Miss Skiada?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo decks, please,\u201d she said sweetly, then made a production of opening her pocketbook to look for cash, while Trey made a production of searching his inner coat pockets for two tiny glassine envelopes of cocaine.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou sure two\u2019s enough?\u201d he asked, casting a glance down to the speak floor at her table, where three other flappers were snorting cocaine through rolled-up bills.<\/p>\n<p>She clucked her tongue and handed Trey a ten. \u201cThey can buy their own. Not my fault I can afford more, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey grinned and handed her the dope. \u201cThat\u2019s my girl.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She waggled her eyebrows playfully then disappeared down the stairs, only to reappear below Trey\u2019s feet, headed for her table.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Seamus Byrne looked on with a hint of resentment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI could move more than you can sell here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat you\u2019re really telling me is that you can\u2019t find a supplier who\u2019ll front you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He flushed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGet you some seed money together and then maybe somebody will supply you, but it won\u2019t ever be me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019ve got this town sewn up and you expect me to be able to scrape together some seed money?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey was getting irritated. \u201cYou don\u2019t get to start at the top; you gotta pay your dues, and I paid mine. Lazia paid his. Boss Tom paid his. And I don\u2019t have this town sewn up. I have a little bitty piece of it. Other than the Remus whisky, everybody else has the same dope and booze I do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cC\u2019mon, Mr. Dunham&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYanno, I don\u2019t like it you come to me to beg when you wouldn\u2019t dare go to Boss Tom or Lazia and ask them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re about my age. You were me not so long ago. I figured you\u2019d understand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been bootlegging since I was twelve years old. What were you doing? Suckin\u2019 on your mama\u2019s tit?\u201d Seamus\u2019s jaw ground. \u201cNow, look, I\u2019mma give you some advice. Begging ain\u2019t gonna get you anywhere in life. You gotta work for what you want and sometimes you gotta take what you want. I see you begging me for what I got, but I don\u2019t see you workin\u2019 like you oughta be and you damn sure don\u2019t have the moxie or firepower to take it from me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen let me come to work for you and prove myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey would be a fool to invite this sniveling little snake into his operation. \u201cGo ask Boss Tom if you can go to work for Ready-Mix.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The boy\u2019s face flushed a little. \u201cBut&nbsp;\u2026 that\u2019s&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHard work,\u201d Trey said firmly, \u201cwhich is what you don\u2019t wanna do. \u2019Cuz you\u2019re lazy. You wanna start off at the top and think you don\u2019t have to do nothin\u2019 for what comes in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>An envelope containing a fat stack of cash was, unfortunately, dropped on Trey\u2019s table right at that moment, and one of his runners dropped into the chair beside him. It was standard operating procedure. Trey didn\u2019t let his runners go until he\u2019d counted the money.<\/p>\n<p>Trey didn\u2019t miss the way Seamus\u2019s eyes bulged when Trey withdrew the stack and began counting, his fingers flying faster than Seamus could keep up. When he was done, he straightened the stack, stuffed all but a twenty back in the envelope, and shoved the envelope in his inner coat pocket. \u201cGood job,\u201d he said, handing the runner his pay. \u201cWhatcha got going tomorrow morning?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNothin\u2019 yet, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA\u2019ight. Be here at ten. Bring your kin. Gotta make a bank run.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, sir. G\u2019night, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhatever you need him for, I could do,\u201d Seamus said with a touch of desperation. \u201cYou know, prove to you I got what it takes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey slid a look at the boy. Yes, he was Trey\u2019s age and Trey was a man, but Seamus was wet behind the ears, lazy, untrustworthy, and covetous. Trey wished his collection ritual hadn\u2019t happened right in front of Seamus, but on the other hand, it would rub his nose in the fact that Trey was, no matter how small, still a top dog in the Machine.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cByrne,\u201d he said with a finality he hoped would do the trick, \u201cI\u2019m not going to hire you. I damn sure am not going to trust you with my dope or a gun. Go find a job, gather you some seed money, whatever, set up your own operation, but don\u2019t come back here again wantin\u2019 somethin\u2019. You ain\u2019t gonna get it from me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">4<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cFATHER,\u201d MARINA SAID respectfully Wednesday morning over breakfast, trying for the umpteenth time to get what she wanted, \u201cit\u2019s really only politeness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWill there be dancing there?\u201d he asked calmly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&nbsp;\u2026 don\u2019t know.\u201d That was true. She didn\u2019t <em>know<\/em> if there would be dancing at Dot\u2019s Friday-night church get-together.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina, I\u2019m very happy that you\u2019re being so patient at working with Dot. She seems to be coming around to Jesus.\u201d Not at all. \u201cBut I am not going to allow you to go socialize with her people. Dot is a lovely girl in spite of her upbringing and I think she can be saved.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina was innocent about a lot of things, like why Dot insisted men were only out to get girls, but she understood manners because it was what she\u2019d been taught all her life. If one kept constant company with a person, it was good manners to reciprocate an invitation whether one wanted to or not.<\/p>\n<p>It was finally time she turned to Mother. She explained this carefully, as respectfully as she could. There was no shouting in this house, unlike Dot\u2019s, where shouting was a sport. She would prefer shouting because the tense politeness hid too many things she didn\u2019t understand. Father only shouted from the pulpit, but that was the voice of God thundering through him, so it didn\u2019t count.<\/p>\n<p>Mother listened politely, then her gaze flicked up to Father\u2019s. They communicated in that silent way that made Marina uncomfortable. Not for the first time, she wished she had siblings so that she was not always the focus of their attention.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd,\u201d she added for good measure, having only just thought of it, \u201cif her parents were to see me as a good example at <em>their<\/em> service, <em>they<\/em> might come around too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou do have a point,\u201d Father said gravely after a moment or two of thought. \u201cI\u2019ll pray on it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And God would tell him no. God gave Father almost everything he asked for. Occasionally, God gave Marina what she asked for, but not until she asked her father to pray for it. That was how Godly families functioned and Marina wouldn\u2019t dare ask God for anything herself.<\/p>\n<p>The only other thing she wanted was to keep Trey Dunham\u2019s attention and she couldn\u2019t ask her parents for that even if she wanted to. While she knew that her parents had begun courting when Mother was sixteen, Father had been eighteen, not twenty-four. She wasn\u2019t quite sure how her parents would react if a twenty-four-year-old came calling, even if he did have a respectable and well-to-do business and was looking for a wife.<\/p>\n<p>Marina wasn\u2019t anywhere close to becoming a wife, but she was holding yesterday afternoon close and hoping Mr. Dunham would pop into Kresge\u2019s this afternoon. Dot didn\u2019t like him, but wouldn\u2019t say why <em>after<\/em> meeting and talking to him. That bothered Marina. Dot took a dislike to very few people at first meeting\u2014none that Marina could think of immediately\u2014so why was she stuck on him?<\/p>\n<p>Marina bit her lip and looked down at her plate.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Dunham was very handsome. He hadn\u2019t fawned over Dot like every other boy, handsome or not. Was Dot&nbsp;\u2026 jealous? It was a thought she didn\u2019t want to think, but \u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, I\u2019m not jealous!\u201d Dot hissed at lunch when Marina broached the subject, \u201cand I\u2019m hurt that you think I would be. There\u2019s something wrong with him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLike what?\u201d Marina asked, exasperated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s lying. He\u2019s lying about who he is and what he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot shook her head in frustration. \u201cI don\u2019t know. It\u2019s just&nbsp;\u2026 I have a feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That made Marina\u2019s spine tingle. Dot\u2019s feelings were right one hundred percent of the time, <em>when<\/em> she had them, which wasn\u2019t very often.<\/p>\n<p>She and Dot spent the rest of the day not speaking to each other, or at least, not passing notes in class. They walked from school to the bus stop to wait for the bus that would take them downtown. They rode in stiff silence until they got to their stop. As they walked to Kresge\u2019s, Dot muttered, \u201cI could be wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat does Bishop think?\u201d Marina asked reluctantly. Dot\u2019s father wasn\u2019t half as strict as Marina\u2019s, but with Bishop Albright, there were lines one did not cross.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t say anything. I didn\u2019t want you to get in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina and Dot lived three blocks apart, but their parents had never met. Dot\u2019s father would if asked, but Marina\u2019s father absolutely would not stand in the presence of a Satan-worshipping polygamist. Never mind Bishop only had one wife and had never met anybody who had more than that. Marina knew they didn\u2019t worship Satan at all. Or at least, when she was around, they didn\u2019t. Maybe Satan-worshipping families could be nice. She didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n<p>That didn\u2019t mean Bishop wouldn\u2019t lecture Marina as if she were his daughter if he thought she was out of line. He never had, but Dot\u2019s brother\u2019s friends got yelled at for stupid things they did and Marina didn\u2019t want to get in trouble with Bishop any more than she wanted to get in trouble with Father.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat man seems to like you,\u201d Dot said, still muttering, as they entered Kresge\u2019s and found their booth. \u201cI don\u2019t&nbsp;\u2026 You know, in case I\u2019m wrong. Maybe&nbsp;\u2026 I wouldn\u2019t have to&nbsp;\u2026 I mean, when we went&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe you wouldn\u2019t have to find me a date?\u201d Marina asked softly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah,\u201d Dot admitted reluctantly. \u201cI\u2019d&nbsp;\u2026 like that. If you had your own somebody and weren\u2019t miserable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have fun,\u201d Marina protested.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot enough. Speaking of that,\u201d she said, suddenly back to her perky self, \u201cdid your parents say yes to Friday night?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFather said he\u2019d pray on it.\u201d Dot deflated immediately. \u201cAre you coming to church with me tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI always do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo&nbsp;\u2026 could you&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d she said firmly. \u201cI am not getting saved. I\u2019m not getting baptized. I\u2019m not joining your church. Marina, I just come with you to be nice. That\u2019s all.\u201d She paused, then blurted, \u201cI don\u2019t like your god.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina blinked and looked at her. \u201c<em>My<\/em> God?\u201d she asked, confused. \u201cHe\u2019s yours too. He\u2019s everybody\u2019s God. He\u2019s just&nbsp;\u2026 God.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen I don\u2019t like him,\u201d she said firmly.<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s spine started tingling once again. <em>Nobody<\/em> should blaspheme God that way.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou think, if I don\u2019t get saved, that I\u2019m going to burn in a lake of fire, right?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina nodded sadly. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut what about the people in Africa? They don\u2019t know anything about Jesus. Maybe they\u2019d want to get saved, but don\u2019t have the chance. He\u2019s gonna send them to a burning lake of fire too?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUm&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d To tell the truth, that had always bothered Marina.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut you say he loves everyone. Well, if he loved everyone, then he\u2019d give those people a chance. So the only thing I can think is that he doesn\u2019t love everyone. The God I learn about on Sunday doesn\u2019t do that to people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina didn\u2019t say anything because, while she didn\u2019t understand Dot\u2019s doctrine, she couldn\u2019t refute her own. She\u2019d asked Father the same thing and he\u2019d droned on about something she really didn\u2019t understand, then preached it that Sunday in a way that confused her even more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you have your skit ready for the talent show next week?\u201d Marina asked, to shoo away her confusion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStill practicing. Do you have my dress ready?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll bring it over tomorrow so we can fit it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The waitress interrupted them for their order, which was the usual, without onion rings this time because neither of them was hungry and Marina had to get home\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLadies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina and Dot both jumped, startled, and looked up. There was Mr. Dunham, as dapper and fashionable as he had been the day before in an ivory single-breasted suit coat over a tan vest and white shirt, white-polka-dot navy tie, and navy-and-white two-tone Oxford shoes. He had his tan fedora in his hand and his longish, slightly curly golden-blond hair was tousled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUh, hi,\u201d Marina said breathlessly as she slid over to make room for him. She took a quick peek at Dot, who was busy rummaging in her bag for probably nothing. \u201cI&nbsp;\u2026 didn\u2019t think you\u2019d really come.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The corner of his mouth tilted up the tiniest bit. \u201cI come when and where I want to.\u201d He glanced across the table. \u201cHello, Miss Albright.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHi,\u201d she tossed back, her voice muffled in her bag.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLime rickey,\u201d he said to the waitress, who gave him the once-over once again, which made Marina nervous. She was much prettier than Marina, so it really wasn\u2019t difficult to believe that Mr. Dunham was sitting here for some other reason than a simple desire to get to know Marina. \u201cMiss Scarritt,\u201d he began.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, Marina, please,\u201d she said quickly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you. Trey, to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll right. Trey,\u201d she said, trying the word on for size.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour father has revival this week, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She wasn\u2019t surprised he\u2019d figured out that she was Reverend Scarritt\u2019s daughter. There were bills posted all over town. \u201cYes. Do you want to come?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVery much. If you don\u2019t mind my inviting myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh no! Father would love to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot coughed into her hand and Marina cast a glare across the table.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI see Miss Albright doesn\u2019t agree,\u201d Trey said, shocking both of them because no one was that forthright. It might be considered <em>rude<\/em> if he hadn\u2019t said it in such an unsure manner.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell,\u201d Dot began, taking up the challenge as she always did, \u201cyou\u2019re twenty-four. We\u2019re sixteen. Reverend Scarritt might not think it\u2019s seemly for you to be courting Marina. If that\u2019s your intention.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He grimaced just a little and Marina\u2019s heart sank so far down she thought she might be sick. \u201cI would like to get to know Marina better,\u201d he told Dot matter-of-factly, \u201cbut only with her father\u2019s permission, which I can\u2019t ask for if I don\u2019t meet him.\u201d He looked at Marina. \u201cI don\u2019t hold with sneaking out at night, running around, being disobedient and disrespectful to one\u2019s parents.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s bottom lip was open in shock. \u201cBut we just met yesterday!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina, I\u2019m twenty-four, as Miss Albright pointed out. I\u2019m a busy man and I don\u2019t have time to talk to girls I don\u2019t want to get to know better. We may or may not get along eventually, but I can\u2019t find out unless we spend time together and I won\u2019t spend time with you behind your parents\u2019 backs. Meeting here for after-school sodas and homework is just fine for a couple more days but after that it\u2019s just another form of sneaking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh,\u201d she squeaked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt would be nice if I also had Miss Albright\u2019s permission, but I\u2019m willing to try to earn it if she\u2019ll let me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHrmph. If Marina wants you here, I\u2019m not going to drive you away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI appreciate that.\u201d Their drinks came and after the waitress had left, he said, \u201cNo onion rings? Homework?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRevival,\u201d Marina said. \u201cI was late yesterday because we missed the bus and it embarrassed my mother.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His brow wrinkled. \u201cOh, I\u2019m sorry to hear that. May I take you and Miss Albright home? Since I was planning to attend anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, that would be lovely,\u201d Marina gushed. \u201cDot\u2019s coming tonight, too. She always comes with me on Wednesdays.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s eyebrow rose and he looked across the table, then back at Marina. \u201cYou don\u2019t attend the same church?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d Dot snapped. \u201cI\u2019m a <em>Mormon<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina sighed. She said that as defiantly as she ever said it to anybody. She was automatically hostile the second religion was brought up, just <em>daring<\/em> somebody to shoot her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh,\u201d he replied, surprised. \u201cAnd your parents allow you to go to a Pentecostal church?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>My<\/em> parents trust me not to get sucked in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot!\u201d Marina cried, hurt.<\/p>\n<p>Dot had the grace to look abashed, but Trey was chuckling. \u201cI see.\u201d He pulled his watch out. \u201cWell, drink up, ladies,\u201d he said, sliding it back in its pocket. \u201cDon\u2019t want to be late and embarrass Marina\u2019s mother.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">5<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">REVEREND SCARRITT was everything Trey thought a preacher ought to be: Only a little shorter than Trey, medium build, handsome, and finely dressed. He was much older than Trey expected, considering his daughter was only sixteen, and his duds weren\u2019t as expensive as Trey\u2019s but a preacher ought to at least pretend to be down-market.<\/p>\n<p>The good reverend was also as fake as Trey. Trey, however, was used to being able to fool shady cats who were looking for any excuse to whack him, and the reverend was used to being taken at face value by men who were desperate for God\u2019s grace and women who wanted Scarritt\u2019s attention. That he was handsome made the job ten times easier. Trey was even willing to bet he had a side piece or two.<\/p>\n<p>The missus was tall and willowy, wore fashionably feminine trousers, and had probably been considered a great beauty in her time. That had been quite a while ago for her, too, and time had not been good to her, making her look much older than her husband.<\/p>\n<p>The good reverend <em>definitely<\/em> had a side piece.<\/p>\n<p>The missus\u2019s makeup was expertly applied. Her fashionably bobbed and permed hair was dyed blonde to cover the gray, although it was about time for her to get her roots done.<\/p>\n<p>Then there was Marina, who looked nothing like either one of her parents, was nowhere near as fashionable, and where her mother was trying very hard to look young and stylish (she was stylish), Marina seemed to be trying to look old and stodgy.<\/p>\n<p>In his head, Trey had already stripped Marina down, re-dressed her, cut her hair, and put some makeup on her. <em>Then<\/em> she\u2019d be eye-catching, although up against Dot, she\u2019d never\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Oh, for God\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s parents wanted to keep her hidden, which would make Trey\u2019s job harder. Men with Trey\u2019s looks (not to mention money) didn\u2019t walk out with girls like Marina without an ulterior motive.<\/p>\n<p>What he had to do was convince her parents he had seen something in her nobody else did. Well, he <em>did<\/em>, but how was he supposed to describe \u201cinteresting\u201d? She caught his eye. He could look through all that camouflage and see what was there. But he couldn\u2019t <em>say<\/em> that. They would shut him down immediately.<\/p>\n<p>It had to be something else. Perhaps he could play the tutor role for a while and let that simmer a little.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCome in, young man,\u201d said Reverend Scarritt imperiously after shaking his hand, \u201ccome in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That surprised Trey a little. He\u2019d have bet Scarritt would keep him standing in the foyer for a barely polite amount of chatter, ask a few polite questions, politely tell him to enjoy the night\u2019s service, and politely give him the boot.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere did you meet Marina again?\u201d he asked, directing Trey to a comfortable chair in the front parlor. \u201cMrs. Scarritt, Marina, could you excuse us?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey looked around. It was a very nice front parlor, with charmingly worn furniture, gleaming millwork, bookcases full of very important-looking books and papers, and Bibles and bouquets of lilacs on every surface. It was exactly as cozy and modestly fine as a parsonage parlor should be.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKresge\u2019s, sir,\u201d Trey said. \u201cYesterday. I was walking by and heard Marina struggling with an assignment, thought I\u2019d see if I could help, and found her to be smart and interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAh&nbsp;\u2026 smart, you say,\u201d Scarritt said speculatively as if Trey were lying.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, sir. I enjoy the company of smart girls who are also polite and love God.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAh&nbsp;\u2026 hunh.\u201d The <em>love God<\/em> might have been too much. \u201cAnd do you have a church?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, sir. I\u2019ve been looking for one, but haven\u2019t found any preachers who move me with the Spirit.\u201d Where was this shit coming from? Had he paid that much attention to his Sunday school lessons growing up? \u201cI saw a bill for your revival after I met Marina. Things working mysteriously and whatnot.\u201d Trey leaned forward and worried the brim of his fedora. \u201cIf you want to know the truth, sir,\u201d he said earnestly, \u201cI think God\u2019s hand is in my having met Marina and I don\u2019t question God\u2019s hand. He\u2019s blessed me too much to ignore his voice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Scarritt observed him speculatively, but Trey knew he was assessing the extent of Trey\u2019s blessings. \u201cYou do seem to do well for yourself,\u201d he finally said. \u201cSelling insurance, Marina says?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, sir. As I said, God\u2019s blessed me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd after a few minutes\u2019 conversation you think you would like to see Marina on a more regular basis?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe expressed the same concern. But besides listening to God\u2019s voice, I\u2019m busy preparing a home for a future family. As I told Marina, we may or may not get along but I refuse to dilly-dally and I refuse to disrespect her and her parents by keeping my presence from you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey was laying it on thick, he knew, but Scarritt was nodding slowly like a wise man. This cat had been putting on a drama for easily conned folks so long he probably didn\u2019t know what was real anymore or when he was the mark.<\/p>\n<p>Scarritt was silent for a few more seconds, then said abruptly, \u201cYou\u2019re welcome to stay for supper, Mr. Dunham\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrey, please, Reverend.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrey. And attend service with us this evening. I\u2019ll pray on this and seek God\u2019s will.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">TO TREY\u2019S THINKING, supper was a goddamned catastrophe. The food was awful, the conversation was boring, and the reverend was a prick. What made him an <em>insufferable<\/em> prick was the upper-crust accent. Trey would like to emulate it but it sounded fake to his ears. He couldn\u2019t pinpoint why. By contrast, the missus and Marina were so silent they might as well not have been there at all.<\/p>\n<p>Trey was no stranger to a long con, but the beginnings of a new one were always rough. He was running up against the edges of his theological knowledge and he wasn\u2019t even going to try bullshitting his way through it. He had to give examples of the other preachers\u2019 methods that didn\u2019t \u201cmove\u201d him spiritually. He was congratulating himself on having scraped through that, only to be asked where he lived!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have a room off my office, but I decided to look for a little house perfect for a newlywed couple to grow into a family of three.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere\u2019s your office?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey gave him the address he used when he needed a respectable one. It really was an insurance agency, and Trey paid the cat who ran it to be able to use the address, have packages sent, and have messages taken. But Trey had never given it to anyone who might drop in.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI travel too much to justify the expense,\u201d he explained when Scarritt asked him why he didn\u2019t get a room.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAh. Frugal too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI cut corners where I can.\u201d That was the absolute truth.<\/p>\n<p>Then came the questions about where he was from (\u201cMinneapolis\u201d), where he\u2019d traveled (\u201cWell, I haven\u2019t been to China\u201d), if he\u2019d been to Italy (\u201cRome is very grand\u201d), what his favorite place was (\u201cDefinitely Seville, in southern Spain\u201d). The reverend was adequately impressed, which was a good thing because Trey was never going to admit he was a farm boy from a hick town halfway between Columbia and St. Louis, had never been anywhere but a library, and the only reason he liked southern Spain was because there was a chunk of it right smack dab in the middle of Brush Creek and he had a lot of reasons to be near Brush Creek, mostly having to do with mixing concrete and burying folks there. If the Country Club district was an actual representation of Seville, Spain, then Trey knew he\u2019d like it. If he ever went. Which was not likely.<\/p>\n<p>But Scarritt, it seemed, had been everywhere.<\/p>\n<p>Trey didn\u2019t believe half what Scarritt said. Either he was letting Trey weave enough rope to hang himself or he didn\u2019t know Trey was bullshitting, which meant he was also bullshitting. Trey absolutely believed Scarritt had been to Europe, but <em>not<\/em> as a tourist.<\/p>\n<p>Trey heard war stories all the time. Some men bragged, some men wouldn\u2019t speak of it at all, and some men ended up drinking a lot of tears with their hooch.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou were in the Great War, sir?\u201d Trey asked politely.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d Scarritt said shortly, which meant he wasn\u2019t a cat who told war stories. He wanted to have the sophistication of having travelled to Europe on something other than a warship, doing something more sophisticated than digging ditches.<\/p>\n<p>After three eternities and a second plate of awful food, Scarritt excused himself to get ready for the evening\u2019s service. The missus and Marina would do their after-dinner chores and get ready. Trey was welcome to inspect the reverend\u2019s library.<\/p>\n<p>Trey was ready to inspect the bottom of a glass of whisky.<\/p>\n<p>But books were Trey\u2019s second favorite thing, so he made himself comfortable in front of the parsonage\u2019s biggest bank of bookcases. A cat could tell a lot about another cat by the books he kept on his shelves, which wasn\u2019t the same as what he actually read. But in this case \u2026<\/p>\n<p>Bottom shelf, books on baseball, boxing, and horse breeding and racing. Baseball and boxing, Trey understood. The horses said something Trey thought he understood, but couldn\u2019t be sure.<\/p>\n<p>Second shelf up, travelogues and reference books of many different countries.<\/p>\n<p>Third shelf up, histories of the Great War, religious histories\u2014a good portion of which were about Mormons\u2014and biographies of famous people Trey would consider good people.<\/p>\n<p>Top shelf, textbooks from the seminary\u2014Baptist, looked like. Some Methodist and Lutheran. A bunch of Bibles, various types and editions, and an equal number of concordances.<\/p>\n<p>Trey went back to Scarritt\u2019s disproportionate anti-Mormon collection, which told him a whole lot more than everything else put together.<\/p>\n<p>Mormons were a weird Christian sect with a twitchy trigger finger because it was Missouri law Mormons could be shot on sight. Trey thought the Extermination Order was a bit much for a few quiet people, but one of the things Mormons had a reputation for doing was spinning gold out of straw. Any group that large and that cohesive with money was to be feared.<\/p>\n<p>Like&nbsp;\u2026 the Machine.<\/p>\n<p>But the Machine and the Mormons co-existed like bees and flowers. They were the only honest men in town and teetotalers to boot. Boss Tom had Mormons in every position of money and booze control because they could be trusted with both, make money multiply like magic, and could also back it up at the point of a gun.<\/p>\n<p>They claimed Jesus Christ as their savior, but they preferred the temple-clearing Jesus to the peace-and-love-preaching Jesus. They also had less love for the federal or state government than they did for the outfits. They had the money, firepower, and balls to take on the Machine <em>and<\/em> the Mafia. They wouldn\u2019t win, but they\u2019d do some serious damage before they got obliterated.<\/p>\n<p>And Boss Tom would lose his trusted bean counters. They didn\u2019t <em>like<\/em> the Machine, but they had families to feed like everyone else. Missouri simply didn\u2019t bother with Prohibition much unless somebody was going to profit, and Kansas City was openly wetter than the Mississippi, so the Mormons didn\u2019t feel obliged to obey a law the state and city didn\u2019t feel obliged to obey which didn\u2019t affect them anyway.<\/p>\n<p>It was also telling that despite Scarritt\u2019s obvious antagonism toward Mormons, he allowed Marina to run with Dot. His desire to keep Marina hidden from men\u2019s gazes must run deep.<\/p>\n<p>Then there was the fact that Pendergast wanted to steer clear of Dot\u2019s bishop-daddy. It was just another reason Trey had to get Marina and Dot separated.<\/p>\n<p>Trey searched the rest of Scarritt\u2019s bookshelves for any fiction whatsoever, but there was none. Upon reflection, it didn\u2019t surprise him. Too bad, too, because that was a topic upon which Trey could expound for days. In fact, once Trey got out from under the Machine and into a nice little house just right for a newlywed couple, the first thing he\u2019d do would be to install a very large library and stock it to its gills.<\/p>\n<p>Nobody knew that Trey was a country boy turned gutter rat who cleaned up good, with a thirst for money, which he could not get without knowledge. He didn\u2019t want to be some ignorant mob boss, stupider than the men he ran just because he had money and didn\u2019t mind putting people in concrete at the slightest thing.<\/p>\n<p>Trey <em>had<\/em> put men in concrete (not at the slightest thing) (he wasn\u2019t that hot-headed), but he was far more educated than almost everybody else in his circles.<\/p>\n<p>Not educated enough. He had not yet read every book at the Kansas City Public Library and he had yet to read the latest Agatha Christie novel. Knowledge was power and he found power in everything. Even the most insignificant, forgettable books he read had nuggets he could use and he wrote these down in a little notebook he carried in his breast pocket.<\/p>\n<p>It was only his extensive reading that made it possible to speak well in respectable circles, although his rube accent and bad grammar habits gave him away if he weren\u2019t careful. He couldn\u2019t afford to speak properly day-to-day and he hovered precariously between the two, sometimes slipping into one or another because at some point, it all blended, none of it sounded right anymore, and he got confused.<\/p>\n<p>Then there were the words he mispronounced because he\u2019d never heard them and seen them spelled at the same time. Tucson was not, in fact, pronounced <em>tuck<\/em>son. Fortunately, the very kind girl he was going with at the time gently corrected him before he made a fool of himself in front of anyone else. He stopped seeing her very soon after that, he was so embarrassed. He purposely mispronounced words he did know because his cohorts would accuse him of putting on airs, but then he\u2019d forget when he needed to remember and \u2026<\/p>\n<p>Most days, Trey didn\u2019t know which language to use, where, and with whom. It was all a jumbled mess in his head and mouth. It was exhausting, and he was almost to his limit, particularly because Scarritt\u2019s speech was head and shoulders above Trey\u2019s carefully practiced educated middle-class accent.<\/p>\n<p>Trey was thinking about this when Scarritt walked in fixing his cuffs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have an impressive library, Reverend,\u201d Trey said, once again struggling with his accent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you,\u201d he returned absently. That was not a cat who read for pleasure, else he\u2019d have puffed up like a banty rooster.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you read fiction, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d Scarritt said and Trey braced for a long explanation. \u201cIt\u2019s a waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That wasn\u2019t what Trey had expected. \u201cOh. Not because it\u2019s sinful?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy congregation reads the Bible. The second I preach against something that may or may not tempt them to sin, it will make it attractive. There is likely good to be found there, but just as likely sin and the last thing I want to do is whet an appetite to sin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey couldn\u2019t fault the logic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd I would have to read it to find the good, but it has never interested me. Marina struggles with her literature assignments in school, and quite honestly, I\u2019d be bored, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Of course she was bored. It was <em>assigned<\/em>. Talking about themes and symbols and metaphors and whatnot killed any enjoyment whatsoever.<\/p>\n<p>He was gonna fix that. Pronto. She may never like algebra, but dammit, he <em>would<\/em> make her enjoy reading so they could have something to talk about. He only had a few weeks to get this girl pregnant with proof, and it would be harder to do if he couldn\u2019t talk to her.<\/p>\n<p>And the first book Trey was going to coach her through was <em>Elmer Gantry<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">6<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">THE MASSIVE CIRCUS tent was packed. Squished between Mother and Trey, Marina was hot, sticky, and utterly miserable. While she appreciated the excuse for close contact with Trey, it was more than offset by the hot and sticky part.<\/p>\n<p>Her trousers were midweight for fall and early spring, but this April was unseasonably warm. Even if it were ten below, all the people here would make coats unnecessary. Not for the first time, she wished she were allowed to wear the light and floaty dresses Dot got to wear. In fact, Dot\u2019s mother <em>required<\/em> her to wear dresses to church. Any church. And her mother didn\u2019t care if almost every other woman in Reverend Scarritt\u2019s congregation dressed in trousers.<\/p>\n<p>Marina was breathless sitting so closely to Trey, and she didn\u2019t have to look into his cold blue eyes to know he was taking in every inch of her homely face and hair. She wanted to stare right back into that pretty face and golden hair and lovely smile that made her heart race every time he flashed it at her.<\/p>\n<p>He could afford to be somewhat bold in assessing her because he was a man. A <em>boy<\/em> would blush and stammer and look away. Marina was expected to blush and stammer and look away, which was precisely what Trey made her do. So sitting beside him was easier than sitting across from him.<\/p>\n<p>Doing so at supper would have been agony just for that, but, worse, Father had picked at Trey about every little thing as if he were lying about who he was when anybody could see Trey was exactly who he said he was.<\/p>\n<p>Marina was so embarrassed, she\u2019d kept her head down all through the meal and escaped to the kitchen as soon as possible. Normally, Father would ask her about her studies and to account for her marks because, quite frankly, she was <em>terrible<\/em> at school. Father was getting impatient and she had to find <em>some<\/em> way to improve them. That discussion wouldn\u2019t have embarrassed her. Trey would have found out the extent of her struggles and offered to help her.<\/p>\n<p>Her next chance to bring her math grade up was Thursday and she hoped she could remember what Trey had taught her. She\u2019d done well on her homework, shocking her teacher, who had demanded she stay after class to demonstrate her swift and miraculous comprehension.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina,\u201d Trey whispered in her ear. It startled her that his mouth was so close to her face. \u201cYou don\u2019t look a thing like your parents.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She was surprised he hadn\u2019t blurted that out the second he met her parents. Most people did. She finally looked at him, his mouth now a suitable distance from her face. She thought. She didn\u2019t know. \u201cEveryone says so,\u201d she said simply. \u201cFather says I must be a throwback.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHm. They\u2019re a lot older than parents of a girl your age.