Inside, the Women's Club was paneled in piano black and trimmed in silver, with silver-gray carpeting. At the black podium, a man in Spadros livery stood, glancing up when I approached. "Welcome, Mrs. Spadros, your family awaits."
My family? The invitation was for Molly.
Perhaps she brought Tony's little sister Katherine with her. While I liked Katie, what I wanted to discuss wasn't really suitable for a thirteen year old girl to hear. Perhaps I could find a way to distract her.
Or bore her. Even better. That'd be sure to make her want to leave the table, if not to go outside and see the gardens.
I smiled to myself as I followed the man to one of the private areas, curtained in diaphanous white.
Molly, Katherine, and Roy Spadros sat around the table, rising when I entered.
Fear, outrage, and confusion struck me, all at once: How did Roy get in here? The Club was only for women!
Then I realized: Who would dare to tell Roy Spadros he couldn't come in?
As ever, Tony's father Roy stared out at me through dead eyes of blue ice. The light shone on the snow-white strands in his black hair. "Good to see you, Jacq."
Molly smiled warmly and held out her hand, which I touched briefly. Why didn't she warn me he would be here?
Katherine said, "Jacqui!" She hugged me around my waist, her face in the top of my corset. "I'm so happy to see you!" Katherine Spadros had auburn hair and bright blue eyes. Her hair was pulled away from her face, a fresh rose caught up in it.
The attendant held my chair, and I sat, quite mindful that my back was to the curtain. "What an unexpected surprise."
Maids entered, pouring tea, bringing sandwiches. The private areas were as large as my private dressing room at Madame Biltcliffe's shop, with plenty of room for the servants to move about. But today, their movements were jerky, hesitant.
Once the maids were done, Roy waved them off and peered at me. "What do you want to know?"
He did tend to get to the point, but even so his abruptness startled me. "I beg your pardon?"
"You've never asked my wife to tea before. That you would do so now, after your argument with my son about 'teaching you to shoot' —"
Alarm spiked through me. One of our servants, listening at the door, reported our private conversation to Roy?
Roy let out a mocking laugh. "It suggests to me you might have something you want to know."
Katherine had filled her plate with cucumber sandwiches, and was happily removing the cucumber from each of them.
"I suppose it does bring up a few questions."
Molly smiled. "We mean you no harm, my dear."
So she was in on this? Roy didn't force her to keep his visit here a secret? But they meant me no harm. "Why can't Tony know about my lessons? He's so concerned for my safety."
Molly sighed. "He's always been anxious, the poor dear. And I suppose for good reason." She glanced at Roy, who didn't meet her eye. "It just seemed for the best."
They coddled Tony. They didn't believe in him. They didn't believe he could handle the truth.
When he learned of it he would be furious. It would make him feel so disrespected. And it would hurt, especially coming from his mother. And by extension, from me. I shook my head. "This ... you can't keep this secret forever."
Roy smirked. "Certainly we can. Who would dare tell him. You?" He paused. "Now that you know we wish you not to? Why in the world would you do that? With the cathedral so close at hand. It's just a short drive away." A sly grin crossed his face. "I bet you'd like to see your mother, wouldn't you?"
I stared at him in horror. "No."
Molly frowned. "Roy, dear —"
Roy ignored her. "Surely after all these years, you want to see her? Just for a few days, perhaps? I could invite her over for some entertainment — I'd even let you watch."
Katie had made a pile of the cucumbers. She held a slice of cucumber in one hand and the salt shaker in the other. She ate the slices one at a a time, salting each slice before she ate it.
She had no idea what her father meant. I forced myself to smile, to keep my voice light. "That won't be necessary."
Roy waved to someone behind me, and a maid came in. He gestured to her to come close, and she stood beside him as if he made her skin crawl. Katie watched her.
