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I had to think of a way to get Joey to reveal so to me before Enzo decided to take retribution into his own hands Maybe the best way to do that would be to coet back to normal Our version of nor and frustration, but it was a hell of a lot more comfortable than what had transpired by the front door I touched ain…had Joey’s lips really rested there just o? How many times had I allowed myself a little fantasy about it?

Too many

I need a cigarette

After searchingup erocery store rab a pack She had taken her three boys and our two younger sisters on a trip to the beach on the other side of the state, so I wouldn’t have to worry about a lecture froh it see around like a child in order to smoke I smoothed my white blouse over the plain black skirt I wore, found a decent-looking hat in my sisters’ room, and locked the front door behind me

My stohbor’s dinner cooking I ignored it and wrappedat ht Enzo had promised to pay me handso—enough to cover nursing school tuition in the fall, and then some

Those da

I’ll get some new clothes No h school For God’s sake, I’unpoint, and I’ out my strides, I tried to walk a little taller, which wasn’t easy for someone who measured under five feet

The oth

er luxury I wanted wasstink since it would irls and the house on his own, but Mary Grace was ten and Molly was nearly sixteen—the saetenough Noas my turn to have a little freedom, a little fun Even if all I could afford was a little rooo as I pleased, it would be better than living at home

I turned left into the alley that ran behind the store, and right away I saw the dark sedan parked behind Daddy’s auto repair shop Narrowing my eyes, I focused on the back door—it was open a crack The back of my neck prickled I kneasn’t Daddy inside, and the nondescript car screa htail it back ho to decide, and when three h the back door, they saw me

“There she is” Martin, the grocery store’s assistant er, folloo unfamiliar ents They’re looking for your father”

He and I exchanged a careful look Martin knew about hborhood whisky business as well as the work he did rebuilding cars and hearses for other bootleggers, but his face gave nothing away I was da about the events of last week

“Oh?” I kept an even tone as I walked toward the suits, sizing theer, ginger-haired, and overweight, sweating profusely in the summer afternoon heat The older one wore blue; he was dark-haired, beady-eyed, and s his face with a handkerchief “My father isn’t here Can I help you?”

“My naent Janssen,” said the one in blue “We’re with the Prohibition Bureau Your name?” He traded the handkerchief for a small pad of paper and a pencil from inside his coat

“Frances O’Mara” I rackedevidence could be in the garage All the booze had been reone too They’d been sold last week

“But you go by another nalanced at Martin, who’d just used the nickname I’d had since birth

“Tiny,” I clarified through gritted teeth I really needed to ditch the childhoodcalled Frances didn’t appeal much to me either

He nodded and continued writing, while I i scratched in lead on the little white pad

“Excuse me, but what is this about?” I asked hie?”

“We’re looking for your father in connection with a cri of last week: a liquor heist, during which a few men were killed We have reason to believe Jack O’Mara may have been involved, or at least supplied the vehicles used by the perpetrators We have a warrant to search the premises” He didn’t offer to show it to me

“Do you knohere he was that night?” asked Agent Janssen

“Yes He was traveling in Ohio last week For business” Actually he’d been a hostage of Angel DiFiore last week, and I knew he’d had nothing to do with the cri’s heist of Enzo’s ship, because I’d needed the money for Daddy’s ransom

“Where in Ohio?” Thomas queried

“I’m not sure exactly Around Cleveland htly as I lifted ar