Chapter Twenty-Four

She seemed surprised by his declaration. Maybe his financial status and social standing were as important to her as they’d been to Laura. Maybe she only needed him for his contacts in the business and political world. Hell, he wondered if maybe he’d been so clumsy with his lovemaking she didn’t want to repeat the experience.

“You’re an amazing man,” she finally said, “and I want you, too. More than you’ll ever know.”

Her statement purged away the tightness in his chest. So she hadn’t been put off by his heavy-handedness. She still wanted to experience the pleasures of his bed. He hadn’t bungled the entire affair.

“So, you still want…or you might consider,” he ventured, “an offer of marriage?” The moment he spoke the words he wished he could call them back. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea of marrying Faith. She was good with Meggie, an educated woman, a woman who had integrity, loyalty, and passion. But his timing was off, as usual; they were in a car, for Pete’s sake.

Faith sat straight up in her seat. “Was that a marriage proposal? Who do you think you’re talking to? I’m not some dumb Dora pining for a man to take care of her.”

He took his eyes off the road and frowned. What was wrong with her? He’d just dropped everything he had at his disposal at her feet. Didn’t she see he could make her life easier? “What did I say wrong?”

“You said, you lunkhead, that I can’t take care of myself and Seth.”

He stared at her. “When in the world did I say that? I distinctly remember not saying those words.”

He turned into the drive of Bellaluna.

“It’s not what you said, it’s what you didn’t say, and I refuse your pathetic offer of marriage!”

She tried to open the Bearcat’s door before he even stopped the auto. He grabbed her sleeve.

“And what if you’re pregnant?” he hissed.

“Oh, how dare you!” She shook off his hand, yanked open the door, then slammed it so hard the windows rattled. She stomped all the way to Bellaluna’s entrance.

“Well, that went well,” Michael muttered and slammed his own door and headed for the back yard.

****

“If you stand here any longer, I’ll have to start calling you a punch rustler,” Meg said as she sidled up to the buffet table. The sun had cooperated and gone behind a cloud for a few minutes.

Seth laughed around his mouthful of food. “Ooo, you slaughter me! I can’t help it. Gwen’s potato salad is the best ever.” He looked her over. “Jazzed up for the party, huh?”

Meg rolled her eyes and stretched over the heavily laden table to fork up a piece of watermelon. She took a huge bite and let the sweet juice dribble off her chin.

“We’re moving out tomorrow morning, now that Rafe and Theo are on the mend. Did your father tell you?” Seth wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve.

Meg stared at him for a long moment. “Good. Then I won’t have to look at your ugly mug anymore.” She flung the remainder of her watermelon into a nearby can of garbage and ran across the lawn toward the orchard.

“Hey, what’d I say?” Seth yelled after her.

****

“What a crush,” Faith commented to Anna. The veranda was still filled with people mingling as the sun set against the western sky. When Michael and she had arrived back at Bellaluna, she’d taken a moment to calm down and rest her eyes. Unfortunately, the respite had turned into a full-blown four-hour nap. “I’m sorry I missed so much of it.”

Anna laughed. “From Michael’s mood when the two of you returned, you didn’t miss anything.” She bent down to listen to a request from her daughter. “Yes, Uncle Liam and Uncle Bruno will start the fireworks as soon as it gets dark enough, sweetie.” The child scampered off to join her sisters, who were lighting sparklers and snakes on the driveway. “The girls are leaving with the nanny right after the fireworks. It’s been a long day for them. I’m sure the fighting will start soon.” She laughed, then sobered. “But I feel apprehensive about tonight. Jake says not to worry, but I can’t help myself.” She searched the crowd. “I wonder where Meggie is.”

“I saw her in the upstairs hallway when I left my room. She didn’t look very happy, I’m afraid.”

“Too many changes.” Anna sighed. “Meg’s been through the mill in her short life. I don’t know how to comfort her anymore.” She searched the crowd. “I’m going to look for her. The fireworks are about to start. Will you keep an eye on the girls? Jake and I agreed one of us would stay close until this is over.”

“Of course. By the way, how are you feeling?”

