Shine On

by Jewell, Allison J.

  The door Silas had smashed the jar against opened, revealing a stark white room. A couple of men were sitting at a metal table. In the center Emmie could see Sam Young barely holding his head up. Gabe appeared in the doorway looking at the shards of glass on the floor.

  “Everything okay?” he asked. Silas didn’t answer him.

  “You’re damn right you didn’t think it through. For Christ’s sake Emmie. See that…” he said, pointing at Sam, “That’s what happens to men who screw up in this business. You think it wouldn’t happen to a woman?” He ran his hands over his face.

  He just shook his head at her… like he was disgusted. “Silas, it’s just…”

  “I cannot do this right now. You gave me the information I needed. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some other shit to take care of.” His cheeks flamed with fire as emotion settled there.

  Silas walked into the room. Gabe closed the door behind him. However, before he had snapped it all the way shut he gave Emmie a look of pity. He didn’t know what was going on, but being on the wrong side of Silas’s mood was enough to make him feel sorry for her.

  “You okay?” he asked quietly.

  She nodded. He snapped the door closed.

  Alone in the hall, the reality of the situation closed in around her. Silence rang in Emmie’s ears. It was hard to breathe. She slid down the wall until she came to rest on the floor, knees pulled into her chest. With her head in her hands she could feel moisture from the tears that had finally spilled over her cheeks. After taking a few minutes to collect herself, Emmie stood and brushed off her skirt. She didn’t want to walk home yet but needed to make a call. She tried the door across from the room the guys were in. She was surprised to find it was open. It was a small closet that was being used as an office, barely enough room for a desk and a chair. Thankfully there was a telephone on the table. She picked up the receiver and dialed Walter.

  She knew it was late to be calling. They would all be in bed.

  “Hello.” Walt’s voice was heavy with sleep and annoyed.

  “Walt,” she whispered into the phone.

  “What’s the matter, Emmie?” He sounded panicked.

  “I need to see you.”

  “Girl, you got any idea any idea what time it is?” he fussed.

  “Yes, I wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important. We can wait till the morning if you want but it needs to be early. Can you come over to my house first thing?”

  “Of course. What’s going on?” he asked.

  “I’ll tell you the whole thing tomorrow but let me ask this really quick. Do you know Sam Young?”

  “Emmie, what have you done?” Walter asked, stone serious.

  “Just answer me, hurry. I don’t know how much time I’ve got,” she whispered.

  “He’s no good. Don’t trust him. Get away from him,” Walter shouted.

  “Have you given him any of your ’shine? Or would Ronnie have?” she asked.

  “Lord knows I haven’t. I don’t think Ronnie would have either,” Walter sighed loudly. “I do think Ronnie was messed up with him though. I think he may have owed him some money. You need me girl? Are you mixed-up in something tonight?”

  “No. I can take care of it. I’ll see you first thing in the morning though, okay? I got some things to talk to you about.”

  “Alright… you’re givin’ me an ulcer, you know that girl?” he said sharply.

  “I know but it’s almost over. I’m sorry but I’m gonna work this out,” she promised and hoped that she could. Lately working things out had just turned into major messes on her part.

  Walter said something but she didn’t hear him. The door opened slowly to reveal a man she had seen earlier in the alley. They’d called him James. “I gotta go,” she shouted and slammed the phone down on its cradle.

  “What the hell are you doing in here?” the tall middle-aged man asked.

  She put up her hands like he was holding her at gunpoint. From the look on his face, he just may do that.

  Thank goodness Trick came into the room. “Emmie?” he questioned.

  “You know this lady?” James asked.

  “James, she’s fine.” His voice slow and easy, “Just had too much to drink probably.” Trick looked at her pointedly.

  Emmie relaxed her posture and smiled up at James. She mimicked the lazy look she’d noticed on a few of the women out in the pig. She stumbled walking up to Trick and he caught her.

  “I’ll take care of her.” Trick swept her off her feet like a groom carrying his bride. She grabbed his hair playfully and smiled up at him.

