Her heart began racing, anticipation skipping through her. Was this a meeting about that request?
Keller stood, as well. He didn’t look nearly as put together as the last time she’d seen him. This man was sweaty, flushed. His hands clutched a black derby so hard the hatband had crumpled.
“Miss Greene, thank you for coming.” Jack’s booming voice echoed throughout the room. “Won’t you shut the door, please?”
Justine closed the door behind her and approached the desk. “Hello, gentlemen. I trust I am not interrupting.”
“Not a bit. We were just discussing you.” Jack came forward and gave her a bow worthy of a viscount. “Come have a seat. You know Mr. Keller, I’m told.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Keller.” She took the open seat across from Jack’s desk.
Keller dipped his chin politely. “Miss Greene.”
Jack relaxed in his large chair and steepled his fingers. “I believe Mr. Keller has some good news for you, Miss Greene.”
“Indeed, I do.” He cast a quick glance in Jack’s direction before meeting Justine’s eyes. “We would be honored to appoint you as the first woman to the New York City Police Department.”
Jack had promised it, but Justine hadn’t believed the appointment would happen until she actually heard the words. She clasped her hands together in her lap to try and control her excitement. If the room were empty she would have danced a jig. Instead, she tried to look calm and mature. “That is excellent news, Mr. Keller. You won’t regret this. I shall work very hard.”
“We know you will.”
“That is kind of you to say. I hope to earn my detective’s badge within two or three years.”
Keller’s brows drew together, and he appeared even more nervous. “You don’t understand, Miss Greene. You need not earn a detective’s badge. I am having you appointed as a detective, not a roundsman.”
Not earn it? “I suppose I don’t understand, then. All officers start as roundsmen. Then they are promoted to detective after proving their abilities.”
“You’ve already proven your abilities.” Jack gave her a patient and fond smile. “There’s no need for you to struggle your way up the ladder. Right, Keller?”
Keller swallowed, his nod a touch too emphatic. “Definitely. Yes. Indeed, no need at all.”
“But, you told me I would be taking a job away from a man with a family to support.”
“We don’t need to worry about that any longer.”
Didn’t need to worry about that? Unease swept through her and her stomach turned over. Something was not right. She was being given a position she did not deserve. One she wanted, but only after she had earned it.
And she knew why this was happening.
You asked for his help. This is what Jack Mulligan’s help looks like.
She thought he would get her in, not have her running the place. The other men would never respect her if she waltzed in as a detective. They would barely respect her after she proved her worth. But at least it would be something. Coming in at a higher rank would merely earn her enemies.
“I would like to start out as everyone else. Then I’ll earn my spot as detective.”
Keller shot a look at Jack, one that spoke volumes. It said Keller had no idea how to respond and that he was deferring to Jack in this matter.
Do you honestly think he’ll refuse me?
“That’s unnecessary,” Jack said. “You are already a detective. The badge will merely make it official.”
Was this what she wanted? To be granted favors based on Jack’s power of persuasion? Or worse, because of intimidation or blackmail? How could she ever live with herself if she took the appointment of detective without working for it?
You took his help on everything else. Why stop now?
Perhaps, but it hadn’t been so blatant, so obvious.
Liar. You were able to justify it because it was for a good cause.
Her heart sank, shame crawling through her veins. She had justified it at every step. Help with Gorcey and von Briesen. The fundraiser. She told herself the method didn’t matter as long as the desired result was achieved.
Jack Mulligan is like a spider, Justine. You’ve fallen into his web and the more you let him, the deeper he’ll pull you in.
And here she was, caught in his web. About to wear a police detective badge she hadn’t earned. So many people had tried to tell her and she hadn’t listened. Had defended him because she cared about him.
Wrong, you love him.
Yes, she did love him, more than anything. But, she could not become this person. This