“Tired, but that’s to be expected.” She rubbed her flat stomach and smiled. “I think it’s a boy this time. Feels very different from my other pregnancies. Want to take a guess, Doc?”

Faith looked her over. “Definitely a boy, because I think it’s a girl, and I’ve never been right, ever.”

Anna chuckled. “Well, that settles it. A boy it is. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She walked toward the kitchen door.

After a few minutes, Tessia strolled over. “Babysitting?”

“Yes, I don’t mind.” Faith gestured toward the children assembled on the driveway. “They’re having a ball. Ah, to be that young again.” She grinned at Tessia, who scanned the crowd.

“Looking for anyone in particular?” she ventured.

Tessia blushed and poured herself a glass of teamonade from the ceramic crock. “Would you like one?”

“No, thanks,” Faith replied. “I think I just saw Ty go in the back door.”

“Am I that transparent?”

Faith put her arm around the girl’s shoulder. “I can’t imagine what you must be feeling. I’m so sorry.”

Tessia squeezed her hand. “I’ll get used to him. I have to, don’t I? He’s my damn brother.” She walked away into the crowd.

Faith had one eye on the girls and the other on the small band assembled on the veranda. The lively, toe-tapping music filled the air, and she enjoyed the view. The length of the stone wall held shimmering lanterns that mesmerized. Pots of colorful plants perfumed the air. She found herself relaxed and beginning to regret her conversation with Michael earlier.

Though if Michael were honest, he hadn’t actually asked her to marry him, just how she felt about the idea. And since her nap, there was no reason to worry anymore. She should have felt an enormous sense of relief to have started her monthly. Motherhood would have been an impediment to her future, so why did she feel out of sorts? Surely she’d have children in her life, those in her practice, and Seth’s children. Aunt Faith. It would have to be enough.

She intended to tell him tonight, after everything settled down, and then he appeared at her side, just as Anna returned to claim her children.

“Would you like to dance? Be a shame if you didn’t get to use those lessons.”

“This isn’t a Charleston.”

“Lucky for me,” he said as he swung her into his arms.

Well, Faith thought, she didn’t have an excuse not to, and besides, the band was playing “Moonlight and Roses,” one of her favorites.

“Pretty dress.” He looked down at her cotton print summer dress and T-strap shoes.

She had to remind herself, as she looked into the depth of those silver eyes, he wouldn’t hesitate to use any weakness he found against her. “Shouldn’t you be looking for criminals?”

“It’s all under control. There are a few people here I don’t recognize. Could be any one of them. I’m sure they feel confident with the large crowd as cover.” He nodded toward Lester Royd, who danced cheek to cheek with his date. “She actually looks pleased to be with him. I guess there’s no accounting for taste.”

“She’s a beautiful woman,” Faith said.

“I was talking about Royd.” He leaned her back into a graceful dip. “And you’re a beautiful woman.”

“There’s something you should know, Michael.” All of a sudden, the dance floor didn’t seem to be the place to make her announcement. “Can we go somewhere private?”

The thin set of his lips spoke volumes, but before he could respond, someone tapped him on his shoulder.

“May I cut in, Freckles?” Gabe drawled and drew her away into the dancing crowd.

****

Rafe clapped Michael on the shoulder. “I’d hate for you to have to kill him before I’ve had a chance to dance with Faith. Could ruin the mood.”

Michael scowled at his brother. “The uncles will have the fireworks ready to go in a few minutes. We’ll douse the lanterns. Should be prime time for our thieves. Notice anyone suspicious in the crowd?” Michael asked.

“Two men I didn’t recognize came in a few minutes before Lester did, behind a group of people after Anna and Tessia left the front door. They separated and didn’t talk to Royd. Hard to keep track of them, though, with all these guests.”

“I saw the same duo. O’Hara’s men are out front with Ty at what would be the most convenient exit after they hit the safe. Did they look like the men from the first robbery?”

“Naw. Lester might look dumb, but unfortunately he isn’t. Excuse me while I cut in.” He grinned broadly as he headed toward Faith.