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She nodded. \u201cThey didn\u2019t think they could ever have children. I was a miracle baby. Like Samuel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her brow wrinkled. \u201cYou do know that story, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His mouth twitched. \u201cI know my Bible lessons, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The service began with a rousing band and choir, tambourines and joyful voices belting praises to the Lord. Marina and Dot rose with everyone else. Trey followed. The congregation raised their hands high and began to sway like kelp in the ocean. Mother and Marina did not participate. She didn\u2019t know why Mother didn\u2019t, but Marina didn\u2019t because she was not spiritually gifted, which was a source of great sorrow for Father. Dot didn\u2019t, of course. Trey didn\u2019t, either.<\/p>\n<p>Marina turned her head just enough to study him without detection and was surprised to see him tense. Uncomfortable. He\u2019d said he was looking for a church whose preacher sent the Spirit through him, to move him to repentance. Was this the first revival he\u2019d ever been to?<\/p>\n<p>Well, Dot had been uncomfortable her first few times too. She went to church faithfully but, she explained, her services were quiet with congregational singing. They had an organ, that was all. It was Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights when they were loud and had entertainments that weren\u2019t church services. Dot simply saw Marina\u2019s church services as an entertainment, which \u2026<\/p>\n<p>Marina scowled. That hurt. But if Dot didn\u2019t come to church with Marina, Marina\u2019s father wouldn\u2019t allow her to run with Dot at all. Maybe, just maybe, Marina should consider Dot\u2019s presence a gift and be grateful for it.<\/p>\n<p>She lifted her voice in praise when it was time. So did Dot, who loved to sing but couldn\u2019t carry a tune, which knocked Marina off her notes. Trey didn\u2019t sing, but maybe he didn\u2019t know the words. She bent clear over and snatched a hymnal out from under her folding chair, then offered it to him.<\/p>\n<p>He took it with a bare glance and nod of thanks, then looked up at the hymn board before flipping to the page.<\/p>\n<p>Father came out to great fanfare, as always looking resplendent in his long white frock and green knee-length cowl embroidered with the cross.<\/p>\n<p>All went quiet. He bowed his head. Marina and Dot did too. Trey did. Then the prayer began. It was long, his voice rising and falling with the Spirit\u2019s touch. To her great shame, she found herself not listening. She was thinking about Trey. And her school marks. And Trey. And her math test tomorrow. And Trey. And if he could also help her with her English assignment. And civics. He couldn\u2019t help her with P.E., and she had home ec licked six ways from Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>She hesitated to ask him if he would come to Kresge\u2019s tomorrow, but she had an English test Monday and\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Oh, who was she kidding? She wanted him to come because he was paying attention to her, he seemed to like her, and he was going out of his way to court her properly. Even though she had wanted a suitor so badly, if she didn\u2019t like <em>him<\/em>, she wouldn\u2019t be squirming with excitement that he was here.<\/p>\n<p>It saddened her that he thought they might not get along, but it was only logical. Girls and boys broke up all the time because they stopped being able to get along. The only thing she could do was to accept the possibility and enjoy him now.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe praise you Father in Jesus\u2019 name amen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The preaching began. It wasn\u2019t much different from the prayer, only louder, more intense. Softer, more urgent. He called people to repentance and, weeping, they stumbled up the aisle to the altar, fell on their knees and re-dedicated themselves to Jesus. He called upon the sick and crippled, the blind and deaf.<\/p>\n<p>They healed and walked, saw and heard. Marina was always in awe of how God worked miracles through Father\u2019s hand. She sneaked another peek at Trey, who seemed just as awestruck.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBrother Trey!\u201d Father boomed, startling Marina, Dot, and Mother. Trey\u2019s jaw dropped. Marina\u2019s father was looking directly at him, holding his hand out. \u201cWe have a seeker in our midst, Brothers and Sisters!\u201d Father roared, closing his hand and strolling away to the other side of the stage. \u201cA young man seeking God, seeking repentance, who has not had God\u2019s grace visited upon him in quite a while and misses it. That, Brothers and Sisters, is a man of God, knowing His grace, having felt the Spirit, but unable to recapture it because no other congregation has stirred him! Shall we stir him with God\u2019s Holy Spirit? Say amen!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Amen!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Someone broke out in song, a deep voice. The choir picked it up. The band followed. The congregation\u2014at least four hundred people\u2014fell in behind.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCome, Brother Trey!\u201d Father bellowed over the music. He was strolling leisurely back toward them, looking at Trey. Trey looked back with an odd expression on his face Marina supposed was God working within him.<\/p>\n<p>He took a deep breath, his chest expanding, and stepped forward to the altar where he dropped to his knees and bowed his head.<\/p>\n<p>Marina clasped her hands to her breast and nearly cried with joy. The congregation saw and the music swelled to ear-splitting.<\/p>\n<p>Trey had found his church home.<\/p>\n<p>With Marina.<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">7<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">TREY STALKED into 1520 at two in the morning as livid as he had ever been in his entire life. With one direct challenge as to Trey\u2019s intentions with Marina, Scarritt had put him on his knees. It had been a humiliating show of obeisance Scarritt demanded and Trey wanted 1520 so badly he did it, which made him as much of a whore as his gigolos, on his knees in front of Scarritt figuratively sucking his cock, Scarritt looking at him with a calm smirk of satisfaction.<\/p>\n<p><em>Now<\/em> Trey had a very good idea why Boss Tom hated him so much he was willing to hand 1520 over to Trey, and Trey didn\u2019t need to know particulars. He also now knew why Boss Tom thought getting Marina pregnant would wipe that fucking smirk right off his face.<\/p>\n<p>And Trey was more than willing to comply because he couldn\u2019t justify murdering that son of a bitch.<\/p>\n<p>Not yet anyway.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re late,\u201d Vern said as Trey stalked by the bar. The place was packed to the rafters and the band was jamming, and it still wasn\u2019t nearly as loud as it was in that fucking tent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI got Jesufied,\u201d Trey snarled, ready to snap anybody\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n<p>Vern\u2019s eyebrow rose. \u201cAlready?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhaddaya mean, \u2018Already?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cScarritt\u2019s gonna put you through hell, makin\u2019 sure you know who\u2019s boss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That snapped the remaining thread on Trey\u2019s temper. \u201cGoddammit!\u201d he roared, putting his fist through the mahogany bar top. Trying to anyway. \u201cMotherfucking son of a goddamned bitch,\u201d Trey swore with the pain that exploded through his knuckles and arm so hard he sprouted tears.<\/p>\n<p>Vern looked at him calmly. \u201cHow are you going to explain a broken hand to Scarritt, nice insurance salesman like you? Had to use your right hand?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m left-handed, you motherfucker! An\u2019 it ain\u2019t broke! Get back to work!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Could this night get any worse? He stalked halfway to the stairs before turning right back around and snatching a bottle of whisky off the backbar. \u201cGet Ethel to my office. I know she\u2019s not doing anything!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He snatched a brick of ice out of the brand-new freezer before going up to his mezzanine office, then dropped himself on his divan. He laboriously opened his bottle and tipped it up, drinking a quarter of it in one swig and grimacing at the heat racing down the back of his throat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGod, you\u2019re pathetic when you lose,\u201d Ethel sneered, from the doorway, cloth wraps in her hand.<\/p>\n<p>Of course she\u2019d know. \u201cBattle, not the war. Shut up and strap my hand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She folded her legs to sit on the floor in front of him, and they were silent as she worked, carefully weaving tweed strips in and around his fingers like a boxer, then over his knuckles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis may surprise you,\u201d Ethel said quietly, startling him, \u201cbut I want you to win that bet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That sure as hell did surprise him. \u201cWhatta you care?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHave you thought about what you\u2019re going to do if you lose?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I win, things go on as normal except I\u2019ll have to pay Boss Tom for protection. If I lose, things go on as normal. If I don\u2019t get her pregnant at all, then I\u2019m gonna have some problems.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her lashes fluttered up. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGetting her pregnant was an order,\u201d he muttered. \u201cGetting it done in two months was the bet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ethel\u2019s mouth pursed into an O. She looked a little peaked, to boot. \u201cHow do you plan to do that? You need access and she\u2019s a preacher\u2019s daughter and she wears trousers and she\u2019s sixteen and you\u2019re twenty-four&nbsp;\u2026 Unless her daddy\u2019s jake with his kid courting so young, you won\u2019t get any chances at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEthel, as God as my witness, I have no idea how to get in her trousers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, you <em>do<\/em> have a knack for getting in a good girl\u2019s drawers\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have <em>never<\/em> gotten in a good girl\u2019s draws.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, because you dump them as soon as they say yes. I think you\u2019re something else for doing that, but now you <em>have<\/em> to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was the <em>have to<\/em> that made it an unattractive endeavor. \u201cShe\u2019s buttoned up tighter than your ordinary good girl.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She bent back to his hand. \u201cIt\u2019s not just you. It\u2019s all of us. If you go down, we all do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is not the only whorehouse in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, but it is the only whorehouse in the city where we\u2019re treated with a little bit of respect, with the only pimp in town who makes sure of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey shrugged. \u201cThat\u2019s life, doll.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrey,\u201d she tried again while she knotted the ends and sat back to look him square in the face, \u201cthis is our home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was his, too. It was the only home he\u2019d had since his father died and he loved it. \u201cI am the most selfish cat in town. Why\u2019d you think I\u2019d do it for you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She scowled. \u201cBoss Tom gave you an order. You save yourself, you save us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, well, if you\u2019re hintin\u2019 around I goose her along a little bit, that ain\u2019t an option.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAsk me, it\u2019s the only way you\u2019re gonna get it done in time,\u201d came Vern\u2019s crackly voice from the doorway. \u201cLittle bit in a sodypop, she\u2019ll never know. Need three cases of gin tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey opened his mouth to give his old wizened bartender a good dressing-down, but he\u2019d vanished. \u201cDon\u2019t you learn anything watching shit that goes down here every night?\u201d he demanded of Ethel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wasn\u2019t hinting and I wouldn\u2019t <em>like<\/em> it, but if you get stuck&nbsp;\u2026 You told me once if you had a soul, you\u2019d sell it to the devil to own this place.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy are you so goddamned sure I won\u2019t be able to do this on my own?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m thinking about what-ifs,\u201d she said testily, smacking his injured hand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoddammit,\u201d he hissed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhich you <em>didn\u2019t<\/em> do before you made that bet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey sighed heavily. \u201cA\u2019ight, what got your draws in a twist?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSolly Weissman was here with his boys tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Immediately disturbed, Trey rubbed his mouth and chin. \u201cShit,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n<p>Solly \u201cCutcherheadoff\u201d Weissman was Boss Tom\u2019s personal bodyguard and Trey had no personal need to kill the cat even though he deserved it for various things. Nobody in town wanted to deal with him. He was one of the cats who hit up the speaks with a race wire to get the results of any given race before the bets were called. Solly was a big guy, six-four or thereabouts and at least three hundred pounds, and everyone was so intimidated they gave him what he wanted.<\/p>\n<p>Trey didn\u2019t run a race wire for that very reason, so why had Solly suddenly popped up at 1520? It couldn\u2019t be to keep an eye on Trey for Boss Tom; Solly wasn\u2019t that smart and the bet was only two days old.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRan up a tab they didn\u2019t pay, said something about being on the house, wanted Alice, but she knew he wouldn\u2019t pay so whatever she said to him got him to back off quick.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou think he found out about the bet?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe said some things that make us think he did. If so, it\u2019ll be all over town by Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The more Trey thought about the situation, the more he realized how deep in hot water he\u2019d gotten himself. Trey didn\u2019t gamble against the house but somehow he\u2019d managed to fuck up when it mattered most. Why? Because Boss Tom had something Trey wanted.<\/p>\n<p>And that had been Trey\u2019s fatal mistake: coveting someone else\u2019s racket instead of taking his money and building his own somewhere away from the Machine. Just like Seamus Byrne. He\u2019d gotten caught by his own greed in spite of his intentions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s not completely disgusting, is she?\u201d Ethel asked.<\/p>\n<p>Trey shook his head. \u201cShe\u2019s my type. Little younger than I\u2019d like but she\u2019s got some smarts up under that bun that she doesn\u2019t know are there. Daddy doesn\u2019t know they\u2019re there, either, or else he doesn\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, that\u2019s peachy. Propose.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCondition of the bet was that marrying her wasn\u2019t going to qualify as winning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t have to marry her. You just have to propose. You\u2019d get access as a fianc\u00e9 that you wouldn\u2019t get as a suitor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He grimaced. \u201cNot sure if he\u2019ll count that as cheating, and if he thinks he might lose he might accuse me of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They sat there and looked at each other, Trey and Ethel, the way they had when Ethel had told him she was tired of waitressing and was moving upstairs, which would mean the end of sharing the divan. It wasn\u2019t a painful memory; in fact, Trey barely remembered when he and Ethel had been lovers. But Ethel had been with him a long time and he could see why she might fear her life being upended because Trey was a stupid shit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow\u2019s Ida working out?\u201d he muttered, looking away first.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood,\u201d she said with some measure of surprise. \u201cShe\u2019s a good girl. Quiet. Does a good job. So far.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA\u2019ight, get back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2018Why, thank you, Ethel,\u2019\u201d she sneered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy, thank you, Ethel,\u201d he sneered in return as she huffed out of his office on a whiff of perfume.<\/p>\n<p>The door slammed and Trey hung his head between his knees. \u201cGod almighty, what have I done?\u201d he whispered, then attempted to get stinking drunk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">8<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">MARINA WAS SHOCKED when Trey appeared at Kresge\u2019s the next day. \u201cWhat <em>happened<\/em>?\u201d she breathed in horror, looking at his bandaged right hand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a little bit too embarrassed to say, Marina,\u201d he said sheepishly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat looks painful,\u201d Dot said with a small grimace.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is,\u201d he affirmed, \u201cwhich is why I need a lime rickey to wash down some aspirin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina slid over immediately and patted the seat, which he took with a nod of thanks. \u201cHow was your test today?\u201d he asked her.<\/p>\n<p>She gasped a little. \u201cOh! It was hard,\u201d she began, \u201cbut I took my time and tried to remember what you taught me. I don\u2019t know what marks I\u2019ll get but I\u2019m hoping for an S.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey nodded approvingly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow\u2019d you find revival last night?\u201d Dot asked Trey with no sarcasm.<\/p>\n<p>Trey seemed to perk up a bit and said, \u201cGood, good. I may be able to settle in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s heart sank. \u201cMay?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey looked at her and said gently, \u201cI can re-dedicate my life to Jesus anywhere, anytime. I can do it at night when I get on my knees to pray. I don\u2019t need a preacher to help me speak to God.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s brow wrinkled because that was wrong.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s what we believe,\u201d Dot said softly. Marina looked across the table at Dot, who wasn\u2019t looking at Trey, but at Marina. \u201cHe\u2019s Pentecostal and he thinks that, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMethodist,\u201d he corrected. \u201cBut no <em>protestant<\/em> church says you have to go through a preacher to get to God.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFather prays for me!\u201d Marina protested.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, good fathers <em>should<\/em> pray for their children.\u201d That wasn\u2019t what she meant, but\u2014 He glanced at Dot to include her in the conversation, then back to Marina. \u201cI\u2019m looking for a church to make my own and a preacher I can talk to when I have theological questions. I don\u2019t need anybody to intercede for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina tried again, even though he had taken the conversation so far above her head she felt like she had Tuesday. \u201cMy father says the man is the head of the household and God speaks to him for his wife and children.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s not the same thing,\u201d Dot put in. Marina looked at her warily because now it felt like Dot and Trey were ganging up on her about things they thought Marina didn\u2019t quite understand. \u201cGod tells the man how to serve his family, not\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cServe?\u201d Marina interrupted. \u201cThat\u2019s the woman\u2019s job.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot huffed. \u201cIt\u2019s <em>everybody\u2019s<\/em> job. Everybody serves each other!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHold up, there, ladies,\u201d Trey said smoothly. Marina flushed. She\u2019d forgotten he was there. \u201cIs this a perennial argument?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA what?\u201d Dot asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d Marina told Trey, then told Dot. \u201cPerennial argument. One that keeps popping up all the time. Like gardening. You know. Perennials, annuals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOhhhhhh,\u201d Dot replied, sitting back and letting it be, but clearly not happy about it.<\/p>\n<p>Trey cleared his throat. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to be the cause of one. Marina, I\u2019ll be happy to come to your church for as long as we\u2019re keeping company. Some churches just have to be gotten used to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re Methodist?\u201d Dot asked and Trey nodded. \u201cSo your services are pretty quiet.\u201d Again he nodded. \u201cHave you ever been to a Pentecostal church before?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAh, no,\u201d he said with a wry laugh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s different,\u201d she said sagely, and again, Marina felt left out. Stupid. Childish.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs long as I can sit by Marina, I think I can get into the swing of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina glanced at him to gauge his sincerity, but now he was soberly studying the menu card.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrey.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>All three of them looked up and Marina\u2019s mouth dropped open.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGene Luke!\u201d Trey exclaimed in delight and hopped up to shake his hand, then withdrew it with a pained grimace. \u201cApologies. What brings you by?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Luke was possibly the most handsome man Marina had ever seen, with black hair, brown eyes, and light olive complexion. He\u2019d turn any girl\u2019s head and that included a girl whose head had been turned two days before by someone else. He was dressed as finely as Trey, which, along with his coloring, would ordinarily make Marina think he was Sicilian.<\/p>\n<p>Father had frequently lectured on the evils of Sicilians, who brought Satan with them wherever they went, along with guns, liquor, and girls. Marina wasn\u2019t quite sure what was wrong with them bringing their families, but she didn\u2019t dare ask. Father tolerated Dot\u2019s place in Marina\u2019s life. He would <em>not<\/em> tolerate a Sicilian anywhere near Marina.<\/p>\n<p>But with a name like Gene Luke, he most definitely wasn\u2019t. Gene Luke was also not comfortable at having caught Trey\u2019s attention, and his sober expression was not inviting.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLadies,\u201d Trey said cheerfully, \u201cthis is my associate, Gene Luke. Gene, that is Miss Marina Scarritt and that is Miss Dorothy Albright.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gene inclined his head. \u201cMiss Scarritt,\u201d he said, his voice as sober as his expression. \u201cMiss Albright.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina and Dot traded wary glances then murmured their hellos. Marina noted that Dot wasn\u2019t her bright and bubbly self, which meant she was as wary of this man as Marina was, which might bother her more if she hadn\u2019t been just as wary of Trey two days ago. Now they were chatting about religion as if they were friends.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHey, join us!\u201d Trey said, clapping his uninjured hand on Gene\u2019s shoulder and practically pushing him into the seat next to Dot, who scooted toward the wall so fast she knocked the napkin holder over with her elbow. \u201cCareful there, Dorothy. Sodas and onion rings. On me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUhhhh&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d Gene said with the faintest glare at Trey.<\/p>\n<p>Marina didn\u2019t know about this. Dot was uncharacteristically quiet and withdrawn. Dot\u2019s cheeks were a little flushed and she wouldn\u2019t look at Gene. \u201cDot, why don\u2019t you come over here and sit with me so Trey and Gene can sit together?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot started. \u201cNo, no!\u201d she said brightly. \u201cTrey, you stay there with Marina. I, um, I&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d Marina had never seen her so discombobulated and she didn\u2019t like it. Dot mumbled, \u201cUm, hi. Gene. Nice to meet you.\u201d Oh, of course. Sitting <em>next<\/em> to Gene meant she didn\u2019t have to look at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLikewise you, Miss Albright,\u201d he mumbled in return, barely glancing at her. This was not normal male behavior around Dot, as he clearly did not want to be here at all, much less sitting next to her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo! Gene!\u201d Dot said with fake gaiety that Marina didn\u2019t like. \u201cWhat do you do?\u201d Even if Dot hated a boy, she wouldn\u2019t be mean. She wouldn\u2019t ignore him. But she wouldn\u2019t go to any extra trouble to be sociable. This was altogether something different.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI work for Trey, Miss Albright,\u201d he stiffly replied with an accent that sounded familiar, but unplaceable. Again Marina and Dot traded glances.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s one of my salesmen,\u201d Trey clarified as he gestured for their waitress. None of them spoke while Trey ordered for Marina and Dot and himself, then gestured to Gene, who said,<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVanilla phosphate, please.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnything to eat, sweetie, or are you sharing the basket?\u201d the waitress asked in a suspiciously flirtatious voice.<\/p>\n<p>Gene\u2019s mouth tightened a little. Dot stiffened a little. He didn\u2019t look up at the woman. \u201cNo. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHrmph,\u201d she sniffed, then sauntered off.<\/p>\n<p>Dot was staring at her hands, which were working a napkin over, and Gene looked like he was about to bolt for the door.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina,\u201d Trey drawled. \u201cDo I see the latest Agatha Christie sticking out of your handbag?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh!\u201d she said, twisting to get it, suddenly feeling very much in cahoots with Trey to save a sour social situation. Why he didn\u2019t let Gene go she didn\u2019t know, but since Gene worked for Trey, he wasn\u2019t going to leave no matter how much he wanted to. \u201cNot the latest one, no. The librarian said it was due in later this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you\u2019re just now getting around to reading last year\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m re-reading it. For the third time. I\u2019m picking out all the clues so maybe someday I can solve one of them before the villain is revealed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey gave her a surprised look. Then he nodded his head as if he were truly impressed. \u201cBut if you do, they won\u2019t be any fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh sure they will!\u201d she said, delighted at his response. \u201cThe fun would be figuring it out and seeing if I was right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He winked at her. \u201cI like the way you think.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAhem.\u201d Dot cleared her throat and said at the space between herself and Gene, \u201cI need to&nbsp;\u2026 um&nbsp;\u2026 powder my nose. If you could&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, of course,\u201d Gene said immediately, scrambling to allow Dot out of the booth and standing well away from her. \u201cAh, Trey,\u201d he said as Dot disappeared toward the back. \u201cI have a client to meet at\u2014\u201d He took his pocket watch out. \u201cFive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t let me keep you,\u201d Trey said affably.<\/p>\n<p>He hurried out the door, snatching his fedora from the front hat rack as he went, the bells jangling behind him, which left Marina and Trey alone.<\/p>\n<p>There was no buffer now, and Marina\u2019s heart started to race. Her mouth went dry. Her ears started to buzz.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHi,\u201d Trey murmured.<\/p>\n<p>Marina turned her head and tried to look into his eyes, but she couldn\u2019t move them away from the knot in his tie. \u201cHi?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He nudged against her. \u201cYou know I like you, right?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her eyes flew to his. \u201cWhy?\u201d she blurted. She might have been embarrassed but she really wanted to know.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re interesting,\u201d he replied promptly. \u201cI like interesting girls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not very smart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He smiled softly and reached up to tuck a wisp of hair behind her ear. \u201cI told you. Everybody\u2019s smart in their own way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She waved a hand at Dot\u2019s place. \u201cShe\u2019s smart. In every way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou had to explain \u2018perennial argument\u2019 to her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina blinked. \u201cUm&nbsp;\u2026 oh.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe,\u201d he said, his voice softer and deeper now, \u201cshe\u2019s a numbers person and you\u2019re a words person.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina huffed, her nervousness gone, replaced by irritation. \u201cIf I were a words person, I wouldn\u2019t be getting an M in literature. And I\u2019m <em>definitely<\/em> not a math person or I wouldn\u2019t have an I.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou read a lot, then?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d she sighed with resignation. \u201cIt\u2019s one of my favorite things to do. It seems I can\u2019t stop long enough to do what I\u2019m supposed to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMm hmm,\u201d he hummed slyly.<\/p>\n<p>Marina felt her face heat up with her admission and his little bitty tease. \u201cIt\u2019s the themes and symbols and motifs I don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMo<em>teefs<\/em>,\u201d he mused. \u201cYou\u2019re reading a mystery for the third time to pick out the author\u2019s patterns. Anybody who does that understands those things without having to be told, but you\u2019re confused by the terms. The theme is the moral of the story. Agatha Christie\u2019s <em>theme<\/em> is usually that the villain makes mistakes, so if you don\u2019t want to get caught, cover your tracks. Motifs are the same things popping up over and over again, the patterns you\u2019re trying to pick out. The symbols are the clues that help Detective P\u2014the detective\u2014solve the mystery. If he sees a ring, it reminds him of something different he saw. They\u2019re not related, but in his mind they are.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina studied him in awe that he knew so much and understood how to teach her. \u201cHow can you be a numbers person <em>and<\/em> a words person?\u201d she blurted.<\/p>\n<p>He shrugged. \u201cI read a lot. Everything. But in my line of work, I had to learn how to be a numbers person if I was going to be any good at it. I taught you what I was taught.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That made sense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo what are you studying right now? In English?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She crossed her arms over her chest and sulked. She should be embarrassed, but she wasn\u2019t. Nobody cared if a girl was smart if she was pretty, but Marina wasn\u2019t even pretty. \u201c<em>A Tale of Two Cities<\/em>,\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHey, that\u2019s a great book! It only seems like a drag because it\u2019s an assignment, but sometimes they pick really good stuff. You have to read it like you picked it, like you want to read it so you can have some fun at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She scowled. \u201cReally? Well, what\u2019s it about?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour teacher\u2019s going to tell you all sorts of things about the French Revolution and what this means and what that means and yes, themes and symbols and all that, but if you\u2019re reading it to pick those out for a test, you\u2019re not going to like it. But that\u2019s not what the <em>story<\/em> is about. So I\u2019ll tell you it\u2019s about two cats and a girl. One cat\u2019s rich and nice. The other\u2019s a lawyer and a lout. They\u2019re both in love with her. And the story is which one she picks and why and what happens to the other one. The moral of the story\u2014the theme\u2014is what happens to the other one and how he got there and why he made the decisions he made.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She blinked. \u201c<em>Really?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He nodded sagely. \u201cBut I\u2019m not going to tell you that part because you should read it to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe picks the rich one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The corner of his mouth twitched up. \u201cIs that who you\u2019d pick?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d pick nice over lout.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat if you\u2019re in love with both of them?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina gave him a haughty look. \u201cNo decent girl can be in love with a lout.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His smile started to appear. \u201c\u2019Zat so? But how can you tell?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d be able to tell if you were a lout,\u201d she said, rolling her eyes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat if\u2014and this is just a what-if, mind you\u2014 What if they were both nice but had different ways of showing it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She scowled at him. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t make any sense. You can tell the difference between the ways nice men show that they\u2019re nice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are a lot of ways for a lout to prove he\u2019s nice, although sometimes it doesn\u2019t look like what you might think of as nice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLike for example?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHave you ever heard the expression \u2018cruel to be kind\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, of course, but I don\u2019t remember where it\u2019s from.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Hamlet<\/em>. Shakespeare.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She nodded. \u201cI see what you mean, then. The girl lives her life thinking he\u2019s a lout, but he wasn\u2019t really but she\u2019ll never know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExactly. And the lout lives the rest of his life without her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs that what happens in this book?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am not going to tell you,\u201d he said archly, making her smile. \u201cThat\u2019s <em>cheating<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs it cheating to trick me into wanting to read the book?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He winked at her again. \u201cCruel to be kind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina laughed. \u201cI don\u2019t believe you could ever be cruel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His eyebrow rose and he gave her a wicked grin. \u201cYou think?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d she said firmly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMiss Scarritt, you must truly be a daughter of God, to have that kind of faith in a man you just met.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">9<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">TREY WAS BARELY able to duck the fist that came at him when he walked out of the bathroom later that night.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou son of a <em>bitch!<\/em>\u201d Gio bellowed.<\/p>\n<p>Trey continued to comb his hair without missing a beat. \u201cCute, ain\u2019t she? Told you she was.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou set me up!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d Trey replied calmly, leading the way downstairs and into his mezzanine office, trying to figure out how to pronounce <em>Poirot<\/em> now that he knew how to pronounce <em>motif<\/em>. Gio slammed the door behind him. \u201cI need you to get that little bitch off my back while I get Marina into bed. I promised you a sweet payday if I won the bet, and you\u2019ve done worse things to make money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That brought Gio up short. \u201cBitch?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGod, yes. She\u2019s got me pegged sideways an\u2019 her soft little puppy teeth been diggin\u2019 inna my heels. The last thing I need is for her fangs to get any longer or sharper and start diggin\u2019 inna my ass.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio curled his lip in confusion. \u201cUh&nbsp;\u2026 are we talking about the same girl? Dot? Albright? Blondie?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d Trey sighed, knowing there was a lot wrong with this conversation, but not what and no time or energy to figure it out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe was climbing the wall to get away from me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you were hanging off the edge of the booth to get away from her.\u201d Trey was done with this conversation. \u201cYou\u2019ve got a new client who asked for you by name. Mrs. Cohasset. She\u2019ll be here around nine, so go get your glad rags on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnother one,\u201d Gio groaned, turning. \u201cI\u2019d rather fuck that cocksucker Heyse.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause you like getting your cock sucked,\u201d Trey pointed out, \u201cand none of your female clients will pay to do it when their husbands make \u2019em do it at home. So I guess,\u201d he continued slyly, \u201cthe real question is how badly do you wanna get outta this racket and out of your uncle\u2019s reach? Enough to keep a very pretty, cynical, and vicious Mormon girl occupied while I seduce her best gal? I\u2019m not even askin\u2019 you to kiss her, much less seduce her. Just distract her. Shit, take her to Woolworth\u2019s and do algebra together\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know algebra.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can<em>not<\/em> have her daddy on my ass, you see what I\u2019m sayin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio took a deep breath and released it slowly. \u201cI want out of here <em>completely<\/em>, Trey. Out of the racket, out of this town, out of the country if I must, but alive and well and <em>gone<\/em> because it\u2019s only a matter of time before someone finds me. I don\u2019t have enough cash to do that yet and find a living that does not include killing or fucking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoss Tom ain\u2019t gonna put up with outsiders in this town. Lazia already told Capone to keep his troublemaking in Chicago, \u2019cuz his kind ain\u2019t welcome here. The New York families are too preoccupied with killing each other to care what\u2019s happening here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think you understand how ruthless my uncle is. It was bad enough I botched the job\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2014but then ran instead of facing him like a man.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA dead man.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wasn\u2019t going to kill a man with his little girl right there watching, much less screaming at me not to hurt her daddy, which meant I would have to kill <em>her<\/em> too, to keep her mouth shut.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn other words, you are not a dependable assassin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI <em>was<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Until that little girl had pulled Gio\u2019s humanity from the pit of his belly and showed it to him. And how did the not-dead daddy repay him? It had gotten around New York what a spineless coward Giuseppe \u201cthe Clutch Hand\u201d Morello\u2019s hitman nephew was, at which point Morello iced the man himself.<\/p>\n<p>Gio might have gotten killed for genuinely botching a hit, but he might not have. Humiliating Morello carried a death sentence, and the bounty on Gio\u2019s head was high. It would occur to him that Gio would fall in with bootleggers, but it would never occur to him that Gio would take up whoring. Gio didn\u2019t think he was good for much else, but Trey had stopped arguing about what he could be good at if he thought about the future and had a little faith in himself.