  “Sssstrong handsome man ssavess the day,” she slurred convincingly.

  “Sounds like she needs to be taken home,” James said.

  Trick smiled and wiggled his eyebrows, “That’s something I’ll be glad to do.” Trick played the part but she could tell he was tense.

  He carried her out of the office, shut the door and set her down. “Well, aren’t you just a ball of trouble tonight?”

  She looked up at him. He knew everything. How could he know so quickly? She could only guess some of it came out in their discussion in that room with Sam. She wondered how that was going. Emmie peeked over at the door, still wet with the splattered moonshine.

  “They’re done… for now anyway,” Trick answered her unspoken question.

  “Are they still in there?” she asked.

  “Nah… They’ve taken him to rest for a bit before they finish. You know I cannot tell you anymore,” he said. “It’s late Emmie. It’s been a long day. Want me to drive you home?”

  Emmie thought for a moment. She nodded. Nothing else could be solved tonight.

  “You’ll be damned if you do.” Silas emerged from the room.

  He had taken off his coat and was wearing only his vest. She now saw the full view of the tan leather strips that she had only seen part of at the store. The worn leather crossed over his arms and closed around his back. But she was wrong. They weren’t a part of the vest or some new fangled suspender. It was a holster holding a gun at each side. Silas pulled the cigarette out of his mouth and exhaled.

  “She’s coming home with us.”

  Chapter Forty-three

  The walk to the car seemed to last an eternity. The whole entourage left in silence. Between the five of them they had three cars waiting in the parking lot. The men separated, each heading for their own car. Ava followed Gabe. Emmie stopped in her tracks. She really, really wanted to follow Ava… or heck, even Trick. She was not looking forward to this awkward ride home. As if he was reading her thoughts, Silas put his hand on the small of her back and led her to the passenger side of his car. He opened the door for her like everything was fine, just a normal night out among friends.

  They drove in an uncomfortable silence for a while. She had to speak. This problem wasn’t going to go away.

  Emmie scooted closer and turned to face him. He had to notice but he didn’t push her back to the other side of the car. She took that as a good sign. “I am sorry that I hurt you. I shouldn’t have kept the truth from you. But I was afraid. Well, to tell you the truth, I was afraid of this.” She held her arms out and shrugged at the uncomfortable air of tension that surrounded them.

  He pulled the car off the main road and turned down the dirt path that would lead her home. Did he have a change of heart about where she would stay tonight; didn’t he say he wanted her to go to Ava’s? She decided to hold that question and wait for him to explain.

  Silas stopped the car at the end of her drive. They were left sitting in a dark field with only the glow of his cigarette to light their features.

  He turned and faced her. His eyes looked tired. “What were you afraid of?”

  “That if you found out I know about moonshine… that I’d made the apple pie ’shine,” she shrugged her shoulder, “I wouldn’t have a chance with you anymore. I mean look at you—you’ve been to school, you’re a lawyer, you live in a big city, you’re funny, kind, smart a
nd… handsome. But most of all, you believed in me. You were the only person other than my mama that ever said I was good enough to go to college. And I knew, if you found out I was helping… him… you would look at me, like I was just another redneck. Just another hillbilly selling ’shine for a dollar.” Her face flooded with embarrassment. Thank goodness he couldn’t see it.

  “You would always say that I was a good girl but I’m not… I’m just a girl. I guess I never stood much of a chance anyway. I just couldn’t let you drive away without saying all that… So, there, I said it. Out loud.”

  She’d said it. If she was destined to feel some kind of lonely her whole life, like her ma did, then at least she knew she had put it all out on the table.

  It seemed like an eternity passed. He said nothing and it drove her crazy. He finished his cigarette staring off toward her house in the distance. “You’re wrong. You are a good girl, you just got yourself all mixed up in some bad business.”

  Emmie nodded, glad he understood that. Something in his voice let her know he didn’t believe she’d hurt him on purpose. “You’ve got me all wrong, Emmie girl. You’ve asked me a lot of questions.” He swallowed hard. “But you’ve never asked me the right ones.”

