Once a Thief

by Frances Devine

  But what now? She knew Sutton would come up with some scheme involving dishonest acts on her part. He could even find a way to force her back to the gang. She was strong, but she knew she had no power against Sutton. All she could do was try to convince him it was to his benefit to allow her to continue at her present course. If she only had more time, somehow, surely she could find a way to get Jimmy away from him.

  If Jimmy weren’t there, she would almost be willing to turn Sutton over to the authorities. But of course, she wouldn’t want to get Cobb in trouble. And most of the gang there had fallen in with Sutton the same way she and Jimmy had. Homeless, with no one to care for them, they were easy prey.

  Dear God, please show me what to do. Protect us all from that wretched man. And, oh Father, please don’t let Blake hate me. Even if I can never accept his love, please find a way to let him know I do care for him.

  Fifteen

  Blake wasn’t sure whether he should pick Danielle up the next morning or not. But after all, they’d been riding to the theater together ever since she’d gotten the part of Peg. He decided to drive to the Kramers’ and knock on the door. Act as though nothing had happened. Maybe he could at least salvage their friendship.

  He was relieved when she answered his knock, wearing her hat, coat, and gloves. Apparently, she’d expected him.

  When he offered his arm, she gave him a timid smile and rested her hand on his forearm.

  Blake breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps she’d thought over his declaration and decided it wasn’t so repulsive to her after all.

  Don’t be an idiot, he thought. She’s simply being polite.

  When they entered the building, they were met with a bedlam of laughter and shouts.

  “What in the world?” The words were no more than out of Blake’s mouth when Hannah and Rhonda rushed over to Danielle, each grabbing an arm, and dragged her away.

  “You’re not going to believe it. Everything is brand new.” Rhonda’s excited voice cut through the noise and into Blake’s ears as he watched them head in the direction of the dressing rooms.

  He walked into the auditorium and headed to the stage where Bosley stood waving his hands at two men who were bringing backdrops out onto the stage. “Not here. Put them backstage with the rest.”

  He turned and grinned as Blake ran up the steps to the stage. “Isn’t it great?”

  “What’s going on?”

  Bosley took off his cap and wiped his forehead with his shirtsleeve. “Sutton came through, all right. He wants the best of everything. New backdrops, furniture for the sets, brand-new costumes. Won’t even let us use the ones we had that are still in good condition.”

  Blake frowned. “Seems a little extravagant, doesn’t it?”

  Bosley shrugged. “It’s his money. I’m not complaining. You’d better not, either, if you want to see Peg in Dreamland in production.”

  “So he’s making the decisions now?”

  “Well, of course not. Not about the show itself. But if he wants to spread his wealth around, why not?”

  Why not, indeed, Blake thought as he took a seat and waited for the morning rehearsal to start. He knew that once the show opened, there would be a matinée and an evening performance. But for now, the cast and managers had their evenings free to rest and relax.

  “Mind if I join you, Mr. Nelson? Or may I call you Blake now that we’re business partners?” James Sutton walked down the front aisle and sat in the seat next to Blake.

  “Not at all,” Blake said, trying to sound as though he meant it. Although he was grateful to the man for contributing needed funds, he wasn’t sure he liked him. He seemed a little too suave. A little too well-dressed. Something in his glance seemed almost calculating. And after the information Blake’s father had imparted, he didn’t trust the man.

  Don’t be ridiculous, Blake. A man can change. You’re imagining things.

  The curtain opened, and Blake turned his attention to the stage. He didn’t want to miss a moment.

  When Danielle stepped onto the stage, Blake heard a sharp intake of breath from Sutton. He darted a look at him and almost struck out at the vile look on the man’s face.

  “So, Mr. Sutton, when did you become interested in the theater?” Anything to get the man’s eyes off Danielle.

  Sutton glanced at him, and a look of amusement crossed his face. Almost as though he knew what Blake was doing. “Let’s see now. My first interest was strictly a financial one. One of your other backers convinced me the show would be a roaring success.” He narrowed his eyes and continued. “But my interest came into full bloom when I saw Miss Gray’s performance.”