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClear that brat outta my path to Marina long enough for me to get her knocked up and I will set you up with enough money to go wherever it is you wanna go.\u201d When Gio didn\u2019t move and the glower on his face hadn\u2019t faded, Trey said, \u201cWhat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot enough.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhattaya mean, that\u2019s not enough? It\u2019s a fair trade. More than, stacked up against each other.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio leaned over the desk and got in Trey\u2019s face. \u201cDo you plan to conduct this courtship entirely at a soda fountain after school over homework and Wednesday nights speaking in tongues?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d Trey said archly, putting his hand on Gio\u2019s face and shoving him back. \u201cI have <em>activities<\/em> planned because unlike <em>you<\/em>, I am used to dating nice girls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cActivities,\u201d Gio said flatly, flopping into one of Trey\u2019s cushy chairs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, you know. Look.\u201d He handed Gio the paper on which he\u2019d made lists and lines and arrows and boxes.<\/p>\n<p>Gio\u2019s expression faded into confusion. \u201cThe library?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGirl\u2019s a <em>reader<\/em>,\u201d Trey said, his excitement burgeoning for a completely different reason.<\/p>\n<p>Gio curled his lip. \u201cNo wonder you like her. They both stink of bluestocking. Baseball?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe needs to have some real fun else she\u2019s gonna get tired of me before I can get in her trousers then I\u2019mma have to make noises about marriage and whatnot. And you know what Vern thinks I should do?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBrody and Alice thought it was a good idea too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd I said I\u2019d kill anybody who spiked an innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey nodded approvingly. \u201cYou\u2019ll have a whole soul in no time, and I betcha Dot could help you pull all those bits and pieces together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio scowled. \u201cI\u2019m going to hell. Don\u2019t need to drag a nice girl with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With all the bodies under Gio\u2019s belt, he probably <em>was<\/em> going to go to hell\u2014 \u201cHey, now, wait a minute. Can\u2019t you go to confession? Be absolved of all that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven if I could, I wouldn\u2019t. My luck, some priest would send it back to New York and then I\u2019d be knocking on Satan\u2019s door without last rites.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIsn\u2019t there something where that\u2019s a sin? Reveal what\u2019s said in a confessional?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPriests can be bought. Speaking of priests\u2014\u201d Then Gio too suggested Trey work up to a proposal or at least close to one. \u201cMaking noises isn\u2019t the same as making promises.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo Boss Tom it would be,\u201d Trey said darkly, irritated. \u201cI said <em>one<\/em> thing to her <em>once<\/em> that could be taken that way just to bait the hook, but if he thinks he can welsh on a technicality after I\u2019d done what he wanted, he might do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClosing up loopholes,\u201d Gio murmured absently, looking at the list.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, I gotta play this straight, otherwise I\u2019d have a ring on that girl\u2019s finger right now, plan the wedding for a coupla years from now and then poof. One baby, no groom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio\u2019s mouth pursed, then he looked at Trey. \u201cDoes Lazia know about this?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s Boss Tom\u2019s problem, not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt will be if Lazia suddenly wants a nice speakeasy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLucarelli,\u201d Trey burst out, \u201che runs the North side. I run this little bitty bit right here. All I want\u2019s to <em>own<\/em> this little bitty bit right here so I can sell the fucker. If he wants to buy it, that\u2019s jake.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd what would you do after that?\u201d Gio mocked. \u201cSell insurance?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah,\u201d he drawled. \u201cSure, why not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio looked back at the list. \u201cFairyland. Never been there. Moving pictures. Picnics. Fishing. Preachers\u2019 girls go fishing?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot them,\u201d Trey said. \u201cMarina ain\u2019t the only one I gotta seduce. Albright lets Dot run half wild an\u2019 obviously he has good reason to trust her, although I wouldn\u2019t if I were her daddy, looker like \u2019at. Scarritt\u2019s the one with the stick up his ass. The way to get to him is baseball, fishin\u2019, and huntin\u2019, which I swore I\u2019d never do again, but here I am.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is not what will get his attention. Baseball, probably, but fishing and hunting, no. Golf. Tennis. Gentlemen\u2019s clubs. Boxing. Try that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So Scarritt\u2019s books on skeet shooting and racing had told Trey exactly what he thought they\u2019d said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAside from the fact that I can\u2019t golf or play tennis\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. Listen. Men like that don\u2019t want to do things regular folks do. They want to <em>be<\/em> somebody, feel important. Look how he\u2019s built his congregation. At least five hundred people raising Cain every Sunday, like he\u2019s the new messiah. He\u2019s got that thing, what popular folks have\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCharisma.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2014down pat and his tent revival\u2019s popular enough for us to take a hit. He\u2019s Jesus\u2019s version of a mob boss and he\u2019s got something you want so you\u2019re dancing on his strings. He knows that, only he doesn\u2019t know <em>why<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoddammit,\u201d Trey muttered, his face in his hands and his elbows on his desk.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMen like Scarritt want a seat at the wealthy man\u2019s table in society.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe doesn\u2019t seem like the type to mingle with Pendergast or Lazia, and they\u2019re not accepted in Kansas City high society, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe doesn\u2019t want a seat at the Machine or Mafia table. He doesn\u2019t even want a seat at Nelson\u2019s table. He wants a seat at Rockefeller\u2019s table. He can\u2019t get that, so he built his own table.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And Gio didn\u2019t think he was good enough to sit at anybody\u2019s table, no matter how lowly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHey, you jake with fuckin\u2019 men?\u201d Trey asked, for once genuinely curious.<\/p>\n<p>Gio shrugged. \u201cThat\u2019s where the money is, isn\u2019t it? But that\u2019s like asking me if I\u2019d rather eat solid turds or drink the runs straight out of somebody\u2019s ass.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou could just try to go straight again and dig ditches. Disappear into the prairie, settle down with a nice girl.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio said nothing for a moment. \u201cThought about it,\u201d he muttered. \u201cBut, Trey&nbsp;\u2026 Here, I have hope I can get out because I got some cash stashed to leave. I\u2019d never be able to pay for more than my next meal digging ditches and forget about feeding a family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe moral of the story is that crime <em>does<\/em> pay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That made Gio laugh in spite of himself. \u201cAnd hopefully Boss Tom and Lazia won\u2019t get a whiff of me when they go to Atlantic City.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The big shindig of all the country\u2019s crime bosses was next month. If Morello got to bitching at either Pendergast or Lazia about his runaway hitman, it might not be long before one of them put the pieces together, provided either of them had ever paid attention to Trey\u2019s employees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey ain\u2019t gonna hand you over even if they did know who you were and that you\u2019re here. They\u2019d want you doing what you were doing in New York. So, Dot? You gonna help me or not? Enough cash so you can run all the way out to California if you need to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio sighed. \u201cMan, I just want to find a nice girl to settle down with who won\u2019t know anything about this\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey caught something in Gio\u2019s voice. Trey felt that way every time he thought about his inability to offer for 1520 without tipping his hand about where he got the cash. It was longing, soul-deep and painful. Trey had never wanted anything as badly as he wanted this speak and now it was within his grasp.<\/p>\n<p>So Gio wanted a nice girl the same way Trey wanted 1520. He\u2019d never known that.<\/p>\n<p>Gio wasn\u2019t going to get what he wanted. Not in this town, at least. Not in Chicago or New York, certainly. Not when the only nice girls he knew were the Catholic ones in his family\u2019s sphere and the only other women he knew were here. Nice girls didn\u2019t come here and loose women weren\u2019t here to get married and have babies.<\/p>\n<p>So perhaps it was no wonder Gio was pissed at Trey for introducing him to a nice girl who would never suspect who he was, where he came from, or what he did now. And if a sweet Mormon girl with some worldly savvy ever found out, it would crush Gio in ways his family and whoring hadn\u2019t managed to do.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll right,\u201d Trey grumbled. \u201cI get your point about Dot. I\u2019ll pay you <em>and<\/em> give you a bonus on the back end. Do somethin\u2019 about your Brooklyn accent \u2019cuz \u2018Gene Luke\u2019 ain\u2019t gonna pass with the way you talk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey did not notice my accent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was loud as hell to my ears, and it won\u2019t be long before they hear it. Or else they did and were too polite to let on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve done as well as I can by myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey grunted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>And<\/em> I\u2019m not working. Not in bed, I mean. Not as long as I have to be around this girl.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>What?!<\/em>\u201d Trey roared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s clean. Pure, you know? I don\u2019t want my filth to rub off on her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s <em>un<\/em>clean enough to know we\u2019re not on the up\u2019n\u2019up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio shrugged nonchalantly. \u201cKnowing and participating are two different things and that girl\u2019s too stubborn to be seduced. I like that. I can practice on being respectable\u2014just like you\u2014with a girl I don\u2019t want, but is the <em>kind<\/em> of girl I want. And I don\u2019t want to have to come back here and fuck three people after every innocent little outing we just went to.\u201d He crumpled Trey\u2019s list into a ball and shot it into the waste bin. \u201cPeanuts and Crackerjacks in the afternoon with two sweet girls, sticking my dick into some old, fat broad or her husband that night. No. No fucking way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf she don\u2019t know,\u201d Trey said testily, reaching into the waste bin and digging his list out, \u201cthen what difference does it make?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes or no. I keep Dot off your back, I keep my room and board, and I get a paid vacation. I\u2019ll go back to work when you win. <em>If<\/em> you win. And if you do, I will <em>also<\/em> get one hundred percent of my tips, and then I won\u2019t mind working so much. You\u2019ll have the dough whether you win or not because Tom\u2019s not going sell and if you win, you don\u2019t have to fork it over.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey was flabbergasted. \u201cYou just said it yourself! You don\u2019t know how to do anything else and make this much cash!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExactly. I make too much money for you to fire me if I\u2019m going back to work in two months. So take it or leave it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s main male earner was not going to be earning for two months. He was going to take a hit, but he had no reason to pinch pennies anymore, which was why he could afford the brand-new freezer in his kitchen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot a vacation,\u201d Trey finally said. \u201cYou ma\u00eetre d\u2019 with Holly, keep an eye on things, flirt with the customers, bounce if you have to. Help watch the place so I can go be with Marina like the regular nine-to-five cat I told her I am. Especially Wednesday nights. And you move up to the bunk room with Ida so I can hire another gig.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio thought for two seconds. \u201cI can do that. And you pay for somebody to fix how I talk since you think it\u2019s such a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>First it was a housekeeper and now this. Trey <em>hated<\/em> the idea of paying somebody to do a job he already had covered, but Gio would be sitting on his ass collecting pay anyway. So he could fucking well work. He also hated having to shell out for diction lessons when Trey managed just fine by ear, but there was no way either girl\u2019s father would let them walk out with a Sicilian. An upper-class Midwestern accent was the only thing he could do to pass as marginally Anglo-Saxon.<\/p>\n<p>It was only for two months, a short-term investment for a long-term gain. Trey could be patient when he had to be, but he didn\u2019t have to like it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">10<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cMARINA,\u201d FATHER asked her Sunday morning at breakfast, \u201cis your beau going to be at church this morning?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know. He didn\u2019t say anything about it yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow was the ballgame?\u201d His question surprised her. He was never interested in what she was doing, unless it involved her school marks. \u201cYou weren\u2019t out very long, certainly not enough for a ballgame, much less a picnic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t really know,\u201d Marina admitted low. \u201cI don\u2019t understand the game. And he brought his friend Gene, who doesn\u2019t seem to like anything.\u201d In fact, he seemed downright <em>mad<\/em>. It had made Dot so uncomfortable, Marina had asked Trey to take her and Dot home, claiming chores she had to do that she\u2019d forgotten about.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe must be bringing his friend for Dorothy,\u201d Father said approvingly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe doesn\u2019t like her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s difficult for a man to respect a wild girl like her,\u201d he replied gently. \u201cPerhaps you can suggest she behave more circumspectly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina almost blurted that when Gene was around, Dot was so circumspect she turned into a shadow of herself. She didn\u2019t flirt, didn\u2019t look him in the eye, barely spoke to him. Gene said little more than Dot did, but\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe acts as if he\u2019s being paid to round us out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf Trey has to pay someone to put up with Dorothy,\u201d he said, \u201cthen he must be serious about courting you. I for one am pleased. And you, Mother?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have my reservations,\u201d Mother said shortly.<\/p>\n<p>As much as Marina was envious of Dot\u2019s ease with boys, she didn\u2019t like this Dot at all. No life, no smiles, no&nbsp;\u2026 confidence. Gene sucked out everything that made Dot the girl Marina loved. She was going to have to discuss this with Trey and she didn\u2019t want to. She dreaded it, the way she dreaded any confrontation at all.<\/p>\n<p>But this was a man who was <em>courting<\/em> her. Would he stop wanting to keep company with her if she confronted him? He was her <em>beau<\/em> and she wanted to keep him that way.<\/p>\n<p>It had been difficult to remember that at school Thursday and Friday because boys still flocked to Dot while looking right through Marina. Marina didn\u2019t have a boy hanging around her at school being conspicuous about wanting her attention.<\/p>\n<p><em>I have a beau!<\/em> she wanted to scream. <em>He\u2019s a man not a boy and he\u2019s MINE!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>But neither she nor Dot had said anything about Trey, not to each other, not to anybody else. For one, people would think she was making up wild tales. For two, Trey was a sore point between them and Gene was going to be a bigger one.<\/p>\n<p>After breakfast, Marina put her apron on over her church outfit and did the dishes, her mind in a whirl. She didn\u2019t want to lose Trey, but what if he didn\u2019t like her challenging him about Gene\u2019s presence? On the other hand, she couldn\u2019t ask Dot to tag along on their dates without a fourth because Dot didn\u2019t like any boy enough to do the asking. She wouldn\u2019t put up with his sense of conquest.<\/p>\n<p>If Marina had to choose between Trey and Dot, she\u2019d choose Dot.<\/p>\n<p>Which made Marina very, very sad. Trey was her first beau and though Dot hadn\u2019t ever had a beau, either, it was only because she didn\u2019t <em>want<\/em> one.<\/p>\n<p>Marina didn\u2019t think Trey would be at church because he\u2019d made it clear he was uncomfortable with her services and didn\u2019t think he needed a preacher at all, except to talk theology with. Marina couldn\u2019t remember the last time a man had come to the parsonage to discuss questions of theology with Father. There were a few women in their congregation who did but that was because, Father said, though their husbands were men of God, they could not satisfy them. The husbands were not to be blamed or judged, as every man had his strengths and weaknesses. A woman ought not be deprived of knowledge just because her husband couldn\u2019t give it to her.<\/p>\n<p>Marina could only hope that someday, Trey would want to discuss theology with Father.<\/p>\n<p>Father left the parsonage about twenty minutes before Marina and Mother did.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre the dishes finished, Marina?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, Mother,\u201d she said as she took her apron off and folded it over the chair. \u201cI\u2019ll finish after church.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019ll stay until you finish them,\u201d she retorted.<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s mouth dropped open. \u201cBut&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t argue with me. Finish them and don\u2019t be late.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUm&nbsp;\u2026 all right,\u201d she said weakly at Mother\u2019s back, wondering why Mother had taken that harsh tone with her. And why she\u2019d suddenly wanted the kitchen cleaned completely before church when that was not Marina\u2019s routine. Mother never interfered with Marina\u2019s cleaning routine. But now she had and Marina only had about ten minutes to finish and get to services.<\/p>\n<p>She was surprised when she got to her spot on the pew to see Trey sitting with a Marina-sized space between him and Mother. His legs were crossed and he was fiddling with his fedora, looking around\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina!\u201d he said with a smile and hopped up to offer his hand.<\/p>\n<p>She put hers in his, but was still so confused by Mother\u2019s behavior that her attention was divided. She resisted when Trey tugged on her hand to look down at Mother, who sat stiffly, one leg crossed over the other, staring straight ahead.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMother&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you finish the kitchen?\u201d she asked tersely.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her mouth tightened, but she didn\u2019t respond. Only then did Marina give her attention to Trey, who didn\u2019t seem to have missed that. Oddly enough, he directed Marina to the spot he\u2019d been occupying and sat between her and Mother.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMr. Dunham,\u201d Mother snapped. \u201cThat is Marina\u2019s seat. If you would be so kind&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCertainly,\u201d he replied with alacrity, and stood, allowing Marina to slide left.<\/p>\n<p>Marina and Trey had barely situated themselves before the choir and band began the service, but any delight Marina would have felt at Trey\u2019s presence was completely snuffed out by Mother\u2019s completely uncharacteristic behavior.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMother,\u201d she whispered, \u201cwhat have I done?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShush, girl,\u201d she hissed. \u201cDon\u2019t disrespect your father.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina bit her lip and slid down an inch in the pew, folded her hands in her lap, and looked down at them until it was time to rise and praise Jesus.<\/p>\n<p>The service passed in a blur, Marina unable to even enjoy Trey\u2019s beautiful singing voice. First Dot, then Gene, now Mother, getting in the way of her enjoyment of Trey\u2019s company. Perhaps that was why she had to remind herself she had a beau.<\/p>\n<p>Sunday school was just as bad. Marina didn\u2019t dare speak to Trey even though she needed to reassure Trey when he seemed uncomfortable. It had been the same with Dot, getting her used to the <em>Praise the Lord!<\/em>s and <em>Hallelujah!<\/em>s and <em>Amen!<\/em>s, speaking in tongues, demonstrations of the Holy Spirit working in people, and healings. Marina was quite sure Mormon and Methodist services would make her uncomfortable. If only she were allowed to visit and see for herself \u2026<\/p>\n<p>After services, when everyone gathered in Fellowship Hall for cookies and punch, Trey murmured to her, \u201cWhy are you unhappy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For some reason Marina didn\u2019t know, she told him what had happened this morning and why it was distressing. Then, because he seemed to be sympathetic, she dove into the topic she dreaded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot is uncomfortable with Gene.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI noticed,\u201d he said grimly. \u201cThat\u2019s really why you wanted to go home after the third inning, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina flushed a little but nodded. \u201cWell I&nbsp;\u2026 I don\u2019t understand baseball, to be honest. There seem to be so many little bitty things about it that I miss and\u2014 Well, anyway, I\u2019m worried that she\u2019s not herself around him. She\u2019s usually so peppy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf Dot doesn\u2019t come along, you won\u2019t go on outings with me? Or did I misunderstand?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMayn\u2019t,\u201d she corrected. \u201cOur parents don\u2019t allow us to step out with boys alone. It\u2019s just&nbsp;\u2026 I\u2019m the one who usually has the pity date, which is why I don\u2019t understand&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d She trailed off. \u201cShe wants me to have my own date who is not interested in her so we can walk out and she won\u2019t have to worry that I\u2019m not having fun. She may not <em>like<\/em> you, and I really don\u2019t understand why, but she\u2019s willing to come along so I won\u2019t be unhappy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked surprised.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I don\u2019t want to have to worry about her fun, either. So&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d Here came the bad part. \u201cAre you&nbsp;\u2026 <em>paying<\/em> Gene to walk out with her?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked appalled. \u201cHe\u2019s a very proper gentleman.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is not the way boys act around Dot, proper or not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s not a boy, Marina. He\u2019s a man. Men have different things expected of them. Nobody looks twice at a clumsy boy trying to impress a girl. But when a man, especially one with a respectable, well-paying job, asks a girl to step out, it means something. Now, it is true that I asked Gene if he would be willing to square our party the same way Dot asks her dates for you, but he doesn\u2019t want to give Dot the wrong impression, so he goes too far the other way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina sighed, understanding completely. \u201cMy father says a real man wouldn\u2019t put up with Dot and that he would have to be paid.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven if I were paying him, would it make any difference?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d she said, feeling impatient but hoping she didn\u2019t show it. \u201cDot is not one to take a boy\u2014<em>man<\/em>\u2014seriously because <em>she<\/em> is not serious. She wants to go to college and be <em>independent<\/em>. A modern woman. So even if he were serious, he\u2019s not going to get anywhere. If you were paying him, he would need to act like he\u2019s happy to be there and entertain Dot. That would be the job he was being paid to do, wouldn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey pursed his lips. \u201cThat is a good point.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe you <em>should<\/em> pay him so he\u2019ll do the job right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven better point. I like the way you think,\u201d he repeated solemnly.<\/p>\n<p>She smiled a little and ducked her head. She wanted to brush that aside the way she brushed aside why he was interested in her, but the uncommon phrasing made her believe he meant that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow, as for your mother, I expect she\u2019s uncomfortable with her daughter growing up and doesn\u2019t know what to do or how to act. I think you should just be patient with her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina nodded solemnly. \u201cYes. Yes, I suppose so.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve noticed quite a few people looking at us over here in the corner talking between us. Perhaps it\u2019s time you introduced me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yes. <em>Yes!<\/em> This handsome, Godfearing man had now come to church with Marina twice and had stayed after for socializing, and everyone wanted to know who he was. Either she had a beau or, more likely, he was a family friend and being polite.<\/p>\n<p>Suddenly, Dot, Mother, and Gene didn\u2019t seem important all.<\/p>\n<p>Homely, meek, and not-very-bright Marina Scarritt had a <em>beau<\/em> and <em>everyone<\/em> would know!<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">11<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cGIO!\u201d TREY BELLOWED when he stalked into 1520 after yet <em>another<\/em> disaster with Marina.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat!\u201d Gio barked back at him from Trey\u2019s table above, watching and smoking. Yes, it was only noon, but they had enough Sunday sinners to justify being open this early, and Trey\u2019s assistant day manager had Sundays off. The only reason Trey didn\u2019t kill Gio right then, witnesses be damned, was because he wasn\u2019t sitting in Trey\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n<p>Trey bounded up the stairs and slapped the back of Gio\u2019s head then dropped in his own seat. \u201cGoddammit, you completely fucked up yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio glared at him. \u201cWe already had that conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, well, <em>today<\/em> it was just as bad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wasn\u2019t there, so you can\u2019t blame me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat I <em>can<\/em> blame you for is Marina bringing up the topic of whether I am <em>paying<\/em> you to be Dot\u2019s date.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His eyebrow rose. \u201cGirl\u2019s sharper than I thought.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey ignored that. \u201cI didn\u2019t say yes or no, but then she said I <em>should<\/em> so you\u2019ll do the fucking job right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe said that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe didn\u2019t say \u2018fucking.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDamn,\u201d Gio drawled, clearly as impressed as Trey.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExactly. I\u2019m paying you. Do the fucking job. What about this girl\u2019s got your nose out of joint?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t want her to get the wrong idea about my intentions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s what I told Marina. She informed me that Dot\u2019s future plans do not include men.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPretty sure they don\u2019t include women,\u201d Gio said dryly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey include college,\u201d Trey said archly, also strangely proud of that. Before he could wonder why, he realized he shouldn\u2019t have said it at all because now Gio was slumping in his chair.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCollege,\u201d he muttered, pressing his fingers into his eyeballs.<\/p>\n<p>Trey glared at him, his patience almost at its breaking point and he wasn\u2019t even a week into this con. To be fair, today\u2019s disaster wasn\u2019t all Gio\u2019s fault. Marina\u2019s mother was in a snit over Trey\u2019s attentions\u2014or so he assumed, since that was how he would expect a mother to be if her sixteen-year-old daughter was being courted by a twenty-four-year-old man and she couldn\u2019t put a stop to it because the father was allowing it. But Marina was damn near devastated by her mother\u2019s disdain, and watching her confusion and hurt was painful. Marina\u2019s pragmatism as to how to solve the Dot-and-Gene problem was surprising, but it <em>was<\/em> a problem she could solve, which she couldn\u2019t do with her mother.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLook, Gio, I know you want a nice girl\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd I have <em>no hope<\/em> for one, for anything better than this\u2014\u201d He gestured around. \u201c\u2014and she reminds me every minute I\u2019m with her. And now I find out she plans to go to <em>college<\/em>. This girl\u2019s so far above me I can\u2019t see the soles of her feet through the clouds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo what. She\u2019s perfect for you to practice on, which is one reason you agreed to this. So do it and quit acting like you\u2019re about to strangle her. You are in no danger of becoming an object of that future Carrie Nation\u2019s affections. All you gotta do is ask her questions about herself and listen. You act like you\u2019ve never been around a girl you like before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI haven\u2019t been around many girls at all,\u201d he drawled contemptuously. \u201cNo father\u2019s going to let their girl walk out with a Morello kid, much less one who was made when he was fifteen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey chewed on the inside of his cheek. What to do, what to do. \u201cAlice!\u201d he roared.<\/p>\n<p>Soon enough, she clattered down the stairs while wrapping herself up. \u201cYeah, Boss?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He pointed at Gio. \u201cTeach him how to act around nice girls he likes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alice blinked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, it\u2019s not <em>you<\/em>,\u201d Trey said impatiently. \u201cHe needs practice at being around nice girls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a nice girl?\u201d she asked incredulously.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUsed to be. You didn\u2019t forget all \u2019at, didja? You got a week to turn Gio into a goddamned Gatsby.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">12<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">MARINA\u2019S MOTHER was short with her for the next three days, and not even Trey and Gene waiting for her and Dot at Kresge\u2019s every afternoon could make her feel better. Marina did her chores and made herself scarce. Father either didn\u2019t notice or didn\u2019t care, but he was pleased when she brought home an E on her math test.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d he asked over dinner Wednesday just before church.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLast week, Trey showed me how. Remember? I told you how we met.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, yes. Yes. Excellent.\u201d He perused the test, his lips pursing here and there. \u201cHe did well, then. I like that young man more and more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina was very, very pleased by this.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd English?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe had a pop quiz,\u201d she said proudly and handed it over. \u201cI got a perfect score!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His eyebrows rose and took it. \u201c<em>A Tale of Two Cities<\/em>,\u201d he mused. \u201cMm hmm. Mm, I see, yes.\u201d He slid her a glance. \u201cDid he help you here too?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe didn\u2019t tell me answers or spoil the story for me. He just told me how to read the story in a way I could understand and enjoy it. Well, turns out, I was already doing that, but I just wasn\u2019t calling them the right things and I was getting confused. It was easy after he straightened all that out for me. I even wrote a little essay at the end there for extra credit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMm hmm. \u2018The Noble Lout.\u2019\u201d He read through it then nodded approvingly\u2014perhaps <em>impressed<\/em>. \u201cI hope,\u201d he said as he passed it back to her, \u201cthat he doesn\u2019t come to see you as merely a pupil.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina hesitated. \u201cWhat do you hope for?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell,\u201d he said matter-of-factly, \u201cyou\u2019re a bit too young yet, but he seems intent on settling down and I would not object if he should find you a suitable wife in a year or two, provided he remains interested.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Wife!<\/em> Marina caught her breath. She hadn\u2019t allowed herself to even <em>think<\/em> the word, much less anything else.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t know anything about him,\u201d Mother said tightly, sawing at her liver\u2019n\u2019onions. \u201cThey met last week. He has helped her with her homework.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd come to church!\u201d Marina said earnestly. \u201cHe re-dedicated himself to Jesus the first night.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKneeling at the altar means nothing,\u201d she said dismissively.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow, Mother,\u201d Father said gently, \u201cour little girl\u2019s growing up. We can\u2019t keep her here forever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina didn\u2019t like this discord between her parents. To her recollection, Mother had never contradicted Father\u2019s wishes, or if she had, she hadn\u2019t done it in front of Marina. On the other hand, Father made a point Marina had never thought of: What <em>was<\/em> she going to do when she graduated from high school and&nbsp;\u2026 didn\u2019t have a beau? Was she going to <em>stay<\/em> at home, being a burden to her parents? Girls got married soon after high school or, as in Dot\u2019s case, went to college to become teachers or nurses.<\/p>\n<p>Marina didn\u2019t want to go to college or become a teacher or nurse, but she had no skills or talents to make her own way in the world.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMother,\u201d Marina ventured, \u201cdo you <em>want<\/em> me to stay after high school?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She slammed her fork down and glared at her. \u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t I? You\u2019re\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina waited, relieved because if <em>this<\/em> was why she was angry&nbsp;\u2026  \u201cI\u2019ll stay if you want me to, Mother,\u201d she said softly. \u201cNobody will want to marry me and I won\u2019t be suited to do a single thing on my own and when Dot leaves for college, why&nbsp;\u2026 Well, I just don\u2019t want to be a burden to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mother seemed to relax a little and flicked a glance at her. \u201cOf course you\u2019re not a burden, Marina. But Mr. Dunham does seem rather determined.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina shrugged, reality asserting itself once again. \u201cHe\u2019s a lot smarter than I,\u201d she murmured, looking down at her plate and picking at her liver. She hated liver. \u201cAnd handsome. A prettier girl will turn his head soon enough and she\u2019ll be smarter than I ever will be. I would just like to enjoy having a beau for a little while. May I, Mother?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s mother studied her for what seemed an eon, then sighed. \u201cI see. You\u2019re right of course.\u201d Marina felt vaguely disappointed in her easy agreement. \u201cI don\u2019t suppose any harm can come of keeping company with him until you\u2014until he gets bored, as young men do, so long as Dorothy is with you. I can say a lot of bad things about her, but in this case her off-putting behavior may be advantageous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Until he gets bored of you \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Marina nodded sadly, suddenly seeing herself at twenty, still sitting at the table with her parents and discussing&nbsp;\u2026 something. Twenty-five. Thirty. No beau. No job. Just chores and books and taking care of her elderly folks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMay I be excused?\u201d she asked quietly. \u201cI want to finish the kitchen before church so I have time to do tomorrow\u2019s assignments after.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">MARINA\u2019S HEART raced in delight. He was here! Again! And so was <em>Gene!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Trey smiled at her as she and Dot rearranged themselves to give the men room to sit with them. She\u2019d had no reason to think Trey would be here, as at Kresge\u2019s, he had said nothing of attending, much less Gene.<\/p>\n<p>He leaned into her and whispered, \u201cI think you were right about Gene.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know,\u201d she whispered back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHas Dot said anything?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina shook her head because the service was starting and she didn\u2019t want to give Mother a reason to be mad at her again\u2014except she couldn\u2019t stop thinking about everything that had happened since Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>Gene had started off a bit on the shy side, but made an effort to ask Dot about her interests haltingly, as if he couldn\u2019t quite form his vowels properly. Dot had made an effort to look in his eyes and answer, but she couldn\u2019t look at him for more than a few seconds and she\u2019d stammered a lot. Tuesday had been a bit better, as Gene remembered what Dot had said and got her to open up just a teeny bit more. This afternoon, Dot had started off more her perky self, but she was nowhere near normal.<\/p>\n<p>Then after a few false starts, Gene asked her about her church and Dot lit up like Fourth of July fireworks.<\/p>\n<p>Once again, Marina felt herself allied with Trey as they exchanged glances and merely listened. Marina and Dot had never discussed her religion this deeply because Marina didn\u2019t want to hear it and Dot didn\u2019t want to expose herself too much in case Marina found it too off-putting. It was their only real barrier to knowing everything about each other.<\/p>\n<p>But just about the time Marina was getting uncomfortable with Dot\u2019s beliefs, she felt Trey\u2019s hand under the table, closing around hers. She shot him a surprised look and he smiled wryly at her. She couldn\u2019t help but smile back because it said he no more wanted to hear this than she did.<\/p>\n<p>Going against every discomfort in her body, she forced herself to squeeze Trey\u2019s hand lightly.<\/p>\n<p>Gene, on the other hand, seemed to be soaking in every word, watching Dot raptly while she spoke with joy Marina hadn\u2019t ever seen her display, and made giant gestures with her hands. Gene sipped his phosphate, asked for another, nibbled on the onion rings, and never once took his eyes off her or interrupted her. When she finished a thought, he asked a question that sent her off again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSoooo how does your god decide who goes to hell?