The evening came to an end with a final burst of colorful fireworks. Guests rounded up their families and headed for the street. Michael and his sisters bade their guests good night while Jake, Ty, and his brothers kept an eye on the children and any stragglers. The uncles were searching the grounds.

He’d already checked the safe and the bank notes were missing. The thief had no problem cracking the safe. It was almost as if he’d had the combination.

When the last guest left, Rafe and Gabe showed up with a man in tow, one of the party crashers he’d noticed earlier.

“Thought you might want to talk to this fella, since he wasn’t invited to the party, Michael.”

The man was dressed well, Oxford bags and a straw boater. He fit right in with the crowd.

“Did you search him?”

“Yeah. Nothing on him. Could have ditched it somewhere, though, when he thought we were on to him,” Gabe said.

He cuffed the man. “Want to tell us what you were doing here?”

“Who are you? What’s your name?” Michael asked in an even tone.

“I ain’t saying nothin’,” the man said, though he didn’t look as cocky as he had a minute ago.

“What should I do with him?” Gabe asked. “We could lock him up in the basement for a few days, Michael. He might want to talk by then.”

“Hey, all I did was crash a party, for crying out loud.”

“Well, let’s see what Chief Landry has to say.” Michael gestured for Gabe and Rafe to take the man outside.

The women stood nearby. “We’ll take him to the police station,” Michael said. “Why don’t you and Jake plan on staying here tonight,” he said to Anna. “It might be late by the time we get back.” He turned to his two brothers. “I want both of you, with Jake and Ty, to go to the Levee and search for Lester. He’d go there if he’s not involved in this.”

“This isn’t his problem.” Gabe jerked a thumb at Ty.

Ty grabbed Michael’s arm before he could respond to Gabe. “He’s right. It’s not my problem.” He shot Gabe an icy glance. “I’ll stay here, look after your womenfolk, Cavelli.” The smile on Ty’s face didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Men!” Tessia snorted and obviously swallowed the swear word which hung on the tip of her tongue. “I’m going to bed,” she said irritably and started up the stairs.

His brothers left for the Levee, the uncles returned from checking the grounds and reported Meggie had been up a tree in the orchard and had been shooed to bed. Seth had been located and also sent up.

Anna, Faith, and Gwen needed a few more minutes to finish up in the kitchen, and then they would settle in for the night. Anna would phone to ask her nanny to stay overnight with the girls at Jake’s house.

He and Amos, with the uncles, would take the party crasher to Chief Landry for interrogation. Michael hoped the night would lead to some answers for the family, but he wasn’t too worried. No one but he and the president of the bank knew the marked banknotes were fake.

****

Tessia yawned as she opened the door of her bedroom and didn’t see the arm that snaked out from behind to circle her throat and cover her mouth. Just as she began to struggle, the tip of a knife pressed against her jugular. “Go ahead, honey, give me a reason,” the man whispered in her ear. Then, to someone else, he muttered, “Keep watch. We need to know they’re gone before we make our move.”

“What about the dame?”

“We’ll take her along for insurance until we get to the warehouse. Besides, isn’t this the broad—?”

He was struck with a back hand to the side of his head. “Shut up, for Pete’s sake! You want to get us both killed?”

“Okay, okay, what’s the plan?”

“Just keep her quiet for a few more minutes.”

“You heard what he said, cutie. One word out of you, and anybody left in the house will buy the farm. You understand?”

Tessia nodded her head.

****

Meg ran for another firefly and scooped the insect out of the air. She opened the Mason jar and plopped the bug in with the others. The fireflies blinked on and off like a jar full of twinkling stars. She always let them go in the morning; after all, they usually did their job and made a small pile of change for her that could be turned into penny candy at the neighborhood grocery. It wasn’t as much fun, though, without her cousins, because they still believed the insects could really make money if you kept them in the jar until morning, but nothing was much fun anymore. She climbed the cherry tree, up to her perch, and peered into the bottle. They sure were pretty. Maybe she’d just let them go.

“Keep her quiet,” the man hissed, “or I’ll take care of it.”

“She could be worth a gold mine. These people are rich.”