  Blake couldn’t keep his lips from tightening. “Yes, Miss Gray is a very good actress.”

  “Rather amazing, isn’t it? I understand this is her first part.”

  “Yes, it is. But she seems to have a natural talent, and of course she was coached.”

  “Coached by whom, may I ask?”

  “By me, as a matter of fact.”

  “Yes, I rather thought so.” He rubbed his finger along his mustache. “And what exactly is your relationship with Miss Gray?”

  Blake felt his face grow hot as anger rose up inside him. His chest felt tight and he had to fight to control his breathing. “I hardly think that’s any of your concern, sir. And now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to watch the rehearsal.”

  “I don’t mind at all. I find it very delightful myself.” The man’s tone of voice was offensive. Was he deliberately baiting Blake for some reason?

  The rehearsal went fairly smoothly, with only a few minor errors. When the curtain went down, Sutton stood, bowed, and walked away.

  ❧

  Danielle crammed her hat on her head, grabbed her gloves from her coat pocket, and slipped them on. She didn’t know if Blake was waiting for her or not, but if he was, she couldn’t leave him standing there. She pushed through the door and ran smack into Sutton.

  “Ah, the divine and talented leading lady.” Sutton smirked and steadied her, laughing when she jerked away. “We need to talk, my dear.”

  She winced as he grabbed her arm and almost dragged her down the hall to the exit. He gave her a slight push and followed her outside.

  “What do you want?” she snapped through gritted teeth.

  “Why, I simply want to congratulate you on your fine performance this morning.”

  “Sure, you do.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “You know me too well, Danielle. Very well, I’ll admit I have other reasons for wishing to speak with you.”

  He drew his face close to hers, his eyes narrowed to slits. “I have plans for opening night. Big plans. I expect you to do your part. Is that understood?”

  She turned her head in an attempt to avoid his breath. “What exactly is it you expect me to do, Sutton?”

  He straightened up. “Not yet, my sweet. I’ll let you know in due time. And if you don’t do what I say, you’ll wish very much you had. You and that little brother of yours.”

  “You wouldn’t hurt Jimmy?” she cried out then bit her lip.

  He smiled. “I assure you I wouldn’t want to, but sometimes one must do what one must do.” He started to turn away then turned back. “By the way, my pretty one, I don’t know what’s going on between you and the Nelson fellow, but you’d better nip it in the bud.”

  Danielle felt as though her heart sank, and she swallowed hard. “We’re only friends.”

  “I see. That’s good. I want you to be friends with the handsome young writer.” He threw her a threatening look. “Just don’t let it go any further if you have any concern about his health. I won’t let you get involved with another man, Danielle. Someday you will realize where your destiny lies.”

  He tipped his hat and walked away.

  ❧

  Blake, his throat dry, rushed out and found a vendor who gave him a cup of water. Blake handed him a coin. He waited in the lobby nearly fifteen minutes, and when Danielle did
n’t appear, he headed for the dressing room area. He tapped on the ladies’ door and Hannah informed him Danielle had left a few minutes earlier.

  Concerned, he hurried to the exit and shoved the door open. Sutton was just disappearing around the corner of the building. Danielle stood still as a statue, her lips drawn tight, and her eyes flaming with anger.

  If that creature had said or done anything ungentlemanly, he’d—

  Danielle turned as she heard his footsteps. Her lids came down, and when she raised them, her eyes appeared guarded.

  “What’s wrong, Danielle? That was Sutton, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes.” She flashed him a smile. “He was praising the show. He really loves it.”

  Blake looked at her, uncertain. She sounded sincere. Had he been imagining things about the new patron? Was he, perhaps, allowing jealousy to put ideas into his head?

  He took a deep breath and returned her smile. “May I take you to lunch?”

  “Well, I think I’d better. . .” she floundered, apparently unable to find an excuse.

  “Please, just as friends. I want to talk to you about something.”

  She only hesitated for a moment. “In that case, of course. I’m actually quite hungry.”