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh,\u201d she said brightly. \u201cWe don\u2019t believe in hell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Of course, Marina already knew that, but that had caught Trey\u2019s attention too. \u201cYou don\u2019t believe in hell,\u201d he said flatly, his first contribution to the conversation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. After judgment, the <em>worst<\/em> sinners of all sinners go to a place that\u2019s like Earth, but a whole lot prettier. I don\u2019t know what they do there. I think I might be bored after a while.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe worst of the worst,\u201d Trey repeated.<\/p>\n<p>Dot nodded. \u201cMy father says spending eternity with your regrets is enough hell for anybody. You don\u2019t need to burn for them, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gene and Trey exchanged glances. \u201cRegret,\u201d Gene said carefully. \u201cNot guilt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot shook her head. \u201cYou don\u2019t learn anything from guilt. Guilt makes you stay in one place. You learn from regret and you can go forward, doing better as you learn more. At least, that\u2019s what my father says.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re spending eternity with your regrets, you\u2019re not learning anything,\u201d Trey pointed out. \u201cIf you don\u2019t have any way to advance, it\u2019s just guilt spelled differently.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot blinked. \u201cOh. You\u2019re right, I suppose. In that case, it must fade because punishment isn\u2019t the point. Justice is. The <em>punishment<\/em> is not having God\u2019s presence with you all the time, but my father says some people don\u2019t want that anyway and so why would God make them feel his presence if they don\u2019t want to? For those people, that\u2019s a mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina was watching this very carefully because she expected both men to challenge her, especially Trey. Gene had mentioned he\u2019d grown up Catholic. Trey was Methodist. They and Marina all believed in a place of eternal torment.<\/p>\n<p>Dot was finished, eagerly looking between Gene and Trey for more questions. Trey sat back and folded his arms across his chest and said, \u201cHuh,\u201d while contemplating the back wall of Kresge\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Gene, on the other hand, stared at Dot, who stared right back with bright eyes and a happy smile. As Marina watched, Gene\u2019s expression subtly changed from surprise to the same look every other boy who wanted Dot\u2019s attention gave her.<\/p>\n<p>And Dot didn\u2019t notice.<\/p>\n<p>Marina drew her lips between her teeth and wondered if Trey had noticed, but it didn\u2019t matter. Marina decided to keep her thoughts to herself because she suspected Trey was now paying Gene, so she wasn\u2019t <em>quite<\/em> sure if Gene was acting.<\/p>\n<p>Finally Gene spoke. \u201cEverybody. Everybody\u2019s saved. Nobody goes to hell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Everybody<\/em>,\u201d Dot affirmed. \u201cThere is no burning lake of fire. My father says on Judgment Day, you get what you deserve, but you\u2019re probably going to be content with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gene gestured toward Marina. \u201cBut you go to her church on Wednesdays.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot\u2019s smile faded a little. \u201cI\u2019m being nice. Marina knows that. I wish her father would let her come to my church or even our activities, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat activities?\u201d he asked. \u201cYou don\u2019t have church on Wednesday nights like everybody else?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She shook her head. \u201cWe have our weekday meetings on Tuesdays, which aren\u2019t at all like other churches, but on Fridays and Saturdays, we have talent shows or plays or dances\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou <em>dance?<\/em>\u201d Trey blurted.<\/p>\n<p>Dot nodded. \u201cI know most churches don\u2019t, but we do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat kind of dancing?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, the Lindy Hop,\u201d she gushed. \u201cI <em>love<\/em> the Lindy Hop.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou do?\u201d Gene asked thinly, his complexion paling a little.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, <em>yes!<\/em> My dance partner and I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have a dance partner? Are&nbsp;\u2026 you and he&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, no,\u201d Dot said airily. \u201cHe\u2019s never walked out with a girl at all. He said he and his best friend are going to live together and be confirmed old bachelors.\u201d Gene nodded sagely. Trey\u2019s mouth pursed. \u201cThat\u2019s why I like him. He doesn\u2019t make cow eyes at me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina sighed and stopped listening to study the wall on her left, the wallpaper she saw every afternoon, but had never had a reason to examine this closely.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;outfit Marina made for me. I wish she could come and see for herself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina, jolted out of her melancholy, cast a vague smile across the table.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina,\u201d Gene asked politely, \u201cwould your parents allow you to go to Dot\u2019s talent show if Trey and I went too?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina was stunned, but Dot squealed and clapped her hands. \u201cOh, that\u2019s a wonderful idea! Yes, Marina, you must ask. Your parents like Trey and if they meet Gene, <em>too<\/em>&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll ask,\u201d Marina murmured. \u201cBut I doubt it. Your parents won\u2019t mind if Gene goes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot\u2019s face fell. \u201cBut I wanted you to see it, too. Mama wishes she had time for you to teach her how to sew as well as you do, but with a new baby and all&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot kept chattering about her brand-new baby sister and Marina\u2019s head started to hurt. Yes, she wanted to go to Dot\u2019s church Friday night to see her do her skit in the talent show in the dress Marina had made for her. Yes, she wanted to go with Trey and Gene. No, she wouldn\u2019t be allowed to.<\/p>\n<p>She started when Trey nudged her. \u201cHey, listen, you two mind if we got some air?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot and Gene both waved them off, Dot never missing a beat, while Trey slid out of the booth and assisted Marina out.<\/p>\n<p>Once they were outside, Marina cleared her throat. \u201cUm, thank you. We&nbsp;\u2026 don\u2019t talk about those things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy not?\u201d he asked soberly, stepping around her to walk closest to the curb, his hands behind his back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy father says they\u2019re sinful and I&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d She took a deep breath. \u201cI don\u2019t know how to put it into words. You say things that help me understand what I think, but I can\u2019t do that for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTry me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019d understood her so far, so she began. \u201cI don\u2019t know how Dot can call herself a good girl when she dances. And the Lindy Hop. That\u2019s\u2014 Boys touch you\u2014 Places. So they can throw you in the air. And then your dress\u2014 Um&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d Her face heated. \u201cUm.\u201d She cleared her throat. \u201cAnyway, it\u2019s not proper, those dances.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey didn\u2019t speak for a long while as they strolled up Main Street to Petticoat Lane and turned the corner toward Walnut. \u201cDot\u2019s generally a kind person, isn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina gasped. \u201cOh, yes, of course! I didn\u2019t mean to say she wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know. Aside from the Lindy Hop, she\u2019s a proper young lady, is she not? I get that impression, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWould you say your father would not let you run with her if he thought she was <em>not<\/em> a proper young lady, fit for his daughter to keep company?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy parents don\u2019t like her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs it <em>her<\/em> or her religion?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina thought.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs there anyone your parents would absolutely forbid you to run with?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina shrugged. \u201cLots, I suppose. The girls my age at church and most of the girls at school have their own cliques. They don\u2019t want to run with preachers\u2019 daughters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut Dot is at least acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy father says God told him I am to work on saving Dot\u2019s soul.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut Dot thinks her soul is already saved. She thinks your theology is just as misguided as your father thinks hers is. She\u2019s just not intimidated by yours the way your father is hers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina took umbrage at that. \u201cMy father is not <em>intimidated<\/em> by anything!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course not,\u201d he said immediately, without a trace of sarcasm. \u201cI apologize. Anyway, Gene seems to have gotten his <em>act<\/em> together, don\u2019t you think?\u201d he teased.<\/p>\n<p>Marina smiled up at him. \u201cYes, thank you. But I don\u2019t think you\u2019re going to have to pay him anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey stopped cold. \u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina tilted her head. \u201cHe just fell in love with her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">13<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">TREY DIDN\u2019T SAY much to Gio on the way back from Marina\u2019s church service, which he would ditch if he could. He <em>hated<\/em> those services. It seemed wrong, somehow, all that hootin\u2019 and hollerin\u2019 and yellin\u2019 at Jesus and God like you could command them to do your will. Trey had gone to church his entire childhood until his mother died. He didn\u2019t know if he believed in God or any deity at all, but if he did, he sure as hell wouldn\u2019t expect God to take orders from his kids.<\/p>\n<p>He didn\u2019t know how much longer he could take Scarritt\u2019s bluster, especially since he knew the faith healing was an act and the speaking in tongues was likely drug-induced or, so he had read once, religious ecstasy, which wasn\u2019t too much different from being high.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s up your ass?\u201d Gio asked Trey before he headed upstairs to call an early night. \u201cWe got Marina\u2019s parents to let her go to Dot\u2019s Friday night.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yeah, that had been a coup\u2014not one he\u2019d wanted to win. \u201cIt ain\u2019t a good idea for me to go, which I tried to tell you before you got all lawyerly with Scarritt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio was silent for a few seconds. \u201cOh. Albright.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah,\u201d Trey drawled snidely. \u201cAn\u2019 Boss Tom\u2019s bean counters. \u2018Gene Luke\u2019 ain\u2019t gonna register if you mind your accent. \u2018Trey Dunham,\u2019 on the other hand, <em>will<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou could have said you were busy right up front, not let me get that deep. You want to go, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, but Marina does an\u2019 her parents won\u2019t let her. Prolly the only chance she\u2019ll ever have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you want to give her what she wants.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGivin\u2019 her what she wants is part of the seduction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMmm hm. Leave early.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, I ain\u2019t showin\u2019 up at all. Family emergency. You can squire Marina \u2019cuz Dot\u2019s gonna be tied up with her show an\u2019 whatnot. Her parents ain\u2019t gonna know \u2019cuz Scarritt\u2019s drivin\u2019 her there himself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is giving me a headache.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou stuck me in this corner. It ain\u2019t <em>me<\/em> Marina wants to go for,\u201d he insisted. \u201cIt\u2019s Dot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio closed his eyes and shook his head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina\u2019s a sharp cookie. She don\u2019t know how to <em>explain<\/em> anything in words, but she gets to the heart of it right away and works out the words from there. More or less.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe hasn\u2019t made us yet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, but Scarritt shoulda made me by now. If a conman can\u2019t do it, why should a sheltered preacher\u2019s daughter be able to?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio nodded slowly. \u201cShe does have the makings of a good moll.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s eyebrow rose. \u201cNoticed that, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny girl who isn\u2019t offended that you might be paying your friend to take care of hers and suggests that you do so if you aren\u2019t already is a girl who doesn\u2019t mind solving a problem any way it needs to be solved.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExactly. And right now, <em>that<\/em> is the problem an\u2019 you\u2019re gonna cover for me. Keep the story simple \u2019cuz she notices damn near everything an\u2019 can tell a lie from home plate to the outfield fence. Too many details, she\u2019ll know the story\u2019s got holes even though she can\u2019t put less than two thousand words to it. She\u2019ll stack \u2019em up in her brain until she has enough clues to work with. Even if she comes to the right conclusion, she won\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe thinks she\u2019s too homely and stupid to snag a cat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s not homely,\u201d Gio mused. \u201cIt\u2019s the way she dresses and does her hair. Took me a while to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExactly. Her folks are keepin\u2019 her ugly an\u2019 stupid. It\u2019s just I ain\u2019t never fooled by that. Even if Dot gussied her up, she wouldn\u2019t believe it. She\u2019s got too many people eager to tell her she\u2019s homely an\u2019 stupid. I\u2019m tryin\u2019a fix the stupid part \u2019cuz her marks\u2019ll be the proof. I can\u2019t do nothin\u2019 about homely.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe tells you all that? Just wears her heart and mind out on her sleeve like that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverybody tells me their problems eventually. Marina needs somebody to talk to who\u2019ll listen and not run over her with theories and suggestions and insistin\u2019 she\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey nodded. \u201cJust like tryin\u2019a teach her algebra. Dot goes around a problem but never really solves it. Like her collection o\u2019 little boys. \u2019Stead o\u2019 givin\u2019 \u2019em the cold shoulder, she flirts with \u2019em just enough to keep their feelin\u2019s from bein\u2019 hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe likes the attention and perqs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe didn\u2019t have no problem tryin\u2019a cut me down to size, but I\u2019m a big dog. She got a tender heart under all that ego an\u2019 cynicism an\u2019 boys her age are just puppies. She ain\u2019t a puppy-kicker.\u201d Trey slid a glance at Gio. \u201cKinda like you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd Marina\u2019s a lot like you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s mouth twisted bitterly. \u201cThat\u2019s givin\u2019 me too much credit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe so.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot, on the other hand, grew up suspicious of everybody \u2019cuzza the Extermination Order. Plus, her daddy\u2019s connected. He has a reason to raise a cynical girl.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio snorted. \u201c\u2018Cynical.\u2019 That\u2019s an understatement. You know she walks around heavy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s head whipped around and his mouth dropped open. \u201cThe hell you say!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI asked her why her father lets her run wild since she carries the Extermination Order like it\u2019s a badge of honor. She said God\u2019n\u2019Colt would protect her, then showed me her piece to <em>reassure<\/em> me that I don\u2019t have to worry about her any more than her parents do. And never <em>ever<\/em> say a word to Marina. Or you. She also wanted to see how I\u2019d react, which Alice said was her way of finding out if I have the stones to handle her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoddammit,\u201d Trey whispered, running his hand down his mouth. \u201cI shoulda thought\u2019a that. Only she don\u2019t know that ain\u2019t the only reason her daddy\u2019d load her down. <em>We<\/em> are.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d rather be hogtied and beaten to death by a crowd of Black Hand soldiers than get shot by an annoyed sixteen-year-old girl\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey barked a laugh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2014but if she thinks I\u2019m interested in her church, she won\u2019t look past that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was pure genius.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPure luck.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey glanced at Gio. \u201cYou buy all that shit?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, hell no. The dancing\u2019ll be sticky.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI suggest you learn the Lindy Hop then. Don\u2019t look good, your girl havin\u2019 a dance partner that\u2019s not you even if everybody does know he\u2019s queer as a three-dollar bill.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio growled as they both headed up the stairs. \u201cYou really like Marina, don\u2019t you? Genuinely.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey thought for a few seconds. \u201cYeah,\u201d he finally said, half surprised. \u201cYeah, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWould you marry her if you could without losing this place?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wouldn\u2019t know yet in any case,\u201d he said matter-of-factly, \u201cbut it don\u2019t matter \u2019cuz it ain\u2019t never gonna happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExcept it\u2019s not just about the bet anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s just say,\u201d he muttered as he headed to the bathroom to take a long, hot bath. \u201cI\u2019d\u2019a rather paid cash for this place \u2019cuz I got a feeling it\u2019s gonna cost me a whole lot more\u2019n sixty large.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">14<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">THURSDAY AFTER school, Trey and Gene were waiting for Marina and Dot in their booth at Kresge\u2019s. Marina had said nothing to Dot about Gene\u2019s feelings for her, but Dot was noticeably more peppy all day and less inclined to flirt with anybody not named Gene. She wasn\u2019t flirting with Gene, either. Marina couldn\u2019t tell if Dot was in love with Gene or not, but she sure was happy to see him and the fact that she didn\u2019t notice his change in demeanor was telling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHello, boys,\u201d Dot said gaily as she stood at the table waiting for Gene to slip out of the booth and allow her in.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLadies,\u201d Trey and Gene said at the same time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHi,\u201d Marina said softly as she slid into the booth Trey had vacated and patted the seat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHi yourself,\u201d he returned just as softly.<\/p>\n<p>Dot and Gene were paying no attention whatsoever after Gene asked how her day had gone and he listened attentively. It might have seemed like an act, but Dot could make a study hall of one sound like a grand adventure.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow\u2019s your hand?\u201d Marina asked Trey. \u201cYou aren\u2019t wearing a bandage anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBetter,\u201d Trey said, holding it up and flexing it, albeit slowly and with a grimace. \u201cMore aspirin, I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow was your day?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have good days and bad ones. Had to pay out on a policy today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, I\u2019m sorry. Was it a lot of money?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t care about the money. A family was put out of their house and their baby died. There is no amount of money in the world that can make up for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina clapped her hands to her mouth, horrified. \u201cOh my. Oh, goodness gracious.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He nodded soberly. \u201cThat is the worst part of my job, watching people\u2019s lives get wiped out. Could be anything. Their pipes could burst and flood their house. All their whatnots and pictures and memories, gone. Robberies. That\u2019s usually just stuff, but having someone break into your house disturbs your peace. You can\u2019t replace that, either.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His sorrow was real and deep, and Marina felt it. Gathering all the courage she could, she reached out and took his hand. He wrapped his other one around hers and gave it a little squeeze and a smile. \u201cThank you.\u201d He paused, then said, \u201cYou\u2019re a good woman, Marina.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was said so sincerely, she swallowed her hurt and pain and envy at the compliment. \u201cThank you,\u201d she murmured.<\/p>\n<p>His brow wrinkled. \u201cWas that&nbsp;\u2026 wrong? I meant it, I truly did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She smiled. \u201cI know you did. Thank you. I appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlease don\u2019t fib,\u201d he said lightly. \u201cTell me why that upset you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina bit her lip and again had to swallow but now because she couldn\u2019t seem to speak. She didn\u2019t want to tell him but he was too perceptive and persistent. They\u2019d been meeting every day for a little over a week but the fact that he knew she was distressed made it seem like they knew each other far better than their short acquaintance would indicate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHey, why don\u2019t we head outside?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The day was warm when they emerged. Trey put on his fedora after Marina positioned her wide-brimmed sun hat on her head. They turned right and headed to Petticoat Lane. He didn\u2019t take her hand, which disappointed her a little and he kept a respectable distance between them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy did that upset you?\u201d he asked again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnybody can be a good woman,\u201d she blurted.<\/p>\n<p>They strolled for a while without speaking. Then he said, \u201cWould <em>interesting<\/em> be better?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She bit her lip. \u201cNot much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat would be?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPretty,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re not,\u201d he said flatly, and she gasped, her head snapping up. He looked at her steadily and said, \u201cI don\u2019t like pretty girls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina blinked because that didn\u2019t make sense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2018Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina was thoroughly confused.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTolstoy. <em>Anna Karenina<\/em>. That was a metaphor. Pretty girls are all alike; every interesting girl is interesting in her own way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina had so many feelings and thoughts and questions she didn\u2019t know which one to pick first. \u201cWhat\u2019s the difference between a simile and a metaphor?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey stopped cold, blinked at her, his mouth partially open, then laughed, stuck his injured hand in his pocket, and rubbed his chin with his other hand. \u201cThe second I think I understand you, you surprise me.\u201d He looked back at her with a grin, then he waggled his finger at her. \u201c<em>That\u2019s<\/em> what I mean, Marina. How\u2019s this. I could look at you all day long <em>and<\/em> listen to you talk because you say the most unexpected things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina was hopelessly lost and now felt like a sap. She gulped, knowing her face was completely scrunched up. \u201cI&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He leaned toward her, still grinning. \u201cI could look at you all day long,\u201d he repeated. \u201cBetter?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His words seeped into her mind, but they seemed to float there. \u201cUm&nbsp;\u2026 yes? I&nbsp;\u2026 don\u2019t&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He waggled his eyebrows.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His smile vanished. \u201cWhat do you mean, you don\u2019t believe me? You think I\u2019m acting?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her brow wrinkled. \u201cWhite lies,\u201d she murmured, looking downward. \u201cTo make me feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I didn\u2019t like you, I wouldn\u2019t bother trying to making you feel better. Trust me, doll, I don\u2019t give out compliments.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNobody thinks I\u2019m smart,\u201d she said flatly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t think the way everybody else does,\u201d he insisted.<\/p>\n<p>Marina shook her head slightly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSay&nbsp;\u2026 you\u2019re a frog with a bunch of others. You all want to get across a pond. It\u2019ll be easy because there are a whole lot of lily pads. But you\u2019re stronger than your friends so you jump over a whole lot of lily pads and get to the other side of the pond a whole lot sooner. You don\u2019t even notice there are any lily pads between you and the one you want to get to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She blinked. She might not like being compared to a frog but she sure liked hearing she was the strongest one of a group and didn\u2019t need all those lily pads. \u201cSo I\u2019m&nbsp;\u2026 efficient?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His face lit up. His eyes sparkled. \u201cYes! And it takes a very smart person to be that efficient. The trick is to trust your efficiency. You don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina was watching him with eyes wide, all the words he said making no sense because she had always been homely and, at best, an average student. She wanted to believe him. She believed he was sincere. But if he was, he was simply the oddest person she had ever met.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m telling you why your marks don\u2019t make you stupid and standing next to your pretty friend doesn\u2019t make you homely.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was a new way of looking at it. Marina thought. \u201cComparison.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d Trey drawled, sounding very pleased. \u201cThe difference between a simile and a metaphor is the word \u2018like.\u2019 I didn\u2019t say happy families were <em>like<\/em> pretty girls. I said they <em>were<\/em> pretty girls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s mouth opened wider and she began to smile. No, she couldn\u2019t have stopped it if she tried, and launched herself at Trey. She didn\u2019t care she was being too forward. She didn\u2019t care she was not being a proper girl.<\/p>\n<p>She pushed herself away from him and clasped her hands in front of her chest. \u201cThank you! You make everything so clear!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He drew back in surprise. \u201cAll that for an English lesson in three sentences?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes!\u201d she laughed. \u201cSimile, similar, like.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His expression opened up even more. \u201cAnd you know what else? I\u2019ll bet you\u2019ll be crackerjack at geometry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She waved a hand. \u201cGeometry was a cinch.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He scowled. \u201cYou say that like it\u2019s nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Confused, she said, \u201cIt is. Like home ec. Like looking at a picture of a dress and knowing how to make it. Or like reading a recipe and knowing what it\u2019ll taste like.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He blinked. \u201cYou can do that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She nodded and shrugged helplessly. \u201cIt\u2019s just&nbsp;\u2026 something I do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you&nbsp;\u2026 cook? At home, I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce in a blue moon. Mother doesn\u2019t like my food. She thinks I use too many spices.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His eyebrow rose. \u201cI bet you\u2019re plenty spicy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She nodded. \u201cFather likes it but Mother insists. I do the baking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He pursed his lips. \u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&nbsp;\u2026 know what you\u2019re thinking,\u201d she said with quite a bit of guilt, but she <em>had<\/em> to get it out to <em>someone<\/em>. \u201cMother doesn\u2019t cook very well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His mouth twitched a little, but he said nothing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes I think maybe she does it on purpose so I won\u2019t eat too much,\u201d she blurted, adding embarrassment to guilt. \u201cI have to watch my waist.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can watch it for you,\u201d he said gravely, which made her look at him suspiciously. \u201cIt was a joke, doll,\u201d he said dryly. \u201cMy way of saying I think it\u2019s fine the way it is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s that called?\u201d she asked, still warily. \u201cNot a joke. Not sarcasm or a pun. It\u2019s something else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His mouth twitched. \u201cA double entendre.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her brow wrinkled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMeans two things, but you have to be in the know to understand the second meaning. But since you\u2019re not in the know, I\u2019m not going to explain it. I <em>am<\/em> very impressed you understood there was more, though.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDouble <em>IN<\/em>-tin-der,\u201d she repeated carefully.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes. How\u2019d you pick it up?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was in your voice.\u201d She paused. \u201cAre you&nbsp;\u2026 Did you go to college?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh no,\u201d he said gravely. \u201cI didn\u2019t even finish sixth grade.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stunned, she blurted, \u201cHow do you know so much?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI told you. I read a lot. If I don\u2019t understand something, like algebra, I hire a tutor. Most everything else I got from books.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you <em>want<\/em> to go to college?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He hesitated. \u201cDon\u2019t need to,\u201d he said gruffly. Marina said nothing because he seemed to be&nbsp;\u2026 sad. But just when the silence between them became unbearable, Trey murmured, \u201cI\u2019m sorry. I, um&nbsp;\u2026 I\u2019m a little sentimental right now because of that family I told you about. I wanted to tell you what I think about you because you never know when\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s eyes began to sting, which almost never happened, but the connection between the family who had lost their baby to a fire and never being able to talk to a loved one again was \u2026<\/p>\n<p><em>I would just like to enjoy having a beau for a little while.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>They turned the corner onto Walnut. \u201cAre you going somewhere?\u201d she asked quietly, finally looking back at him. \u201cNot interested in me anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo!\u201d he said, clearly shocked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause if you get tired of me, I\u2019d appreciate it if you say so and not just hint around or disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He stopped cold and stared at her for a few seconds, but she didn\u2019t drop her gaze. \u201cMarina,\u201d he said finally, \u201cmy mother and three older brothers died in the epidemic.\u201d She gasped. \u201cOne morning they were there and working, happy and healthy. A week later, they were dead. My father died a year later from a broken heart. Then it was just me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, my goodness gracious,\u201d she breathed. \u201cI am so sorry, I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was twelve when my father died, which is why I didn\u2019t get past the sixth grade. I had to survive. So I know a little about things happening quickly and you never get to tell someone how you feel. How I feel about you is, I think you\u2019re the bee\u2019s knees. No matter what happens between us, I will always think that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina shifted her attention to the tip of his nose. It wasn\u2019t a promise never to leave but \u2026<\/p>\n<p><em>I would just like to enjoy having a beau for a little while.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A little while. It would be best not to get too attached. \u201cI\u2019m sorry for your loss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you. I appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd thank you for telling me.\u201d It was all she could manage to say without blurting that what she really meant was <em>And I\u2019d appreciate it if you proposed to me right now and married me tomorrow.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Because what would it be like, she thought as they continued around the block in surprisingly comfortable silence, to live with someone who could look at her all day long and thought she was smart and that she was the bee\u2019s knees and told her that without any embarrassment at all?<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">WHAT WOULD IT be like, Trey thought darkly as he lay on his divan and listened to the sounds of a city waking up as he was falling asleep, to know a girl so smart and sweet and intriguing, so heartbreakingly <em>sad<\/em>, to want her, to hold her and kiss her and make love to her until she was happy, and <em>not<\/em> be making plans to pull the rug out from under her?<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">15<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">THE NEXT MORNING, Trey was summoned to the Jackson County Democratic Club, which he had expected to be any day now. Trey took Boss Tom his books around the middle of every month, but not until he was summoned.<\/p>\n<p>Trey passed all the cats lined up a block long to ask Boss Tom a favor. Rich men asked for political favors. Poor men asked for food for their families and a job. The line to get to Boss Tom was the great equalizer. The only people who got past the line were folks <em>bringing<\/em> something to Boss Tom.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, Boss,\u201d Trey drawled when he was shown into Boss Tom\u2019s very small, modest office in a very small, modest building on 19th and Main, his books and an envelope of cash tucked under his arm.<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom tapped his finger on his desk and Trey dropped his books and cash on them, then dropped himself into a chair.<\/p>\n<p>Pendergast thumbed through them and checked random lines against a book he already had open. Trey had every confidence in his own bookkeeping. He had no confidence in whoever did the bookkeeping Tom was checking against.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy\u2019s mine say you took delivery of forty-eight cases of my gin, but you only show thirty-six?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2019Cuz I only got thirty-six.\u201d Trey remembered that delivery, too. \u201cStu checked that delivery and called me out back, said I got shorted a dozen cases. I counted \u2019em. Thirty-six. Called Vern out. He counted \u2019em. Thirty-six. Cat says, \u2018Oh, no, I got another dozen comin\u2019.\u2019 I say okay, sign off on thirty-six\u2014bill of lading\u2019s right there, see the bookmark\u2014and bring me the dozen you owe me. Cat never shows up. An\u2019 I remember that \u2019cuz I <em>knew<\/em> he wa\u2019n\u2019t gonna come back. Damn near called up a notary, I was so sure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom pursed his lips, pulled the lading slip out and saw that it had Brody\u2019s initials, Vern\u2019s initials, Trey\u2019s initials, and the delivery man\u2019s signature.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can\u2019t prove he didn\u2019t come back with the other dozen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, I can\u2019t,\u201d Trey said firmly. \u201cBut ask your Mormons.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll do that,\u201d Boss Tom said vaguely, snapping the ledger closed. He took the cash and began to count, saying, \u201cAnd if you\u2019re right, I\u2019ll have you take care of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoss,\u201d Trey said flatly. \u201cI ain\u2019t got a murderin\u2019 interest in this cat an\u2019 I\u2019m busy with Marina Scarritt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow\u2019s that coming along, by the way?\u201d Tom asked pleasantly enough when he was finished counting, tapped the pile until it was tidy, and put it back in the envelope. \u201cYou never were one to let grass grow under your feet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you know that much, you know how I\u2019m doin\u2019,\u201d Trey shot back. \u201cHandlin\u2019 her and her little friend\u2019s a delicate operation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, I want to talk to you about her little friend. You don\u2019t catch Dot in whatever crossfire you and your gigolo\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMa\u00eetre d\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2014gigolo are setting up, you hear me? Last thing I need is Rev Albright in my office for unpleasantness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey suddenly realized Boss Tom actually respected Albright and having Gio mess with his daughter was a bit short-sighted on Trey\u2019s part. At this point, Trey was convinced that for the last few years he\u2019d been traveling too fast for his headlights and his brakes had just gone out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMight be too late,\u201d Trey mumbled. \u201cGio went an\u2019 got himself smitten. He\u2019s due at her church tonight to see some show they\u2019re puttin\u2019 on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom groaned. \u201cGood Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the bright side, now he has a reason to keep her out of the crossfire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pendergast conceded that point with a grunt. \u201cAnd if Albright finds out, it\u2019s not on me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow, Dunham, I\u2019m a little concerned about your lack of firepower over there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s eyebrow rose and his spine began to tingle. \u201cI didn\u2019t think I needed much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom\u2019s eyebrow rose. \u201cYou\u2019ve got Giuseppe Morello\u2019s runaway hitman who now makes his living with his dick\u2014\u201d Oh, shit. He did know who Gio was. \u201c\u2014the daughter of a Mormon bishop who is my friend, <em>my<\/em> speakeasy which is now in play, an upstart mick wanting a piece of your heroin action\u2014\u201d Trey waved a hand. \u201c\u2014and various and sundry folk who want to know when and where you\u2019re picking up your Remus whisky and storing it\u2014\u201d <em>Shit!<\/em> \u201c\u2014and you think you don\u2019t need much?