  His riddles confused her. Silas started up the car and pulled all the way up to her house. He got out, opened her door, and together they walked up the porch.

  Emmie was convinced he was sending her packing. “Thanks for the drive home,” she said, fumbling with the key. He took it from her and opened the door.

  “I’m not driving you home. We’re getting your stuff. You are not staying here. This is a problem goes deeper than either of us thought. Now that I know you are involved, even at a minor level, I am not leaving you in this house by yourself. Go pack a bag,” he said.

  “No one really knows I’m involved other than you. I think I’ll be okay. Besides I’ve got Spotty and a shotgun,” she said.

  “Emmie, how do you load a shotgun?” he asked.

  “You put the bullets in, snap it closed and pull the trigger.” She smiled.

  “Where are your bullets?” he asked.

  “Umm… that’s a good question,” she answered, putting a finger to her mouth to think about it.

  “Besides I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t shoot a fly. And that dog,” he pointed to Spotty who was lounging on the mat at the front door, “is a worthless guard dog. Trust me. Pack your bags.”

  Emmie frowned that he had talked about her dog like that. But she decided not to fight it. Choose your battles. She went to Ronnie’s old room grabbed a suitcase and hauled it upstairs. “I really think I would be fine,” she shouted down. “Other than you and your family, he, my moonshiner friend, is the only one who knows about me being involved. I trust him.”

  “Yes, I know you do. But being as I don’t know who he is, I don’t trust him. So, you’ll be coming with me,” he said.

  Emmie decided to let it go. When she came back downstairs Silas was waiting with an outstretched arm for her bag.

  “Oh, wait, since we are being honest, here…” She ran over to the pantry and pulled out the two jars of moonshine that she had put away. “That’s the last of it. No more ’shine. My bootlegging days are done. Well, if you can get the pig to buy the rest of it that is.”

  Silas looked at the fabric and shook his head. “Who decorates moonshine?”

  “You eat first with your eyes. If it hadn’t been for the pretty package it would have never made it into your blind pig,” she answered.

  His eyes hardened again. “We’ll be talking more about that later. Wait here, I’m going to take this to the car.”

  Silas literally ran out, dumped the bag, and walked back into the house.

  “Now, come with me.” He grabbed her hand and led her back into Ronnie’s room. The dog beat him there. Emmie wondered where he could be taking her. This was her house. Silas bent down and touched the wooden floors. The dog stood inches from his outstretched hand, barking at Silas. This was the same spot the dog had gone crazy over the last night Silas was here.

  He pushed the dog away from him. Spotty walked over and stood next to Emmie, never taking his eyes off him. Running his fingers along the joints until he felt one give, Silas popped the floorboard up and pulled out the box.

  “See,” he smiled without humor, “you’re a good girl. Too good to even see how to ask me the right questions. How do I know where that is, Emmie?” He turned and took a step away from her. “Why do I care so much about your stepdad’s moonshine and where it ends up? Why do I really want to know who you’ve been working with? Ask me the right questions, Emmie,” he shouted, his voice cracking.

  “It’s not just you that’s been keeping secrets, Emmie girl.” He walked away rubbing his jaw like he could tear the skin from his face.

  She stared down at the box. “How did you… why?” She had a hard time deciding which question to ask first.

  “I searched your house. When you were out there that day, crying on your Mama’s grave, I was in here going through your things, which is why your pathetic guard dog has been barking at me… at this room. He’s trying to tell you what kind of person I am. Is that the kind of man you want? Is that kind, funny, or handsome?” He shook his head like he was disgusted.

  “Why would you do that?” She looked horrified.

  “I was looking for the moonshine or money,” he answered levelly.

  “Why?” she asked.

  He pointed at her and nodded his head. “That’s it. That’s the question you needed to ask. Why do I care so much? See that’s why I cannot trust you about this other guy. You’re judgment is off. You see the world through lenses of good. You think I’m the good guy here. But, I’m not.”

