Once a Thief

Eleven

Danielle shivered as she waited for Cobb behind the shed, which provided no barrier to the cold wind. Ordinarily on a day like this she would have stayed home from their weekly meeting, but she had to find out why Jimmy had looked frightened when Sutton came into the room. Besides, she hoped the money she’d brought for Sutton would satisfy him for a while.

Cobb came around the corner, his body hunkered against the wind. “It’s freezing out here,” he scowled. “We need to find another place to meet.”

“Well, see if you can think of some place where everyone’s nose wouldn’t be stuck in our business.”

He grunted and gave a brief nod, obviously not in the best of moods today.

She opened her purse and drew out a wad of bills. “Here. Will you give this to Sutton? Tell him it’s most of my first paycheck.”

“Sure.” He stuffed the bills into his pocket. “He wanted me to tail you, but I won’t.”

“What?” She shouldn’t have been surprised. Could she trust Cobb to go against Sutton?

“He really wants to know where you live. But he won’t find out from me. He’ll beat the tar out of me if he finds out, but I won’t betray you, Danni.” He tightened his lips and a grunt of anger emitted from his throat. “But he’s almost sure to find out where you’re working.”

“How?”

“Well now, how many musicals are running at one time? All he has to do is visit one theater every night until he finds you. You shouldn’t have told him.”

Danielle picked nervously at a tiny loose thread on her sleeve. Cobb was right. Why hadn’t she thought of that when she’d bragged about singing in a musical? She would have to keep close watch to make sure she didn’t lead Sutton to the Kramers.

Two ragged boys ran down the street, flying toy airplanes. Their laughter fell like screams on Danielle’s ears and she started, angry at herself for being so jumpy. Nodding to Cobb, she said, “I guess I’ll just have to be careful.”

“I dunno, Danni. When Sutton wants something, he usually gets it.”

“I don’t want to talk about that now. Tell me about Jimmy. Why did he look so frightened when Sutton came in? Is he being hurt in any way?”

“Naw. He ain’t been hit or anything. But Sutton has been saying things about you just to rile him up.”

“What kind of things?”

“Oh, how if you didn’t come through with the goods soon he’d drag you back here by the hair of your head and how he’s going to have you someday, one way or another.”

Nausea washed over her. “He said that to Jimmy?”

“Yeah, and other stuff, too. Jimmy got really upset. I thought he was going to tear into Sutton a couple of times.”

“Oh, Cobb,” she whispered. “I have to get him out of there.”

“Don’t try it, Danni. I don’t know what Sutton would do. But you couldn’t pull it off, that’s for sure.”

“I have to think of something. I can’t leave him there much longer, and if Sutton meant what he said, I can’t go back. I’d die first.”

“Don’t talk like that, Danni.” Cobb peered at her with something that looked like genuine concern.

Impulsively, she reached over and gave him a hug. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t be much help to Jimmy dead, would I?”

❧

Pain and anger battled within Blake’s heart as he watched Danielle’s arms go around the big, hulking redhead. When he’d asked to take her to lunch after morning rehearsal, she’d made an excuse of having errands to run. But something evasive in her eyes had made him suspicious, and he’d followed her. Now, he almost wished he hadn’t. But if she was interested in someone else, he needed to know.

Only, why had she given the man money? Was he some sort of scoundrel who lived off women? Or did he, perhaps, have a bigger claim on her? For all Blake knew she could be secretly married. . .or worse. A chill washed over him at the last thought. Then he shook it off. He wouldn’t believe such a thing of Danielle. She was too pure for that. He was sure of it.

He started to leave before she came back across the bridge but then stopped himself. He might as well find out the truth now.

He waited at the end of the bridge and watched her walk across, her eyes down as if she were deep in thought. She lifted them just before she reached Blake. A spark of anger appeared in her eyes. “Following me again, Blake? I won’t believe it’s just a coincidence.”

“Yes. I saw the look in your eyes when you said you had errands, so I followed you to see what you were up to.”

“Oh.” She shot a searing glance at him and walked past.

Stunned, he hurried to catch up with her. “Is that all you have to say? Who was that fellow you were so chummy with?”

He almost ran into her when she stopped in her tracks. Spinning around, she glared at him. “Who I speak to is hardly any of your business, Blake. And what makes you think I have to explain my every move? Just because you got me the part in your show? Because if I’d realized that gave you ownership of me, I’d have refused.” She whirled back around and sped toward the theater.

Blake hurried after her, taking her arm. “Wait a minute. It’s not like that.”

She stopped and looked at him. “Then what is it?”

He sighed. Yes, what was it? “You intrigue me, Danielle. And I’ll admit you frustrate me as well. I no longer believe you’re a robber, but I also don’t believe you knew nothing about it. And I’m almost positive most of the story you told us was concocted on the spur of the moment.” There, he’d finally come up with what he really thought about the day they’d run each other down. He wasn’t sure until this moment he’d ever figured it out himself.

Surprise and horror stabbed at him as Danielle’s eyes filled with tears. “Well, you are correct, Blake. On all points. I’m not a robber. And I do know more than I told about the pickpockets.”