“Yeah, and dangerous, you dimwit. Grab the bag and let’s go.”

From her perch in the tree, Meg watched as Tessia was dragged toward the street by two men she didn’t recognize. Her aunt’s hands were tied behind her back and she was gagged. They were almost to the street. Meg knew no one would hear if she yelled. She was too far from the house. If she ran to the house for help, the men would get away with Tessia. The only thing she could do was follow them until she saw where they went and then come back and get help. She scurried down from the tree and stayed in the shadows.

****

Michael wasn’t very happy with his brothers’ report. Lester wasn’t at any of his usual haunts in the Levee, and Michael was reasonably sure the man Gabe apprehended wasn’t the mastermind of a plan to ruin his finances, just a dupe who had crashed the party as a diversion, for the twenty-dollar gold coin in his pocket.

“Leave this one with me,” Chief Landry said, “but do me a favor and press charges first.”

Michael sat across from the deputy’s scarred wooden desk to fill out the paperwork. Maybe a night in jail would loosen the man’s tongue, though he insisted he didn’t know who had hired him. A man, he said, approached him at Big Basin Saloon and offered him twenty dollars to attend a party. The description he provided could have fit anyone—under six foot, brown hair, brown eyes, tweed jacket, and a fedora. No visible scars or tattoos, no accent, no identifying tags on his clothing.

Unless the thieves tried to spend the money, he’d never know who wanted to cripple his family’s finances. He only knew tonight wouldn’t be the last time they would attack. The attack on Theo, the dairy money—both were personal.

The Cavelli family and the Royd’s past reached back to the days when his father started out in the dairy business and Royd in the cattle business. For many years now, since he was a boy, he’d kept Maryanne’s secret—from his father, from everyone, because she’d asked it of him. She knew it would have precipitated a showdown between the two families and she didn’t want her children to pay for the sins of the past. Fortunately, he didn’t have the same forgiving nature as his lovely stepmother.

Michael shook Chief Landry’s hand. The city of Chicago was lucky to have a man like Landry on the force. Corruption was widespread. The Levee area, which housed most of Chicago’s taverns, gambling houses, and bordellos, had closed down a decade ago but now was back and worse than ever. First Ward bosses depended on revenues from the old Levee area to help with their re-election prospects. Levee owners allied themselves with the corrupt politicians to keep their doors open.

Recently, the Levee was getting some bad press by stories in the news of young girls who turned to prostitution when they couldn’t find work—or worse, were forced into the trade by ruthless bordello owners. Michael and his friends had worked hard to elect reform mayor William Dever, but corruption was so widespread it would be a miracle if the new mayor could accomplish anything in one term.

“Thanks, Victor,” Michael said, offering his hand. He signaled to his relatives to head for the door.

****

Meg knelt on the ground outside one of the warehouse’s first-floor windows, trying to catch her breath. Luckily the Model T the men had forced Aunt Tessia into had been stuck in thick traffic, so she’d been able to keep up with the vehicle. Barely. When it finally parked at the back of an empty building, Meg realized she was near St. Rose’s and Royd’s slaughterhouse. Not too far from home if you took the back streets. She could get back to Bellaluna in ten or fifteen minutes if she ran.

She rubbed a tiny corner of the filthy glass with a corner of her cotton shirt and peered into the building. Her aunt had been bound into a chair with her back to Meg and was already trying to loosen the knots of the rope that bound her. The two men who had taken her had been joined by two others. Meg knew that on her own she’d never be able to help Aunt Tessia escape. She sent up a prayer to Saint Jude, patron of hopeless cases, and took off running.

****

Meg pounded on Bellaluna’s front door. By the time Ty got to the door, all the women and Seth were already on their way down the staircase. “Whoa,” he said. “Not so fast. Let me see who this is first.” He opened the door a crack. “Meggie! What are you doing outside at this hour?”

Meg could hardly breathe, much less talk. Anna wrapped her arms around her niece. “Calm down, sweetie, and tell us what happened.”

“They’ve got her…they’ve got Tessia.” She took a deep gulp of air.