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll rethink.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">16<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cMARINA!\u201d MOTHER snapped.<\/p>\n<p>Marina immediately stopped pacing the vestibule and parlor. \u201cMother, I\u2019m sorry. I can\u2019t help it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mother harrumphed. Father was in his office counseling a congregant and wouldn\u2019t leave until the woman was properly comforted. Marina glanced at the clock, which had advanced two minutes since the last time she looked.<\/p>\n<p>Dot\u2019s show began at six. Dot, who was the last, was scheduled to take the stage at seven-fifteen. It was now six-fifteen. Though Marina and Dot lived three blocks from each other and Marina\u2019s church was just across the street from the parsonage, Dot\u2019s church building was way out on the other side of Independence and took half an hour to get there. Marina might have gone with Dot and her family, but they had left at five because Bishop had to open up the building and oversee the event.<\/p>\n<p>At six-thirty, Marina decided to go upstairs and read until Father was ready to leave.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cWHAT HAPPENED?\u201d Dot asked soberly Monday morning at school. When Marina had dropped by Dot\u2019s house on her way, as she usually did, Sister Albright told her Dot had already left.<\/p>\n<p>Marina swallowed. \u201cMy father,\u201d she murmured, her face hot with shame, her heart thudding with pain, \u201cwas in counseling and couldn\u2019t leave.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot didn\u2019t speak to Marina for the rest of the day except to tell her she didn\u2019t feel like going to Kresge\u2019s, which meant Marina couldn\u2019t go, either.<\/p>\n<p>Marina didn\u2019t think it was fair that Dot was punishing her for missing her activity since it wasn\u2019t her fault. Father had informed her that he had prayed as to God\u2019s will on the matter and while he had been willing to take her, God had other plans, which was to put a parishioner\u2019s family crisis in the way. She tried to explain this to Dot, but Dot murmured, \u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Not only that, but Trey had not made plans for a Saturday outing nor had he come to church Sunday, which Father had questioned her over. The only thing she could say was, \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d She did her chores. She worked on her homework. She read an old Dorothy Sayers novel. Two. Three.<\/p>\n<p>Not even the math test she had almost aced nor her English exam, which she had actually aced, cheered her up. For the first time, she realized that she had no friends. She had no beau. Mother was angry with her for reasons she didn\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n<p>Marina had never felt alone in the world before. She had always had her parents. She had always had Dot, since they were small girls, but Dot was going to leave for college in two years and after that, have a full-time job or a husband. Maybe children would come along. Maybe she would like it in Utah where all her people were and wouldn\u2019t come back to Kansas City at all. Meanwhile, Marina wasn\u2019t going anywhere or doing anything except living with Mother and Father as she always had and doing the same things. And as for a beau&nbsp;\u2026 she had only had him for a week and a half, and of course, that wasn\u2019t going to last.<\/p>\n<p>That would teach her to depend on someone\u2019s company, wouldn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s mother was less short with her Monday evening, but that was probably because Marina had finished sewing her a new and very stylish pair of trousers from a picture in a magazine. That was nothing. Looking at a picture of a garment and knowing how it was constructed was like reading a recipe and knowing what it would taste like and how to make it better.<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday morning, Dot was her usual bright, sunny self and apparently didn\u2019t think about the fact that Marina was not interested in Dot\u2019s bright, sunny self after being punished the day before.<\/p>\n<p>Marina was polite.<\/p>\n<p>That was all.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo&nbsp;\u2026 do you want to go to Kresge\u2019s?\u201d Dot asked hesitantly toward the end of the day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d Marina said quietly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUm&nbsp;\u2026 I, um&nbsp;\u2026 I\u2019m sorry about&nbsp;\u2026 well, yesterday. How I acted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll right. Thank you.\u201d Marina walked down the hallway to the front doors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina!\u201d she cried and started after her.<\/p>\n<p>Marina didn\u2019t alter her pace at all because she knew that any minute\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"maindot2\">\u201cDot!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"maindot3\">\u201cDot!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014a bunch of Dot\u2019s boys would crowd her for attention.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina, wait for me!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She would do no such thing. She wasn\u2019t punishing Dot. She simply couldn\u2019t get over her hurt feelings as quickly as Dot wanted her to.<\/p>\n<p>Marina trudged down the front stairs of Paseo High School, her head down, letting swarms of people flow around her and jostle her here and there.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHey, doll!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina stopped cold on the last landing, her head snapping up to see Trey leaning back against a sleek yellow roadster, top down, parked on the curb right in front of the steps. His arms were folded across his chest and his ankles were crossed. His smile gleamed almost as brightly as his golden hair, and his blue eyes were so vivid she could see them from here.<\/p>\n<p>He was surrounded by people who were ooh\u2019ing and aah\u2019ing over his car, but he didn\u2019t seem to notice. They were trying to get his attention, but he never stopped looking at Marina.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMissed you at Kresge\u2019s yesterday!\u201d he called, cupping his hands around his mouth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCome on down so we don\u2019t have to shout.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s feet moved because they couldn\u2019t not until she was standing in front of Trey, dazed, looking around at all the people who were now beginning to notice her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHi,\u201d he said cheerfully.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHi,\u201d she replied uncertainly. \u201cWhat are you&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI missed you at Kresge\u2019s yesterday,\u201d he repeated. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her brow wrinkled because he had said nothing about Friday night or Saturday or Sunday. \u201cUm&nbsp;\u2026 it\u2019s&nbsp;\u2026 a long story.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His smile faded and he tilted his head. \u201cAre you&nbsp;\u2026 angry with me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She bit her lip.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAw, c\u2019mon,\u201d he murmured, pushing away from his car and throwing an arm around her shoulders. \u201cLet\u2019s go for a walk and see if we can\u2019t straighten all this out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll right,\u201d Marina said softly, thrilled with the feel of his body against hers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina!\u201d Dot called from the top of the stairs. \u201cMarina, wait!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you want to wait up?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d She wanted to get away from Dot before she exploded with a whole bunch of words that wouldn\u2019t say anything she meant even if she knew what she meant.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUh&nbsp;\u2026 allrightythen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina, wait! Trey, wait! Stop! Trey!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"maindot2\">\u201cDot!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"maindot3\">\u201cDot!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina, please wait!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey and Marina kept walking and somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized that everyone at school would now know she had a beau, he was a grown man, and he had a ritzy car.<\/p>\n<p>And then she wouldn\u2019t and everyone would know he had dumped her.<\/p>\n<p>Once they were clear of the crowd, he removed his arm and murmured, \u201cYou\u2019re on the outs with Dot?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&nbsp;\u2026 She was angry with me because I couldn\u2019t come to her show Friday night. I told her it wasn\u2019t my fault, that Father was in counseling with one of the parishioners, which obviously means God didn\u2019t want me to go, but she wouldn\u2019t speak to me. I can\u2019t go to Kresge\u2019s alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh. Gene, uh, told me you weren\u2019t there. I thought your father had changed his mind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was when she looked up at him. \u201cSo you weren\u2019t there, either.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had an emergency, doll,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cTook all weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina gaped. \u201cOh, I am so sorry!\u201d she breathed. \u201cI\u2014 I thought\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou thought I ran out on you,\u201d he said with a hint of chastisement.<\/p>\n<p>Marina felt herself flush. \u201cWell, yes. Is\u2014 Your emergency&nbsp;\u2026 What happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d rather not speak of it, if you don\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, of course, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy don\u2019t you and I go to Kresge\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was her turn to be disapproving. \u201cYou know I can\u2019t walk out with a boy alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I\u2019m not a boy,\u201d he teased lightly, then winked.<\/p>\n<p>She couldn\u2019t help but smile. \u201cFather says we must observe the spirit of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy spirit would like to observe your spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That made her laugh outright. \u201cAnother double <em>IN<\/em>-tin-der.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He flashed a grin. \u201cHow do you catch those?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s in your voice. I told you.\u201d But should she tell him that wasn\u2019t how it was pronounced? She didn\u2019t want to embarrass him because her English teacher had told her that it was a mark of someone who read widely but had never heard the words, which meant he wasn\u2019t around people who were as well read as he was. Not only that, but it was a French word.<\/p>\n<p><em>But he\u2019s the one who helped you with Dickens?<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Yes.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>He sounds like a very smart young man.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She stopped and turned to see Dot running to catch up. She wasn\u2019t so angry that she would turn her back this time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina,\u201d she gasped when she caught up to them. She dropped her books and bent over and braced her palms on her knees while she caught her breath. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she said abjectly when she straightened. \u201cI\u2019m\u2014 My mother said I was cruel to you because it wasn\u2019t your fault, and I don\u2019t want to be cruel, especially not to you. I was just\u2014 I was so looking forward to\u2014\u201d She switched her gaze to Trey. \u201cYou weren\u2019t there either,\u201d she accused.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had an emergency,\u201d he repeated gently.<\/p>\n<p>Dot flushed and looked down at her hands, which were fiddling with her handbag. \u201cOh. I\u2019m&nbsp;\u2026 sorry. I&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat about Gene?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<p>Her head came up again and she smiled. \u201cHe was there. He laughed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s eyebrows shot up. \u201cHe <em>laughed<\/em>? I\u2019ve never seen him laugh.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot looked confused and picked up her books. \u201cHe laughs all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, Miss Albright,\u201d Trey said, turning with a gesture to invite her to walk with them. \u201cIt seems you have found El Dorado.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAn ancient lost city made entirely of gold.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPffftt,\u201d Marina and Dot said at the same time.<\/p>\n<p>Trey laughed. \u201cGene informed me he enjoyed himself and that you were magnificent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe did?!\u201d Dot squealed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe did. He also thought your mother was lovely, although he was sorry he couldn\u2019t meet your father.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDaddy had to go deliver a foal. He\u2019s a veterinarian.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe <em>is?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh,\u201d Trey said, clearly surprised. \u201cI&nbsp;\u2026 That\u2019s&nbsp;\u2026 interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInteresting?\u201d Marina asked lightly.<\/p>\n<p>He flashed another grin at her. \u201c<em>Interesting<\/em>, Miss Scarritt. I said what I meant and I meant what I said.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina couldn\u2019t help her answering smile, nor her blush, nor ducking her head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, ladies, are we all friends again? Everyone\u2019s feathers unruffled?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d Marina and Dot said, once again, in unison.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen shall I take you to Kresge\u2019s? I think we can all squeeze into my car.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">17<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">BROTHER JOHN LAZIA and his chief enforcer Charlie \u201cthe Wop\u201d Carrollo were waiting for Trey when he walked into the speak late Saturday afternoon after having spent the entire day with Marina, Gio, and Dot at Muehlebach Field at a Monarchs game, teaching the girls how to watch baseball. It was more fun to watch and easier to teach when the Monarchs were winning, which they were doing a whole lot of this year. If Trey and Gio\u2014both inveterate baseball fans\u2014wanted to hit any ballgames, they were going to have to make their girls like it.<\/p>\n<p>What he didn\u2019t want was to come home to see Kansas City coppers hanging around across the street, and Lazia and Carrollo making themselves at home in Trey\u2019s speak by sitting at his table with Lazia <em>in his fucking chair!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Trey stormed up the stairs. \u201cYou disrespect me in my own house?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lazia looked up at him and stubbed his cigarette in the ashtray. \u201cIt\u2019s not yours.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoss Tom know you\u2019re here stickin\u2019 your nose in my business?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am not sticking my nose in your business. I\u2019m here asking you why you\u2019re undercutting <em>my<\/em> business.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey was about to get a little more forceful when Lazia decided to vacate Trey\u2019s chair. Trey snapped his fingers before settling himself into his throne, at which time a cigar and glass of whisky was put in front of him. He took his time with his cigar, clipping the end, lighting it, puffing on it a few times, blowing smoke rings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a businessman, Lazia,\u201d Trey said finally. \u201cIf I can get good quality hooch at a good price, I\u2019m gonna get it. Furthermore, I\u2019m retail, not wholesale, so the only way I\u2019m cuttin\u2019 into your business is just \u2019cuz I ain\u2019t buyin\u2019 from you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd why is that, may I ask?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou know very good and well why.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHumor me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou cut the bonded stuff you buy, and I don\u2019t sell watered whisky. People come here to get the real stuff. Second, I don\u2019t like the swill you make yourself. Third, as a general rule, I don\u2019t like middlemen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lazia\u2019s jaw ground.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou forget that I was bootlegging for years before I landed here, and I already had relationships with the distilleries I get my whisky from.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLook, Dunham. I just want your Remus and I\u2019m willing to pay for it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d Trey answered flatly. \u201cI don\u2019t supply anybody else. That\u2019s part of my deal with him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Carrollo\u2019s hand fisted. \u201cWe\u2019ll find your route,\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n<p>Trey took another puff off his cigar. \u201cNaw, you won\u2019t. Try it. See what Boss Tom has to say about the bullet I put in your head.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lazia laid his hand gently on his man\u2019s arm. \u201cRelax.\u201d Carrollo stood up abruptly, upending the chair, and stalked down the stairs. \u201cYou watch your mouth. The second you win this bet, I\u2019ll be on you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, you know about that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Everybody<\/em> knows about that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That confused Trey. If everybody knew about it\u2014 \u201cSay, why\u2019n\u2019t Scarritt know about it by now, then? All you cats want my job.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d Lazia corrected patiently, \u201cwe want the <em>speak<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince Boss Tom\u2019s gonna demand his very generous cut of the profits from anybody who owns this place, you still won\u2019t be making much. Don\u2019t you have enough irons in your fire?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have people taking care of my irons. Shit, I\u2019d keep you on here. Any smart cat would. All I want from you is your Remus.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re going to the conference next week. Likely Remus will be there, so get your own meeting and beg <em>him<\/em>. I\u2019m loyal to Boss Tom and I\u2019m not going back on my word to Remus. Your bootlegging is your business and mine is mine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m curious. What would Albright have to say about his girl<em>s<\/em>,\u201d he said, stressing the plural, \u201cwalking out with a Machine underboss and a whore?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe would say, \u2018Dot, you may not walk out with that whore. Marina, I\u2019m going to tell your daddy who Trey Dunham is and what he wants.\u2019 Somewhat responsible daddying, but if I\u2019s a daddy, I\u2019d\u2019a hunted me an\u2019 Gio down already an\u2019 told us to steer clear or go for a swim in the river.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t argue with that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t get in the middle of my bet. You have nothing to gain if I lose and not much more to gain if I win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lazia stood and smoothly slid his fedora over his perfectly coifed hair. \u201cDunham,\u201d he said finally. \u201cYou got a way about you. I don\u2019t like you, but if you ever need a job, you got one with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That shocked the shit out of him. \u201c\u2019Preciate it,\u201d he said sincerely.<\/p>\n<p>Soon enough, Lazia\u2019s car, his enforcer, and the Kansas City police were gone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell,\u201d Gio said heartily as he plopped into the chair Lazia had just left, \u201cI guess we\u2019ll need to spend more time with the girls, won\u2019t we? Make sure they\u2019re safe and protected, Dot\u2019s god and Colt notwithstanding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey growled. \u201cLazia won\u2019t touch \u2019em, but he can let Albright know who we are just to throw the dice and see what comes up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio was silent for a few seconds. \u201cThat would be&nbsp;\u2026 bad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVery, very bad. Time to get a wiggle on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cHELLO, MRS. Scarritt,\u201d Trey said cheerfully Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHello, Mr. Dunham,\u201d Marina\u2019s mother said suspiciously through the screen door of the parsonage, where Trey stood with fedora in hand. \u201cMarina is at school.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, ma\u2019am. I know. I was wondering if I could have a word with the reverend?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoes Marina know you\u2019re here?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, ma\u2019am, she does not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The woman was not happy; that much was obvious. In Trey\u2019s experience, it was the mother who was thrilled and the father who was not, so what this switcheroo said, he wasn\u2019t clear on yet.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHrmph. I\u2019ll ask.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She returned in a few moments and simply held the door open, then led him through the house to a small office in the back just big enough for a Wooton desk, red velveteen divan and chairs, and tea table to match. Gio was right. This cat had expensive taste and that was definitely a desk only Rockefeller\u2014or a charlatan evangelist\u2014could afford. Even a reproduction would be costly, and far more than Trey would\u2019ve spent for a place to put pencil to paper.<\/p>\n<p>Scarritt was at the desk writing intently so Trey awaited his pleasure and looked around without shame. It was rude to gawp, but it was what a man like Scarritt wanted to happen.<\/p>\n<p>Trey thought the desk alone might cost as much as his three-year-old Chrysler convertible, and Trey didn\u2019t know how much that divan and chairs set cost, but Trey wouldn\u2019t be surprised if it was at least half the desk\u2019s price. The rug was an Aubusson.<\/p>\n<p>Trey wondered what other treasures Scarritt had squirreled away, awaiting the day he could break them out to impress some Rockefellerian cat. Trey didn\u2019t have to wonder if the missus knew how much this office cost, nor would she know about anything else he might or might not have.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, young man,\u201d Scarritt said soberly, arising from his fine desk chair with studied elegance and graciously gestured to a chair. His clothes were fine, but only enough. \u201cPlease have a seat. Tea? Coffee? Cigarette?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, thank you,\u201d Trey said politely as he sank into one of the red velveteen chairs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow may I help you today?\u201d Scarritt sat in the other chair, crossed his legs, and leaned toward Trey with his hands clasped, which was precisely how Trey would\u2019ve sat if he were playing that role.<\/p>\n<p>Trey continued to conspicuously fiddle with his fedora. \u201cWell, sir, I won\u2019t waste your time. I would like your permission to court Marina more seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He gave Trey a carefully crafted look of concern. \u201cWhat are your intentions for the future with Marina, Mr. Dunham?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have greatly enjoyed your daughter\u2019s company, Pastor,\u201d he began earnestly. \u201cI find her charming and intelligent. I am also under the impression that she is an excellent homemaker and cook.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is true,\u201d Reverend Scarritt said ponderously, \u201cbut that doesn\u2019t answer the question.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He wasn\u2019t as stupid or oblivious as Trey had hoped. \u201cWell, sir, I\u2019m twenty-four and it\u2019s past time I settled down. I am&nbsp;\u2026 hoping&nbsp;\u2026  Marina is&nbsp;\u2026 Well, sir. I simply won\u2019t know until I spend a little more time with her without\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Scarritt waited for him to finish the sentence, but Trey waited for him to take the bait.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithout&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey sighed. \u201cDorothy, sir,\u201d he confessed. \u201cShe is&nbsp;\u2026 forceful and sometimes&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Scarritt looked a little surprised, which Trey suspected was genuine.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe runs over Marina when I\u2019m trying to talk to her,\u201d Trey blurted. \u201cSpeaks for her, I should say, as if she is protecting Marina. It\u2019s difficult to converse deeply with Marina under those circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Scarritt\u2019s face cleared. \u201cOh, yes, of course. I see what you mean. You must forgive Dorothy, though. She is very protective of Marina and I do appreciate that about her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, she is a fine young woman with impeccable morals, and she is a fine chaperone. However, I can\u2019t discern Marina\u2019s true thoughts sometimes. It\u2019s as if she is hiding them more from Dorothy than from me. I would like time alone with Marina, without Dorothy, to make sure if my intentions can include Marina. I will tell you, sir, that I would very much like them to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs&nbsp;\u2026 Your employee, who is courting Dorothy. Is&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d He stopped, then said baldly, \u201cMarina believes you are paying your friend to squire Dorothy to round your numbers. Is that true?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt <em>was<\/em>,\u201d Trey answered. \u201cGene has since refused payment because he enjoys her company.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Scarritt\u2019s eyebrows flew into his hairline. \u201cAh. Hm. Interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am not quite sure what to think, myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, Mr. Dunham, I have been impressed with your patience and persistence thus far, as I don\u2019t imagine keeping company with Dorothy is easy. Furthermore, I appreciate your willingness to attend services with Marina and, though Marina told me you are Methodist, I would hope you could consider joining our congregation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am indeed considering it, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExcellent. Well, you have my permission,\u201d Scarritt said with grand sobriety, \u201cunder the following conditions: Marina mayn\u2019t go out on school nights. She may stay out until ten p.m. on Fridays, and nine p.m. on Saturdays. She may not go dancing or to moving picture shows or Fairyland.\u201d Trey wasn\u2019t going to bother asking why not Fairyland, although it did put a bit of a hole in his activities list. \u201cShe may not attend any Mormon activities. I will trust, until you give me reason not to, that since you are an upright Christian gentleman who is looking for an upright Christian woman, you know what she should and should not be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With that, Scarritt stood to signal that the meeting was over. \u201cAs for Dorothy, how you and your employee deal with her is up to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPray for me, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">18<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cHE <em>WHAT?!<\/em>\u201d DOT hissed at lunch on Wednesday, horrified.<\/p>\n<p>Dot\u2019s horror made Marina even more gleeful. \u201cHe told Trey I could walk out with him on Friday and Saturday nights. Trey\u2019s taking me out Friday. I don\u2019t know where.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithout me?\u201d she asked plaintively, which dampened Marina\u2019s glee quite a bit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2014 Well, yes. But you\u2014 You have your church activities then,\u201d Marina said hesitantly. \u201cYou, um&nbsp;\u2026 You have a dance at church Friday, don\u2019t you? I didn\u2019t think you\u2019d mind, especially if you asked Gene to go. He would, I bet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot blinked. \u201cUh&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGolly, Dot, didn\u2019t you even think of it?\u201d Marina started to get excited again. \u201cGene went to your show and he really liked it. Why don\u2019t you ask him if he\u2019d like to go?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot\u2019s expression turned doubtful. \u201cI don\u2019t think <em>that\u2019s<\/em> quite proper. That\u2019s almost like asking him out on a date.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven if you don\u2019t want to <em>ask<\/em> him, you can tell him about it. I bet he\u2019d get the hint. He can\u2019t show up to a party he doesn\u2019t know is happening.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s a ducky idea!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHi, Marina.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina was surprised when a girl in the class ahead sat beside her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSoooo who\u2019s your highjohn?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGo chase yourself, Ruthie,\u201d Dot clucked.<\/p>\n<p>Ruthie ignored Dot, her eyes narrowing on Marina. \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHis name is Trey,\u201d Marina said calmly, although her heart was thumping. She didn\u2019t know if she was pleased to have caught the attention of Ruthie and her clique or not. She wanted to brag about him, but she didn\u2019t want to open herself up to ridicule.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMmm hm. And what\u2019s he do that he\u2019s got that snazzy car?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe sells insurance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina, you don\u2019t have to answer her questions. She\u2019s just jealous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruthie rolled her eyes. \u201cWhere\u2019d you meet him?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKresge\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe doesn\u2019t look like the kind of man who\u2019d go with someone like you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina knew it. Dot knew it. Trey knew it. Gene knew it. Everyone in school knew it. And yet&nbsp;\u2026 \u201cHe looks like he looks and he\u2019s going with me, so I guess you need spectacles.\u201d Dot choked on her milk, then started laughing. Marina gave Ruthie an innocent shrug and said, \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruthie curled her lip and flounced off.<\/p>\n<p>Dot was still laughing, but Marina swirled her spoon in her chocolate pudding, no longer able to eat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, Marina,\u201d Dot sighed when she finally realized Marina wasn\u2019t happy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s true,\u201d she muttered. \u201cIt\u2019s just a matter of time. I thought&nbsp;\u2026 I thought people would look at me differently if they knew about Trey, but they don\u2019t. They just think Trey has an ulterior motive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot and Marina didn\u2019t speak for the rest of the day. Marina was too sad. Dot knew there were no words to make it better.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"maindot2\">\u201cDot!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"maindot3\">\u201cDot!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>went the barks of little puppies at the end of the day as Marina and Dot were gathering their books.<\/p>\n<p>Dot gave them the side-eye, but didn\u2019t smile, didn\u2019t chat, didn\u2019t flirt. She had been doing this for the last three weeks, but they wouldn\u2019t give up. \u201cI wish Gene would come pick me up at school, too,\u201d Dot grumbled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019ve seen him at Kresge\u2019s, haven\u2019t they?\u201d Marina asked as they headed toward the front doors.<\/p>\n<p>She shrugged. \u201cWe both have beaux and our problems didn\u2019t get solved. I thought&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina looked for Trey at the bottom of the long flight of stairs from the front doors of Paseo High School, but he wasn\u2019t there. She heaved a sigh. \u201cI thought too, Dot,\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid he get tired of you, Marina?\u201d Ruthie sing-songed in her ear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe has a job, Ruthie,\u201d Dot sniped. \u201cMore than I can say for the dewdroppers in your family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re such a ritz,\u201d Ruthie snarled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you\u2019re a ritzy burg,\u201d Dot returned sweetly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Marina!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s heart stopped and she looked up the street to see Trey waving at her. \u201cTrey!\u201d she yelled back. \u201cGolly, Dot, look!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But she\u2019d already seen. \u201c<em>Gene!<\/em>\u201d Dot squealed and waved.<\/p>\n<p>Both men looked like the cat that ate the canary and leaned back against Trey\u2019s car, folding their arms over their chests.<\/p>\n<p>Dot stopped cold and looked at Ruthie. \u201cThat,\u201d she said, \u201cis my beau.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ruthie sniffed. \u201cHe looks Sicilian.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA very <em>handsome<\/em> Sicilian. If he were. But he\u2019s not. So I guess he\u2019s just plain ol\u2019 handsome.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina snickered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cC\u2019mon, Marina. We have <em>men<\/em> waiting for us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Happy as a lark now that Trey was here, Marina clipped down the stairs with Dot. He made everything so much better, and now she was getting impatient with high school and the catty girls and the fawning boys.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHellooooo, ladies,\u201d Trey said with a wide smile after she and Dot had squeezed their way through the mass of bodies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHi, Trey,\u201d Marina chirped.<\/p>\n<p>He took her hand and kissed the back of it with a wink and a sly smile, then leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAw, that\u2019s cute,\u201d Dot gushed. \u201cHi, Gene.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou want one too?\u201d he asked with dry amusement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGene,\u201d Marina said, once he had planted a kiss on Dot\u2019s forehead. \u201cDot has a dance at her church Friday night.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina!\u201d Dot cried.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was for his information. Nobody asked him to go. Nope.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey started to laugh and Dot lightly slapped her arm. \u201cAugh! You awful girl!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI guess I know where you\u2019ll be Friday night,\u201d Trey drawled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI guess you do,\u201d Gene returned with a grin. \u201cGood morning, Dot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood morning, Gene,\u201d she returned sassily.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll right, ladies, hop in,\u201d Trey said as he went around to open the front door for Marina, and Gene, the back door for Dot. \u201cTime for Kresge\u2019s and then it\u2019s church for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cWOULD YOU BE allowed to wear a dress Friday night if I asked?\u201d Trey asked quietly underneath Dot chattering at an enthralled Gene. \u201cI want to take you to Correggio\u2019s for supper and they don\u2019t allow women in trousers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPerhaps,\u201d Marina murmured. \u201cFather likes you, but Mother is more&nbsp;\u2026 She\u2019s not\u2014 Augh! What am I trying to say? She doesn\u2019t like my walking out with you, but it\u2019s not <em>you<\/em>. I don\u2019t think. I have never had a beau before and I have tried to explain that I would like to enjoy having one for a while\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor a while?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina took a deep breath. \u201cWell&nbsp;\u2026 yes. I assume that eventually one of us will become disenchanted and not want to be with the other. It happens all the time. Susie is going with Johnny and then the next week, they\u2019re each going with someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He gave her an odd look. \u201cMarina, I am not a boy. I don\u2019t waste time. What I said about Gene\u2019s interest in Dot applies to my interest in you even more because I\u2019m older than he is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina didn\u2019t understand. \u201cAre you saying you want to&nbsp;\u2026 um&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want to find out if I want to,\u201d he said gently. \u201cI can\u2019t do that with Dot and Gene around. That\u2019s why I went to your father.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh,\u201d she said in a small voice. \u201cTruly?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTruly. That is not to say you won\u2019t get tired of me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think I would get tired of you,\u201d she mused, thinking. \u201cI do think Mother would\u2014 I don\u2019t think she\u2014 Augh! I mean to say I think she wants\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe wants you to stay home forever and take care of her!\u201d Dot interrupted indignantly.<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s brow wrinkled. \u201cDo you think so?\u201d she asked uncertainly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, it\u2019s clear as the nose on your face. You do all the housework, all the baking\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut she says she wants me to be a good\u2014\u201d She bit that off.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCaretaker! If you think she will <em>ever<\/em> let you get married and leave her, think again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s attention fluttered up to the back wall of Kresge\u2019s and considered, then looked back at Dot. \u201cNooo,\u201d she said as she tried to put her thoughts into words. \u201cI do the housework, but she goes out to the parishioners to tend them. I\u2019m helping her be a good reverend\u2019s wife. The parsonage isn\u2019t a burden, as long as I keep up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you make <em>all<\/em> her clothes!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I like doing that. It makes me happy when other people admire her. And she does all the cooking, which she would not do if she wanted me to take care of her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can see what you\u2019re saying, Miss Albright,\u201d Trey interrupted gently. \u201cBut Marina doesn\u2019t see it that way. Even if it were true, does it matter if Marina doesn\u2019t mind?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe does mind!\u201d Dot shot back, leaving Marina thoroughly bewildered. \u201cI see her face when she wants a little praise or a sincere thank you and her mother doesn\u2019t say anything or criticizes her or adds to her chores. I see her face when she asks to do the most innocent thing but is denied.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot,\u201d Marina said thinly, \u201cwhy\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause I want you to be happy, Marina,\u201d she pled, taking her hands. \u201cBut you\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I can go lots of places and do things and I get pin money and I have good clothes and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat do you think would make her happy?\u201d Trey asked.<\/p>\n<p>Dot glanced at him with a tidge of contempt and said, \u201cWell. I think being allowed to come to my church every so often would be a good start.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre you still mad about that?\u201d Marina asked, hurt all over again.<\/p>\n<p>Dot flushed. \u201cNot at you,\u201d she muttered. \u201cMarina, <em>everyone<\/em> loved the outfit you made me and I wanted to brag on you so you\u2019ll know what it\u2019s like to\u2014 I just wanted you to hear someone praise you. You never believe me. But <em>noooooo<\/em> your father just couldn\u2019t be disturbed with his\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina\u2019s mouth twisted all sorts of different ways as she tried to sort that out. \u201cHe was in counseling with a woman with a family problem,\u201d Marina said gently. \u201cThat was God\u2019s will.