is my honor to attend for such a worthy cause.”
“I wasn’t aware Justine was bringing an escort tonight,” Granny said. “A Mulligan, you say? Are you one of the Boston Mulligans?”
“Indeed, I am not,” Jack said. “New York through and through. In fact I was born and raised in the Sixth—”
“On Sixth Avenue,” Justine blurted. “Near Washington Square Park.”
“Oh, that is a fine area,” Granny said. “Our family had a home on the park for years. Perhaps we knew some of your people—”
“Granny, let’s not get into boring social pedigrees before we’ve even taken a seat.” Justine turned to her sister. “How is the crowd tonight? Will you raise a lot of money?”
Mamie’s eyes flashed fire, a knowing gleam that proved her sister was aware of Mulligan’s identity. No doubt she’d latch on to the first opportunity to get Justine alone. “The crowd is unexpected, to say the least.”
Justine had no response to that, so she gestured toward the sideboard. “Shall we stay and have a drink?”
“Go,” Granny said, shooing them toward the box. “No need to sit in here with us. Go and find a seat. Tripp will bring out drinks soon enough.”
Her grandmother’s angle was glaringly apparent. Justine had been considered unmarriageable for so long that her family wished for all of society to finally see her with a handsome escort. If only Granny knew. Then she’d insist Justine stay sequestered tonight.
“Oh, there’s no rush,” Mamie said. “Sit here and have a drink—”
“I agree with Mrs. Greene,” Jack said smoothly. “After all, the purpose of these events is to be seen, isn’t it? And you look so beautiful this evening, Miss Greene. It would be a shame if the entire city were not to bear witness.”
Justine could have sworn her grandmother sighed at the flattery. Before she could refuse, Jack lifted her hand and placed it on his arm. Then he led her into the box.
The bright glow of the theater’s electric lights greeted her. This was the “Diamond Horseshoe,” the most desirable tier in the entire opera house. Everyone would be able to see them from this spot. At the moment, however, she couldn’t take in the crowd surrounding them. She was stuck, rooted to the spot.
Frank Tripp, and Frank’s brother, Patrick, stood in the box. When Frank’s eyes landed on Mulligan’s face, his jaw fell open. “What in the ever-loving hell . . . ?”
Chapter Seven
Jack didn’t make it two steps before Frank Tripp grabbed his arm. “Excuse us,” the lawyer said before towing Jack like a side of beef toward the exit.
“You are wrinkling my coat,” Jack muttered. “Not to mention annoying me.”
Frank released him but didn’t stop. He jerked the curtain aside and gestured. “Keep going. I want to talk to you. Alone.”
Fine. Jack supposed he couldn’t avoid this. Strolling through the salon, he winked at the two women. “Ladies.”
Once in the corridor, Tripp pointed to a room on the opposite side. Two men were smoking cigars in the small salon. “Gentlemen, I need the room,” Tripp announced. Like sheep, the two swells nodded, stamped out their cigars and departed.
“What’s your next trick?” Jack drawled as he perched on the arm of a sofa. “Getting them to quack like ducks?”
“What the fuck are you doing here? With Justine Greene, of all people?”
“What does that mean, of all people? What are you insinuating, Murphy?” It was low, using Frank’s birth name to remind him they were on more even footing than Tripp might admit. But Jack would not be judged, not by this man.
“It means that she is my sister-in-law and a good person. How do the two of you even know one another?”
“I know just about everyone who works and lives in the Sixth. That shouldn’t surprise you.”
“And yet, it does. How on earth did you get her to agree to bring you tonight? And more importantly, why?”
Jack needed Frank’s help tonight, so he decided to be honest. “I did her a favor. This was my repayment. I need to see Julius Hatcher.”
Frank’s brows climbed up his forehead. “This is about meeting Julius? Why didn’t you ask me to simply arrange it?”
“Because Hatcher would never agree. He’s refused my attempts at every turn.”
“So you’re here to ambush him?” At Jack’s curt nod, Frank blew out a long breath. “Jesus Christ. If I had known you were planning to sabotage the evening, I would have kidnapped Hatcher and brought him to you myself. My wife will never recover. Her entire fundraiser will be ruined.”
“Nonsense. If