Speakeasy, Speak Love

by Sharon G Clark

  “Yeah, what a kid.” He released his hold on her, pushing Fiona roughly into Margaret. “The ladies are safe now, so scram.”

  Fiona shook her head. “No can do. Eldon’s my boss. I only take orders from him, and his last order’s to stick around until he got home.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Which he ain’t yet.”

  His gaze flicked toward Margaret, then to Lorraine. Jimmy’s jaw clenched tightly, and Fiona heard the quick grind of his teeth. She suspected he would have said—and done—more if Margaret hadn’t been there. Instead, he roughly grabbed Lorraine by the back of her neck and pushed her into her room.

  Fiona may not get along with Lorraine, but Jimmy’s temper needed a release. She’d seen that same look in her father’s eyes too many times. Fiona wouldn’t let him take his anger out on Lorraine. Fiona stepped one foot forward, but Lorraine caught her eye. There was resignation to her fate in Lorraine’s ice-blue gaze. Even with Jimmy’s tight hold, Lorraine minutely managed to shake her head. Fiona read the message: don’t interfere. Fiona fisted her hands, realizing she and Lorraine might be more alike than she originally believed.

  “Leave it, Finn,” Margaret whispered in her ear, a hand to her back.

  Breathing so deeply her nostrils flared, Fiona turned her attention to Margaret, attempting to control herself at the same time. The door to Lorraine’s room slammed shut. “You should get back to bed, Miss Margaret.” At Margaret’s door, Fiona said, “Thank you for your intervention.”

  “You’re welcome, Finn.” She swiped a thumb across Fiona’s cheek. Lipstick darkened the pad when she pulled her thumb away.

  “Margaret—”

  “Shush.” Margaret placed a finger to Fiona’s lips. “I heard it all, not that you owe me an explanation.”

  Fiona closed the distance between them and said into Margaret’s ear, “I wouldn’t hurt you in that way.” She pulled back a little and shot a gaze at Lorraine’s door. Whispering, she said, “I don’t like Lorraine’s tactics, but I might have a better understanding of her reasons.”

  Margaret nodded sadly. “But you can’t save everyone, Finn. I’m afraid for you. Afraid, one day, the object of one of your crusades will turn on you.” Goodness, Margaret sounded like Ian and Claire.

  Fiona felt the concern radiating from Margaret, her heart buoyed by it. She couldn’t let Margaret go to bed with this as the last words spoken. Fiona didn’t know what to say without it sounding condescending or discounting of Margaret’s feelings. Leaning into Margaret as she turned the knob and opened her door, Fiona nipped at Margaret’s earlobe, rewarded by Margaret’s shiver. “Sweet dreams.”

  Without a word, Margaret entered her bedroom and closed the door. Fiona grinned and shook her head. “Temporary ceasefire.”

  MARGARET OPENED HER bedroom door, and was propelled forward by a heavy weight as a large hand clamped on her upper arm. Damn, she thought, I’d let my guard down and not paid attention to my surroundings. She tried to spin toward Jimmy, but he forced her flush against the wall, his hot breath against her ear. “Are you avoiding me? Hardly see you since that night with Finn sitting for you.” Jimmy ran his thick hand up and down the left side of Margaret’s body, from shoulder to thigh. “Deny me all you want, Babs, but I know you want this. You’ll be mine one way or another.”

  “You haven’t been given permission to call me by my brother’s nickname.” Margaret tried to back away and only managed to push herself against the wall. She had no way to get away from Jimmy and his unwanted advances. Correcting him would only antagonize him further. “I don’t want anything from you, Jimmy, and I don’t know why you can’t understand that,” Margaret said. She prayed her voice didn’t give away how frightened and helpless she felt at this moment.

  Roughly, he grasped her left breast and elicited a pain filled whimper from her before she could stop the sound’s escape. He squeezed harder, ran his thumb across the nipple through her blouse, and then pinched the nipple hard. “You say one thing, but your body speaks another,” Jimmy said hotly, latching onto the lobe of her ear and pressing himself flush against her.

  “No, Jimmy, you don’t seem to understand, I don’t want you.” She tried ineffectually to push against him, to shove him away. Suddenly Margaret heard a low snarl. Before she knew it, Jimmy had moved a slight degree away from her, and then Fiona’s voice sounded behind him.