Ty took her by the shoulders. “Who’s got Tess, Meg?”

“I don’t know! Two men. I saw them take her from the house when I was outside catching fireflies.” She waved her arms. “I followed them to a warehouse. I can take you there.” She stood on wobbly legs. “We have to go now!” She tried to bolt out the door.

“Wait, Meg.” He turned to the others. “Seth will go with me so I have someone to send back for help if I…if I can’t help her.”

“We’re going with you,” Anna said looking at Faith.

“Definitely,” Faith agreed.

“I’s goin’, too,” Gwen stated.

“You can’t all go.”

“What makes you think you can stop us?” Anna said. “Where are they, Meg?”

“The red warehouse by Royd’s, in the back on the first floor.”

Ty turned to Gwen. “Call the police and wait for Michael to get here.”

Gwen picked up the black telephone receiver.

“Listen to me, Meggie. I need you to stay with Gwen so you can bring your father to the warehouse as soon as he gets here.”

Gwen slammed the receiver down. “Dey musta cut the lines. Not workin’.” She pulled Meg into her arms. “We’ll bring ’em when dey come.”

“Let’s go,” Faith said.

“Cavelli will have my hide for this. C’mon, I guess you know the way.”

****

Ty parked Jake’s Henney a block away from the warehouse. He had hoped they’d pass a police vehicle on the way, but no such luck. The warehouse sign, barely visible in the inky darkness, swung from chains over the entrance. “You sure this is the one?”

“Positive.”

“Seth, you come with me. Anna, Faith, you stay in front to flag down Michael when he comes.”

“I don’t think so, Ty. My sister’s in there.”

He emitted a longsuffering sigh. “I thought you might say that. You’ll do what I say, agreed?” He waited until he had compliance from all of them.

Anna pulled a pistol from her pocket.

“Where in hell did you get that?”

“We had a disturbance at the door. I thought it prudent—”

“Crimininy, you Cavellis are something. Do you know how to use it?” When Anna nodded, Ty pulled a gun from his waistband and stuffed it into his boot. He motioned for Seth and the women to follow him.

Ty signaled for the women to stay in the alley. Anna and Faith took positions behind several rusted garbage cans. Then he took Seth by the shoulders. “If anything goes wrong in there,” he motioned with his head, “don’t wait. Get the women out of here. Understand?”

He waited until Seth nodded, and then they moved stealthily toward the back of the warehouse. The windows on the bottom floors were lit up and one on the second floor.

From his vantage point, he could see Tessia bound and fuming, though she seemed to be unharmed. Royd was nowhere in sight. The voices of the men carried through an opened window.

Two of the men were dressed for a party and the other two wore street clothes and called each other Harry and Big Mike. Ty remembered hearing those names from Rafe and Faith after the break-in.

“You got to hand it to those Cavellis. They sure got good-lookin’ dames in that family, and this one’s a live wire.” Big Mike’s smile was laced with hopeful malice.

Harry cuffed him. “We screwed up last time because ya had to waste time foolin’ with the gal. Keep yer mind on the job and outa yer pants.”

He looked at the other two men. “What’s he waiting on? You got the money and the girl. Let’s take our cut and get outta here.”

“Mind your own potatoes. We do what we’re told.” The man picked his nails with a long stiletto.

Ty whispered in Seth’s ear and handed him a brick he’d found on the ground. “Wait until I say, ‘Who’s this choice bit of calico?’ and then throw the brick through the window and get down. Understand?”

When Seth nodded, Ty got out a bag of Bull Durham tobacco.

****

“What do you think you’re doing? This wasn’t supposed to happen.” Lester paced across the wooden floor of the warehouse’s upstairs office.

“What are you complaining about? You wanted her, didn’t you?”

“Not like this, you fool. Cavelli’ll kill me!”

“I don’t take my orders from you, and the man I take my orders from ain’t afraid of no greasy wop.”

Lester stopped pacing and ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve gotta think, I’ve gotta think.”

