Shine On

by Jewell, Allison J.

  “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

  Ava 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.

  Three. There were all sorts of people there. Folks in suits, folks in overalls. There was no filter. She and Ava were two of maybe six girls in the whole place.

  Four. The bar area was the only nice area in the place. It was a brick wall with about five stools pushed up to a heavy wooden bar. The bartender looked almost identical to the one in Smith’s Grove. He wore a long white apron and was quickly moving down the length of the bar pouring drinks for people.

  But the last one was probably the most surprising thing she found…

  Five. Silas was sitting at the table near the back of the room with Gabe, Trick and three men she didn’t recognize.

  Emmie grabbed Ava’s hand and pulled her as quickly as possible across the room to the bar. Fly on the wall, Emmie repeated to herself.

  “What are you doing?” Ava asked, pulling away from her friend. “Let’s go over and say hello. Didn’t you have something important to tell him about Mr. Thomas?”

  “No, no please. We will in a minute because he has some serious explaining to do.” Emmie paused keeping her anger under control. “I just want to see something before he knows I’m here,” Emmie said.

  “What on earth do you want to see?” Ava asked.

  Emmie didn’t have time to explain all about the apple pie moonshine. She didn’t really want to yet. She wanted to wait until just the right moment.

  “I’ll tell you all about it later, promise. I’m looking for…” Emmie stopped in her tracks. Sitting behind the bar was a jar of amber colored moonshine with a blue gingham wrapped lid. It was hers. It was the ’shine she made. Emmie was surprised how proud she felt to see that the jar was nearly empty. When she peeked behind the bar, she saw a bin with another one of her jars that was completely empty.

  Emmie pulled Ava down to the end of the bar where the jar of apple pie ’shine was.

  “What’ll it be?” asked the bartender, wiping his hands on the long white apron.

  Ava opened her mouth to speak but it was Emmie who spoke first, abandoning their earlier agreement.

  “Two of those please,” Emmie said, pointing to the gingham wrapped jar.

  The man poured, Emmie paid, and Ava looked confused at the whole interaction.

  Emmie took a quick glance around the bar and noticed two or three other folks were drinking her ’shine. It was obviously darker than the clear white lightning but lighter than bourbon, so it was fairly easy to spot. The people drinking seemed to be enjoying it. Fly on the wall mission, almost a success. She looked at her glass and tipped it back taking a little sip.

  It was just like she remembered. Good, smooth. It was as sweet as apple cider with the warmth of moonshine. The pig had to buy the rest. Emmie glanced at Ava. Her friend was looking at her like she had grown another head.

  “What?” Emmie asked confused.

  “Emmie, what is going on?” Ava asked.

  She smiled. “Just give it a sip and tell me what you think.”

  Ava looked at the glass for a moment and then tipped it back, swallowed hard, and nodded. Emmie leaned in waiting for judgment. “Wow, that is really good. It’s like a warm apple pie.” She took another sip.

  Emmie smiled, proud.

  “What have I missed…? Why are you smiling like that?” Ava asked, looking around.

  “I’m smiling because…” Emmie whispered, “I made it.”

  Chapter Forty

  Ava rolled her eyes. “Oh, Emmie. Really, tell me what all of this is about.”

  “No, Ava. It’s the truth.” She nodded her head pointing at the jar on the edge of the bar. “I did that with the moonshine we found in the pantry. I swear.”

  Ava cocked her head to the side, waiting for Emmie to say “Just teasing” or “Gotcha” but she didn’t. Ava stretched her arm across the bar and picked up the jar for closer inspection. The bartender gave her a look, obviously questioning her decision to touch the liquor but said nothing.

  She turned the jar over in her hand and then rubbed her fingers against the fabric-covered lid. Ava looked up and stared at her friend composing her thoughts. Her eyes were wide, her mouth set in a straight line. She was genuinely shocked. Emmie had expected Ava to laugh or ask her a million questions but she didn’t. She bit her lower lip and continued inspecting the jar. All at once Ava’s gaze moved back to the table where the guys were seated.

  Emmie turned and followed Ava’s eyes across the length of the long narrow room. It was easy to spot what had captured her attention. Clearly, the boys were in some sort of intense discussion. All attention seemed to be focused on the man in the center. He grinned and said something pointing at Silas. They weren’t speaking loud enough to hear but you could tell by the reaction of the others at the table it wasn’t good. All at once Silas reached across the table and grabbed the guy by the back of the neck. Bringing his hand down in one quick motion, he slammed the man’s face against the table. The thump echoed off the walls. The entire place stilled at the sound. Slowly and disoriented, the guy pulled his head back up. Trick and Gabe stood almost in unison looking around the place. The other two guys they were seated with picked the guy up and led him through a door behind the side of the bar. Silas followed close on their heels. Trick followed his brother, while Gabe continued to check the surroundings.