“Then why didn’t you say so? If you were innocent, you had nothing to fear.” He handed her a handkerchief.

She sighed and dabbed at her eyes. “Please, Blake, don’t ask me to tell you anything right now. I would if I could, but it’s not possible. But soon, I promise.”

He took the handkerchief and dabbed at the moisture on one cheek she’d missed. “What would you do if I wasn’t around with my handy handkerchiefs when you needed them?”

She laughed. “I don’t know. I never used to cry at all.”

“All right, Danielle. I believe you and I trust you. I hope that someday soon you’ll trust me enough to tell me what’s going on. Because something is wrong, and I only want to help you.”

“I do trust you. But there are too many things at stake here.” She bit her lip. “This much I will tell you. The man I’ve been meeting is a friend. Nothing more. I’ve known him since I was a little girl. I’m sorry. That’s all I can say for now.”

“Then that will have to do. But if, at any time, you wish to confide in me, I’m here for you.” He smiled. “And now, I’m starved. We still have time for lunch if we hurry.”

The tantalizing aroma of hot dogs drew them to a little stand on the corner. They ate the mustard-and-onion-topped frankfurters on the way to the theater, arriving just as rehearsal was starting.

While Danielle hurried onto the stage, Blake took a seat in the middle of the front row so he wouldn’t miss anything. Suddenly he remembered his mother’s story about his father buying tickets for front row, center seat, and he grinned. Well, that story had a happy ending, so maybe this wasn’t coincidence. One thing he knew. He was in love with Danielle. But under the circumstances, he had no idea what to do about it.

He looked up as Pop scurried down the front aisle and sat in the seat next to him.

“Hi, Pop.”

“Hello yourself. How did it go this morning?”

“The whole cast did great. There wasn’t a single hitch. And Danielle played Peg to perfection.”

“Well, she’s a bonny lass and a smart one, too. You could go a long way and not find one like her.”

Blake darted a glance at his grandfather. Was he talking about her acting ability or something else?

Pop stared straight ahead and whistled a bar of Peg’s theme, then he turned and winked at Blake.

Blake grinned. The old fox. He’d been onto him from the beginning. He thought about the day he’d first found out Danielle was staying with the Kramers. Even before Blake himself realized his feelings for the girl, Pop had picked up on it.

He turned as Danielle stepped out on stage and instantly became Peg. Peg in Dreamland.

Am I in some sort of dreamland, as well? Am I fooling myself that Danielle might care for me and trust me enough to reveal her secrets?

❧

Danielle’s eyes found Blake. How she longed to bare her soul to him. To lay her head against his chest and feel comforting arms around her and gentle words telling her everything would be all right.

But what if he didn’t respond that way? What if he thought it was his duty to report Sutton and the gang to the authorities? She didn’t really think he would turn her in. But Jimmy was at Sutton’s. What would happen to him? No. She couldn’t risk it. She’d have to wait. God would show her how and when. She had to believe that.

Blake’s grandfather, seated beside him, gave her a wink and she shook herself from her thoughts and smiled at the kindly white-haired man.

She dove into the part she was playing, and in spite of her troubles, playing the part of Peg gave her a reprieve from her anxiety.

Afterward, Blake drove her home. She was glad Mr. O’Shannon was with them. Blake wouldn’t try to question her with his grandfather right there. They pulled up in front of the Kramers’, and he hopped down then helped her out on the driver’s side. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

“That’s not necessary. It’s still daylight, Blake.”

“Nevertheless.” He put his hand on her arm, and they walked up to the porch. “I’ll be over after dinner to help you run through your lines. If that’s all right?”

“Oh, I don’t think so, Blake. I’m awfully tired. Can’t we skip one night? After all, Mr. Bosley said I was quite good. Did you hear him?”

“Yes, but you do know the new backer will be there tomorrow. We want it to go the best it can.”

She sighed. “All right. One run-through. But that’s all. I want to wash my hair and go to bed early.”

She went inside and, not seeing anyone, went up to her room to rest before she had to change for dinner. She loved acting, but it was tiring. A lot more so than she’d have thought.

She sat at her dressing table and rubbed cold cream onto her face. The motion and the feel of the coolness relaxed her, and she closed her eyes.

Immediately, Blake’s face flashed into her mind. Quickly she opened her eyes. She could no longer deny her feelings for him. Danielle had never been in love before, but she knew. She loved Blake Nelson with her whole heart. And she was almost certain he felt the same way. But her secret stood in the way of a true relationship between them. How she wished she had simply refused to allow Mrs. Kramer to take her home with her that day. She would never have fallen in love with Blake and wouldn’t be suffering like this now.

Of course, she also wouldn’t have had the opportunity to buy hers and Jimmy’s freedom from Sutton. Her lips tightened. Somehow she must find a way to get Jimmy away from that house before Sutton carried out his plan, whatever it was. Once Jimmy was safe, then she could tell Blake everything.

Cobb’s words screamed in her mind. “He’s saying he’s going to have you one way or another.”

Danielle would rather go to jail any day than have Sutton ever lay his hands on her.