  “Miss Margaret told you she ain’t interested.”

  Margaret hadn’t heard the door open. Had Jimmy closed it when he pushed her inside?

  With speed belying his size, Jimmy swung around and roughly grabbed Fiona by the throat. He spun her around and slammed Fiona into the wall beside Margaret. “I don’t need the peanut gallery telling me what to do, you little runt. I’m tired of your interference.”

  “Careful, Jimmy, he’s just a kid,” Margaret said.

  “I don’t care, right now he’s in my business, and deserves whatever punishment he gets. And I have every intention of giving it to him—if he doesn’t back down.” Jimmy leaned in closer until his face was scant centimeters from Fiona’s nose. “As a matter of fact, let me make you a bargain, runt. How ’bout I make sure that you come on our honeymoon.” He gave a sneer in Margaret’s direction. “I’ll make sure you get to watch every little thing I do to her while you’re strapped to a chair in plain view.” Jimmy chuckled as if this idea was the most humorous thing he’d ever said. “And when I’m done, and Babs is satiated, I’ll toss you out the nearest door.” Jimmy gave one final squeeze to Fiona’s neck, the red coloring of her flesh quickly turning purple from lack of oxygen. He stalked out of the room.

  Panic for Fiona’s well-being filled her. Margaret grabbed her, pulling Fiona into her arms while Fiona gasped for breath. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah I’m fine,” Fiona wheezed. “Someday that sonofabitch—”

  “Let’s hope you’re far away,” Margaret told her, “before that type of situation occurs.” She shook her head sadly. “Not that I don’t appreciate your intervention, but what the hell are you thinking?”

  Angering Jimmy was akin to repeatedly poking the devil in the nose. They’d never be safe until they put as much distance between them and Jimmy Bennett. Margaret wondered, would Fiona want me to follow her to the mountains? Does she ever see us together, in the future?

  Fiona gazed at Margaret steadily. “I won’t let him hurt you, I promise.”

  Margaret carefully caressed Fiona’s cheek. “It’s not me I’m worried about.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  MARGARET HOPED TO maintain more of Eldon’s attention, but he seemed intent on the paperwork in front of him, absently spinning a pencil in his forefinger and thumb. His distraction annoyed her, but could work in her favor. The episode with Jimmy earlier that morning scared her more than she would admit aloud. Fiona’s reaction—what she might do in retaliation on Margaret’s behalf—terrified her even more. “You know you can get anyone to make Finn’s deliveries. How many people do you trust to look after my well-being as you do with Finn? At least you know Finn’s trustworthy enough not to make unwanted advances.”

  Eldon snorted. “With you as the temptation, Babs, it won’t last too much longer. The boy’s growing up, after all.”

  “He looks up to you,” Margaret said, rolling her eyes. The lie would stroke Eldon’s ego, again maybe working in her favor. “If he were standing under mistletoe, had your permission, I still doubt I could get a kiss on the cheek from Finn.” Okay, closer to the truth, much to Margaret’s chagrin. So far, she had initiated their kisses. Although, she remembered the nip at her earlobe and Margaret’s body reacted with a clenching in parts of her body getting harder to ignore. “Please, Eldon. I’m only asking for a little while.”

  “What is it you intend to do?” Eldon asked. “I won’t have you gallivanting around the city. Your safety is important to me.”

  “All the more reason I want Finn by my side. His street smarts have him seeing trouble ahead of time.”
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  Eldon gave a loud guffaw. “What is it you think the kid is going to do?” He sat back tossing the pencil onto the desk. “He’s not all that sturdy. Wind would blow him down, and it wouldn’t have to be very strong.”

  “Finn’s a lot scrappier than you give him credit for,” Margaret said. She didn’t doubt Fiona could hold her own in a fair fight. She just hoped she’d never have to find out. Her brother was paying attention now, which proved he would consider her request. “There are just some things I want to do downtown, for the less fortunate, and for the church. Mother would’ve wanted me to help those who couldn’t help themselves and would be doing it herself if she were still here. As you don’t see fit to allow me to teach, I have to do something with my time.”

  “Yes, you should be considering matrimony. You know Jimmy’s still interested,” Eldon said.

  Margaret felt the blood drain from her face. “Eldon, I’m not sure—”

  “I get it, Babs. Truly I do,” Eldon said wearily. “If not Jimmy you need to start considering someone, any respectable man will do. Say the word and make it happen.”