"My dear," Roy spoke as if we were discussing the weather, "Let's get one thing very clear. This Family is mine. This quadrant and every person in it is mine. The dress you're wearing. Even that desk you love so much. All mine, to do with as I wish." He reached up to the maid, who stood trembling, head down, face pale, and patted her cheek. "Right?"
"Yes, sir," she mumbled, eyes filled with terror.
He smiled, a real smile this time. "Very nice." He dropped his hand to his side. "You may go now."
"Yes, sir," the girl said, and rushed out.
Katie's face was pale, "Mama, may I go out to the garden?"
"Yes, dear," Molly said. "Don't pick any of the flowers."
"Jacqui," Katie said warily, not looking at her father, "do you want to go with me?"
Roy said, "We're not done talking yet."
Katie looked between us; I nodded at her, giving her a small smile. "Okay, Daddy." She hurried out.
Once she was gone, Roy said, "And you are not to interfere with the boy."
For a second, I felt confused. What boy?
Molly's cheeks flushed, and she glanced away.
Suddenly, it all made sense. What happened to Amelia, what no one wanted to tell me: Pip Dewey was Roy's son. "You unspeakable bastard." He knew Amelia abused Pip yet he wanted it to continue. It wasn't enough to violate and terrorize Amelia. He tried to torture his own child! "You push the boy too far. If he takes his own life, he'll be no fun to you."
Roy stared at me, unmoving, practicality trumping whim. "Damn you," he muttered. "Fine." He sounded annoyed, but seemed secretly pleased with me.
Oh, gods. Poor Amelia.
Roy let out a short ironic laugh. "I suppose we're done with lessons. Unless there's something else you'd like to know."
I might as well ask. "I'd like to learn to hit moving targets."
The surprise which flashed through his eyes made me almost think Roy Spadros was human. "Hmm. The Gentleman's Club has moving targets, but I can't bring you there. So you must move. I'll instruct the men to allow you to use your target range."
"I suppose I should feel grateful for that."
He studied me for a long moment, and I felt afraid of what my request might have told him.
Roy must have threatened Amelia into carrying the child. This was what Peter meant when he said they thought they might be safer at Spadros Manor. They must feel trapped.
I might not get another chance to ask, Roy in a good mood and all. And another question might distract him. "How did you learn of the ambush on my husband and his men?"
Roy hesitated.
"Please, sir, I must know. My husband believes there are more spies in our household." Besides yours. Did Tony know his men's first loyalty was to Roy?
He sat still for a moment. "After we visited, I received a letter. An anonymous letter, mind you, so I questioned the boy —"
I gasped.
Roy let out a short laugh. "I have better things to do than play with messengers. I merely asked whence came the letter. A black-haired young woman with pale skin is all the child knew."
A black-haired woman? Molly had black hair, but a boy would hardly call her young.
He shrugged. "When I sent men to the address the boy said he received the letter from, they found the building abandoned."
I nodded. "A taunt from our enemy." I rubbed my forehead. "How many do these scoundrels command?"
He snorted.
"Do you have the letter? I want to compare it to others we have received."
Roy gave a short laugh. "Do you now? Perhaps I should just take the ones you have."
I shrugged. I would burn them before I let him have them. "I can be of
help to you. You don't have to do the investigation on your own."
He peered at me. "Very well. You may pick them up at Spadros Castle. Don't bother sending anyone; if you want them, you'll have to come get them yourself."
I sighed. "Agreed." So he'd force me to come to him after all. Roy would do anything to cause others distress. To him it was like food. And I had a thought: Perhaps my greatest weapon is for him to believe I'm unafraid, no matter what his next ambush might be.
The Stalemate
When I got home, Tony met me at the door, face pale. I glanced at Pearson, who seemed unperturbed. Tony took my hand. "Come with me." He drew me out of sight by the stair. Then he turned to me, voice shaking. "Did he hurt you?"
"Tony, I was at the Spadros Women's Club, taking tea with your mother."
The color returned to his face. "I got word that my father was also there. My father went into the Women's Club itself!" Tony sounded scandalized, and ashamed of his father's behavior.