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think she had a family problem,\u201d Dot muttered.<\/p>\n<p>Both Trey and Gene started and gave Dot a long look.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat else would he be doing?\u201d Marina asked plaintively, feeling as if suddenly she were the only one at the table missing the joke.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI guess it was God\u2019s will,\u201d Dot muttered unhappily, sliding down in her seat and glaring at her cherry lime phosphate. \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful, Marina,\u201d she whispered, dashing moisture off one of her cheeks. \u201cI would wear it every Sunday if my mother didn\u2019t have some silly rule about not wearing the same thing two Sundays in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot\u2019s mother was quite a stickler for fashion rules and Dot had enough beautiful Sunday outfits to never wear one twice in three months.<\/p>\n<p>Marina had a lovely closet too, but she didn\u2019t seem to look as good in her clothes as the models in the fashion magazines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d Marina finally murmured, \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGene,\u201d Dot said, turning to her beau with a bright smile. \u201cI need to go for a walk. Would you like to come along and protect my honor?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCertainly,\u201d he said gravely, sliding out of the booth, offering his hand to her, then placing it on his crooked arm before strolling out.<\/p>\n<p>There was an awkward silence between Marina and Trey because she was thoroughly embarrassed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Marina muttered. \u201cI\u2019m not quite sure what she was trying to say or&nbsp;\u2026 what. I mean, I understand what she said. I don\u2019t understand what she <em>said<\/em>&nbsp;\u2026 I mean! Arrrggghhh. I don\u2019t know why she cares so much. She\u2019s just so&nbsp;\u2026 The strangest things set her off.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe loves you,\u201d Trey said simply. \u201cShe\u2019s trying to protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom <em>what<\/em>?!\u201d Marina demanded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, first, from me. Now it appears she\u2019s at the end of her patience with your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMother isn\u2019t\u2014\u201d Marina stopped. Wasn\u2019t what?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina,\u201d Trey said gently, \u201cyou\u2019re a good daughter. Dot\u2019s family is different from yours and she doesn\u2019t seem to understand there\u2019s more than one way to be a good daughter. Just her way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina sighed and fiddled with her napkin.<\/p>\n<p>Trey leaned toward her and nudged her gently. \u201cWhether your mother wants you to stay home forever or not, your father seems to want to see you settled. And in a good Christian household, the father is the head. I\u2019m sure Dot\u2019s parents would agree.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d Marina mused, then glanced at Trey. \u201cBut Mormons aren\u2019t Christians.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He shrugged. \u201cWhatever they are, they\u2019re still good people in the most important ways. Dot\u2019s proof of that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina nodded. \u201cWhat did you say to Father that he agreed I could walk out with you alone?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI told him Dot was too protective of you for uninterrupted conversation,\u201d he drawled.<\/p>\n<p>Marina gaped at him, then laughed, then clapped her hands over her mouth. \u201cOh, I shouldn\u2019t laugh. She means well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd that was my point about her goodness. Your father appreciates Dot\u2019s concern and protective nature. But he also understands that Dot is a little <em>too<\/em> good at it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina, I am not trying to come between you. I think Dot\u2019s a good person, but she is also a lot more cynical than you are so she sees things you don\u2019t or simply are not there. I think you\u2019re charming just the way you are. Gene thinks Dot\u2019s charming just the way she is. I would also like to see the outfit you made for Dot, but I see your mother\u2019s clothes so I don\u2019t need to see Dot\u2019s outfit to know you\u2019re a talented woman.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina looked at him warily. That was the second time he\u2019d referred to her as a woman. Furthermore, his compliment sounded like a statement of fact, not empty words.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou want me to tell you you\u2019re pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina gave him a tiny nod.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She pulled her lips between her teeth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI tell you I could look at you all day long. So why would I say things I don\u2019t mean just to make you feel better?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou do have a point,\u201d she said slowly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDot wants <em>you<\/em> to feel better because she doesn\u2019t think your mother does enough.\u201d He held his hand up when Marina opened her mouth to protest. \u201cWhether she does or not is not for me to say. I don\u2019t know; I don\u2019t want to get between you and your mother any more than I want to get between you and Dot. My only point is that however clumsy she is, Dot loves you and cares about your feelings. Most people spend their whole lives looking for a friend like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo&nbsp;\u2026 You don\u2019t have a friend like that, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He gave her a wry smile. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGene?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy employee, not my friend. Not like you and Dot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you want a friend like that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He seemed surprised by the question. \u201cI&nbsp;\u2026 Um&nbsp;\u2026 No,\u201d he finally said. \u201cMen have allies and mutually interested acquaintances who may or may not stay mutually interested if something doesn\u2019t work out right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou mean&nbsp;\u2026 business?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are no friends at an auction, Marina.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">19<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">THE FIRST CHANCE Trey got to ask Gio about his evening at Dot\u2019s church dance was in the wee hours of Monday morning. They and three of Trey\u2019s trusted hired guns were unloading crates of whisky from a barge at a small hidden landing far up the Kaw River.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot bad,\u201d Gio informed him. \u201cI\u2019m never going to learn how to dance like she and her partner do, but I can manage basic steps enough to have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd the partner?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe wouldn\u2019t be allowed to do all those fancy tricks with him if half the congregation weren\u2019t wise to his confirmed bachelorhood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s Mormon?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. His sister is. Dot\u2019s his only chance to dance at that level. How was Correggio\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey grimaced. \u201cThe date was fine. I had to do some fast lawyering to get Mama to let her wear a dress.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought it was Daddy who wanted to protect her honor?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was busy <em>comforting<\/em> a parishioner.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>All five men snorted a laugh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid I tell you about Marina\u2019s mama\u2019s cooking? Most godawful food I\u2019ve ever had. Marina even said so, and she\u2019d rather do the cooking, but Mama won\u2019t let her even though Daddy likes Marina\u2019s food better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause she\u2019s jealous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKeep Marina from eating too much. Her way of minding her waist.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe would go pudgy if she ate like Dot does,\u201d Gio agreed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo Marina orders meatballs then halfway through the first one, tells me it\u2019s wonderful but she\u2019s stuffed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCorreggio\u2019s uses Marie Lazia\u2019s recipe. Everybody in town loves her meatballs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd everybody\u2019s lyin\u2019 like a big dog on a big rug. Are <em>you<\/em> gonna tell Brother John his wife\u2019s pride and joy is shit?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHad me fooled.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina <em>loved<\/em> the antipasto\u2014shit, she could\u2019ve inhaled the olives and prosciutto, but she was too polite to take more\u2019n a coupla bites. I had the pasta alla Norma, but she was eyeballin\u2019 that like a starving orphan, so I asked her if she\u2019d switch because I\u2019d rather have the meatballs and I felt we were on familiar enough terms to do that, and I hoped she wouldn\u2019t think badly of my manners.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio nodded approvingly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlmost got some calamari, but she wanted to save that for next time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou sure she just didn\u2019t want squid?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe saw a platter going by and started slobbering. I told her what it was and she looked like she\u2019d been promised a trip to a candy store. I could probably get this girl in bed by waving good food under her nose, \u2019cuz her mama ain\u2019t cookin\u2019 it an\u2019 she ain\u2019t allowed. Now, I saved the best part for last. Boss Tom and Carolyn were there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe hell you say!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMade a point to stop by our table. Boss Tom introduced himself and the missus as Tom and Carolyn, no last names. Marina said, and I quote, \u2018Oh, what a lovely couple!\u2019 She was <em>thrilled<\/em> to be seen as a contemporary. When she asked who he was, I told her he was a client.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The five of them worked in relative silence for the next few hours, slinging crates stamped FLORIDA ORANGES into and out of Trey\u2019s three ICE trucks, then heading out to an old widow\u2019s garage in Kansas, the use of which he paid for handsomely. When the booze was all packed away, they locked up the garage, headed downtown, then puttered on down an alley toward another partially filled warehouse on 16th and Baltimore. They drove in, parked, and locked the garage door behind them. They spent the next few hours hauling crates of whisky and gin down into the tunnel that snaked its way under 1520, its entrance a very well-camouflaged door under the outside-wall stairwell the third-floor tenants used.<\/p>\n<p>It was eight a.m. when they finished stocking the tunnel and emerged. The speak was quiet. There were no sounds of debauchery coming from upstairs. The faint smell of tenants having cooked breakfast before work wafted downward. Trey paid his hired hands, and they trudged wearily out of the speak.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThanks,\u201d Trey said as Gio climbed the stairs, then caught the look on Gio\u2019s face when he turned around. \u201cWhat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have never thanked me for one goddamned thing since I walked in here four years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo? Can\u2019t a cat do that without gettin\u2019 his head bit off? You ain\u2019t never thanked me for anything either.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaking me whore for you isn\u2019t worth a thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s eyebrows rose. \u201cI didn\u2019t have to take you in,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cNobody in town wanted you because you were too hot to touch. Everybody knew that. Strange Sicilian kid coming through looking for work with that accent can\u2019t be anything <em>but<\/em> connected. I gave you the terms straight up. You chose to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio\u2019s mouth tightened and he looked away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t whore for my living,\u201d Trey continued flatly. \u201cGod, do you know how much money I could make with my dick? Do you think I haven\u2019t been offered a whole lotta money for not much work doing something I <em>like<\/em>? I\u2019m good lookin\u2019 and I\u2019m good at it, and don\u2019t think I never considered it, but I decided I\u2019d eat rotten kitchen garbage\u2014and I did\u2014before I\u2019d rent my body out to anybody, so think about that before you blame me for the choices you made.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI haven\u2019t had much choice about anything I did,\u201d he muttered, jingling the nickels in his pocket.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will allow as how you were eighteen, lost, felt like you didn\u2019t have a choice, but now you got yourself out. Congratulations. Welcome to manhood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cYO, BOSS!\u201d VERN bellowed, his voice barely reaching through the door down into the tunnel where Trey was taking inventory. \u201cBoss Tom\u2019s lookin\u2019 for ya.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey shot to his office to get his books. He shot out the door, down the street, and past all those waiting for an audience. Lazia\u2019s man Carrollo, leaning back against the building just next to the door, shot him a killing look as he went in, but that was normal. Carrollo hated Trey and the feeling was mutual. It would be a good day that Trey was let off his leash to ice the cat, but then, Trey suspected Carrollo was on his own leash with respect to Trey.<\/p>\n<p>Trey took the stairs two at a time, then stopped just outside the closed office door to catch his breath before strolling in as if he hadn\u2019t done a day of work in his life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;begging me for consideration,\u201d Boss Tom said, catching Trey\u2019s ear. He leaned in closer to the door. \u201cI am not going to let you get your fingers in the middle of this bet, because I will chop them off. I want Gil Scarritt run out of town on a rail by his own congregation, and you can\u2019t make that happen. He can.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd if he doesn\u2019t?\u201d Brother John Lazia said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf he doesn\u2019t, you and I can have another sit-down. One more thing. I do not want you to rile up his granddaddy if he gets wind of your shenanigans. Man\u2019s got his fist around St. Louis and fingers in Jeff City. He and I get along and I don\u2019t want you changing that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey blinked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t know he\u2019s his granddaddy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHave you ever seen Elliott Dunham?\u201d Boss Tom retorted. Long silence. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t <em>know<\/em>, but I\u2019d bet on it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The hell? <em>Elliott Dunham<\/em> was Trey\u2019s oldest brother\u2019s name. Not once had Trey\u2019s parents said one word about their respective families. If Trey had a granddaddy, it\u2019d give Trey a heart attack, but how many <em>Elliott Dunham<\/em>s could there be in the world?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSay, did you hear about the Terranova kid?\u201d Lazia asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverybody knows about the Terranova kid. Morello\u2019s fit to be tied, though he does a good job of hiding it. He was the laughingstock of Atlantic City.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have any ideas?\u201d Now Trey thought he <em>was<\/em> having a heart attack.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am not going to get mixed up in the New York families\u2019 business, and I suggest you do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want that bounty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can live without it, but good luck.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gio would be pleased to know Boss Tom would protect him from his family, but <em>not<\/em> that Boss Tom knew where he was or that Trey now had something Boss Tom could use as a bargaining chip against him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLeave Dunham alone\u2014\u201d Boss Tom said, which was all he had to say before Trey skedaddled down the stairs, waited until Boss Tom\u2019s door opened, and started up the stairs as if he\u2019d just arrived.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBrother John!\u201d Trey said heartily once he\u2019d reached the second floor. Again. He shifted his ledgers to his other arm and held his hand out for a shake. Brother John took it and pulled him in for kisses on each cheek as Italians did. \u201cBalance day for ya?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou know how it is,\u201d he said smoothly. \u201cHow\u2019s your bet going?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJohn,\u201d Boss Tom said flatly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCiao, Dunham,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, tell your wife Marina loved Correggio\u2019s meatballs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lazia halted mid-step. \u201cShe did?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe woulda asked for seconds if it wa\u2019n\u2019t rude for a woman to eat that much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarie will be pleased,\u201d he said as if a little dazed. \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCredit where credit\u2019s due,\u201d he said as he moseyed on into Boss Tom\u2019s office, then dropped his ledgers in front of him.<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom looked up at him from under his brows. \u201cI see what you mean about Marina Scarritt,\u201d he mumbled. Trey dropped himself into the chair across from him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Interesting<\/em> looking,\u201d Boss Tom sneered. \u201cCarolyn thought she was adorable, although she needs some spiffing up. Asked me twice if I was sure she was only sixteen, you two carrying on a conversation like she actually knows anything about the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s smart,\u201d Trey drawled smugly. \u201cThose girls? Just have to dig their confidence out from under other people\u2019s bum opinions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom scowled. \u201cWhat <em>were<\/em> you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBooks,\u201d Trey said firmly. \u201cShe reads. A lot. She <em>loves<\/em> detective novels.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoddammit,\u201d Boss Tom muttered.<\/p>\n<p>Trey grinned. It was no secret Trey read everything he could get his hands on, that he hired tutors for difficult subjects, and that he had a particular fondness for Agatha Christie. So Trey sat basking in his smugness while Pendergast examined his books. \u201cWhere are you picking up George Remus\u2019s whisky?\u201d he finally asked. \u201cI asked him and he had no idea what I was talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWink, wink, nudge, nudge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom shrugged.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoes it matter? That\u2019s my biggest margin, which means you make a shit-ton of money. Higher than the Rieger and McCormick combined. An\u2019 it ain\u2019t in your best interest to know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom waved a hand, which meant he agreed and wouldn\u2019t ask again.<\/p>\n<p>It took a while for Boss Tom to get through them, but he initialed the end-of-month totals and snapped the ledgers shut. \u201cSay, Dunham. Been wondering. Where\u2019d you come from? What happened to your family?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey pretended to look shocked. \u201cOh, well, my mama and three older brothers died in the epidemic.\u201d Boss Tom nodded. \u201cMy daddy died of a broken heart about a year after my last brother kicked the bucket.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t have any other family?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo far as I know, no. Mama and Daddy never talked about where they came from, even when we asked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you never went looking?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d Trey asked incredulously. That was not feigned. \u201cI\u2019m twelve. I wake up and my daddy don\u2019t. I bury him and the next day I got bankers knockin\u2019 on my door wantin\u2019 me to pay the rest of the mortgage in one lump sum.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom looked shocked. \u201cSurely they meant arrears.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll of it,\u201d Trey said testily. \u201cBut I was twelve. How\u2019s I supposed to pay a mortgage? So I get kicked out on my ass with nothin\u2019. I hitch a ride with a bootlegger, his woman feeds me, bootlegger pays me to do this errand or that errand on our way here, I stay with them for a while gettin\u2019 the lay of the land, then <em>they<\/em> get the flu and die. I take over their operation, in between hammer a couple of little speakeasies into shape, and here I am.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The old man took a deep breath and pinched his nose in thought. \u201cWell, I\u2019m sorry about that, boy. I didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom hadn\u2019t asked because he was curious, but his sentiment was sincere. He was a family man, and that story would twist any good father\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou know I would\u2019ve helped any kid in your situation, right?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI surely do, Boss.\u201d That was the absolute truth. \u201c\u2019Preciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">20<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">BY THE TIME he and Gio picked the girls up from school, Trey didn\u2019t feel like being witty or deceptive. At Kresge\u2019s, he told them he had received some disturbing news he\u2019d rather not talk about and hinted he might not be good company for the rest of the evening. Even Gio was surprised. Marina very obligingly told him she had a lot of homework to get done, but hadn\u2019t wanted to spoil the evening\u2019s plans by saying anything.<\/p>\n<p>He really liked that girl.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, his mood didn\u2019t abate throughout the evening. Around eleven, he told his assistants, \u201cI\u2019mma be gone for a coupla-three days. Gio, you cover for me with Marina tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d Gio asked, concerned. \u201cYou\u2019ve been off since you got your books checked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNothin\u2019 to do with Boss Tom or Lazia or the bet or Scarritt or the speak or Marina. I just gotta sort somethin\u2019 out.\u201d With that, he got in his car and headed east as impulsively as he did everything.<\/p>\n<p>He got to St. Charles five hours later, but he was in no condition to meet Elliott Dunham, no matter the man\u2019s station in life or condition or health. He found a decent hotel, paid a girl to go get him a nice set of duds, paid another one to bring him a bath and breakfast, and paid a third to bring him a cigar, a bottle of whisky, and her pussy.<\/p>\n<p>He drank, smoked, and thought of Marina the whole time the gal rode him.<\/p>\n<p>He went to bed at his normal time and by evening, had found out almost everything he wanted to know. He was shocked to find out Boss Tom hadn\u2019t been blowing smoke about the existence and station of Elliott Dunham, who was a filthy rich bigwig in and around St. Louis. Moreover, he was a retired federal judge! Whether he was Trey\u2019s grandfather or not made only half a difference. He had to know who this cat was, why he was wearing Trey\u2019s eldest brother\u2019s name, and why Boss Tom did not want to piss him off.<\/p>\n<p>The wife was some sort of society matron and they lived in a Second Empire mansion in a very swank neighborhood. He had a Duesenberg Model J\u2014and so did she.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood Lord,\u201d Trey whispered to himself, wondering if they were up to sharing the wealth.<\/p>\n<p>He shook that off. No, he didn\u2019t want their money. Money was cheap. He wanted information.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019d caught part of their routine and followed what he thought was their car. Along around suppertime, he was leaning up against a tree in a park, a newspaper in front of his face, when he finally got a good look at the old man and it was like looking in a mirror\u2014if Trey were about a hundred years old and a hundred pounds too fat.<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom was generally a bad gambler, but he would\u2019ve won that bet.<\/p>\n<p>Trey was so shocked he nearly dropped his newspaper and then fumbled with it, fighting the breeze to keep hold of it, which drew the old man\u2019s attention. And then the old man stopped cold, staring right back at him where he was still trying to be smooth.<\/p>\n<p>Smooth was out the window.<\/p>\n<p>Trey smirked wryly and shoved himself away from the tree, then sauntered across the street to where his future stood. The old man\u2019s eyes narrowed and the old woman by his side, dressed in the height of fashion, watched also, her mouth pursed. They both stood straight and proud, which did Trey a whole lot of good.<\/p>\n<p>He stepped up onto the sidewalk, stood in front of the old man\u2014they were the same height\u2014and said, \u201cTrey Dunham.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The old man looked him up and down, then drawled, \u201cTook you long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had more important things to do than look up a likely dead relative I never heard of,\u201d Trey shot back.<\/p>\n<p>The old woman\u2019s face softened into a smile and she held out her hand. Trey took it and kissed the back of it. \u201cMa\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought I had seen a ghost,\u201d she said crisply with a regal nod.<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s eyebrow rose. \u201cOf a man who\u2019s not dead?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She smiled and her eyes sparkled. \u201cOf the young man I married.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not dead yet! Come, boy. I hope you\u2019re not here for money, because I\u2019m not giving you any even if I do like your gumption.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t need money,\u201d Trey said as he fell in beside them and admired their quick pace. \u201cI want to know why I only just heard of you yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI couldn\u2019t tell you that,\u201d said his grandfather. \u201cA boy should be interested on his own behalf.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m interested when I need to be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m sure. We were on our way to dinner, but you knew that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, sir, I did not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI shouldn\u2019t believe you, but I do. Join us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey followed them into a very fine restaurant and attempted to remember his manners and mind his diction. They were seated, their menus brought. Trey ordered what he thought might be the least expensive thing on the menu and refused a pansy little soft drink. \u201cRemus, if you have it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Both grandparents and the waiter gaped at him. He raised an eyebrow. \u201cSt. Louis might not have the action Kansas City does, but I know how this state feels about the Eighteenth Amendment so I know you\u2019ve got whisky. The good stuff, not tobacco swill.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At a small gesture from his grandfather, the waiter gave a little bow and said, \u201cVery well, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked back at the old man who studied him with a look Trey couldn\u2019t decipher. He took him in from well-coiffed head to well-shod toe. \u201cYou\u2019re one of Boss Tom\u2019s people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey shrugged and took his whisky from the waiter with a nod of thanks. He smirked when the waiter put an Old Fashioned in front of his grandfather and a dirty martini in front of his grandmother\u2014which they had not ordered.<\/p>\n<p>He liked these people.<\/p>\n<p>For the first time since his father died, Trey suddenly felt like he <em>belonged<\/em> somewhere, <em>to<\/em> someone, that his name fit.<\/p>\n<p><em>Finally<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>And it had only taken fifteen minutes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI,\u201d he said after a sip and a nod of appreciation for its fineness, \u201cam a respectable insurance salesman.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd my name\u2019s Fiddlesticks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Their dishes came and Trey again had to concentrate on his table manners. They weren\u2019t difficult rules, but there were so many of them in such a precise order.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrey,\u201d his grandmother said. She had a delicate voice, but also commanding.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes\u2019m?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow old are you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwenty-four.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you are here to learn where you came from.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes\u2019m.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His grandfather grinned. \u201cThat isn\u2019t all,\u201d he said right before he put a piece of steak in his mouth. \u201cYou want to know the connection between me and Boss Tom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey nodded, then relaxed and dug into his Cobb salad.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere are you staying?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey told them, then said, \u201cI got\u2014\u201d He stopped, took a deep breath. \u201cI have business to tend and a girl back home\u2014\u201d They hadn\u2019t missed his grammatical slip-up, but were too polite to say anything. \u201c\u2014so I can\u2019t stay long. I had wild hare to shimmy on over here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere is your family?\u201d Grandmother asked softly. \u201cMy son?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cHe\u2019s dead.\u201d She gasped and clapped her hands to her mouth. \u201cAs is my mother and three older brothers. Why don\u2019t you know that? Better question: Why don\u2019t I know about you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She looked away. Grandfather cleared his throat. \u201cAh, words were said,\u201d he muttered, his voice trembling. Moisture glistened in his eye. \u201cIt&nbsp;\u2026 I was an ass. We wanted your father to marry in the church and your mother was Methodist and&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s jaw began to grind. \u201cWhat church?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCatholic. Her parents felt the same way about Hank. We got into it. The kids ran away. Never heard from them again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s it?\u201d Trey asked tightly, remembering now his father never went to church with him, his mother, and brothers. \u201cYou didn\u2019t like my mother\u2019s god? So you let your son go? Never looked for him? Never found out what had become of him? My oldest brother was eighteen when he died. Even if you didn\u2019t like my mother, you had four grandsons, one of whom was orphaned at twelve, and you never&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;?\u201d Trey could barely speak, he was so furious, but his grandparents sat in ashamed, mournful silence.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy mother,\u201d he growled, \u201cwas a soft-spoken, loving woman. My father was kind and gentle. They were both smart as whips. We were all hard-working. We went to church\u2014yes, Methodist. We boys went to school and our parents minded our marks closely. And you\u2014and they\u2014threw us away for your fucking <em>god<\/em>? You know what?\u201d he barked, whipping his napkin off his lap and throwing it into his chair. He stood and snatched his fedora off the empty fourth chair. \u201cI hope your god damns you to whatever hell you believe in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrey!\u201d his grandmother cried as he strode out of the restaurant. \u201cTrey, no! Come back!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He heard her running after him, but he didn\u2019t slow, turning out on the sidewalk.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrey, please!\u201d she cried. \u201cYou\u2019re our family! My only son\u2019s only son! You are <em>mine!<\/em>\u201d she screamed, then broke down in sobs he could hear from as far away as he was.<\/p>\n<p>He slowed. He hadn\u2019t been anybody\u2019s since his father died of a broken heart because the only child he had left wasn\u2019t enough to live for.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>YOU ARE MINE!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He stopped.<\/p>\n<p>Thought. How badly did he want to belong to somebody? What strings would come with this?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t cut your nose off to spite your face, son!\u201d the old man boomed. \u201cYou came looking for your grandfather. You found him. Now what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey dropped his head back to look at the sky. It was his father who\u2019d taught Trey and his brothers to read, to do sums, to throw a baseball, to work, to save. It was his mother who\u2019d sung to him and rocked him and stroked him to sleep and made sure his older brothers didn\u2019t torture him too much. Trey didn\u2019t know how he <em>would<\/em> have turned out if his family hadn\u2019t died, but life had done its best to break him. He was far from broken, but he was also far from anything his father would\u2019ve wanted him to be.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>TREY!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He hated her. Hated them. Hated that he\u2019d had to navigate the world alone as a twelve-year-old orphan when there were two people <em>right there<\/em> who could\u2019ve taken him in if\u2014 They couldn\u2019t have done anything about his mother and brothers\u2019 deaths, but they could\u2019ve given his father more reason to live, or at least adults to lean on in his grief. But their pride, their fucking pride&nbsp;\u2026 In <em>what?<\/em> Religion.<\/p>\n<p>It was always religion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>PLEASE!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey was twenty-four. He was swimming in a pool of men twice his age who liked their lives of crime and would die early because that was what mob bosses did. Trey wanted to get out filthy rich and alive, and as far away from the mob as possible. But when he could stand to think about it, he admitted he had no one to live for. He didn\u2019t even have his own twelve-year-old boy who needed his father.<\/p>\n<p>And now, here, these people&nbsp;\u2026 this old woman, rich as Croesus (he didn\u2019t know how to pronounce that, either), a bigwig in St. Louis, was standing on a street corner with people streaming around her, screaming at him, begging a twenty-four-year-old gutter rat to stay.<\/p>\n<p>What was he waiting for? He had to leave because he didn\u2019t owe these people anything. He had to stay because\u2014<\/p>\n<p>He turned with a sigh and trudged back to his grandparents. Once he was within arms\u2019 reach, he gently gathered the weeping old woman into his arms. He was almost surprised when the old man threw his arm around Trey\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n<p>The three of them slowly made it back into the restaurant and to their table. Trey seated both his grandparents, then himself. They each nibbled at their suppers a little to gather themselves.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d his grandfather asked low.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpanish flu,\u201d Trey muttered. \u201cWe had a farm near Redbird.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHenry always did want to be a farmer,\u201d his grandmother whispered to her plate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah,\u201d Trey murmured. \u201cMama got sick first. Died. Then my three older brothers went bang, bang, bang like that. It was just my father and me left. About a year after my last brother died, I got up one morning and my daddy didn\u2019t. I was twelve.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s grandfather cleared his throat and studied his meal. His grandmother was doing the same, as well as sopping up tears with her napkin.<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019d gotten his tears beaten out of him. He had none left.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI figure he died of a broken heart,\u201d Trey concluded quietly. \u201cI wasn\u2019t enough.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat had he been doing that year?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat we did, only more of it. Plowing. Feeding the animals. Milking the cows. We had a woman out to do laundry, but I did the hunting, fishing, and cooking. Didn\u2019t do a whole lot of cleaning. Didn\u2019t have time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWas it a big farm?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey shrugged. \u201cFairly. We had hands. Added more acreage each year. Growing, what with my brothers. I don\u2019t know what happened to it, except some cats who said they were bankers came along and told me they were calling the loan and get out if I couldn\u2019t cough it up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you verify that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI looked at the records when I had a minute,\u201d Trey said testily. \u201cWe were four months in arrears. I wouldn\u2019t have been as patient if I were a banker, not if I could see which way the wind was blowing. Not even being that far in the hole would make my daddy come crawling back to you for help, so what does that tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m sorry about that,\u201d the old man croaked. \u201cBut whatever happens here, now, I need you to know the last thing your father would\u2019ve died of is a broken heart. He was too strong for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s eyebrow rose.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou were twelve, so he probably didn\u2019t let you see how hard he would\u2019ve had to work to cover for three boys and your mother. He likely worked himself into the grave.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s lip curled. \u201cHow would you know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was how my father died. Young, though not that young. Working too hard for too little. He was a farmer too. I decided I didn\u2019t want to spend my life making just enough to eat and working too hard to do it. So I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey held his hand up, and his grandfather stopped speaking. He had to think about this. All this time thinking his father had left him and&nbsp;\u2026 it <em>might<\/em> not be true. Of course his grandfather didn\u2019t know for sure, but Trey did remember the long hours he and his father had put in to keep the farm going. They had been alone. Everyone around them was dead or sick from the flu enough that they would probably die. The flu wiped almost everyone out, except the bankers.<\/p>\n<p>He might or might not change his point of view after contemplating it, but he would need time to decide what to believe.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCrime pays,\u201d Trey muttered finally, gesturing to his grandfather.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat it does,\u201d his grandfather murmured in return. \u201cAnd it runs deep in the Dunham family genes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That shocked Trey, and he met his grandfather\u2019s eyes, which, now that he was noticing, were exactly the same ice blue as Trey\u2019s and just as unnerving as everyone found his.