Shine On (27 page)

“Probably not,” she answered honestly.

He didn’t push her any further. “I made it clear to that man. And we ain’t carrying on with this forever. If they wanted the goods, it was a one-time sale. I ain’t got access to no more, you got that girl?” He pointed his finger out at her.

“Clear. I’ll not be making any more apple pie ’shine.” She put her hands up and shook her head.

“That’s right!” He took a slow puff and leaned back to relax in his chair before adding, “Ya did good though girl. At first I could tell that man James didn’t even want to listen to me. I was just another old man with a jar o’ white lightning.” He chewed his pipe before he continued. “Then they saw that I was actually a crazy old man that had decorated his jars of ’shine with gingham fabric. It caught their attention.” He smiled mischievously and winked. “Apparently not many of us old bootleggers do that sort of thing.”

He laughed. She wasn’t sure if he was laughing with her or at her. But either way, she didn’t care. She had a good feeling about those sample jars that Walt had given away. The blind pig would want them. Then they would sell off all that moonshine and she wouldn’t have this cross to bear anymore. Maybe today was looking up after all.

***********

It was dusk by the time that Emmie left Walter and Mae’s house. The sun hung over the hills in the distance. It was casting a soft reddish glow on the horizon as Emmie walked toward Ava’s house. The nights were beginning to get cool; Emmie wished she had grabbed a wrap before she left home this morning. As she passed her house Spotty turned to run up her drive.

“Not yet, boy. We’re going to Ava’s tonight. Come on,” she called to the dog. He looked like he wanted to protest and actually turned his face back to the house. “Alright, you go on home. I’ll be back shortly.” Emmie turned and headed up the road.

She let out a long sigh that she felt like she had been holding for over a month. She didn’t know how much money she would get if the blind pig decided to buy all the apple pie off Walt’s hands but she guessed it was a good amount. After all, Walt said moonshiners in five counties were trying to break into the speaks and pigs, it must offer a good cash flow. Maybe she’d even done something good for Walt. If she gave him that apple pie recipe, he could probably do it. It might even boost his income. Emmie smiled to herself in satisfaction.

She heard Spotty panting behind her, knowing he’d never let her walk to Ava’s alone. She scratched his ear as they walked. “If only I knew for sure how those sample jars Walt had given the pig were working out. I sure would love to be a fly on the wall there tonight,” she said to the dog. He looked up at her like he was really listening. His head tipped over to the side, like he was thinking with her. That’s when it hit her.

“Fly on the wall… well, not a fly… but just maybe…” she told the dog. Then she picked up speed.

When she reached Ava’s front porch, she was slightly out of breath. She paused for a minute on the step to compose herself before she knocked on the door. Spotty found his favorite spot under the front swing and curled into a ball. He was smart enough to know that no amount of begging was going to give him entrance to Ava’s house.

“It’ll be fine.” She talked herself into the conversation she was getting ready to have with Silas. She brushed her hands together; as if wiping away the negative thoughts and walked toward the door.

The door swung open immediately. Trick came tearing out of the house like it was on fire, running over Emmie in the process.

“Oh God, Emmie. Are you alive down there?” he asked. He had knocked her to the ground. Trick always had time for a joke, no matter his hurry. Apparently, Gabe didn’t. He had leapt over the pair of them unable to stop moving once he’d seen Trick and Emmie go down.

Gabe reached back in one motion and swung Emmie up from the ground and shouted at Trick, “Come on.”

“What’s wrong?” Emmie shouted after them. They were already halfway to the car, but the housekeeper and Ava hadn’t come out yet; it must not be an actual fire.

“Umm. Something at the office came up. Tell Ava we are gonna be late,” Gabe shouted, slamming the door to the car and starting it all in one motion.

Trick waved bye quickly. Despite his earlier joke, even his face looked stone-sober as they pulled away from the house.

Emmie looked down and brushed the dirt off her dress then headed into the house. In their hurry to leave the boys had left it wide open.

