Once a Thief

Four

Danielle swung the empty basket from one arm to the other, wishing she didn’t have it. However, it was a convenient excuse to get away for a while. She shifted to her other foot and peered around the corner of the building, aware of the passing of time. Sally would be waiting for the vegetables and fruit for dinner. Danielle had been waiting behind the storage shed, near the Clark Street Bridge, for nearly two hours hoping to catch a glimpse of Cobb. She couldn’t trust just anyone, but she was pretty sure he wouldn’t betray her.

That morning, with worry about Jimmy heavy on her heart, she had paced her bedroom floor. How could she get word to him to let him know his sister was safe and hadn’t deserted him? And how could she pass her plan on to Sutton, so he wouldn’t take a notion to kick Jimmy out on the street?

One glimmer of hope rested in her heart, the fact that since the day Danielle and her small brother landed in Sutton’s parlor the man had always shown compassion for Jimmy. But she couldn’t count on that. Not for long, anyway.

Danielle decided she must make a move. She’d fastened her hat on top of her new upswept coiffure and hurried downstairs, not sure what lie to tell about where she was going. It had been a stroke of luck that the very day Danielle decided to somehow get word to Sutton was also marketing day.

A flash of red hair caught her attention, and with relief she saw the stocky, freckled Cobb swaggering down the street in her direction. She stepped out just as he approached her hiding place.

“Whew, Danni, are you ever in trouble. The guys all have their eyes cocked for a sight of you. Sutton offered a dollar to anyone who could find you.” He leaned his head back and whistled as he peered at her. “Looks like you’re doin’ pretty well for yerself.”

Danielle grabbed the young man’s arm and dragged him behind the storage shed. “Here’s your chance to collect that reward. And if you do exactly what I say, you might get an extra quarter from me.”

He shook his arm loose and narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on? You haven’t sold us out, have you?”

“Of course not!” She placed her hands on her hips and glared at Cobb. “What do you take me for?” A pang shot through her chest. Truth be known, Danielle would sell them all out if it would get her and Jimmy out of Sutton’s clutches. But she hadn’t found a way without incriminating them as well.

“All right. But you better not.” He gave her a threatening gaze then shrugged. “So what’s going on?”

Danielle grinned. Cobb could never be mean to her. He’d been watching out for her since she was ten. “I got caught.”

“What?” His mouth flew open. “So why aren’t you in jail?”

“I talked my way out of it.” She flashed him a saucy grin. “Not only that, a rich woman who was there that day took my side. I guess she felt sorry for me.”

Cobb listened as Danielle relayed the story of how she was caught and accused by Blake Nelson. He howled with laughter as she mimicked Officer Brady.

Guilt shot through her again, but she had to convince Cobb so he’d be on her side when he told Sutton.

“So none of this explains why you’re dressed like a rich woman. And where are you staying?”

“That lady in the bank that day took pity on me. She took me to her home and under her wing. That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

He leaned against the shed. “I’m listening.”

Be careful, Danielle. Don’t give anything away that will lead to the Kramers or the Nelsons. One little slip and they could be in danger.

“I thought you’d have figured things out by now. The folks I’m staying with are filthy rich. Richer than you can imagine. I plan to rob them and turn everything over to Sutton.”

“So, what are you waiting for? You’ve had plenty of time. I think you’re stalling.” He raised his eyebrows. “Maybe you like the high life.”

“I’m waiting for the opportunity to make a big haul. Sure I could steal a bracelet or something and take off, leaving the real wealth behind.” She sent him a challenging glance. “Is that what you’d do?”

“Course not. If there’s big stuff at stake, I’d wait.”

“Well, that’s what I’m doing.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small velvet bag. She could feel the pearls through the cloth, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure she could hand them over. But after all, they were hers. And maybe they would convince Sutton. “Here.” She held the bag out to Cobb. “Give these to Sutton. Tell him there’s a lot more where these came from. And tell him Jimmy needs some new clothes.”

Cobb peeked into the bag and gave a shrill whistle. “Girl, I think you’ve been tellin’ me the truth.”

“So you’ll tell Sutton?”

“Sure. Leave it to me.” He crammed the bag into his pocket and waved as he left.

Danielle inhaled deeply. Jimmy would be safe now. And without that worry, she could plan her next step.

She headed toward the bridge and started across to the downtown area. She’d walk to the market and then get one of the boys there to help her carry packages to the bus stop. She was more relaxed than she’d been in a long time.

❧

Blake pressed his lips together and watched Danielle cross the bridge with a large basket swinging on her arm. He’d walked there from the theater to get some fresh air during the lunch break.

He hated what Rhonda Vale was doing to Peg. For one thing, she was too old for the part. In her hands the innocent young farmer’s daughter had become unrecognizable.

When he saw Danielle talking to the tough-looking young man, fear attacked him like a pack of wild dogs. Had she been accosted?

He started to run to her rescue, to tear the ruffian away from her, but something in her relaxed manner stopped him. A twinge of disappointment pinched at his stomach and anger rose up. So his suspicions had been right. They must have been. Or why would she be hanging around the dock in deep conversation with that shady-looking character?