  “But I’m not interested in anyone,” Margaret said.

  Eldon sighed, picked up his pencil, and returned his attention to his paperwork. “You can have Finn for the next week. Use the time wisely, Babs, because, at the end of that period, you either show me another suitor worthy of your hand, or I tell Jimmy he has my permission to marry you.” He raised his hand to forestall her reply, realizing her ready to argue. “Two weeks Margaret. That’s final.”

  AS HAD BECOME her habit, Fiona took lunch in the kitchen. Today, to her surprise, Jimmy was at the table. Mrs. Baumann noticed her entrance and indicated Fiona sit next to her and not the table. She patted the tall chair beside her. “So how is your day going, young Finn?” Mrs. Baumann asked.

  “Aw, it’s going just fine.” Fiona settled into the chair, took a sip from the glass of the milk alongside her sandwich.

  “We have another busy schedule,” Margaret said. “It’s amazing, Mrs. Baumann, how one young man accomplishes as much as he does.” Fiona caught her quick shrug. “I don’t know how I would’ve survived without his assistance.” They were on their third day of Margaret’s self-imposed errands.

  Jimmy snorted and patted Margaret on the thigh. Fiona wanted to whack the hand away, crush the bones to dust. She wouldn’t mind slapping the smug expression off his face either. “I’d be more than happy to take you on your errands,” Jimmy said. “I’m sure anything the boy can do, I can manage.” Jimmy tossed a glare in Fiona’s direction. “And probably a lot better too. I know how to wash my face.”

  Margaret stood from the table, effectively removing Jimmy’s hand without making it obvious, and stood by the sink just behind her. Jimmy stood too and came to stand beside the counter mere inches from Fiona. “You needn’t participate in such menial labor, Jimmy. Nor can I take you from my brother’s side, where you’re needed most.”

  Fiona gave a broad smile, and then instantly regretted it. Jimmy’s glare turned into a red-hazed fury. There was no way she and Jimmy were ever going to find mutual ground. They were enemies, plain and simple. She knew it since their first meeting. Fiona did worry how far Jimmy would go in his obsession with Margaret, especially after the incident of a few days ago.

  “Enjoy it now,” Jimmy whispered harshly, leaning too close to her. “Before long, she’ll be my wife. You won’t have the same access to her as you have now. Nor the same privileges in this house.” With that said, as was becoming his habit, Jimmy stormed off.

  Margaret came to her side with concern written on her features. “What did he say?”

  Despite a cold rush of dread, Fiona smiled and said, “Nothing we haven’t heard before.” Fiona shrugged, hoping it appeared a carefree gesture. “He really should consider getting someone to write him some better threats.”

  Mrs. Baumann lightly cuffed the back of Fiona’s head. “Watch yourself young one. He’s one wicked individual you do not want to cross.”

  “I understand,” Fiona said. “He’s dangerous. The problem is everyone’s a target,” Fiona said. “Not just me.”

  “The least you could do to help the matter,” Mrs. Baumann said, “is quit finding ways to piss him off.”

  Fiona crossed her arms over her chest. “And where’s the fun there? These are modern times, where everyone lives dangerously.”

  Margaret shook her head sadly. “That’s the part which frightens me, Finn. The whole point is to live.”

  Pushing the plate of sandwiches closer to Finn, Mrs. Baumann said, “And you’re walking a mighty fine line, you little hooligan.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  AS THEY FINISHED a fun day of shopping—not that Fiona considered shopping fun—with Margaret, Brigid, and Sunny, she could tell Sunny was tiring. Fiona, relegated to the position of a packhorse, found it a newly favorite task because of the way Margaret grinned at her each time she added to the burden. Fiona couldn’t believe how much comfort Margaret’s presence brought her. Fiona had friends in the Donnelly’s and enjoyed Claire’s friendship. She wouldn’t consider those friendships a wasted effort. However now, with Margaret, she felt different things inside her head and body, things she wasn’t able to explain or understand. The three kisses they’d shared kept Fiona awake at night with conflicting feelings of joy and fear. She and Margaret needed to talk, but Fiona was afraid the reaction wouldn’t shift in her favor.

