The Golden Sparrow

by Samantha Latshaw

  The man shifted on his feet.

  Pretending to consider the man’s words, I then sighed, drained my glass, then said, “I don’t think so. Perhaps some other time. Have a good night. Oh.” I had started for the door then turned back to the man. “Tell him I’ll take that drink on the house next time.”

  Sparing one last, lingering look at Basso, I shot him another smirk then turned my back on him and made my way through the club to the door.

  When I was outside in the cool evening air, I inhaled deeply and worked on getting my heart back into a normal pattern.

  Hopefully I had managed to pique his interest and he wouldn’t be offended by my having spurned him.

  I was sure he was used to women not saying no to him. It just wasn’t something one did. He was handsome and clearly had money. Even from what I had seen of him, he had an allure and I supposed it was the sense of danger around him. But I needed to stand out from the others, be different. Acting like everyone else wouldn’t get me anywhere.

  I waited a few more days before I went back to the Golden Sparrow. I didn’t want Basso to think I was eager to see him again. In any case, I knew my best was to act as if I were disinterested. That, I thought, was going to be the way I was going to get attention. I wasn’t planning on worshipping the ground he walked on.

  With the days getting warmer, I was able to show a bit more skin and I didn’t miss the way Basso’s eyes trailed after me as I crossed the club to the bar.

  As I waited for my drink, my mind wandered to Frankie. I still hadn’t seen him since the funeral to explain anything to him, but I knew that if I kept coming back to the speakeasy, then I would eventually run into him. It frustrated me that I didn’t have any way of getting in contact with him. I was forced to rely on running into him at the club and that made me worry that I would ruin everything when I saw him. There was absolutely no way I would be able to pretend around him. I would give myself away in seconds if Frankie was in the room with him.

  I would tell him, I promised myself as the bartender slid me my sidecar. When I saw him, I would tell him.

  “It’s on the house,” the bartender said gruffly when I went to hand him the money.

  “Oh,” I said, surprised. “Really?”

  The bartender nodded then moved on to the next customer.

  Picking up the sidecar, I was about to move to a booth when a tall, handsome young man strode boldly up, eyes roving over me and a smirk on his lips.

  “You must be Hazel,” he said, still eyeing me somewhat hungrily.

  Raising my eyebrows in query, feeling more than a little alarmed that he knew my name, I asked, “Then we’re at a slight disadvantage. And you are?”

  His smirked widened into a grin and I leaned unconsciously away from him.

  “Arthur Hayes,” he replied and my stomach dropped. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard my father speak very highly of you.”

  He stuck his hand out and I stared down at it, dumbfounded. But I quickly regained my composure and fixed him with a cool smile, pointedly ignoring his outstretched hand.

  “I can’t say the same. On any account.”

  His smile slipped and his eyes grew colder, but before he could utter another word, Basso appeared at his shoulder and, eyes on me, asked, “Is this gentleman bothering you?”

  Turning my gaze to him, I said, “No. I believe he was leaving, actually.”

  Arthur Hayes shot me a withering look, barely sparing a glance for Basso, then hurried off to rejoin his friends at the other end of the club.

  “Thank you.” I leaned my elbow against the bar and looked up at Basso as I put my glass to my lips. It terrified me a little to know that I had done so little and had already gotten his attention. Had it been so easy for Mimi? Or had she simply been out to have a good time and got swept up in his dirty underworld of crime?

  “It’s no problem,” he replied, a slight smirk on his lips.

  “Surely you have better things to do than rescue me from unwanted attention?”

  “I’m sure I do.” His voice was deep and husky, something I thought fit him perfectly. He was dressed as impeccably as ever, but his usually slicked back hair was falling slightly across his glistening forehead. A ring glinted on his pinky when he went to push the locks out of his face.

  I lamented the motion. It had made him look charming and endearing, which I thought to be a dangerous combination for any unsuspecting woman. And I got the feeling that if something didn’t go his way, he would end having a damaging fit of anger.