She handed her companion a small bag. When the man turned to go, and Danielle headed toward the dock, Blake walked back to the end of the bridge to wait for her.

She moved lightly, almost with a bounce in her step. Whatever she’d been up to, it must have made her happy.

Jealousy sliced through him like a sword, and he caught his breath, shocked at the intensity of his feelings. Maybe he should leave. He took one step to head back to the theater.

Danielle spotted him. She paused, her eyes widening, then continued the last few steps and stopped in front of Blake. “Good afternoon, Mr. Nelson.” Her voice trembled.

“Good afternoon, Miss Gray. Visiting old friends?”

“Yes, that is, I happened to run into an acquaintance.”

“Did you just happen to be hanging around the docks, also?”

Danielle took a deep breath and stood straight. Anger replaced the guilty look and she glared at Blake. “For your information, Mr. Nelson, I was on my way to the marketfor Sally and lost my way. Not that it’s any of your business.”

Warmth flooded his face. What if she really had lost her way? Reason took over and he gave a short laugh. “So you mistakenly crossed the river on your way to the market?”

She gasped and blushed. “No, I. . .uh. . .I lost my way before that, and when I saw how near I was to my old neighborhood, I decided to visit.”

“Your old neighborhood? I didn’t know the orphanage was on the other side of the river.” There, get out of that one, you little crook.

Her face flamed. “I had a life before the orphanage, for your information. Before my mother died.”

At the quiver in her voice and the sight of tears threatening to overflow her enormous brown eyes, Blake’s heart lurched. Something told him she wasn’t faking this time.

“Miss Gray, please forgive me.” He reached inside his coat and retrieved a handkerchief. The tears streamed down her cheeks now and he reached over and blotted at them. How could he have been such a brute?

“Well, you don’t need to rub my face raw,” she sputtered, knocking his hand away.

Indignant at the little waif’s ingratitude, he crammed the handkerchief into his pocket. “I wasn’t rubbing. I merely dabbed at your tears.”

“Well, I don’t recall asking you to do that.”

Blake took a deep breath. “I was merely trying to help.” He flagged down a passing taxi. “Get in. He’ll take you to the market and then wait and take you to the Kramers’.”

“I don’t need—”

Blake twisted his mouth in as sarcastic an expression as he could manage. “I wouldn’t want you to get lost and end up on the other side of the river again. I suspect Sally is waiting for her groceries.”

He opened the door of the carriage and she flounced in. He paid the driver and gave him instructions. “Goodbye, Miss Gray.”

❧

Danielle sat stiffly on the seat and watched Blake walk away. Her heart ached and she wanted to call to him. His tenderness, when she’d begun to cry, had taken her breath away, nearly causing her to lose her focus. She’d wanted to lean her head over on his strong chest and let him comfort her. But she couldn’t take the risk of falling in love with this man. She must keep her guard up, or he’d be sure to find her out.

When they arrived at the market, Danielle politely sent the driver on his way. It was only a few blocks from the Kramer home. She hurried through her errand at the market and headed toward home with the full basket on her arm.

Home? Sadness and shame washed over her. How could she consider the Kramer house her home and still plan to rob them?

The Kramer children were playing in the front yard, laughing and kicking at the fallen leaves. Her heart twisted within her. How Jimmy would love such a wonderful place to enjoy. She stiffened her neck and lifted her chin. She would do anything for her little brother. And yet, she couldn’t prevent the nausea that stirred in her stomach.

She went around to the kitchen door and entered. “I’m sorry it took so long, Sally. I was detained.” There, that much at least was true.

Sally patted Danielle on the shoulder. “I was about to send someone to look for you. I was starting to worry. There are so many ruffians running around Chicago nowadays.”

Even Sally cared about her. Impulsively, Danielle reached over and hugged the kind and motherly cook. “I’m fine. Didn’t see a single ruffian. Do you need my help?”

“The meatloaf is ready to go into the oven. I’ll get the potatoes in, too. Pies are cooling. Salad is in the icebox. You run along. Maybe after dinner, you could set the breakfast table.”

“I’ll be happy to.”

“Make sure to use the napkins in the second drawer.”

Danielle smiled. “I will.”

She went upstairs to her room. When the door closed behind her, she walked to the window and dropped into the rocking chair with a sigh.

She’d been elated when things had worked out so well with Cobb. Then the shock of seeing Blake and knowing he’d seen her with one of the gang members had weakened her confidence. The emotions she’d experienced in his presence were almost her undoing. She had to be strong and steel herself against Blake Nelson and the Kramers, too, if necessary. But how could she repay their kindness with theft and deceit? How could she when her conscience stabbed her over and over again? Oh, what would her mother think of her?

“Mama, I’m so sorry. I know you must be ashamed of me. Is Jesus ashamed of me, too? Yes, of course He is.”

And then a horrible thought crossed her mind. What if she couldn’t go to heaven someday? What if she couldn’t see her mother again?