of you have called me naive more than once. You think just because you’ve visited dance halls and casinos that you are worldly and experienced. Impervious to danger. Well, I’ve been to dance halls and casinos and saloons and tenements and brothels and every other place you could imagine in this city. Yet, because I am not sassy like Florence or willfully disrespectful like Mamie, then I must not be capable of looking after myself.”
Florence moved closer and clasped Justine’s arm. Mamie stretched out on the other side, sandwiching Justine between them. “You’re right,” Mamie said. “I have often thought you’re too nice, too decent for this city. But you’re tough, Justine. So much tougher than people give you credit for.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Florence said. “In fact, I’m envious of all you have accomplished in such a short time. Clay said they call you an angel downtown—”
Mon ange. She could almost hear him whisper it. Tears flooded her eyes.
“Oh, no. What have I said?” Florence sounded horrified. “I meant it as a compliment, I swear.”
Justine brushed the moisture from her cheeks. “That’s not why I am crying.” Neither of her sisters asked, but she could feel how much they longed to. They were both biting their lips, hard, and showing admirable restraint. She sighed. “I broke things off with Jack Mulligan.”
“Wait, I thought . . .” Florence flicked her eyes toward Mamie. “I thought that ended some time ago.”
“No. I just started coming home at a reasonable hour so you wouldn’t suspect I was still seeing him.”
Florence’s mouth fell open. “That’s dashed clever of you. I’m impressed. Mamie, why don’t you seem surprised by any of this?”
“Because she knew,” Justine said. “Or rather assumed, based on certain cases at the legal aid society.”
“You knew?” Florence rose up on an elbow and glared at Mamie. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Frank was supposed to handle it. He promised to see Mulligan and demand he stop seeing Justine.”
“Damn. So that’s where Clay went with Frank that afternoon. He was deliberately cagey about the nature of that errand.”
“Wait, Frank and Clay went to see Jack? When?”
“Right after you met with Mrs. Gorcey. I assumed he would have told you.”
No, he hadn’t. But then, why would he? It had only involved her and her family. How utterly annoying.
“What happened between the two of you?” Florence asked. “Because if he mistreated you in any way then—”
“No, no. Nothing like that. The complete opposite, actually.”
“What does that mean?”
“He . . . he gave me anything I wanted. Anything at all. I merely had to mention it and he’d snap his fingers and make it happen. He’s like some sort of sorcerer. And admittedly, it was seductive at first. He saved me time and effort. Problems disappeared when Jack was around.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Mamie hedged. “But I sense something happened.”
“I wanted to become a police detective—”
“What?” Florence said. “There are no female detectives.”
“Not yet. But there are plenty of cases the men won’t bother with, issues that involve women and children, mostly. I wanted to take those on.”
Florence’s expression suddenly brightened. “Actually, I love it. It’s the perfect job for you. Obviously Mulligan opposed the idea considering he’s on the other side of the law.”
“As are others who shall remain nameless,” Mamie said under her breath, referring to Florence’s illegal casino endeavor.
“Wrong. Mulligan was in favor of it. He met with the Tammany Hall representative and convinced him to offer me an appointment. I was all set to become the first female detective.”
“And?” Florence prompted.
“And it wasn’t right. They were going to start me out as a detective, not a roundsman.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Everything. Could you imagine the resentment of the other officers when I strolled in, no experience whatsoever, as a detective?”
“I don’t see why that’s a problem,” Florence said. “A lot of men do it all the time, relying on nepotism and favors to get ahead. Why shouldn’t you?”
“Because it’s not fair. And, it was more than just that.”
“It was the spider’s web,” Mamie said, her knowing gaze trained on Justine’s face.
“Spider’s web?” Florence asked.
Mamie ignored the question. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Yes.” Justine picked at a thread on her coverlet. “I cannot involve myself with a man who bribes and intimidates and threatens to get what he wants, even if it’s for a good cause. Eventually I’d resent it.”
“Did you tell him as much?”
“I did. He tried to talk me out of it.”
“He can be very persuasive, from what I understand,” Mamie said.