  “I hope you don’t mind my intrusion,” he said and made my lips curve. “I’ve been curious about you since I first saw you.”

  He motioned me forward and I obliged. It was best to nibble at his bait than turn it away altogether.

  Basso led me back to his table, the one he had been at that last night when he had been surrounded by other men. Only this time it was just the two of us.

  I tried not to let fear rule me as he helped me into the seat.

  “And when was that, exactly?” I asked him as he settled down across from me. “Was it the other night or was it when I came in with my friend?”

  It was a risky move, but there was no use in pretending he wouldn’t have seen me before. And with Mimi, no less. It was best, I thought as he studied me for a brief second, to get it out in the open now.

  To his credit, he feigned surprise. “You’ve been here before?”

  I leveled a look at him then blinked slowly, as if I were suddenly bored with our conversation. We both knew better. “Of course I have. I came here nearly once a week starting a few months ago when my friend brought me. But then my friend, she was killed...” I trailed off, real emotions catching me surprise as the sensation of a knife stabbing my chest had me sitting a little straighter. “She was killed right outside your club, actually. It was only a few weeks ago. Surely you remember that?”

  Basso nodded slowly, knowing he had been caught out.

  “I do remember you now,” he said and I felt a genuine grin tugging at my lips as he continued with his charade. “Yes, you and your friend were quite the pair, always dancing and drinking for hours. I could never figure out how you managed it.”

  “Well,” I said, toying with the stem of my glass, “we had each other. But she’s gone now, so it’s just me. And I enjoyed it too much here to let her death ruin that.”

  He leaned forward and I had to resist the urge to pull back. I had to make him think that I was interested and showing fear or disgust would not get me there.

  “Don’t you have a fellow?” Basso inquired, looking a little more than politely curious. Behind his hazel eyes lay something much darker that I knew I would never want to see come to light. Best to keep the demons inside. “A young man who occasionally plays for me with his brothers?”

  “You mean that Corcoran boy?” I forced a laugh and Basso’s chin jerked up. “Oh no, we aren’t anything at all. He’s been fun to be around, but he certainly isn’t anything more than a friend.”

  Basso, to his credit, looked only slightly relieved.

  We sat in silence for a moment before I said, “It’s been great talking to you, but it’s a little hard to get to know each other when we don’t even know one another’s names.”

  He looked taken aback. “Don’t you know it?”

  One corner of my mouth curved upwards. “Perhaps you ought to confirm it, then.”

  Looking amused, he leaned in again and said, “I’m Walter Basso, owner of this establishment. And who are you?”

  Picking up the sidecar, I drained it then set it down hard on the table.

  In the back of my mind, I noticed that I didn’t get drunk as fast as I used to at the beginning. It nearly made me laugh to realize I had already begun to build a tolerance to alcohol in the short amount of time I had been coming to clubs.

  “Hazel MacClare,” I finally answered then got to my feet. “Good evening, Mr. Basso, it’s been a pleasure.”


  In the end, Frankie ended up stopping by almost three weeks to the day since Mimi’s funeral. And in an effort to explain his absence, he gave me a poorly wrapped box as we stood in the doorway that I immediately tore into.

  Inside was a gorgeous pale blue silk scarf that moved through my fingers like water.

  “Oh Frankie,” I said, beaming up at him. “I love it!”

  He blushed furiously. “Well, I know I missed your birthday and I wanted to get you something you might like.”

  In response, I tossed the scarf around my neck then pressed my lips briefly to his before stepping back again.

  “You know, I’d love to send you letters,” I began after I placed the box and its wrapper inside the door of the house before stepping out and closing the door behind me.

  “Oh.” Frankie rubbed a hand self-consciously over the back of his neck as we started down the sidewalk.

  “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you and it annoyed me that I had no way of contacting you,” I went on, looping my arm through his as we walked.