  ❧

  Danielle sat across the table from Blake and glanced, unseeing, at the menu. Had she managed to fool Blake about Sutton? She didn’t know how long he’d been standing there or how much he’d heard. She could only hope he’d come outside as Sutton was leaving, and she was pretty sure that was the case. If he’d heard Sutton’s words, he would, at the very least, have confronted her about it. Most likely, he’d have caught up with Sutton and knocked him down. Then what would have happened to Blake? At the thought, fear rose up in her throat and her fingers tightened on the menu.

  “Don’t choke the poor menu to death.” Blake grinned at her. “What has you so tense?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Opening night is less than a month away. I guess I’m just worried.”

  “You’ll do fine. I promise. You own Peg.” He reached over and touched her hand then drew back. He didn’t want to scare her off again.

  After they’d eaten, they ordered coffee and Blake leaned forward. “I’m sorry if I offended you or frightened you last night. I can’t help how I feel about you, but it was insensitive of me to blurt it out the way I did.”

  “You weren’t insensitive.” Her lips trembled. “I’m honored to know that you love me. You’re a wonderful man. Any girl would be honored. I’m just not ready for love in my life yet. I have commitments you know nothing about. And problems that need to be solved before I can even consider that kind of relationship.”

  Blake took a deep breath. “Can’t you share with me? Let me help you with whatever it is?”

  She smiled tremulously and lowered her lashes. She knew if he looked into her eyes at that moment, all was lost. She’d never be able to hide the feelings coursing through her.

  When she felt strong enough to control her feelings, she shook her head and looked him in the eye. “I have to work these things out for myself. But I’m grateful that you want to help. Right now, the best way you can help is to be my friend and not pressure me for information I can’t give you. That would just make things more difficult for me.”

  “Very well, but I promised my mother I’d invite you to have Thanksgiving dinner with us. Just as friends, of course.”

  “Oh dear. I think Mrs. Kramer is planning to invite you.”

  He smiled. “Perhaps we’d better let those two ladies decide the matter between them.”

  At his relaxed manner, she saw with relief he’d accepted her terms. She glanced at the clock on the wall behind the counter and scrambled to her feet. “Look at the time. We’ll be late if we don’t hurry.”

  Blake jumped up and hurried to pay for their food and they headed back to the theater.

  Danielle only hoped Sutton would stay away from the afternoon rehearsal.

  ❧

  Blake settled into his front row center seat position, waiting for rehearsal to begin. So, his father was right. There were obstacles preventing her from returning his love. He knew in his heart that she did care for him, perhaps as deeply as he cared for her. If only he knew what the problems were.

  Sutton. Suddenly, Blake remembered the look on Sutton’s face when he’d watched Danielle perform that morning. Uneasiness washed over him. Although he’d pushed it away as his imagination, now he wasn’t so sure. Had Danielle lied to him about her encounter with the man? Was it possible she knew him from before and he had some sort of power over her? If so, it must be pretty bad if Danielle refused to allow Blake to help her.

  Heavenly Father, I need Your help. Show me how to help Danielle, and if Sutton is the cause of her problems, reveal that to me. I pray that truth will prevail and that You will protect and guide my precious Danielle.

  Sixteen

  I have to get Jimmy out of there. I have to. Danielle shifted from one foot to the other as she peered around the edge of the shed and watched for Cobb. If only Sutton would let Jimmy go, I could get us rooms in a respectable boardinghouse. But Sutton will never allow it. Maybe I can reason with him. How can one reason with an unreasonable man? Thoughts knifed through her brain until she thought her head would burst.

  Only two weeks remained until opening night. Although she’d questioned him over and over, Sutton still hadn’t revealed his plan to her. Once more she peered around the shed, watching anxiously for Cobb. She was sure he’d have a pretty good idea of what Sutton intended to do.

  She glanced around, suddenly nervous. Why hadn’t they arranged a different meeting place? By now, Sutton was sure to know that she and Cobb met here.

  She caught sight of Cobb just near the corner. Curious, she watched him shuffle up the sidewalk, his head down. This wasn’t like him at all.