  The rest of the blind pig customers went back to their business like nothing had happened. But Emmie couldn’t drag her eyes away from the door they had just entered. That man—she knew him. Not well but she knew him; she’d even seen him at the barn party the other night, sitting at the table near Bart Johnson. He had also come to her house just after Ronnie had died. He said that Ronnie had borrowed some tools to work on the truck. He told Emmie he was sorry to bother her but his car was broken and he really needed those tools back. Why in the world would Silas be fighting with that guy?

  Emmie spun around on her stool to ask Ava. However, Ava’s eyes were still fixed in the distance. She lifted her hand in a bashful wave and shrugged her shoulder like she was saying, “Sorry.”

  Emmie turned around to see Gabe closing the distance between them. Pushing people out of the way in the process.

  “What the hell are you doing here? I thought I made it clear you were never to come here alone,” Gabe shouted as he walked up to them.

  “Emmie’s had a rough day. We won’t stay long, promise.” Ava smiled up at him. Her smile almost always worked on him. His expression softened only his eyes showed he was still annoyed. She reached up grabbed his tie and pulled him down for a quick kiss.

  As he pulled away she said, “And technically. I’m not alone. I mean, you’re here, right.” Her eyes were full of humor.

  “Don’t push me.” He grabbed her chin. “And don’t leave until I can walk you down. I’ve got something I need to take care of here first.” Then he turned his eyes to Emmie. “You know, I have to tell him you are here… and he’s going to be pissed off.”

  She didn’t need to be told who he was. “I know, he probably won’t be happy.”

  “Sweetheart,” he laughed without humor, “there’s no probably about it.”

  Gabe turned and headed for the door the boys had disappeared through earlier. Emmie’s stomach turned. Maybe she should just go. Folks were drinking her ’shine and enjoying it. The night was young and the bartender had already gone through two jars. That had to be good news. Emmie was sure they would buy the rest of the apple pie ’shine from Walt. Fly-on-the-wall mission was complete. She had seen what she came here for… and honestly, she’d seen more than she came for.

  “Ava what in the world were they doing with that man… Sam Young, I think that’s his name?” Emmie asked.

  “What makes you think I would have any idea? Do you know him?” Ava asked.

  Emmie shook her head, “Not really. One of Ronnie’s friends…” But she never got to finish her sentence.

  The ground below her was gone. She kicked her feet but felt nothing. All at once the world shifted and she was flipped upside do
wn. Emmie still couldn’t see who had grabbed her. But her face was planted into the back of a dark brown suit coat. She continued kicking her feet and beating this man with her hands. A strong arm clamped down across her legs to keep them still. That’s when she smelled the familiar aftershave and leather. She knew who this kidnapper was and what was coming. Emmie stopped fighting and peeked her head around to his torso to see Ava grinning and waving. She held up her drink and mouthed, “Good Luck.” A lot of help she was.

  “Silas,” she said calmly. Well, as calmly as you can speak when someone is carrying you like a sack of potatoes.

  He said nothing. He just continued walking through the pig. People moved out of his way and gave Emmie little more than a passing glance.

  “This is very caveman like Silas, don’t you think?” Emmie asked, smacking his back with her palm. When she tried to give one more kick for good measure she was met with a swift smack to her bum.

  “Put me down, Silas. You made your point, okay? You don’t want me in there,” Emmie shouted.

  They left the pig through the same narrow door she had entered. He shouted at the young guy who was sitting in a barstool next to the stairwell door that admitted the customers.

  “Get your ass over here and open this door,” he said, walking to a large wooden door on the opposite side of the hall.

  “Yes, sir.” The guy flew off the stool and pulled a ring full of keys out of his pocket, taking his time to find the right one.

  Really, he is not even going to question the fact he is carrying a girl out of the joint, Emmie thought. This is absolutely ridiculous.

  Finally the guy unlocked the door and held it open. Then he spoke to Emmie as Silas carried her past him. “Ya should have mentioned that Mr. McDowell was the beau you’ve been fighting with.”

  “Shane,” Silas spoke the boy’s name.

  “Yes, sir,” he said, standing in the doorway.

  “Take one step back.” Shane did as Silas instructed. Then he kicked the door shut leaving the boy alone in the hall.