“What in the world was all that about?” Ava asked, walking down the stairs. “I looked out the bedroom window and saw you on the ground and then Trick and Gabe flew to the car.” Ava’s voice was slow and calm.

Emmie shook her head. “I honestly have no idea. Gabe just said they’d be home late. They looked serious though. You think everything is okay?”

Ava just shrugged her shoulders, “It’ll be fine. I’m sure.”

The phone rang. Ava walked over to answer it then turned and held the phone out toward Emmie. “It’s Silas, for you.” Ava found this much more intriguing than the events of the last two minutes. Kindling romances… they made her giddy and excited. People running out of the house like it was on fire to unknown drama. That was just another day. Emmie admired her eccentric nature.

“Hello,” Emmie answered.

“I’m sorry, Emmie. Something has come up. I’ve got to work at the office late. Maybe tomorrow night would be better,” Silas apologized.

“It’s fine. But really, I should probably tell you why I came down there today—” Emmie started but he cut her off with a swear.

“I said I’m coming,” Silas shouted at someone else. Emmie pulled the phone back from her ear. “I’ll talk to you in the morning, okay?”

He hung up without waiting for a reply from her. She tried to call him back but got no answer. Something had bothered her since she had figured out that the blind pig was somewhere near the shoe store. Why had Will been hanging out there? Even more than that why would Mr. Thomas have said they almost
had it
? Money? She didn’t know but she had a sick feeling that was something she needed to tell Silas.

Emmie decided to cut right to the chase. She turned toward her friend. She took a deep breath and then blurted out, “Ava, do you know what a blind pig is?”

Ava smiled so big it showed all of her teeth. She slowly nodded her head.

“I will explain to you the whole story later but I think there is one on the square,” Emmie said.

Ava looked sideways at her friend and thought for a second before she spoke, which was very un-Ava like. “There is, why?”

Emmie ignored her question and asked one of her own, “Do you know how to get into it? I mean after going to the speak in the Grove the other night I am sure it is not the sort of place you can walk into. I’m sure there are passwords and stuff, right?”

“Emma, dear, I love where this conversation is headed.” Ava touched her hand to her cheek like she was trying to contain her excitement, willing Emmie to continue. “Yes there are passwords.”

“Can you take me there?” Emmie whispered, taking a step closer to her friend.

Ava thought about it for a minute then clapped her hands together in front of her body. “Let’s do it!”

Chapter Thirty-nine

A
va said it was best they go dressed just as they were. It was odd because an evening out with Ava usually equaled at least twelve strands of additional pearls. Emmie remembered Silas talking once about blind pigs. He had told her the ones around here were rougher than speakeasies. She assumed that’s why Ava had decided to dress down. Well, as dressed down as she ever was. Today she was in a yellow embroidered flapper dress that draped just past her knees. Her shoes even matched—always composed, always coordinated.

As they walked to the car Spotty tried to follow them. “Go on back home, boy. I’ll see you there later.” The dog whined, not liking to be left out. “Go on,” she repeated. He didn’t leave the house right away. He chased them down the road for a bit before he turned to cut through the fields that would lead him home.

On the drive there Emmie looked down at her plain, baby blue dress she had made last summer and realized it came up short. If she’d known she was going out, she would have brought something better. That was probably for the best anyway. Fly on the wall, right. She was there to blend in not stand out.

“So Emmie, did Silas finally tell you about the pig?” Ava asked, speeding up a bit as she pulled onto the open road. When she drove, the car always jerked as she shifted gears. Emmie wouldn’t complain though… she couldn’t drive period. She just braced her hand on the doorframe.

“Not exactly,” Emmie answered discreetly.

“Come on, Emmie. Be on the level with me. You’ve been too quiet lately,” Ava begged, lurching the car forward again. Emmie’s knuckles were white as she gripped the doorframe a little tighter.