  “Why?” she repeated, laying the box on the table and walking over to him. “Why were you looking for moonshine or money at my house?”

  Silas pulled out another cigarette and lit it. “Ronnie was selling to the pig. James, I think you met him,” he gave her a pointed look that said he knew she’d been in his office, “fronted your step-father a large sum of money for ’shine. We never saw any payback or moonshine for months. When Pop sent me down here, he said I couldn’t come back to Chicago until I helped Uncle Al with that Johnson case and I found our money or moonshine. I was on my way to see Ronnie the night he died. That’s when things got more complicated.”

  “It wasn’t a car crash was it?” she asked.

  “No,” he shook his head looking down at the ground.

  “It wasn’t you, please tell me it wasn’t you.” She put her hand over her mouth.

  “Oh, God no, Emmie… I mean, I’m not going to lie to you, I was mad enough too. I don’t like cheats but it wasn’t me. Gabe, Trick, Sheriff Drake, and I found him. He was already gone.”

  “So why the fire lie? Why can’t we investigate it? He may have owed you something but he deserved better than a fiery lie,” she said.

  He smiled but his eyes were sad. “See, there’s my smart girl. That’s a good question. The answer will tell ya about me. I didn’t want it to mess up our investigation. I wanted to find that money and get home as quick as possible. I didn’t want the police around here messing things up. Figured if this guy was lying and cheating people out of ’shine and cash, like he did us, he got what was coming to him. We were doing our own investigation. I thought we could bring justice better than any court.”

  Emmie closed her eyes and covered her face as she sat at the table. She actually cried. She’d always suspected Ronnie may have been killed but to have it confirmed and to hear Silas tell her these things about himself, it broke her heart. She had been used as a pawn in an investigation.

  She didn’t want to leave with him but now that she knew the truth about everything she was afraid to stay, also. Emmie looked out the window to the car.

  “If you want me to call Gabe or Ava or somebody else to come get you, I’ll understand,” he said.

  She wanted to take him up on the offer
but that would have been petty. “No, its fine. We’ve both been liars. Let’s just get out of here.” She shook her head to clear it, ready to move on and get some sleep. “Spotty’s coming with us. I’m not leaving him here.” Silas nodded and patted his leg. Emmie was surprised when the dog followed him to the car.

  The drive back to Ava’s was awful. Her heart was broken and she felt like an idiot. She drummed her fingers on the box impatiently. When they finally pulled into the house she reached in the back and grabbed her bag. When he tried to help her she shot daggers out of her eyes at him, daring him to touch it.

  She went to the mudroom that led to the pool and grabbed an armful of several white towels. She carried them out to the front porch and made a pallet for Spotty. He’d been trying to tell her all this time that something was wrong and she didn’t see it. He licked her arm as she patted the towels. She scratched his ears and he rolled back his lips in what looked like a smile.

  Emmie went back through the large entry and carried her suitcase upstairs. Out of habit she went to open the door to Ava’s bedroom but she heard her laughing and talking to someone else. Of course, Gabe was there. It was probably better that she was alone anyway. She went to the first guest room and opened the door to find Trick lying in the bed.

  “Oh, gosh. Trick.” She held her suitcase up over her eyes. “I’m sorry. I thought it was empty.”

  He laughed. “Emmie it’s fine.”

  She turned her back to him and spoke, “Is Silas in the other guest room?”

  “Mmm hum,” he answered.

  “Goodnight,” she called, closing the door.

  “Night, Emmie,” he said, rolling back over on his side.

  So that left Vince’s room for her. But she couldn’t bring herself to sleep in there. Instead, she went to his chest and searched, pulling out a few afghans and a quilt. She slipped into her nightgown and padded down the long hall until she reached the sleeping porch. It had started to rain, so it was damp and cool out here. And the rhythmic sound on the roof overhead was soothing. She propped up on one of the small twin beds, folded back the covers and tucked herself in. She wrapped an afghan around her shoulders and pulled out the box Silas had found in her house. She couldn’t imagine what on earth it was that would be hidden under the floors.