  “I’m sorry,” he said and he sounded it. “I know it’s been tough. But the factory has us pulling longer shifts and it’s hard for us to do much of anything besides eat and sleep.”

  “So you haven’t been back to the Golden Sparrow?” I asked casually.

  Frankie shook his head. “Basso hasn’t asked us, no. But I doubt even Liam or Connor would want to. They’re just as tired as I am.”

  “That sounds miserable,” I said, trying to be sympathetic. In truth, I had no idea what it was like to work from the moment the sun rose to the second it sank under the city. I didn’t know what it was like to be exhausted or have my feet ache from being on them all day.

  “I suppose it’s worth it,” he said, shuffling his feet along the pavement. He glanced down at his feet then up to me then back down again. “I know it’s not something you’re used to, but...”

  He trailed off and I found myself reaching out for him.

  “Frankie, I don’t need you buying me expensive things,” I told him and he looked back up at me. “You could make me something and I’d love it. Because it came from you. That’s what matters.”

  Frankie nodded though he didn’t look reassured.

  “Well, maybe we can go out tonight,” he suggested and I felt my heart drop to my knees. I had to tell him.

  “I don’t... I can’t...”

  His eyes found mine again, searching them, my face, for an explanation.

  “Why not?”

  Now I was uncomfortable. This hadn’t been the way I wanted to tell him, but now I had no choice. I had to tell him what I was doing.

  When I finished explaining everything, beginning with Detective Emerson’s questioning all the way up to the night a few days ago when I was officially introduced to Basso.

  His face was leeched of color and he looked furious. His face was drawn and tension in his jaw had me worrying I had miscalculated his understanding.

  “Why?” he finally asked, his voice trembling with suppressed anger. “Why on earth would you agree to something like that?”

  “I-I need to do something to help Mimi,” I said, sounding breathless. I made to reach for him but he stepped out of my reach. I let my hand fall back to my side, the sting of rejection painful. But I ignored it and tried again. “She told me a little of what he was like. But I left her to deal with it herself and now she’s dead.”

  “It isn’t up to you to get into this,” Frankie burst. “He’s dangerous, Hazel! If it’s true what you’re saying and he’s the one who killed Mimi, then what the hell do you think is going to happen to you?”

  “Detective Emerson said he’ll keep his eye on me and make sure nothing happens,” I said, my tone desperate now. I was desperate for him to understand that what I was doing was for Mimi and even for those who came before her.

  Frankie let out a bark of harsh laughter, making me wince.

  “He can’t protect you from that man,” he said bitterly. “He won’t be standing next to you when Basso has you doing whatever he wants you to do. He won’t be able to get between you and Basso and be a little shield. He gave you his word, which is a fairly flimsy promise of protection.”

  “He’s got inside men,” I said quickly, reaching for him again. This time, Frankie didn’t step out of my reach, but he didn’t welcome the contact, either. He averted his gaze and left his arms a dead weight in my grip. “They’ll keep me safe.”

  He rolled his eyes, scoffing. “They won’t and you know it.” He turned back to me and slowly pulled himself free from me. “They could’ve asked anyone. Why you?”

  I shrugged. I had been wondering that myself, but I worked it down to my being privy to what Basso was like. I knew what to expect and I would have Detective Emerson filling in any gaps.

  “I don’t know,” I finally said.

  “This is stupid,” he said harshly. “And dangerous.”

  I dropped my chin to my chest, eyes closed. “I know.” My voice was barely audible. “But I have to.”

  “For what?” he asked and I lifted my head to meet his burning glare. “For Mimi? You’ll end up just like her, and if you end up getting Basso, then that detective won’t care because he’ll have Basso and you’ll just be dead.”

  “I won’t die,” I promised. “I’ll do whatever he wants me to do. I won’t fight him, I won’t say no. If I comply with everything, then I’ll be able to give the detective enough information to bring Basso in and I’ll be free.”