  They were almost to the car, one of the concessions Eldon made to ensure Margaret’s comfort as well as her safety, and they all benefited from it.

  Then the very thing to scare Fiona happened.

  Scant seconds elapsed for Fiona to notice Detweiler in the crowd and realized they wouldn’t make it to the car in time. Without alarming her companions, Fiona said, “Hurry, into the alley.” Though it wasn’t her intention, she could see the alarm on their features. They didn’t argue, rather hurried to do her bidding. That’s when Fiona recognized one of Detweiler’s lackeys, from their original meeting with Margaret, racing toward them. She doubted his intent a friendly one. Someone from the crowd of pedestrians seemed to recognize the Detweiler’s man and his intent, the yelling of “gun” by several voices, and the sidewalk burst into pandemonium. A flash of blue and a police officer tossed the gunman to the ground, but not before he’d pointed the barrel at Fiona.

  Fiona managed to get the girls down an alley, glancing about to find the best means of protection. She felt an instant of relief, but didn’t intend to rely on it. No one was following. She recognized the area. They were close to Old Man Chamber’s garage. Fiona steered her companions in that direction. She had just made it to the end of the alley when Fiona felt the burning pain in her shoulder followed by the report of a gun. She stumbled, but quickly righted herself. Fiona hustled the girls into the open bay of the garage.

  “Hey what the—” Chambers rushed forward. “Shit Finn, what’s going on?” He appeared to recognize the fear on the three faces in front of him. “Come, come over this way,” he ordered, ushering them to Fiona’s room. Once inside, he slammed the door behind them, and said, “Stay here. I’ll get rid of them.”

  Ear pressed to the door, Fiona listened. She heard Detweiler’s voice inquiring about their whereabouts. Then, the old man exclaimed in surprise, “They went out the back.” The racing footsteps as Detweiler and crew rushed to find them.

  In her other ear, Fiona heard Margaret’s distressed whisper. “You’ve been shot.”

  Fiona attempted a careless shrug, only to wince at the responding pain. She glanced around the small room. Brigid and Sunny stood holding the packages from their daily purchases tightly in trembling arms. “I’ve got to get you all back to safety. I don’t want Eldon worrying when he hears of this.”

  “Not until you get some medical attention,” Margaret said through gritted teeth.

  Fiona snorted. “If I don’t get you back to Eldon, I’m going to need more medical attention than I do a
t this moment.”

  “Fine,” Margaret said. She turned toward Brigid. “Can you drive the car?” she asked. Brigid gave a slow nod. “See, Brigid can take the car back and let my brother know what happened.”

  Shaking her head, Fiona said, “No. It’s my job to make sure you’re all safe. All of you. Then I’ll—”

  “And how safe are we going to be, if you’re not conscious so you can protect us?” Margaret stepped back, her hands on her hips in defiance. “Fine. We’ll do it your way. Brigid can drive us all back to the house. From there I’ll take you to a doctor—or send for him.”

  “We don’t even know if it is safe to go back to the car yet,” Fiona said. “I know it’s not the nicest place for you ladies, but here’s safe.” She looked around the room and found a couple of old rags, as clean as they came in a garage, wadded one into a square, and moved to place it against the wound.

  Margaret, reading her intention, grabbed the rag away from her. “Dammit, Finn, if you’re going to be this stubborn, at least let me help.” Fiona didn’t have to see the anger on Margaret’s face because she felt it in pressing of the cloth a bit rougher than probably intended against her wound. Fiona flinched. Contritely, Margaret hissed, “Sorry.”

  Feeling a bit lightheaded, pain making it difficult to think, Fiona took a deep breath hoping to stave off unconsciousness. She had to get Margaret to safety, had to make sure Brigid and Sunny were safe also. “Okay ladies,” Fiona said with more strength than she felt. “Let’s see if it’s safe for us all. I’ll go get the car.”

  Old Man Chambers had his hand raised to knock on the door when Fiona opened it. “They’re gone.” He glanced to Fiona and from his widening eyes saw the blood. “Why don’t you give me the keys and I’ll get your car.”

  Fiona shook her head. “It may not be safe. I wouldn’t want you hurt.”

  “The same works in reverse, Finn.” He shook his head. “Been ’round long enough, I’ll know what to look for. I won’t let anybody follow me.” He glanced at the women behind Fiona. “Once that’s done, what are your plans?”