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy great grandfather,\u201d the old man said as he once again dug into his meal, \u201cwas a pirate who stole a king\u2019s ransom of gold from a British pay fleet during the Revolutionary War, and my great grandmother was a privateer captain for the Americans. They came to blows somewhere in the Caribbean. Or so the story goes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s fork clattered onto the side of his plate. \u201cThe hell you say,\u201d he whispered, shocked. <em>Thrilled<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI <em>think<\/em>,\u201d he added wryly, \u201cand if I remember my grandfather\u2019s stories correctly. The pirate was ancient when I was a boy. My great grandmother was already gone before I was born, but I did find her letter of marque, so I know that was true. Her name was Celia. I have reason to doubt his story, though because he was supposedly <em>also<\/em> an English earl. The problem is, Dunham is an old name from Scotland, and was my great grandmother\u2019s father, who was also a pirate on the Barbary Coast. Logically, the pirate\u2019s name couldn\u2019t have been Dunham, and if he <em>was<\/em> an earl, he would have had neither reason nor opportunity to be one, nor would he have gotten away with it.\u201d He chuckled and shook his head. \u201cMy grandfather told the tallest tales. My father thought they were a riot, but didn\u2019t believe a word of it. I hung onto every word, but those words were gone soon enough. His sugars, they said. Same problem I have. It\u2019s apparently from my great grandmother\u2019s side. That\u2019s what she and her father died from too, I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey nodded vaguely, thinking. Still thinking. \u201cYour father\u2019s heart? My father\u2019s too?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I had to guess, yes. That\u2019s what it sounds like to me, unless he was a drunkard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey shook his head. \u201cMama didn\u2019t hold with that. I found out I like my whisky well enough, but I also don\u2019t drink much, relatively speaking. Cocaine, aphrodisiacs, opium, peyote, reefer, heroin, whatnot\u2014tried \u2019em all\u2014make my heart drop out on the floor, which isn\u2019t worth the high, so I don\u2019t. None of that stuff. I don\u2019t touch it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His grandfather nodded soberly. \u201cBest you keep it that way. You have enough on your plate with Boss Tom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoss Tom ain\u2014<em>isn\u2019t<\/em>\u2014my only problem,\u201d Trey muttered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJohn Lazia,\u201d Trey admitted reluctantly, because that said too much.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAh. Well, I\u2019ll not get into your business. I will say, whatever you\u2019re doing, if you\u2019re not in hock up to your ears\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was a question. Trey shook his head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2014you\u2019re doing well enough for yourself.\u201d He paused. \u201cSo you really <em>didn\u2019t<\/em> come here to see what you could squeeze out of me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. I overheard Boss Tom talking to Lazia. Said your name. He didn\u2019t want Lazia to get you mad at him, and&nbsp;\u2026 All I wanted was to get answers my daddy would never answer. He and Mama wouldn\u2019t speak of you, and now I realize I don\u2019t even know her maiden name. I had too many of my own problems after he died to think about any of that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey had forgotten his grandmother was there until she began to weep again. Quietly. No one at other tables could hear. But Trey did and he watched her for a moment, wondering if he should do something to comfort her.<\/p>\n<p>He turned back to the old man. \u201cI do a lot of bad things,\u201d he said flatly, \u201cbut I don\u2019t shake people down. It\u2019s easier to do business when people know you want a fair exchange.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWise, too. But you\u2019re getting your real money from elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t need to know all that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wasn\u2019t asking. You\u2019re my grandson. Dunham blood runs true, ne\u2019er-do-wells, the lot of us. Or farmers, but it\u2019s the ne\u2019er-do-wells who keep the money flowing through every other generation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t know how you\u2019re defining ne\u2019er-do-well, old man, but you look like an e\u2019er-do-well to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe make our money, then get out. Go straight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey do?\u201d Trey asked incredulously.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor the most part. Can\u2019t leave it behind completely because we have to protect ourselves, but yes. Always best to leave the table when you\u2019re winning. Pigs get fat\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHogs get slaughtered.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIndeed. I would be surprised if you didn\u2019t have a plan, if you\u2019re already that straight-shooting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey pursed his lips, wanting to tell someone, but needing to keep it to himself. \u201cI have a plan. You don\u2019t need to know that, either. You went straight from bootlegging to the bench?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His grandfather gave him a crooked grin. \u201cThat path was not straight, but I did my best, yes. My grandfather was a lawyer. My father and great grandfather pirate were farmers\u2014which is another reason I doubt the pirate story. Your father wanted to be a farmer as long as I can remember. Mother Nature would be his only boss. Now you\u2014 I\u2019d bet my last dime you\u2019ve been making plans to go to law school.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s jaw ground.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHave you graduated from high school, Trey?\u201d his grandmother asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, Ma\u2019am. Sixth grade.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So it was his turn to shock his grandparents.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI read a lot. I get tutors for math and suchlike. I had to, to learn to keep books properly. I do that well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou speak and act well for someone of your education and occupation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI go with nice girls who can teach me those things. I watch the folks who come into my\u2014 I watch the upper crust. Listen. Mimic. I get confused, though. Nothing sounds right to me when I\u2019m in places like this, talking to folks like you. I go back to my life and continue speaking this way, and I get looks. I slip again when I come back into this life and I get looks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can teach you more,\u201d his grandmother offered softly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would like that, Ma\u2019am, but I\u2019ve been gone long enough. I need to keep an eye on what\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProtect your territory.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey nodded reluctantly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat <em>is<\/em> your territory, Son? No use skirting it; you know I\u2019ll find out within a day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey gave up with a sigh. \u201cI manage 1520 Main for Boss Tom. It\u2019s a speakeasy, middling-upscale. He stuck me there four years ago just to keep it limping along. Like a stupid sh\u2014person, I made it into a bit more than that. I have the money to buy it, but Boss Tom would want to know where I got that much money and I can\u2019t explain that without getting put in the river.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His grandfather nodded and gestured with his fork for Trey to keep speaking.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo Boss Tom made me a bet. About a month ago. I could have the speak if I get a particular girl&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d He felt his face flame.<\/p>\n<p>Neither of them was following. Of course they wouldn\u2019t. It was completely outrageous, and now that he cared about this cat\u2019s approval, he was ashamed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had two months to make sure she was in the family way. I have three weeks left.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His grandmother\u2019s fork clattered on her plate. He could barely look at her, but did just enough to see her wide eyes and hands clapped to her face.<\/p>\n<p>The table was silent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoss Tom wants revenge on her father. I don\u2019t know what for. He made the bet after he saw me watching her to ask her out. I didn\u2019t know her name. I only go with nice girls and I\u2019ve never\u2014 Anyway, since I was already interested, he made the condition I was not to marry her first.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you\u2019re doing this,\u201d his grandfather said flatly. Trey barely managed to keep himself from shrinking in shame.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am,\u201d he said firmly, finally looking up to see an odd expression on his face. \u201cI like her. She\u2019s sharp, a little tetched in the head I think, but in an interesting way I can\u2019t describe. Probably the way she\u2019s raised.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou say that as if you intend to marry her,\u201d his grandmother whispered. \u201cAfter, I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey thought about it. \u201cMaybe. I don\u2019t know if I like her that much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd what is she going to do if you don\u2019t?\u201d the old man asked tightly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, sir, probably the same thing every girl of her station does: get sent away to have the baby, give it to some family that wants a baby, then come back like nothing happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs her family the type to take her back?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cHer mother is grooming her to be her caretaker in her old age. She will not let that go. If this cat gets what Boss Tom thinks is due him, they\u2019ll need her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou are going to allow another man to raise your child? My great-grandchild?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYe\u2014\u201d Trey scowled. \u201cUh&nbsp;\u2026 I hadn\u2019t thought about that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, think about it,\u201d he snapped. \u201cWe might be criminals, but we keep our family together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe same way you kept your family together,\u201d Trey said blithely. To his satisfaction, the old man flushed.<\/p>\n<p>Again the table was silent and Trey knew he\u2019d lost the only family he had, now that he\u2019d gotten warm to the idea that he belonged to someone. He quietly put his napkin by his plate and began to rise. \u201cMa\u2019am. Sir. Thank you for supper and the fine company and the information. I appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t say you could leave the table, young man,\u201d the old man growled.<\/p>\n<p>Trey looked at him, shocked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s dirtier than I have a taste for, but entirely something a Dunham would do, albeit he wouldn\u2019t allow his baby to be lost in the wind with no thought at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI realize that,\u201d Trey said warily as he sat, \u201cafter what you\u2019ve said.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you do this, and you get that speak, I will personally come to Kansas City to make you marry her. So you better make sure you like her that much before you get the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey\u2019s jaw tightened. \u201cI don\u2019t buckle to force, old man. Bribery works. A fair exchange, definitely, but I can\u2019t go that route. Coercion and extortion don\u2019t work on me, either. Not for you, not for anybody. I\u2019ll go down in flames first.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd how do you plan to get this girl in the family way?\u201d he sneered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Not<\/em> rape,\u201d he sneered in return. \u201cI don\u2019t force anybody to do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you fail?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI won\u2019t fail. Getting her pregnant was an order. Doing it in two months was the bet. I don\u2019t know what will happen to me if I don\u2019t get it done at all, which means I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen to the speak. If someone else takes over&nbsp;\u2026 And there are a lot of folks wanting a piece of me&nbsp;\u2026 Anyway, it\u2019d break my heart. So I\u2019m going to get it done to win, because it\u2019s mine already. I\u2019ve worked too hard for that place and I won\u2019t see my hard work go down the shi\u2014drain without a fight. And if you think you can buy it and turn around and sell it to me, think again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know your connection with Boss Tom, but he\u2019ll either torch it or kill me before you can get on a train to rescue me. Probably both. You want to keep me? \u2014Which I don\u2019t know why you would\u2014 Stay out of my business. Kansas City is not your town. Even the New York and Chicago outfits stay out. One bootlegger-turned-judge is not going to be able to save my life or my business, especially if Boss Tom put you on the bench.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Elliott shook his head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, all right then. I\u2019ll let you know if I need help after I win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His grandfather studied him for a long time, but Trey didn\u2019t back down. He had nothing Trey wanted and Trey\u2019s covetousness had already gotten him in hot water.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFine,\u201d he finally said with a curt nod. \u201cDo you need a place to stay while you\u2019re in town?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. I\u2019m leaving tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s her name, Trey?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked at his grandmother, who still wore that pleading, hopeful look. \u201cMarina, Ma\u2019am. Marina Scarritt. Reverend Gil Scarritt\u2019s her father, the one Boss Tom\u2019s after.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At that, his grandparents stiffened and exchanged a long look. Then his grandfather spoke in a tone that sent shivers down Trey\u2019s spine.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo what you have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">21<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\"><em>DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Trey had known better than to ask, but clearly Reverend Scarritt got around. Both his grandparents, so horrified by the task and then&nbsp;\u2026 <em>do what you have to do.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Trey had lied about driving back to Kansas City. He simply didn\u2019t want to be tempted to stay a few days to visit. He went back to his hotel, got the same things he had the day before, plus a good night\u2019s rest.<\/p>\n<p>Not really.<\/p>\n<p>His mind was too full of all the information he\u2019d been deluged by to sleep.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that he even had family to begin with.<\/p>\n<p>They wanted to claim him, keep him as theirs.<\/p>\n<p>His father, <em>not<\/em> dying of a broken heart, but an overworked one that was doomed from birth anyway.<\/p>\n<p>His grandfather, whose name was Elliott, named after his pirate great-grandfather, was old and dying himself, from his sugars, also handed down. Obviously Trey\u2019s father hadn\u2019t been angry enough to keep from naming his eldest son after his father.<\/p>\n<p>His grandmother, whose name was Susanna, was from an old Irish family in cahoots with the Chicago Sicilians.<\/p>\n<p>Besides Trey\u2019s father, Elliott and Susanna Dunham had had four daughters, all of whom were alive and well with families of their own. One was in California. One was in Louisville. One was in Chicago. The last was in St. Louis. Trey would have liked to meet her, but he was short on time.<\/p>\n<p>He still didn\u2019t know his mother\u2019s maiden name because he\u2019d forgotten to ask, but he needed to swim through all this information before going after his other set of grandparents.<\/p>\n<p>For some reason, unburdening himself to this man he didn\u2019t know, one he shouldn\u2019t (didn\u2019t) trust, had felt good. The three of them had talked and laughed long into the night, after the restaurant closed and they were moved to the bar. Trey wasn\u2019t interested in trying to drink the old man under the table, but his Irish grandmother could hold her martinis like a champ. Slowly, the old man told him his story, made the connection to Boss Tom, which was really nothing more than business as usual since Prohibition began: bootlegging whisky. Nothing in that was foreign to Trey or unexpected, once he confirmed that Grandfather Elliott (as he insisted upon being called) (\u201cSir\u201d was too formal) was as influential as Boss Tom was.<\/p>\n<p>He was not, however, on speaking terms with the Mafia as Boss Tom was, and he wanted to keep it that way.<\/p>\n<p><em>The thing we Dunhams do is keep to ourselves. We walk a very fine line, but do our own thing and we go our own way. Not leaders, not followers, out of the fray. It was the only reason I could walk out of Chicago without looking over my shoulder.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Trey had a promise from them that they would visit Kansas City sometime soon. As he headed west in the wee hours of the morning, he found himself growing used to the idea of family visiting. By the time he unlocked the back door of 1520, he was looking forward to it.<\/p>\n<p>He walked through the kitchen, stopped by the bar, and looked around.<\/p>\n<p>It was quiet. Clean. Nothing was out of place. The soft sound of footsteps on the outside-wall staircase told him one of his tenants was going to work. There was a soft knock on the front door, which startled him. He opened it a speck, and three pieces of paper were shoved through.<\/p>\n<p>He took them, closed the door and saw it was a bill of lading. His brow wrinkled. A delivery of Remus was waiting for him at Union Station. That was new. Usually he picked it up at all sorts of places around town, but never directly from Union Station.<\/p>\n<p>That made him nervous. Very, <em>very<\/em> nervous.<\/p>\n<p>He initialed one of the three and slipped it back through the door, then made sure the fellow sauntered off as if going to work. He went to his office, changed into his old brown work pants and white singlet, and headed upstairs to wake Gio. They puttered on down to Union Station and found his shipment of oranges in the cargo claim area.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHey, mac! Can I buy an orange off you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey surreptitiously initialed the second piece of paper and the fellow wanting an orange initialed the third. They exchanged the papers.<\/p>\n<p>Trey reached into his crate and pulled out an orange. \u201cNice doin\u2019 business with ya.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So Trey and Gio, along with a few bums who seemed to have nothing better to do, spent the morning loading a whisky shipment. Neither Trey nor Gio spoke except to direct their ad hoc workers. They were both too tired. They filled both ICE trucks, puttered off to yet another old widow\u2019s home to fill her garage, then went back to the speak. Gio headed off to bed again and Trey went to the kitchen only to find Ida, his pregnant little housekeeper, scrubbing the grill. \u201cWhat\u2019re you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She jumped and twisted around, looking guilty. \u201cUm&nbsp;\u2026 cleaning?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, I can see that. Why? You\u2019re supposed to be washing windows upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&nbsp;\u2026 told Bobby I\u2019d clean the kitchen for him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn exchange for what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She gulped. \u201cFive dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was a helluva lot of money for cleaning a kitchen. \u201cWhat, exactly, are you supposed to do for five bucks?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m spring cleaning,\u201d she said in a small voice.<\/p>\n<p>Trey pursed his lips. That was a fair trade. He knew Bobby didn\u2019t like doing it, but Trey insisted it be done once per quarter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA\u2019ight,\u201d he drawled with a shrug. \u201cSavin\u2019 up for when you can\u2019t work no more?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou know what you\u2019re gonna do with the baby yet?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have a buyer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cQuick work, there. Make sure you don\u2019t hold the thing after you pop it out \u2019cuz you\u2019ll wanna keep it an\u2019 get your heart broke when they come get it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She nodded sadly. \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou stayin\u2019 on here, ya think?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d like to keep the bunk room, if you don\u2019t mind,\u201d she said shyly. \u201cIt\u2019s cozy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven with Gio there?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s quiet, keeps to his bunk. He helps me some. And he\u2019s temporary, isn\u2019t he? I just&nbsp;\u2026 I won\u2019t be able to afford much for rent here, but I can\u2019t anywhere else, either. I don\u2019t have much. I\u2019d like a bureau, is all. To put my clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The bunk room would no longer be available for emergencies, but it would be earning money. \u201cSure, doll.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you, Mr. Dunham.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He grunted and headed up to his mezzanine office, only to hear the faintest of noises from inside. The door was closed, but the lock had been jimmied. The hinges squeaked. He kept them squeaky on purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Bobby squeaked also, his head popping up from the floor where he was kneeling over an open desk drawer, his hand buried all the way to the back of it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat are you looking for?\u201d Trey asked calmly, leaning against the door knob and crossing one foot over the other.<\/p>\n<p>Bobby pressed his lips together. A cat who was snooping on his own would be falling all over himself to apologize. A cat who was being paid to snoop might not take that tack.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou got five bucks on you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGive it over.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bobby arose carefully, stepped from behind the desk, a peashooter in his hand. Trey rolled his eyes and, quick as a blink, had his gun out and shot the fucker in the knee.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGo back to Lazia,\u201d Trey drawled as he grabbed a howling Bobby by the scruff of his neck, \u201can\u2019 show him what\u2019s gonna happen if I catch any more of you motherfuckers tossin\u2019 my place.\u201d Bobby was hootin\u2019 and hollerin\u2019 and carryin\u2019 on, clutching his blown knee while Trey hauled him down the stairs, past the kitchen, and out to the alley. He dropped him on the ground and frisked him for his weapons and his cash, all of which he took.<\/p>\n<p>He left Bobby there sobbing and begging, wondering how long it would take him to get to the end of the alley. He went to the kitchen to give Ida her five bucks. \u201cYou know how to cook?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, sir,\u201d she said, holding that five-spot to her like it was a sack of gold.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re on the grill till you pop <em>if<\/em> I like your food. Four dollars a week, six to three. Same days off, room and board. If you can stand to also do the housekeeping, you keep that salary, too, and you can start around noon. Let me know if you can\u2019t handle that load. Won\u2019t hold it against you.\u201d He looked around. \u201cIf I don\u2019t like your food, you keep on keepin\u2019 house, but if you also spring clean the kitchen once a week, I\u2019ll throw in room an\u2019 board for after. Bunkroom by yourself but it\u2019s all I can do. Good cooks break even an\u2019 I want good food an\u2019 a clean kitchen more\u2019n I want clean windows and rugs in my whorehouse. That good?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The look of pure relief on her face was reward enough. \u201cThank you!\u201d she breathed. The relief was too much.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou didn\u2019t ask me why,\u201d he said, squinting at her. \u201cBobby\u2019s a good cook. Been workin\u2019 for me for two years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her mouth tightened and she turned away and started scrubbing again. \u201cHe\u2019s no good any other way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou fuckin\u2019 him?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She hesitated, then muttered, \u201cNot because I want to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe payin\u2019 you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She hung her head, shaking it as if she had something to be ashamed of.<\/p>\n<p>Trey pursed his lips. \u201cMe\u2019n\u2019Gio\u2019s got church tonight, so we\u2019re gonna be late. I\u2019ll tell Vern you\u2019re in charge back here an\u2019 to get you some help. You think you can handle bossin\u2019 a bunch of teenage boys around?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYessir. I have three little brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood enough.\u201d Trey headed out the door.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSir?\u201d she asked in a small voice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, doll?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpeaking of church, I was wondering&nbsp;\u2026 The&nbsp;\u2026 It\u2019s none of my business, but&nbsp;\u2026 What\u2019s going to happen if you lose the bet?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She was frightened, he realized. So was Ethel. He wondered if everybody here felt the same way. He could tell her nothing would change, but he couldn\u2019t guarantee it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI ain\u2019t gonna lose, doll,\u201d he muttered. \u201cCan\u2019t afford to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He went back outside. Bobby had only managed to crawl two yards. Trey squatted over him. \u201cYanno,\u201d he said conversationally, \u201ctossin\u2019 my office ain\u2019t a killin\u2019 offense. Oh, hell, even drawin\u2019 a gun on me ain\u2019t one. That\u2019s what kneecaps are for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Then he grabbed him by his pomaded hair\u2014God, he hated that stuff\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRapin\u2019 a girl under my roof,\u201d he said blithely, \u201cis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014and bashed his head into the concrete.<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">22<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">TREY WAS TIRED, sore, and his muscles were twanging from all the heavy lifting he\u2019d done that day. He had driven all night, worked all day, gone to church, worked all night and was about to fall asleep on his feet. Just as he was bunking down for the night, one of his gigolos knocked on his door. \u201cHow was church?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTedious.\u201d Trey settled in and threw an arm over his forehead. \u201cBrody, if I believed in demon possession, I\u2019d swear that cat puts the devil in people, shoutin\u2019 an\u2019 jumpin\u2019 an\u2019 rollin\u2019 on the floor\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s why they call \u2019em Holy Rollers,\u201d Brody said dryly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2014speakin\u2019 gibberish, callin\u2019 it tongues. God almighty\u2014who, by the way, got nothin\u2019 to do with all that screechin\u2019\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGio doesn\u2019t seem to mind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGio an\u2019 his girl stand there an\u2019 trade snide remarks. Snickerin\u2019 an\u2019 whisperin\u2019. Surprised Marina ain\u2019t noticed yet, but she sits to my left next to her mama, Gio on my right \u2019cuz Dot don\u2019t like me none, an\u2019 Dot on the end. She\u2019s the vicious one, but she tickles him pink. Dunno why.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGrow up with a bunch of nice Catholic girls who are taught to keep their heads down and their mouths shut, maybe you\u2019d take a sassy Mormon girl who\u2019s packing heat, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey chuckled. \u201cWeird thing, Marina don\u2019t get into all those acrobatics. Sings. Decent voice. But otherwise, she\u2019s cool as the inside of a brand-new freezer. Her mama too. Neither one of \u2019em doin\u2019 any speakin\u2019 in tongues or rollin\u2019, holy or otherwise.\u201d Trey stopped and thought about how Marina behaved at church. \u201cYanno,\u201d he mused, \u201cit\u2019s almost like she knows it\u2019s bunk deep down inside, but can\u2019t quite figure out why, standin\u2019 there tryin\u2019a parse it all out. Every service is another chance for her to gather more clues. Do you know, quarter of the way through the latest Ellery Queen, she had the villain pegged. I told her it couldn\u2019t be. Two thirds of the way through, she said, \u2018This is how he did it.\u2019 I said nope. Guess what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have a book club of two,\u201d Brody said flatly.<\/p>\n<p>Trey laughed. \u201cYeah. Way to get into her trousers is get into her head an\u2019 dig around. Always did like a good treasure hunt. So what\u2019s up? You didn\u2019t hunt me down to ask if I got saved. Again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSolly Weissman was here again,\u201d Brody said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh yeah?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe brought some friends. Had a grand old time. Ran up <em>another<\/em> tab he wouldn\u2019t pay. Alice and I ended up waiting and Ida needed the boys in the kitchen instead of bussing tables. I\u2019m shocked she could keep up, but she did a good job. Don\u2019t know where Bobby was; not like him to not show up for work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe quit this morning. \u2019Swhy Ida was ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhattaya wanna do about Solly?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That situation bothered the shit out of Trey. \u201cHe\u2019s Boss Tom\u2019s man. I may have to go pay him a visit to make that motherfucker back off. I wish I knew what he wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was looking around last night like he owned the place. Acted like it too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHm. Since he <em>don\u2019t<\/em> own it, I\u2019ll see about how to get him to pay his tab. Boss Tom ain\u2019t gonna sit still for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo how\u2019s Marina coming?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, she ain\u2019t. Yet. Haven\u2019t even kissed her. But say, you\u2019re the third person to be more than interested in this bet. Is it that important to you all I win?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Brody pursed his lips and crossed his arms over his chest, leaned against the door jamb and looked up at the ceiling. \u201cWe think if you lose, things here won\u2019t be the same as they have been for the last four years. If we thought it would, then we wouldn\u2019t care, but I gotta tell you, Solly coming around and bringing his friends and acting like he owns us has us more worried than anything Boss Tom or Lazia might do or not do. He wants the speak and he likely thinks being Boss Tom\u2019s man means he\u2019s entitled to it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI get that feeling,\u201d Trey murmured.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd if you lose, Boss Tom might just fire you and hire him and he\u2019ll hire somebody else. A good manager clears out the old staff and puts in his own, same way you did. And if we\u2019re not put out and replaced, we don\u2019t know how a new guy will be. The last thing we want is to be under Solly\u2019s thumb. Better the devil we know, you know? Probably won\u2019t keep the kitchen, either, then Ida\u2019ll be on her back or she\u2019ll be on the street, and we don\u2019t want that. They\u2019ll get more whores and move them to the third floor and kick the tenants out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey sighed heavily. \u201cAnd if I win or lose, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Boss Tom did something underhanded too. I don\u2019t have the kinda firepower I\u2019d need to hold off Solly and his soldiers, although Boss Tom did suggest I think about acquiring it.\u201d Especially since he knew whom Trey was hiding. \u201cGod a\u2019mighty. We\u2019re fucked whether I win or not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you\u2019ve only got three weeks left.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wish I\u2019d never taken that bet,\u201d he grumbled. \u201cStupid shit. As usual. You all get together an\u2019 talk about this?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, yeah. We\u2019ve been together for a long time. Hell, we share the same bathroom, piss, shit, bathe, and shave in front of each other, so you could say we\u2019re family. Even the tenants are worried, and they ask us. But we just say if you don\u2019t win, you\u2019ll find a way to keep us together somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey thought about that long after Brody left.<\/p>\n<p><em>Do what you have to do.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>You\u2019ll find a way to keep us together somehow.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>He was in deeper than he realized. He had employees. He had tenants. He had vendors. A lot of people relied on Trey, but some days, Trey felt like he was barely treading water. Each scheme he was forced to construct was more elaborate than the last because he had to work around the one before that.<\/p>\n<p>Trey had seen a way to get the speak.<\/p>\n<p>Boss Tom had seen a way to get revenge on Scarritt, and apparently, Trey\u2019s grandparents were not opposed to Scarritt\u2019s comeuppance by any means necessary.<\/p>\n<p>Solly saw it as an opportunity to grab the golden egg and&nbsp;\u2026 do what? Continue on? Weissman wasn\u2019t a good businessman. He was a stupid, lumbering dewdropper who thought he was important because he was Boss Tom\u2019s bodyguard. He would never believe Boss Tom would turn it over to Solly, but Boss Tom was known to be a bad gambler and sometimes his judgment wasn\u2019t too sound if he wasn\u2019t paying attention. God only knew what Solly would do to the place, and the possibilities made Trey ache deep down inside.<\/p>\n<p>Lazia wanted the speak, too, but if Trey took that step down, it would make Trey subject to Carrollo\u2019s orders. Lazia was a good businessman and had lots of legitimate and illegitimate businesses. Trey wasn\u2019t the only cat who could manage 1520 as well as Trey, so there was no way Trey could work for Lazia without getting into a gunfight with Carrollo.<\/p>\n<p>It was an old grudge over a woman. Carrollo had had his eye on a certain flapper who frequented Trey\u2019s establishment and divan. When the cat had gotten a little too forceful with her, Trey had stepped in. It didn\u2019t help his cause that she threw a drink in Carrollo\u2019s face and informed him she was busy fucking Trey and would never touch a trashy wop like him.<\/p>\n<p>So it was one thing to know people were dependent on him, but it was another to be slapped in the face with the idea that they all considered themselves a family\u2014with Trey as their patriarch and protector\u2014when he could barely protect himself.<\/p>\n<p>This load was too heavy to carry by himself, but he had to. One crisis at a time\u2014<\/p>\n<p>No. That was how he\u2019d gotten into this mess, tending crises one at a time without considering long-term consequences or past solutions. The world belonged to people who could carefully pick their way through a forest, see all the threats, and change course or hide or retreat accordingly. People who could play chess.<\/p>\n<p>Trey was not one of those people. He needed someone who could think like that, someone who could be presented with a problem, understand immediately the fastest way to the solution, but see an alternate, <em>unexpected<\/em>, route with fewer dangers.<\/p>\n<p>He once again considered the idea of asking Marina to marry him with no intention of doing so, but he couldn\u2019t risk giving Boss Tom that edge.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019d want to keep company with Marina in any case, but there were nice girls he liked and there were not-nice girls he fucked, and the more Trey liked a nice girl, the less he wanted to fuck her.<\/p>\n<p>So getting her pregnant was simply a task he had to complete, in short order, and his dick was not at all interested in doing so.<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">23<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">A WEEK AND a half later, Trey watched Marina closely as he seated her in a beautiful red velvet seat at Midland Theater. She was nervous, which he ascribed to the fact that she was wearing a dress. It was a beautiful dress, but all wrong for her.<\/p>\n<p>Once Trey had taken his own seat, with Dot on his left, he leaned toward Dot just a little and whispered, \u201cDoes Marina know the Reverend Missus deliberately dresses her like a red-headed stepchild?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot blinked, shocked. \u201cUh&nbsp;\u2026 I\u2019m not sure,\u201d she whispered back. \u201cYou can <em>tell<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny halfway successful businessman would be able to tell,\u201d he said tightly. \u201cMama turned out just right. Marina, not. Letting her run with you\u2014and it isn\u2019t because you\u2019re a good chaperone.\u201d Dot\u2019s lip curled a little but she didn\u2019t protest, which meant she knew that or at least suspected it. \u201cPut it all together, it\u2019s obvious. How does that work?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHrmph. She gives Marina the fabric and a picture and tells her to make that for herself. Marina knows she doesn\u2019t look as good as the model, but says she can\u2019t figure out why. I don\u2019t know if she could dress herself well if she did know. Either way, she\u2019s not going to disobey.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFind out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot scowled. \u201cDo it yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTsk tsk tsk. Marina can walk out with me. You can\u2019t walk out with Gene without me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She snarled at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDunham,\u201d Gio growled.<\/p>\n<p>Trey snickered and sat back in his chair, adjusting his suitcoat, crossing his legs, and perching his fedora on his knee. He glanced at Marina. She wasn\u2019t paying the least bit of attention to him, as she was gawking at the magnificence of Midland Theater without seeming to gawk at all. That was a trick it had taken Trey months to learn.<\/p>\n<p>He was slightly surprised that Marina could be stunned by such elegance, as Scarritt\u2019s office was just as rich in a much tinier space. Yet as much as Trey wanted to ask, he had a feeling it wasn\u2019t strategically wise.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery time I come here,\u201d he whispered to her, \u201cI feel just a little bit richer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She started. \u201cRich<em>er<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He nodded. \u201cIn experience. Knowledge.\u201d He tapped his temple.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh,\u201d she breathed, beginning to smile.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd more motivated,\u201d he added confidentially. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to live in such opulence, but I aspire to be able to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She pulled her bare lips between her teeth and blinked. \u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He had no idea what that meant. It probably wasn\u2019t wise to ask. Trey had never been wise. \u201cWhat are you thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs money important to you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat if I said yes?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She looked like she\u2019d been hit with a shovel. \u201cI&nbsp;\u2026 Jesus told someone to sell everything and give it to the poor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd then what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd then he went away because he didn\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, I mean, what would happen to him if he had?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, if he followed Jesus then he would have been provided for, by faith alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey pursed his lips. \u201cThat\u2019s a soul-killing way for a man with a modicum of pride to live,\u201d he said gently. \u201cYour father follows Christ\u2014\u201d Heh. \u201c\u2014and he doesn\u2019t preach for free. Churches are set up to pay their clergy for a reason and that is because folks can\u2019t live on faith.