So Tony had his spies as well. "I invited your mother to tea. The rest was ... most unexpected. But all's well. I'm unharmed, although somewhat wiser."
Tony pulled me to his chest in a tight hug. "Thank the Dealer." He kissed the top of my head. "My father delights in finding ways to hurt me."
I hugged Tony back, moved by his misfortune of having Roy for a father. My father Peedro Sluff might be foul and lewd, greedy and slothful, but he had never intentionally hurt me.
And suddenly, I had a new name for the list of people who had motive to hurt me: Roy Spadros. While I always thought he reveled in causing me harm, the idea that he would deliberately harm me in order to hurt Tony was new.
Tony let go of me and took my hand. "I have news." We went into his study, where Sawbuck already sat. Tony sat at his desk, opening a ledger stuffed with notes. I sat next to Sawbuck, wondering what this was all about.
"Your suspicion that these scoundrels are using our own money against us was correct," Tony said. He picked up a list. "They've bought — black cloth — damn them! The cloth I wanted for the casino!" A spasm of annoyance crossed his face. "Stamp ink, red. Well, that's no surprise, they are making those cards, after all. Ammonium nitrate — diatomaceous earth — paraffin — clock parts?" Tony shook his head. "I can't make sense of it."
I said, "May I use your library to investigate these items? Perhaps I might find a common thread."
Sawbuck nodded. "That's a good idea."
"Yes, it is," Tony said. "But you never had to ask — you're welcome to go there anytime you wish."
I chided myself for not asking earlier. Tony had a great many books which might be helpful to me. "When the accountant tells us more ...?"
"I'll pass it along to you at once," Tony said. Then he paused for several seconds. "Why the cloth? I planned it for the draperies —" He returned to musing, hand to his chin.
After a minute of this, Sawbuck stirred. "Do you have any orders, sir?"
Tony shook his head, waving Sawbuck away. "No, not yet. Once we deduce what they're up to, I'll know what to do."
"Yes, sir." Sawbuck left, closing the door behind him.
"Tony?"
He closed the ledger and placed it on the desk, leaning his elbows atop it. "Yes, my love?"
"How many of your men were once your father's?"
Tony didn't react. "All but Ten. He dislikes my father and refuses to work for him." He gave a slight smile. "One reason I trust him." He paused. "So you've perceived our predicament."
He sounded impressed, but it didn't take too fine a logic to reason out that one.
"But Ten's goal is to find loyal men." The thought didn't seem to bring Tony any happiness. "I can't do anything overt to my father — at least, not in front of the men — nor can he do anything overt to us. A stalemate, but better than the alternative." He paused, a pensive look on his face. "My life seems filled with such tactics these days." He yawned, rubbing his face with his hands.
"Tony, I know something's wrong ..."
He sounded weary. "Jacqui —"
"I ask you, you deny it. I ask Gardena, she says ask you. Ever since she was here, you don't sleep, you're barely eating ... I care about you. I'm worried for your welfare. You let me help you in other matters; I want to understand why I can't help with this."
Tony put his face in his hands for a long moment. "Jacqui —" He raised his head. "Please stop. These questions aren't helping."
"But —"
"Leave Gardena alone. She's — she's in tremendous danger." He hesitated. "In the most danger of anyone involved. I — I can't — I wish I knew how to tell you without making things worse. The best way to help is to trust me."
I nodded, not at all understanding. Could it have to do with her grandfather's death? Why would something that happened six years ago put her in such terrible danger now? "Then I'll remain silent. But you must promise to eat and sleep. I don't want you to fall ill."
He smiled at that. "I'll try."
Tony sat silently for a long time. Then he said, "I'll be gone tomorrow until late."
"More work at the casino?"
He nodded, looking at his desk. "You may be asleep before I get home." He took my hands. "I love you, Jacqui. I'll do whatever it takes to make you safe and happy."
I couldn't make the connection between working late at the casino and my safety. Or happiness. What did he mean?