  He stepped to the back of the shed where she waited and gave her an unaccustomed hug. She pulled back and stared at him, troubled at the look of concern on his face.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” Cobb averted his eyes.

  “Something is.”

  He lifted his eyes, and a sick look crossed his face. “Danni, you know Sutton is planning a job for your opening night.”

  “Yes, and I need to know what it is so I can try to stop him.”

  “How do you think you’re going to stop him? Don’t be foolish.” He wiped his hand across his head, and she noticed the worry lines on his forehead.

  “I can call the police. That’s what I can do.”

  “He’s using Jimmy this time.”

  Stunned, Danielle stared at him. “Jimmy? But he’s lame.”

  “Yeah, but Sutton has a plan. And he don’t trust you. He said if Jimmy’s involved you won’t turn us in.”

  Hopelessness washed over her as she stared silently at Cobb.

  “C’mon, Danni. You ain’t gonna cry, are you? You never cry.” He gave her an awkward pat on the shoulder.

  “Tell me what he has in mind.”

  “All right, but don’t let him know I told you anything. He’s been in such a rage lately. He’s liable to kill me.” He inhaled deeply then exhaled a loud whoosh of air. “We’re gonna be all over the place during intermission. Lifting anything we can get our hands on. Watches, wallets, anything we find. But it’s all just a distraction. Sutton won’t tell me what he’ll be doing while we keep the cops busy. But it must be something big.”

  “And Jimmy?”

  Cobb licked his lips. “He’s gonna have Jimmy with him.”

  Despair washed over her and she wrung her hands. “God, please show me what to do.”

  “It ain’t no use.” Cobb shook his head. “There ain’t nothin’ you can do.”

  Sudden anger rose up in Danielle, and she stiffened. Nothing she could do? She’d think of something. She’d get Jimmy out of there and make sure Sutton was put in jail so he could never bother them again. She didn’t know what or how, but God wo
uld show her the way.

  ❧

  “I don’t know where she went, Blake.” Hannah threw him an apologetic wave and sailed past him. “Sorry. Gotta get home and spend some time with my kids before afternoon rehearsal.”

  He spotted Rhonda as she entered the lobby and grabbed her as she walked toward the exit. “Did Danielle tell you where she was going?”

  “Why?” She frowned. “Did you have a date for lunch?”

  “Well no, but. . .we’ve been lunching together nearly every day. I waited for her in the lobby, but she never showed up.”

  “Hmm. A little presumptuous, aren’t we?” She laughed and walked on.

  Blake felt his face blaze and wanted to kick himself. Of course he’d been presumptuous. Why hadn’t he asked her this morning to have lunch with him? He supposed he’d taken her for granted. He hadn’t realized. Where could she be?

  Bosley had ordered lunch for himself and all the business partners, and they were all back in his office. Blake had checked to make sure Sutton was there, too. At least he didn’t need to worry about that.

  Feeling foolish, he headed for the café on the corner, the cold air almost taking his breath away, and ordered a sandwich and coffee. He ate without tasting anything then went back to the theater. He hung around the lobby for a while, watching for Danielle.

  Sudden anger arose in him. He was acting like a lovesick kid. He had hung around hoping for crumbs from her long enough. Why should he wait when she obviously didn’t want to see him? So, she had secrets. If she didn’t want to share them with him, fine. Maybe it was just an excuse not to tell him she didn’t care for him. Well, he wouldn’t bother her anymore. And he wouldn’t watch rehearsals, either. As a matter of fact, he was getting sick of the whole theater business anyway.

  Wheeling, he left the theater, intending to go home, then stopped. Maybe she’d met that suspicious-looking character again. The redheaded so-called friend of hers. Where did she meet a rough-looking character like that in the first place? Worry oozed its way back in, pushing out the anger.

  He’d about made up his mind to go take a look around the docks when Danielle came around the corner, huddled against the wind. With one hand, she held onto her large-brimmed hat, and with the other she attempted to hold down the folds of her coat. Head down, she brushed past him and into the building.