Chapter 19

Number, please.” Laurie wiggled her toes inside her shoes, striving to keep her feet from falling asleep as she sat at the switchboard. “Thank you. I’ll connect you now.” She flicked the switch, lifted the cord, and plunged it into the proper jack, moving the switch again.

The soothing murmur of women’s voices throughout the room created a lulling hum. Those, combined with so many restless nights, begged Laurie to drop her head down on the desk and take a nap. She blinked her gritty eyes and chewed on her cheek to keep alert. “Number please. Yes, thank you. I will connect you now.”

Laurie rolled her shoulders. A few deep breaths helped to further clear her mind. “Number please. Long-distance? I will transfer you to that operator. Thank you.”

She glanced at the clock. Five minutes. She could hold out for five minutes. “Number please.” Her earpiece remained silent. “Number please.”

“Laurie?” A male voice whispered.

She hesitated, risking a quick glance around the room for her supervisor. She lowered her voice. “Yes? Who is this, please?”

“It’s Samuel Brown.”

Her palms grew clammy. Had he discovered she’d listened to his call the other day? Her fingers trembled as they gripped the cord. “Samuel, I’m not allowed to take calls at work.”

“I know. One of the other girls informed me of such when I asked her to transfer me to your desk.”

She looked to her right and noticed Susan’s knowing smile.

His voice spoke in her ear, soft and urgent. “I need to talk to you. What time do you get off?”

She swallowed. “In about five minutes.”

“Great. Meet me at Larson’s.”

Laurie’s stomach churned. Mr. Quinn crossed the floor, heading in her direction. The soda fountain? She moistened her lips, her thoughts racing. “N-Number please.”

“I’m still here—oh, I see. So, will you meet me?”

She pressed her toes against the floor. “Yes. I will connect you now.”

“Aha. I heard a ‘yes.’ I’ll see you there in say, ten minutes.”

“Thank you.” Laurie fought to keep her voice steady.

“No,” he paused. “Thank you.”

She flipped the switch and lifted the cord to the panel. Which one? She glanced over her shoulder.

Mr. Quinn leaned over Anne-Marie’s board, lecturing the girl on proper intonation and posture.

Releasing the breath trapped in her chest, Laurie lowered the cord and returned it to the open call position.

Susan winked, brandishing a smug smirk.

Laurie ran a hand over her tense neck muscles. How could she face Daniel? She had never said that she wouldn’t be spending time with Samuel. But to meet him right under Daniel’s nose?

She glanced at the clock. Two more minutes. Maybe she could catch up to the agent before he arrived at the drugstore.

She continued answering calls, her shaking fingers making it difficult to achieve the four-second goal, but at least she didn’t accidentally transfer someone to Timbuktu. When the clock struck the hour, she sat back in her chair and disentangled the headset from her hair.

Georgia O’Neal stood nearby, waiting to take her place at the station.

Laurie stood, her backside aching. “Have a nice day, Georgia.”

“You too, Laurie.”

Mr. Quinn stood five paces behind Georgia, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “Miss Burke, a word?” He spoke in clipped tones. No wonder he could connect a call in four seconds.

“Yes, Mr. Quinn?” She maintained her smooth, melodic operator’s voice even as her stomach churned.

“You sent two calls over to long distance in the past thirteen minutes.”

Her mind retraced her calls. “Did I?”

“Both of those calls were local. You realize that you need to clarify the numbers if the caller seems the least bit uncertain. We had to reverse charges on both calls.” His bushy eyebrows dropped low over his eyes, like a disgruntled owl. Reversed charges meant extra paperwork.

“I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be more careful.” Her heart rate picked up speed. Every word spent on four-second Quinn meant less of a chance of catching Samuel before he walked into Larson’s without her.

“From now on any extra charges will be docked from your check, Miss Burke.” His lips popped as he enunciated her name. “And don’t forget, too many infractions could mean termination.”

His voice felt like a needle pricking her skin. Repeatedly. “I understand.”

As he turned away, Laurie bolted for the door like the building was on fire. She dashed out into the street only to realize she’d left her hat and coat behind.

Samuel Brown disappeared through the door at Larson’s Drugs.

Daniel wiped the mortar and pestle with a soft rag before returning it to its place of honor. Probably best not to have heavy objects in his hand when greeting this particular customer.

The tall, broad-shouldered man took off his gray fedora and glanced around the store as if searching for someone.

“Can I help you?” Daniel stepped out from behind the pharmacy counter.

Samuel Brown greeted him with a cool smile and an equally cold handshake. “I’m meeting a young lady friend here—Miss Laurie Burke. I believe you two are acquainted?”

Daniel released Brown’s hand and wiped his fingers across his lab coat. “Yes, we’ve met. On more than one occasion, in fact.”

“She must be running a little late. I’ll just grab a stool.” Brown’s light-colored brows lifted. “I hear you got a new shipment in this week.”

Daniel’s shoulders tensed. “You’re tracking our deliveries?”

“I keep an eye on things.” Brown straightened the knot on his green paisley tie.

Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “Even on legitimate businesses?”

“When I feel it’s necessary.” He gestured toward the fountain. “It’s quite a simple matter for an establishment such as yours to serve more than ‘soft’ drinks. You must know that.” He met Daniel’s eye with a firm stare.

Daniel felt a surge building in his gut. No one had ever accused his family of working outside the law. “Are you accusing us of serving alcohol at the fountain? That’s ludicrous.”

Brown raised his hands. “I said no such thing. I was merely explaining my interest in your store.” He lowered his voice. “Of course, there are always ways to avoid such close scrutiny.”