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut he is living on faith,\u201d she said matter-of-factly. \u201cHe has faith the congregation will support him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWould he continue to preach if they stopped?\u201d She hesitated. Not wanting to make her feel stupid, he said, \u201cTell me the parable of the talents.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She blinked, gazed at the faraway flocked red wall, then blinked again.<\/p>\n<p>He waited.<\/p>\n<p>Waited.<\/p>\n<p>Waited.<\/p>\n<p>Surely she knew \u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe two parables almost contradict each other,\u201d she murmured vaguely. \u201cJesus praised the servants who had doubled their money, but giving all one\u2019s money to the poor means you\u2019ve no talents left to double.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoddamn,\u201d Trey whispered.<\/p>\n<p>She looked at him as if she hadn\u2019t heard him. \u201cIt\u2019s not totally&nbsp;\u2026 um&nbsp;\u2026 \u201d She raised her hands, palms apart a little and shifted them. \u201cAligned. I mean! Um, no.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnalogous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes!\u201d she said with a bright smile. \u201cNot really. But if you give all your money away, that\u2019s all. You can\u2019t give any more than that, and then you\u2019re poor and begging for money from someone who still has some. You\u2019re saying Father <em>works<\/em>. He doesn\u2019t beg or depend on charity just because he\u2019s a fisher of men.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey couldn\u2019t help his grin. \u201cThere you go, hopping over all those lily pads again. You went across two whole ponds that time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell,\u201d she returned, \u201cI\u2019ve never heard those two compared before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFew people do. Fact is, the more you make, the more you can give.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you give?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d he said truthfully, although he wasn\u2019t giving his own money away. Time, jobs, advice, information, second and third chances, yes. Money, no. \u201cIt\u2019s not good form to brag, so that\u2019s all I\u2019m going to say.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She gave him that sweet smile, the one that plumped up her face, dimpled her cheek, and made her skin glow rosy. He smiled back wryly at her and lifted her hand and pressed his mouth to it. She flushed and tried to hide her deepening smile, to pull her hand away from his, but he was too wrapped up in the faint scent of perfume.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHave you been picking lilacs?\u201d he asked softly and let her take her hand back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d she murmured shyly.<\/p>\n<p>He wished he hadn\u2019t let her hand go, but asking for it again would be awkward, so he said, \u201cAre you <em>sure<\/em> you haven\u2019t heard Gershwin before?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Of<\/em> him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour church has quite progressive praise worship. I\u2019m surprised your home isn\u2019t full of music.\u201d What a lie.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMother doesn\u2019t like music.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That didn\u2019t surprise him. \u201cAt all?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina shook her head. \u201cNot even the praise band or choir.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey didn\u2019t blame her for that. The music wasn\u2019t awful, but it didn\u2019t have to be great to get the blood pumping. \u201cDo <em>you<\/em> like the praise band?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She hesitated. \u201cI&nbsp;\u2026 think they\u2019re&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d Either she couldn\u2019t find her words or she was being polite. \u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d she finally said with some frustration. \u201cThey\u2019re all right, I suppose. Dot says at her church, they don\u2019t even have that much. An organist and congregational singing. She\u2019s never said anything about a choir.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Just then the lights went down and she settled in next to him. It was odd that he found himself still wanting her hand back in his, dithering over whether to be that forward considering his end game and time constraints. The emcee spoke, but Trey didn\u2019t hear a word. There was her hand <em>right there<\/em> and he was hesitating. Why?<\/p>\n<p>The hall grew quiet and Marina was already still with anticipation, completely unaware of Trey\u2019s nervousness. What was so wrong with wanting to hold a girl\u2019s hand? He was Trey Goddamned Dunham and he could have any woman he wanted and he was sweating over <em>this<\/em> girl?<\/p>\n<p>The dulcet clarinet trill startled him. He hadn\u2019t been paying attention to the curtain, the conductor, the crowd\u2014no idea the piece was about to begin.<\/p>\n<p>Suddenly angry with himself, he sank into his chair, slumped a little, crossed his arms over his chest, and sulked.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">MARINA HAD NEVER heard a more beautiful and exhilarating piece of music in her life, but of course, she hadn\u2019t heard many pieces at all. She loved this immediately, even before the piano came in, before the cymbals crashed and she thought surely Mother would like <em>this!<\/em> Wouldn\u2019t she?<\/p>\n<p>Father had allowed Marina to come out tonight as long as Dot would be allowed to walk out with Gene. The foursome was dependable, he supposed, for a music concert that Bishop Albright would allow Dot to see. Even though Mother strenuously objected that it was sinful <em>jazz<\/em>, Father countered.<\/p>\n<p><em>It\u2019s in a respectable concert hall with violins and French horns. That is hardly one\u2019s ordinary jazz fare.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>But\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>I\u2019ve made up my mind that Marina may go, so long as Dorothy and Mr. Luke will be with them. That is all.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Thank you, Father.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>You\u2019re welcome, Marina. Do not abuse my trust.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Oh, of course not, Father!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Marina didn\u2019t know <em>how<\/em> to abuse Father\u2019s trust, so she didn\u2019t have to worry about that at all. What she did know was that tomorrow, Mother would be furious, so Marina would have to go out of her way to soothe her. Perhaps if Mother could hear this wonderful music\u2014<\/p>\n<p>No. This music belonged to Marina and Trey, who was here experiencing it with her, these fun notes and thrilling runs. She didn\u2019t know why Mother thought jazz was bad, but it did occur to her that it was doing something a little funny to her. It made her feel&nbsp;\u2026 well, she didn\u2019t know how it made her feel, but it was strange.<\/p>\n<p>Nice.<\/p>\n<p>Cozy and a little tingly.<\/p>\n<p>Why, watching the conductor, orchestra, and pianist was a treat by itself. What must it be like to be that talented? she wondered for the first time. The praise band was either not that much fun to watch or Marina was simply used to them. They were talented, but this was leagues above the capabilities of the praise band even if they wanted to do this.<\/p>\n<p>She felt herself swaying during the soft, romantic sections, a smile on her face. Her smile widened during a romantic rush up to the next section. She scooted forward to sit on the edge of her seat, her hands clasped to her breast, breathless as the music went on and on, then wound down with a grand flourish.<\/p>\n<p>Marina applauded wildly as soon as she knew it was all right to do so, and did so until the conductor rapped for his orchestra\u2019s attention and went on to\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat was that called again?\u201d Marina whispered to Trey.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Rhapsody in Blue<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd this one?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>American in Paris<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It made her immediately want to go to Paris, although she daren\u2019t say that to her parents. Father refused to speak of his time in Europe and Mother disapproved of foreigners. There would be a lot of foreigners in France.<\/p>\n<p>The music bounced on and it was all Marina could do to keep herself from bouncing with it.<\/p>\n<p>At intermission, Marina turned to Trey, absolutely giddy, and said, \u201cOh, this is so lovely. Thank you so much!\u201d It was a weak sentiment, but she had no better words. It only slightly bothered her that Trey was watching her with a strange expression.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d he said slowly, his brow wrinkling. \u201cI didn\u2019t&nbsp;\u2026 er, I didn\u2019t think you would like it this much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, it must be the most beautiful thing I\u2019ve ever heard.\u201d Marina\u2019s glance flickered to her best pal, who was whispering something to Gene that made him grin. Marina turned back to Trey and only then noticed he wasn\u2019t happy. Her smile faded. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know exactly,\u201d he said slowly, staring at the back of the chair in front of him. \u201cIt\u2014 I want\u2014 Um, well&nbsp;\u2026 Not sure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWas it something I did?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d With that, he heaved himself to his feet and said, \u201cI\u2019m going to go get refreshments. Ladies? Gene?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCertainly,\u201d Gene said. \u201cBe right back, Polka Dorothy. Lemonade?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSure!\u201d Dot chirped.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina?\u201d Trey asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSweet tea, please.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey choked and Gene tensed. They both stared at her, then Trey laughed nervously. \u201cSweet tea. Right. Iced tea. With sugar in it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gene cleared his throat. \u201cOne lemonade and one sweetened iced tea, coming right up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d Marina said, confused. \u201cSweet tea.\u201d She exchanged glances with Dot once the men were gone. \u201cWas that strange or was I imagining things?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, that was strange,\u201d Dot affirmed vaguely as she watched Gene and Trey trot up the aisle and disappear. \u201cEverybody knows what sweet tea is. Well!\u201d Dot said gaily as she swung toward Marina. \u201c<em>You<\/em> are having a good time. I adore it when you\u2019re so happy you forget to hide.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina flushed. \u201cI&nbsp;\u2026 Now I feel self-conscious.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, don\u2019t, Marina,\u201d Dot pled softly, taking her hands. \u201cIt\u2019s all right to show your happiness. Nothing bad is going to happen if you smile and laugh more\u2014\u201d She paused. \u201cSo long as your mother doesn\u2019t see you do it too much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That deflated Marina.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, I am so sorry!\u201d Dot wailed quietly. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to\u2014 I mean\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe and Father argued about it,\u201d Marina confessed. \u201cMother says because this is jazz, it\u2019s bad, but Father said it\u2019s not real jazz because there are violins and French horns.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot rolled her eyes and waved a hand. \u201cHe\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy parents listen to <em>real<\/em> jazz on their Gramophone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina blinked. \u201cOh. Do you like it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s all right. I like this better. It makes more sense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina didn\u2019t know what that meant, but it didn\u2019t matter. The men were coming back with their drinks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey had flips and phosphates,\u201d Gene offered as he bestowed Dot\u2019s lemonade upon her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHere go,\u201d Trey murmured, handing Marina her glass and a program. \u201cSweet tea. Didn\u2019t know if you wanted any more sugar in it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina took a sip. \u201cNo, it\u2019s good, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The rest of the concert was nice, and the music, <em>Piano Concerto in F<\/em> according to the program, wasn\u2019t nearly as thrilling as <em>Rhapsody in Blue<\/em>, but more wonderful than <em>American in Paris<\/em>. The encore began with a selection of songs sung by a woman with a lovely alto. During the last, \u201cLady, Be Good,\u201d Marina started when she found her hand in Trey\u2019s, and his mouth pressed against her knuckles. He stared at her intensely in a way he hadn\u2019t before and something in the bottom of her tummy gave her a little tickle.<\/p>\n<p>She snatched her hand out of his, then realized she didn\u2019t mean it. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n<p>Trey simply shook his head, gave her a wry smile, and escorted her home in silence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">24<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cHELLO, MRS. SCARRITT,\u201d Trey said cheerfully from the doorway the next day. It was Saturday. Marina was peeking around the corner where he couldn\u2019t see her, as she was skittish about how rude she\u2019d been at the concert last night. Her rudeness weighed heavily upon her mind, but, as Mother always told her, least said, soonest mended.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHello, Mr. Dunham,\u201d Mother said stiffly. \u201cPlease, do come in. Marina will be out in a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you,\u201d he said pleasantly and stepped into the foyer, but Mother kept him there.<\/p>\n<p>Marina darted to the kitchen to gather the picnic basket, then waited for at least a minute before she went to meet Trey, who was standing in the foyer talking to Mother. \u201c&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;hide-and-go-seek.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mother said nothing for several seconds, during which Trey caught Marina\u2019s eye and smiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHide-and-go-seek,\u201d Mother said as if she\u2019d never heard of it before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes. Gene and I are afraid the girls are getting tired of baseball\u2014which, of course, they wouldn\u2019t tell us because they are too polite\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina, most definitely.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEspecially Marina,\u201d Trey said with a conspiratorial nod at Mother. \u201cWhat better Saturday afternoon entertainment than a soda, picnic, and games?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that\u2019s a fine idea,\u201d Father said from behind Marina, startling her. \u201cDon\u2019t you, Mrs. Scarritt?\u201d he asked as he extended a hand to Trey.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSir,\u201d Trey said with a firm shake of the hand. \u201cThank you. I\u2019ve been very careful to select activities good Christian couples can indulge in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCouples?\u201d Mother asked sharply, while Marina tried to calm her racing heart.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA man and a woman out courting,\u201d Trey answered solicitously.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe is not a <em>woman<\/em>. She\u2019s sixteen. You are twenty-four.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMrs. Scarritt,\u201d Father said patiently, lightly grasping Mother\u2019s elbow, \u201cI think we can all agree that Marina is very mature for her age\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mother made a small peep.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2014and we have never had reason to doubt her ability to choose the right path. Dorothy will be there, Mr. Dunham?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, sir, as well as Gene. We will be stopping by Kresge\u2019s first, as usual, then go to a park amongst other picnickers, and we will leave long before dark. Mrs. Scarritt, I understand your concerns and will honor them to the best of my ability. I cannot, however, do anything about my age. To be honest, and this is a credit to you, I forget that the calendar says she\u2019s sixteen. Her maturity is years beyond. I appreciate the reminder.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLovely turn of phrase, Mr. Dunham.\u201d Father\u2019s mouth pursed in thought and he nodded slowly. \u201c\u2018The calendar says&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u2019 Yes. Please do have fun, Marina.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you, Father,\u201d Marina said dutifully, but with a shy, grateful smile that garnered an indulgent smile from him in return.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you, Sir. Ma\u2019am. Marina, shall we?\u201d He swept her out the front door. \u201cMy, my!\u201d Trey breathed as he took her picnic basket and offered his other arm to her. \u201cI do believe your father likes me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe does,\u201d Marina said gaily.<\/p>\n<p>Trey flashed her a grin. \u201cAren\u2019t you chipper today!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell,\u201d she said matter-of-factly as he handed her in the car and put the picnic basket in the back, \u201cFather\u2019s been so kind, allowing me to walk out with you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs your father usually not kind?\u201d Trey asked as they zipped down the street.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s always kind, but not always as approving of things I thought he might be. I mayn\u2019t go to Dot\u2019s church, but I may walk out with you alone on Friday and Saturday evenings.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCourting is normal. Dot\u2019s religion is not. I\u2019m part of your church family. Dot never will be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOhhh,\u201d Marina drawled in understanding. \u201cYes, of course, you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd he seems to have a lot of faith in you to know what\u2019s right and proper.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That made Marina the happiest of all. \u201cI suppose he does.\u201d Then she deflated. \u201cI wish Mother did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe likely does,\u201d Trey said lightly. \u201cI believe Dot\u2019s right about your mother not wanting to let you go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina scowled. \u201cI don\u2019t know why. She knows I\u2019ll not leave.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trey slid her a glance with a half-amused smile. \u201cAre you planning to get rid of me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes! I mean, no!\u201d Now Marina was totally flustered. \u201cI would like to enjoy having a beau for a while. That\u2019s the way things go. I\u2019ve told you that and I remind her often, so I don\u2019t know why she continues to be irritated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina, a man doesn\u2019t court without intention and I have been courting you for weeks now. I told <em>you<\/em> that. Your parents know\u2014which you would have no reason to, so it\u2019s not a reflection of your smarts\u2014that men like me always have the end in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina stared at him, but he was busy navigating from her house to downtown. \u201cAre you saying&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am saying,\u201d he said firmly, \u201cI would not have gone to your father for permission to court you if I didn\u2019t have something in mind for our future, you and I.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina gasped, her heart in her throat. <em>Her!<\/em> Marina Scarritt! Marrying this man\u2014 Why, it was as good as a formal proposal! \u201cOh, golly gee whiz,\u201d she whispered, one hand on her hat and the other pressed flat to her chest.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour father is happy with it, with me. Your mother is not. Yes, you are mature and yes, I do forget what the calendar says about you, but you would have no reason to understand what\u2019s going on underneath what\u2019s going on. No proper girl of any age should.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Suddenly shy, Marina only said, \u201cOh,\u201d in a small voice and sat back to simply enjoy the ride.<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t that simple. She was too thrilled at what Trey had just said. Marina Scarritt! <em>Married!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut the calendar is dictating how your father and I discuss it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina sighed, her hopes dashed. There was plenty of time before she turned eighteen for Trey to change his mind and, truth be told, she wanted to pop up at school able to say her name was Marina Dunham.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat dratted calendar,\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n<p>Trey chuckled. \u201cHere we are,\u201d he said smoothly as he pulled into a rare parking spot just a block beyond Kresge\u2019s. Gene and Dot were already waiting for them in their booth.<\/p>\n<p>As usual, Marina had a catawba flip, Trey a lime rickey, Dot a cherry lime phosphate, and Gene a vanilla phosphate.<\/p>\n<p>As usual, Gene and Dot fell into conversation about his perfect Delaware family and her queer religion, which got more queer the more she talked.<\/p>\n<p>As usual, the waitress tried to flirt with both Gene and Trey.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re new here, aren\u2019t you, doll?\u201d Trey asked when she put his soda in front of him. She wasn\u2019t so pretty as their usual one, but she wasn\u2019t homely. She was, well, <em>interesting<\/em> looking.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst day,\u201d she chirped with a brilliant smile. \u201cMy dogs are already barking, but never had such fun working.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina started to get jealous when she put her hand on Trey\u2019s shoulder, but he ever-so-slightly shook her off. He tilted his chin toward her tray. \u201cThis is Marina. She\u2019s got the flip there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course,\u201d she said smoothly, leaning over him to slide the drink in front of Marina. \u201cThere you go, sweetie.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There was an awkward silence as she slid Dot\u2019s drink to her, leaning across Gene the way she had Trey, who didn\u2019t like it any more than Trey seemed to.<\/p>\n<p>Marina relaxed. Of course they didn\u2019t. They were courting good and proper gentlewomen because they were good and proper gentlemen. They didn\u2019t hold with such brazen flirting.<\/p>\n<p>But then she was gone and as usual, Marina and Trey fell into conversation about the books they were trading. He had a new one for her.<\/p>\n<p>Her brow wrinkled. \u201c<em>Elmer Gantry<\/em>? I\u2019ve never heard of Sinclair Lewis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou read mysteries, doll,\u201d he said dryly.<\/p>\n<p><em>Doll<\/em>. She hated that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat? What did I say?\u201d he asked softly, startling her.<\/p>\n<p>It didn\u2019t usually bother her that he could read her moods. In fact, it was quite convenient. Today, it bothered her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cC\u2019mon. You know I don\u2019t take offense at anything you tell me, even when you think I\u2019m not going to like it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was true.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t like when you call me \u2018doll,\u2019\u201d she admitted reluctantly, careful not to let Dot and Gene hear, but they were involved with their own conversation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh,\u201d he said with surprise. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. It <em>is<\/em> too familiar, I\u2019ll admit\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not familiar enough,\u201d she blurted.<\/p>\n<p>He drew back a little. \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou call every girl \u2018doll.\u2019 You say it to Dot. You say it to the waitress\u2014and you don\u2019t even know her. You say it to the girl at checkout. If we\u2014\u201d She gulped. \u201cIf, um, what you said in the car, about a future, then I shouldn\u2019t be the same as all the other girls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh. Oh, my. I don\u2019t intend that at all, d\u2014 Um.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He was flustered and she felt herself blush. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. That was completely out of line. Of course, you may call me what pet name you like.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just want to make you happy. Now we have to find one that <em>will<\/em> make you happy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She smiled shyly. \u201cThank you. I don\u2019t want to seem demanding. It\u2019s not proper.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI doubt you could be demanding,\u201d he said dryly, sipping on his soda. \u201cHow about&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d He glanced around, then gestured toward the wall where it met the table. \u201cSugar. In honor of where we met.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She smiled in utter delight. \u201cThat would be lovely, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou are quite welcome, Sugar.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow, tell me about this book.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you know what satire is?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">25<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">\u201cA CEMETERY?\u201d MARINA gasped as Trey turned into a driveway just off Fifteenth Street.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot just,\u201d he said with a devilish smile and wink. \u201cIt\u2019s also a park. Elmwood is where all of Kansas City\u2019s movers and shakers come to rest, knowing the living will enjoy life here instead of being in mourning from the time they enter to the time they leave.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina gasped, then began to grin. \u201cThat\u2019s <em>lovely<\/em>,\u201d she gushed, feeling more free now to show her true feelings since she knew the only thing standing between her and a wedding was the calendar.<\/p>\n<p>He was going to be her husband and he liked it when she showed her true feelings, so in spite of her habitual circumspection, she liked that she could be as carefree as she felt. Her hesitance was just something she\u2019d have to train herself out of no matter how uncomfortable.<\/p>\n<p>Gene and Dot were leading the way and they drove down a more tranquil path toward the back of the walled garden which was dotted with only a few massive tombstones and family mausoleums.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, isn\u2019t that beautiful,\u201d she whispered, seeing the stone chapel in the middle of it all.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ll take a tour after we eat,\u201d Trey assured her.<\/p>\n<p>Their picnic spot was in a deep shade that kept out the hot sun but not the refreshing breeze. Marina helped Dot spread the red-and-white-checked tablecloth while the men scouted rocks to secure the edges. She and Dot laid the \u201ctable\u201d and accepted when their men helped them to the ground.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe each thought it would be nice to bring something so you could tell us how much better we are than the other,\u201d Dot teased, unpacking her basket while Marina unpacked hers.<\/p>\n<p>Marina had brought the fried chicken, fresh bread, lemon meringue pie, and lemonade. Dot had brought the potato salad, baked beans, marmalades, pickles, and relishes.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, each of their men refused to say who was the better cook, but exclaimed in delight at each of their talents.<\/p>\n<p>They weren\u2019t saying it to make them feel good, either. They each asked for seconds and thirds, completely obliterating the feast to its last crumb. Marina and Dot exchanged delighted glances every time one of them moaned over a bite.<\/p>\n<p>Marina and Dot were wiping the plates and packing everything up when Trey lay on the cloth, pushed his fedora over his face, and announced, \u201cMarina, that was so fine I may not care what the calendar says. But for now, please forgive my rudeness in wanting to relax and relive that delicious meal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI second that,\u201d Gene sighed, doing likewise.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell!\u201d Dot said with mock outrage, \u201cif you boys are going to take a nap, Marina and I are going to pick flowers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBe our guest,\u201d Gene murmured lazily.<\/p>\n<p>Marina was so excited and happy she thought she\u2019d pop. She was more relaxed than she had ever been and her inhibitions were slipping away. Perhaps Mother and Father were stiff and formal, but deep down inside, Marina didn\u2019t want to be like that. Maybe she wasn\u2019t as jaunty as Dot, but she felt pretty jaunty at the moment and she liked it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat did he mean by the calendar?\u201d Dot asked once they were over a dale with the peony bushes.<\/p>\n<p>Marina excitedly relayed the conversation, taking great delight in Dot\u2019s growing incredulity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd that\u2019s what he meant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot had clapped her hands over her mouth to giggle with wide eyes. \u201cOh, Marina, I am so <em>happy<\/em> for you!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought you didn\u2019t like him,\u201d she teased.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t care! He makes you so happy. You are positively <em>glowing<\/em>, and that\u2019s all that matters. I knew this was the real you, and he brought it out!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd best of all, Father approves!\u201d She sobered a little. \u201cTrey thinks you were right about Mother.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot waved that off and when their arms full of flowers, they headed toward the chapel. \u201cIt\u2019s nothing to worry about now. The man is the head of the household, so if your father approves, then it\u2019s as good as done. Goodness, my mother had to pull my father\u2019s fingernails off to allow me to drive out with Gene last night and today. Not really, but the argument was glorious, I tell you! The whole neighborhood could hear it!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina laughed. \u201cHas Gene said anything?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot scowled. \u201cNo. He knows I\u2019m going to college and have no intention of marrying ever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina glanced at her suspiciously. \u201cI don\u2019t believe you.\u201d At Dot\u2019s outraged gasp, Marina said, \u201cYour voice is different. You don\u2019t sound as firm about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot\u2019s mouth twisted. \u201cIs it that obvious?\u201d she grumbled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d Marina chirped.<\/p>\n<p>Dot laughed. \u201cOh, silly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They had arrived at the chapel and went in, both of them stopping dead at the back. Marina held her breath in wonder.<\/p>\n<p>After a good long while, Marina whispered, \u201cI want to get married here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn a <em>cemetery<\/em>? They hold funerals here!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn a <em>park<\/em>. Trey says it was built specifically to be a place of fun and enjoyment so you aren\u2019t sad about people dying, but happy that they\u2019d lived. He didn\u2019t say it in those words, but that\u2019s what I got from it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s nice,\u201d Dot said wondrously. \u201cI like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs this your idea of hell?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot thought a minute, then began nodding slowly. \u201cI think&nbsp;\u2026  maybe? A beautiful park where you can pick peonies and walk amongst sorrow while working off your regrets then play croquet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s an awfully nice hell,\u201d Marina murmured, wondering what her parents would think of <em>that<\/em>. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t mind.\u201d Then she laughed. \u201cBoredom is your punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dot giggled. \u201cIt would be a <em>definite<\/em> punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you think the boys are finished napping?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s go see. I want to play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerptchapterhead\">26<\/p>\n<p class=\"sectiontop\">MARINA HAD NEVER been so happy in her life as she was today, her body relaxed and languid, her mind open to possibilities, Trey in her sight and thoughts.<\/p>\n<p>She was It. Trey, Dot, and Gene were hidden. Another several couples had joined them in their game, but Marina had stumbled over a married couple lying under a tree hugging very close, hands where they oughtn\u2019t be, and kissing in a way she had never seen before. She was so embarrassed, she squeaked and ran, but the vision stayed with her for the next hour, making her wonder \u2026<\/p>\n<p>When it was Trey\u2019s turn to be It, Marina hid where she\u2019d already successfully hidden as he wouldn\u2019t think she\u2019d do it again. She leaned back against the trunk and tried to catch her breath, but she couldn\u2019t stop thinking about that kissing couple and <em>how<\/em> they were kissing.<\/p>\n<p>Her parents didn\u2019t kiss at all, not even a peck on the cheek. Not each other, not Marina. She had looked with envy upon children and teens whose parents kissed and hugged them, but Marina had never seen what that couple had been doing.<\/p>\n<p>She was breathless, not from running and dodging, but from seeing that couple and, to her shame, she wanted to see more, know more.<\/p>\n<p>Be kissed.<\/p>\n<p>Not like <em>that<\/em>. It looked half disgusting but since she couldn\u2019t believe people would put their tongues in each other\u2019s mouths, clearly she wasn\u2019t seeing the truth of the kiss.<\/p>\n<p>The couple was married or they wouldn\u2019t be lying so close to each other, the man halfway on top of the woman, but Marina couldn\u2019t see why he would want to be. Proper married couples slept in separate rooms.<\/p>\n<p>She gulped as she examined the scene in her mind. The woman was wearing a dress, she remembered now. The man\u2019s hand had been up her dress, the fabric gathered over his wrist. Why? Why would she let him touch her that way? That was why Father preached against dresses, she knew, but he could trust Marina not to allow anyone to touch her that way.<\/p>\n<p>Yet today, she was wearing a dress and the fabric slithered in the breeze, caressing her legs and making her feel almost naked. Marina\u2019s body went hot and her heart continued to race and the pit of her belly tingled not unpleasantly. Maybe she was getting sick. Maybe she\u2019d eaten too much. Maybe she\u2019d run too hard. Maybe it was too hot and humid. But her tummy didn\u2019t ache nor was she nauseated. It was lower than that, in between her legs almost. And also in her chest\u2014 No, her breasts, particularly at the end, her&nbsp;\u2026 nipples&nbsp;\u2026 hard the way they were when she was naked in cool air. Why would they do that now? It was a hot day. Why was she thinking about her body at all, much less her private parts?<\/p>\n<p>She still hadn\u2019t been able to catch her breath. She closed her eyes. She allowed her head to drop back against the trunk. She clenched her fists at her sides, trying to control her sudden fever because she didn\u2019t want to leave but she didn\u2019t want to be sick while on an outing and be a spoil sport.<\/p>\n<p>But she didn\u2019t feel like throwing up, so what was it?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHi.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She started so badly at Trey\u2019s amused voice that she tried to back up against the tree further. He was too perceptive not to know she was sick.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHi,\u201d she answered weakly after a gulp.<\/p>\n<p>His smile faded. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Oh, no! She licked her lips. \u201cUm, nothing. I, um&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d She looked at his mouth. She couldn\u2019t help it with that couple still in her head. She looked away again, feeling even hotter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarina,\u201d he murmured, his voice deep in his chest.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think&nbsp;\u2026 I think I might be sick.\u201d She pressed her hand to her tummy.<\/p>\n<p>The corner of his mouth twitched. \u201cYou\u2019re not sick.\u201d He sounded so sure, so unconcerned. He sounded\u2014 Well, she didn\u2019t know. She\u2019d never heard that tone before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&nbsp;\u2026&nbsp;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLook at me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She didn\u2019t want to. She <em>really<\/em> didn\u2019t want to. She did, but she couldn\u2019t look in his ice blue eyes. Nor could she look at his mouth. She looked at the open collar at his neck, but even that was too much.<\/p>\n<p>She started again when he leaned toward her, bracing both hands on the trunk on either side of her head. He didn\u2019t touch her with his body, but \u2026<\/p>\n<p>She wanted him to.<\/p>\n<p>She mewled a little and turned her head away again.<\/p>\n<p>Again he said, \u201cLook at me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She felt compelled. Possessed, almost. She did, then closed her eyes.<\/p>\n<p>He leaned in and touched his mouth to hers. Lightly. Once, then pulled away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t be ashamed,\u201d he whispered. He caressed her cheek lightly with his knuckles, and suddenly she couldn\u2019t breathe. \u201cI\u2019m a man. You\u2019re a woman. Men and women kiss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yes, they did. She saw sweet little pecks between husbands and wives at church all the time. Like the kiss Trey had just given her. Just because her parents didn\u2019t \u2026<\/p>\n<p>She felt him again. This time he nudged her lips open a little. It was no peck, but it wasn\u2019t anything she hadn\u2019t seen between married couples at church.<\/p>\n<p>But Marina and Trey were not married.<\/p>\n<p>She was about to pull away when his mouth lightly captured her bottom lip. Then her top one.<\/p>\n<p>She felt she should do the same to him, so she did.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s good, Sugar,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat feels good,\u201d she whispered back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m about to make you feel <em>real<\/em> good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marina couldn\u2019t think anymore, so she closed her eyes and leaped lily pads.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wingding\">\u203b<\/p>\n<div class=\"navblock\">\n<p class=\"leftnavblock\"><a class=\"arrowsmall\" href=\"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/thebooks\/lionsshare\/\">\u2190 Book 8<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"rightnavblock\"><a class=\"arrowbig\" href=\"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/thebooks\/rag\/\">Book 10  \u2192<\/a><br \/>Sometimes the only thing a poor little rich girl needs<br \/>to reevaluate her life is the pool boy\u2019s contempt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"date\">20260331<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tales of Dunham #9\u00a92019 Moriah Jovan207,000 words (634 pages) Book 9 in the Dunham universe Buy direct: &nbsp; Amazon Kindle \u2022 paperback Barnes &#038; Noble Nook \u2022 paperback Apple iBooks Google Play Books Kobo eBooks Kansas City, Missouri1929 Trey Dunham, a mid-level cog in the Pendergast Machine during Prohibition, runs 1520 Main, Boss Tom\u2019s most [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":18726,"menu_order":29,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9459","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9459"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9459"}],"version-history":[{"count":121,"href":"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9459\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25697,"href":"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9459\/revisions\/25697"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/moriahjovan.com\/talesofdunham\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}