Emmie recounted the events of the day: the argument between Will and Mr. Thomas, the shotgun-toting sheriff, and how Silas had stopped her in the alley. Ava interrupted her in the middle of the “Silas Showdown” part of the story saying that Mr. Thomas was the biggest, smelliest, wet blanket. Emmie was sure that was the most accurate and hilarious description of the man she’d ever heard.

When they pulled into the parking spot behind the law firm Emmie noticed that Silas’s car was still there. Ava caught her staring over at it.

“You know he’s carrying a torch for you, right?” Ava added seriously.

Emmie shook her head and shrugged, “Some of that may have just been for show. He doesn’t like Mr. Thomas.”

“You are as blind as this pig we are getting ready to go into. Speaking of which… you should know this is going to be different than the last speak. We should probably stick close together.”

Emmie listened earnestly to her friend’s directions and helpful hints at how to blend in. Most of it involved Emmie standing there and smiling while Ava did the talking.

“Wait,” Emmie whispered as Ava headed down the alley. “Don’t you think I should try to tell Silas really quick about Mr. Thomas’s interest in the… you know.” She pointed toward the shoe store/blind pig.

Ava looked longingly down the alley then turned toward her friend. “You’re right, but let’s hurry.”

The girls scurried up to the front of the law firm. The doors were locked. After a few minutes of loud banging, no lights came on and one came to the door. Emmie was thoroughly confused.

“Do you think maybe they are upstairs?” Emmie asked.

“Umm…” Ava looked up. “I don’t see any lights on. Probably not sitting up there in the dark.”

“But his car is here,” Emmie rationalized.

Ava said shortly, “Let’s go.”

She hooked her arm in Emmie’s elbow and dragged her into the alley.

“He said he would be at the office,” Emmie said, unable to let it go.

Ava didn’t answer. She kept walking, picking up pace until they reached the back of the building. She then led Emmie over to a large brown door. She opened it quickly and closed it behind them. Emmie had expected to be in the storage room of the shoe store but they were in a staircase. It was narrow, steep and long. Wooden stairs stretched up to the second floor of the building. At the top, she could see another door with a huge handle and a golden door knock.

Ava took the stairs two at a time. With her short skirt and long legs, this was an easy stretch for her. Not so much for Emmie but she did her best to keep up.

“Okay, remember, smiley happy Emmie. Care free, Emmie,” Ava said with wide eyes.

Emmie smiled.

“Relax your eyes,” Ava said.

Emmie tried.

“Don’t fidget with your hands,” Ava added.

Emmie stilled her hands at her side.

“Can you show less teeth, it may look more natural,” Ava said.

“Knock on the door, Ava,” Emmie whisper shouted.

“Gee, alright, alright.” Ava turned and knocked once.

A peephole opened. It was similar to the speakeasy.

Ava said, “Down with the 18th.”

When the door opened, Emmie recognized the man working there as one of the men from the alley. She couldn’t tell if he recognized her or not. He pulled them into the small hallway and then snapped the door closed behind them.

“Ava, you brought a friend,” he said in a familiar tone.

Emmie tried to keep her smile light and happy but really she was wondering how often Ava had been there to be on such easy terms with this man.

“Yeah, she needed a night out. She’s been fighting with her boyfriend. I thought you wouldn’t mind, right?” Ava smiled and grabbed his arm casually.

He was young enough to be easily entranced by her charm. She didn’t even have to try.

“Sure, Ava.” Then he turned his gaze to Emmie. “We always welcome pretty little dolls that have been fighting with their beaus. ”

Then he led them to a narrow door at the end of the hall. He opened it up for them and motioned for them to go on inside. And there it was… the blind pig.

Emmie wasn’t quite sure what she expected but this was different.

One. It was really, really crowded. Like shoulder-to-shoulder, hard to breathe crowded.

Two. It wasn’t much. The walls were stark white with chipping plaster. There were only a few seats and tables. And those that were there didn’t match, just odds and ends.