****

Ty opened the back door of the building and stumbled in. He staggered toward the four men and stopped for a moment to try to roll a cigarette. He licked the paper seam closed, then looked up pretending to see the men for the first time. “Well, hey, there,” he grinned foolishly. He wavered back and forth. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tessia suck in a breath. The man called Big Mike started toward her.

“Anyone got a light?” He stuck the cigarette in the corner of his mouth and all the tobacco fell out. He laughed and looked up. “Anyone got a cig?” he asked.

“What do you want, fella?” the one with the stiletto asked. “This guy’s got a toot on,” he said to the others.

Ty grinned and rocked back on his heels. “Just trying to find the nearest blind pig an’ saw your light. You got hooch? I got dough,” he said and pulled out some bills from his shirt pocket.

****

His daughter was sobbing in Gwen’s arms when Michael got to Bellaluna. The old woman recounted the tale quickly. “Where, Meg?” He held his daughter’s shoulders.

“A warehouse by Royd’s. I’ll show you.”

He strode to his desk drawer and shoved a gun in his pocket. “Let’s go,” he told the men.

They piled back into the Bearcat, squealing tires as they sped around the corner.

****

“Looks like you came to the right place,” the man called Harry said. He eyed the roll of cash Ty was holding.

Ty grinned and turned toward Tessia as if he’d noticed her for the first time. “Hell! Now that’s what I call a choice bit of calico,” he said.

The brick flew through the large window with a deafening crash. Shards of glass exploded into the room.

Ty let a quick right jab fly, taking down the party crasher closest to him. He yanked a gun from his trousers, but the man named Harry, faster than he looked, knocked it out of his hand and landed a solid punch to his stomach.

From his spot on the floor, Ty saw Tessia kick Big Mike in the testicles. The man howled in pain and fell to the floor holding his crotch. Tessia mumbled furiously through the tape on her mouth.

Ty pushed off the floor to catch Harry with a stiff uppercut to his square jaw. The man toppled like a fallen tree.

“Ty! Behind you!” Faith screamed.

He whirled around just in time to see the man with the stiletto lunge at him from the side. A shot rang out and the stiletto fell from the man’s hand and skittered across the floor. Anna’s smoking pistol pointed at the fallen man. She walked over and nudged him with the toe of her shoe. He moaned and held his shoulder.

Footsteps pounded across the ceiling above them, and then the lights winked out in the warehouse. Ty pulled a matchstick from his pocket and flicked it on the heel of his boot. He ran for the lantern on a hook near the door. It illuminated just enough to see Big Mike stumble out a side door.

Harry was still unconscious, and it looked like the stiletto man wasn’t going anywhere. Faith bent to examine the wounded man’s shoulder and was grabbed by the first party crasher Ty had punched. The man had not only regained consciousness but also grabbed the knife from the floor and now stuck it under Faith’s chin.

Ty raised his hands palm out. “Now, let’s not be hasty here, bud. We can work this out. Just let her go and you can leave.”

“Yeah, that’s a truckload of bunk. You’ll shoot me before I get out the door. Now, if you,” he jerked his head at Anna, “put your gun down, maybe we can come to an agreement.”

Harry moaned, rolled over, and then came up to his knees.

“Put the gun down, Anna,” Ty said. “He just wants to get out of here in one piece.” He kept his eye on Harry.

“Are you sure, Ty?”

Ty nodded. “We don’t want any trouble. Just take the money and go,” he said to the man.

“Hey, Harry! Get up! Grab the money and come over here.” The knife wavered in his hand. “C’mon! I didn’t sign on for this!”

Harry got to his feet. He put out a hand to steady himself, grabbed the burlap bag, and shuffled toward the back door.

“That,” the party crasher said with some bravado now, pointing to the bleeding man on the floor, “was my cousin. Maybe I should make this little lady pay for that.” He tightened the grip around Faith’s neck.

****

Seth shouted to Michael, “They’re in the back! The man’s got a knife on Faith!”

Michael knew he’d never forget those words, for his chest constricted as if a metal band tightened across it. He pushed Meg into Seth’s arms and ran for the back of the warehouse, signaling the other men to surround the building. Jake fell into step beside him. “No way I’m not going in,” he said. Michael nodded.