  “And that’s the plan, is it?” Frankie’s eyebrows rose, his expression cynical. “Play Basso’s games until Emerson has enough dirt on him to bring him in and you get to go on home, never having to worry about how Basso’s men will take your betrayal?” He shook his head.

  “Frankie,” I tried, but it was useless.

  He was out of my reach again and he was still shaking his head.

  “Good luck.” And with that, he turned on his heel and stalked away from me, leaving me standing alone on the sidewalk to watch his retreating back until he was swallowed up into the crowd.

  Chapter 13

  Ever since that argument with Frankie, I searched out his address and went to his building every day. I was desperate to see him and maybe make him understand that what I was doing wasn’t because I was insane or stupid—though I’m sure he would say there was an argument that could be made about that.

  It was a simple brick building with windows that glinted in the sunlight. I would watch people coming and going, but I would never see Frankie or his brothers. It didn’t matter what time of day I went, I never saw them.

  I just needed him to understand that it was all for Mimi and for those who came before her. They deserved justice just as much as Mimi. And I wanted him to know that I was also doing it for me, to give me peace of mind and to have revenge on Basso. He took my best friend; I would take his empire.

  Finally, after standing outside his apartment building for a week straight, Liam finally emerged, his expression regretful and slightly exasperated as he told me that Frankie refused to see me.

  “He said he’ll find you when he’s ready to talk,” Liam went on as I stared blankly up at the large building. I had no idea which windows would be his, but that didn’t stop me from searching uselessly to see his face maybe looking out at me while his brother told me to go away.

  There was a sharp stab of pain at Liam’s words, but I nodded once. My eyes were now fixed on the door at the base of the building, praying uselessly that Frankie would finally come out and talk to me. But I was wasting my time and I knew it.

  Liam surprised me by putting a bracing hand on my shoulder when I made to turn away.

  Looking back at him, I said, “He won’t come see me. I know that and you know that. He’s done with me.”

  Liam shook his head, a small smile on his face. “He’ll come to you, Hazel. Frankie doesn’t give up that easily. But whatever is going on between you two is going to take some time.
Frankly, I’ve never seen him this upset before.”

  That did nothing to comfort me and Liam must have seen the pained look on my face because he hurried on.

  “He likes you,” he told me, “a lot. He just needs time with whatever this is. Give him that and he’ll come back.”

  “Is he... is he alright?” I asked and Liam’s hand slipped from my shoulder.

  “No,” he said truthfully. “But he will be. He never stays down for long.”

  Without another word, I offered him what I hoped was a warm smile then turned for home. There was no point in standing around and waiting on Frankie. If Liam was right, then he’d come and find me when he was ready.

  Of course he needed to process what I had told him. I was putting myself in danger and he couldn’t understand why. I barely understood it myself and only reminding myself why I was doing it made me keep going back to the Golden Sparrow to have a drink or two with Basso before I excused myself and left.

  Once I was home, I decided that tonight would be the night that I wouldn’t brush Basso off anymore. I had been pushing my luck as it was and I could tell that his frustration with me was getting stronger than any desire he might have.

  The sun had set by the time I arrived at the speakeasy and though all I really wanted to do was the spend the night at home with my mother while she planned her wedding and forget for even just a little while that Basso even existed, I knew that this was far more important.

  Ordering a sidecar, I waited and scanned the club.

  My eyes were peeled for one of Basso’s men to come and persuade me to sit with their boss. It didn’t take long, of course. The tall, greasy haired man who had followed Mimi and seemed to always be lurking nearby approached me within minutes of my having gotten my drink. I hated him being so close, knowing that he was Mimi’s killer. I hated him even more after hearing him talking to one of his companions a few nights before about a meeting that had gone awry and ended with a man at the bottom of the Hudson.

  I wanted to know why Detective Emerson didn’t want him. I would have happily have pointed him out in a line up, but it appeared that the detective had eyes only for capturing the mastermind behind it all, not just a simple henchman.