I spent the rest of the day reading in Tony's library. I wasn't good at reading, having come to it late in life, but I did enjoy it.
I took the list of items from Tony's investigation and ran down it.
Black cloth ... that could be used for any number of things.
Red stamp ink seemed obvious. I imagined that when the accountant finished he would find large purchases of business cards as well.
I found ammonium nitrate in a book of Tony's called "Chemical Compounds." Most of the chapter contained material I didn't understand. But one section interested me:
Uses: primarily used as a fertilizer, although it can be explosive if handled incorrectly. Must be sealed well or will absorb water and coalesce into a solid mass.
There were more:
Diatomaceous earth: fossilized remains of the diatom, a hard-shelled algae. Used as a filtration aid, a mechanical insecticide, an abrasive in metal polishes, an absorbent, a stabilizing component of dynamite, and a thermal insulator.
Paraffin: a type of wax used to make candles. Also used as a sealant.
I rubbed my forehead. Fertilizer, insecticide, candles? Did these false Red Dogs mean to run a farm? No, that couldn't be it. What was this about dynamite?
I searched the book but could find nothing on the subject. I knew dynamite was used to destroy the bridges during the Alcatraz Coup. Did they want to destroy more of them?
I put the book away and searched Tony's library for any book which might shed light on how one made dynamite. The closest I found were the volumes, The History of Bridges, which spoke of the Coup. But they were silent on how the substance was made.
I set the book on my chair and went outside. The gardeners were busy planting for the spring, and I went to one of them. "Excuse me."
The man was perhaps sixty, with part of a folded newspaper stuck in his back pocket. "Yes, mum, how may I help you?"
"Ammonium nitrate. How is it used?"
"Ah, mum, we don't use anything like that here. The big farms in Clubb quadrant use that stuff. Don't need it in a small garden like this."
Our gardens were ten times the size of Ma's back home. "Why not? Is it dangerous?"
He shrugged. "Anything's dangerous if you don't know how to use it. But like I said, don't need it. Spadros soil is good enough without it."
"Thank you." I turned aside, then said, "if you were wanting to blow something up, would you use that?"
"Mum?"
"Ammonium nitrate."
He paused. "Well, you could, but why would you go to the trouble? You could buy explosives for a lot less bother." He took
the paper from his back pocket and unfolded it. "Look there."
He pointed to an ad:
Extra Dynamite
Strong enough for mining
Safer than nitroglycerin
Contains 65% ammonium nitrate
Interesting. If the Spadros Family began buying up dynamite, someone would surely notice. But this? A sly move indeed. "Do you know how this is made?"
"No, mum, but my father used to work in the mines. He turned his cards in last year and we still got all his stuff. I'll see if he had anything about it."
"Thank you so much. This would be most helpful."
"My pleasure, mum."
I went to Tony. "I think they're making explosives."
His eyes widened. "To destroy what?"
"I have no idea."
***
Unable to move, I watched, horrified, as a dark-skinned man in white walked through the factory towards me. He looked straight at me —
I woke with a start. Tony slept peacefully.
Something wasn't right.
I was so afraid that day at the factory, I might have believed anyone approaching in white to be Jack, but now ....
The man in white I saw seemed heavier, shorter. Was someone impersonating Jack Diamond there at the factory?
Why would someone do that?
Why would Jack allow someone to do that?
Ah, I thought. To provide an alibi.
My heart sank. A stalemate, indeed.
Jack must have told his workers to say this imposter was him.
Another way to discredit me. If I brought charges, yet Jack could prove beyond doubt that he was somewhere else at the time, I would never be given another chance to speak against him. He would get away with everything he had done.
The Liaison
The next day, after all my household duties were done, I went to my study. Since Tony would be away, I decided to do some of my social calls. That night, I would finally have the chance to see what Marja knew about the threat against Ma. So I wrote a letter:
Vig,
The Queen of Diamonds Page 19