An icy trickle seeped down his spine. “What are you suggesting?”

Brown glanced around the store. Several customers sat at the fountain and another perused the few rows of merchandise that Daniel’s grandfather carried. “We can discuss it another time, perhaps, when you’re not so busy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I will go secure a seat for my date and myself.”

Daniel folded both arms across his chest as the federal agent sauntered to the soda counter, other customers visibly angling away from him. Distrust of government men ran deep in this small community. In the case of this one man, he trusted their instincts.

Good thing Marcie’s working the counter today. I’d be tempted to put a few extra drops of phosphate in the man’s drink just to see a pucker on that ugly mug.

The door jingled, catching Daniel’s attention. Laurie stood in the entrance, her face blotchy, her chest rapidly rising and falling. She stared at him with round eyes.

Every other time she’d appeared at the store, a spark jolted through him. This time it fizzled—like a match dropped in a bucket of cold water. He forced a brusque nod, a cold weight settling in his stomach. “Miss Burke, I believe your date is waiting for you.”

“Daniel . . . ” She stood as if her feet were frozen to the tile floor, her eyes locked on his.

He turned away.

The hurt in Daniel’s eyes cut through her and she fought the urge to chase him down and explain. Instead, she pasted on a smile and walked to meet Samuel.

The agent jumped to his feet. “Laurie, I’m so glad you could meet me on such short notice.” He beamed at her, his smile wide and welcoming. He patted the stool by his side. “Please join me.”

Knowing full well she had no choice, she sat down and cleared her throat. “It was pleasant to hear from you, Samuel, but we’re not allowed personal calls at the switchboard.”

He perched on the edge of his seat, swiveling his stool toward her. “I apologize, again. I didn’t mean to cause you any difficulty.” He cocked his head to one side. “Did I get you into trouble with the boss?”

“Not this time.”

He patted her fingers, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. “I won’t do it again.”

She pulled her hand into her lap, resisting the urge to glance toward the pharmacy counter.

Samuel leaned closer, touching her shoulder and letting his fingers trail down her back. “Next time, I’ll just stand outside the door and sweep you off your feet when you emerge.”

She ducked her head, her mouth dry. Last time she’d been pleased with his attentions. Today, it felt awkward and uncomfortable. “What is so urgent?”

He leaned back. “Maybe I just missed the pleasure of your company.”

His teasing, combined with the few inches of extra space, eased the tautness in her stomach muscles. “I think it was more than that.”

“Let’s order first.” He turned to the menu, prominently displayed along the back wall. “An egg cream, perhaps? Or are you in the mood for something else this evening?”

While he was distracted with the menu, Laurie glanced toward the pharmacy section. A gray-haired gentleman stood at the counter, shoulders rounded.

“You only need two spoonfuls every day, Mr. Morgan.” Daniel’s voice carried a note of tension.

“Two every morning?” The man’s loud voice suggested he was hard of hearing.

The pharmacist held up one finger. “No, that’s one in the morning and one at bedtime.”

“One spoonful a day?”

Laurie smiled. When she turned back, Samuel was staring at her with a questioning look in his eyes. She moistened her lips. “I’m sorry, did you ask me something?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “I asked what you would like to order. You seem distracted. Perhaps you’d like coffee instead?”

“Coffee sounds wonderful, actually. And a dish of vanilla ice cream.”

He waved to Marcie. “We’re ready.”

After ordering coffee and ice cream for them both, Samuel turned to her, his face growing serious. “Now, Laurie. I know I said before that I wouldn’t pressure you to help me, but I’m getting desperate. I thought I had the guys behind this rumrunning operation trapped the other night, but somehow they slipped through my fingers.”

Laurie clenched her fingers, pressing them against the smooth counter.

He sat forward and looked deep into her eyes.

She struggled to maintain eye contact, but his long pause made her heart pound. Lord, he doesn’t know about Johnny, does he?

Reaching over, Samuel placed a hand on top of hers. “You’ve lived here your whole life. Between the switchboard and the church, you know everybody. You must have some inkling who might be involved in this.” He shook his head, glancing around the store. “Once people find out I work for the government, they clam up on me. I can’t make any inroads with these folks.”

The warmth of his fingers melted into her skin, his earnest green eyes awakening a hunger in her. How did I end up on the wrong side of this battle? She took a deep breath, energy coursing through her limbs. “What do you want me to do?”

A smile spread across his face crinkling the skin around his eyes. He sat back as Marcie arrived with their coffee.

Laurie reveled in the easy manner he used with the young waitress. Samuel had a gift for putting people at ease. Marcie’s face brightened in response as she set the dishes in front of them and turned back to her other customers.

Samuel took a sip of the coffee and smiled. “Mmm. Just like I like it.”

He set the cup down. “Give me some names, if you have any. If not, then ask around. Someone has to know who’s behind this.”

She poured cream into her coffee and watched as the color lightened. “I don’t pay attention to rumors and gossip.”

He frowned. “Rumors and gossip are my bread and butter. I just need a place to start.” He took another sip and reached for her hand, again. “Please. Just think about it. Ask around. Keep your ears open.”

Daniel’s voice in the background lured her attention.

Heat climbed the back of her neck, Samuel’s hand like a lead weight. Laurie lowered her voice, keeping it barely above a whisper. “I’ll try.”

“That’s my girl.” He squeezed her hand and lifted it to his lips. “I knew you would want to help.”

Her stomach clenched. Samuel Brown was a good man—perhaps the first worthy man she’d met. Why couldn’t she relax and allow herself to enjoy this?

She cast one last glance over her shoulder. Her eyes met Daniel’s. That’s why.