should have embarrassed him. Before, he’d cajoled and bartered with her. Now she was here making a simple request for his help. They’d turned a corner—and the victory was fucking satisfying.
He struggled to keep his face completely impassive. “And what is that, mon ange?”
“I wish to become the first female detective on the New York City police force.”
“No, you don’t.” He started to rise. “Now, we can take the tunnel to my house or—”
She put a hand on his arm, stopping him. “Yes, I do.”
He returned to his seat and took a sip of beer, thinking on how best to put this. “I realize how this sounds coming from me, but they are criminals—and bad ones at that. You do not want to join their morally corrupt ranks.”
“Not all of them are criminals. And even if that were the case, I would not be a criminal. I could do a lot of good for the women and children of this city.”
“You are doing a lot of good for the women and children of this city. In fact, you hardly ever stop doing good.”
“Don’t you see? If I had a badge and real authority, then I wouldn’t need—”
Her jaw slammed shut and he finally understood. Disappointment burned in his chest, a hot poker of realization. He forced himself to say it. “You wouldn’t need me.”
“That’s not what I meant. I wouldn’t need anyone. Not Detective Ellison or my father. Not even my brother-in-law. I could make real change in this city.”
He didn’t believe her, but he let it go. Furthermore, hadn’t she spent enough time with him to see how things really worked in New York? “I keep telling you, the coppers aren’t who make change in this city.”
“It will not always be that way, though. Would the force not benefit from women investigating the types of crime the men refuse to touch?”
“The sorts of cases you’re already investigating?” He thought of the factory owner, Mr. Bay. Von Briesen and Gorcey. “Is that what you mean?”
“Yes.”
“If you think a badge commands respect and will make things easier for you, I hate to disappoint you with the truth.”
“I don’t believe that. I have seen the way people respond to Ellison, how he’s able to back up his threats with jail time.”
“You are not Ellison, however.”
“I know, but it would be better than what I have now. Which is nothing.”
No, he wanted to say. You have me.
But he couldn’t offer her that. She certainly didn’t want it, not after just declaring her eagerness to be rid of him. Besides, he had O’Shaughnessy likely planning his demise at this very minute. It was in her best interest to leave here and never return.
Not that he would let her go. Not yet, anyway. They weren’t quite finished with whatever this was between them.
He shot to his feet and moved toward the desk, his hands deep in his pockets. Everything in him told him to refuse. To keep her tethered tightly to him. Yet, how could he not give her everything she wanted, even if it took her away from him?
Her eyes were full of hope, looking at him as if he could do anything. Could solve any problem. It made him feel like the most powerful man in the world, a god among men. He’d give his entire fortune to avoid disappointing her.
Smothering a sigh, he nodded once. “I will speak with a man named Mr. Keller. He handles these things.”
“I just came from meeting him.”
He tried not to appear as surprised as he felt. “You met with Keller?”
Her throat worked as she swallowed. “He told me no. That I’d be taking a job away from a man who needed to support his family. He was . . .”
“He was, what?”
Fury tightened the angles of her face, her mouth hard and angry. “Condescending and awful. And so very smug.”
Keller was most definitely all those things.
She added, “He said to pass on his regards to you.”
Interesting. That meant his association with Justine hadn’t gone unnoticed by the Tammany boys. Though why they cared Jack couldn’t say. One thing he did know was that Keller would answer for upsetting this glorious creature. His do-gooder. “Is this what you really want?”
“Yes.”
“Then consider it done.”
Her mouth worked but no sound emerged. Finally, she said, “J-just like that? Don’t you need to speak to Keller first?”
“Do you honestly think he’ll refuse me?”
“No.” Her lips twisted as she gave him a playful smirk. “Is this where you tell me I should