“If that is all, Mr. O’Neill, I bid you good day.” She swept around Mr. O’Neill, and he didn’t follow. She darted around the first corner she came to and leaned against the wall to compose herself.
She was in the middle of something big, that was clear. She only prayed she was up to the challenge.
***
That evening at home in the parlor, Cassie couldn’t focus on the book in her hand. She puzzled instead over the case, trying to determine which of the key players she could trust.
Her father looked up from his newspaper. “Something on your mind?”
Cassie forced a smile. “Just work. Actually, I’m going to go up, if you don’t mind.” She gave her father a peck on the cheek before heading upstairs to her room where she would be free to ruminate. She stashed her novel in the nightstand and perched on the edge of the bed, starting to remove the pins from her hair as she thought.
The main question was what Walker’s role was in all this. Was he a husband missing his wife, or was he pulling all the strings? She needed to see what Walker was up to—preferably without him knowing. O’Neill hadn’t mentioned he had any of his men tailing Walker, so hopefully she was safe to follow him discreetly. She would stay away from Tommy Tiatelli for now to avoid O’Neill getting further involved.
Four
The next morning, Cassie dressed in a simple dark gray dress that she hoped would help her blend into the crowd. She sent a quick note to the office informing Ellerbee she was ill and wouldn’t be in that day. She doubted he would care. He had really only hired her because her father had asked him to, and Ellerbee thought it would give him an inside lead on political stories.
She headed to the Walkers’ apartment building and hovered across the street, pretending variously to be waiting for someone, to be browsing the flower stall across the street, and to be lost. She was enacting the latter scene when a familiar face stepped into her path.
Powolski.
“I knew you weren’t ill. You’re trying to cut me out of the investigation.”
“It was just more efficient for one person to—”
“Save it, doll. I’m the lead reporter—”
Cassie set a hand on his forearm, her gaze drawn across the street. “Wait. See that man entering the Walkers’ apartment building? He’s being followed.”
Powolski scanned the street until he located the man she was referring to. “Who do you think it is? Tiatellis keeping track of Walker?”
“No, I recognize him. Ruiz. He’s from the police. And if the police are following that man, it must mean that man is from the Tiatellis.”
“And if the Tiatellis are visiting Walker, that means…” he whistled.
“Tommy was right. Walker is in collusion with them.”
At that moment, with his prey now inside and out of view, Ruiz glanced across the street. He did a double-take when he saw Cassie.
“Oh no.” Cassie turned her face away.
“What?”
“He’s recognized me.”
“I told you I should have done this.”
“You wouldn’t have known who that man was to make the connection.”
Footsteps approached. “The boss won’t be happy that you’re here, Miss Woods.”
Cassie turned slowly around to face Ruiz. “How good to see you again. I—”
A gunshot rang out from the building across the street. All three latched their focus onto the top floor where the Walkers’ apartment was located. No other sound emerged. The other people on the street paused and looked around, but seeing no further immediate threat, continued on their way.
“What do we do?”
“I’ll call for back up, then I’m going in. You two stay here.” Ruiz ran to the nearest police call box. A couple of minutes later, Cassie and Powolski watched him ease his way into the building, his own pistol at the ready.
“Do we really just stand here?” Cassie asked impatiently.
“What else are we going to do? We’ll just get in the way.”
Cassie looked up at Powolski, trying to determine if he really believed this or if it was cowardice. The firm set of his jaw gave nothing away. She remembered that he had a wife and three small children at home. She shouldn’t ask him to do anything that would put his life in danger. He was right. They should stay out of it.
Except…an awfully long time went by without Ruiz emerging or backup arriving. Cassie wiped her sweaty palms on the sides of her skirt, growing antsy.
“At least there hasn’t been another gunshot,” Powolski finally said.
Cassie didn’t bother to respond.
Just then a carriage pulled up to the curb in front of the apartment building. A trio of men emerged from the building, two holding up a bloodied Ruiz between them. The men entered the carriage, which set off at as brisk of a pace as possible in the mid-morning traffic.
Cassie didn’t hesitate. She stepped into the street and raised her hand to hail the nearest carriage. She leaped inside, and Powolski followed, though he cursed as he did so.
“Follow that carriage,” she said, pointing to the one ahead.
***
