in distress, Ms. Lewin, and I was once like you.” Esme lifted her head. “I’m going to tell you what you want to know. But only because I don’t know which of us needs this confession more.” She took a deep breath. “You. Or me.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
New York City, Halloween 1952
Darby’s room was dark and quiet, a contrast to the hallway where girls in an assortment of costumes roamed, screeching with excitement as they readied for the evening’s delights. A light rain had begun to fall, tapping against the window like the snap of tiny rubber bands. Darby was already packed, thanks to Mother, and in little more than an hour, she would simply gather her things and go. She’d meet Sam at the station and they would begin a new life together, someplace far away.
But first, she had to try to find Esme. She remembered when they’d met. Esme had rolled her eyes and made faces as the elevator crawled upward, while Mrs. Eustis ticked off the rules of the hotel. Darby had been terrified that day, and Esme offered a lifeline with no expectation of kindness or reward. Only a coward would abandon a girl like that when the tables were turned.
Darby tucked the recording of the two of them singing in one side of her suitcase, where it wouldn’t break, and added her hairbrush and comb. That was it. She’d be traveling with a man who was not her husband, but that couldn’t really be helped, given the situation. She wanted Sam to be safe, and if he had to leave the city, she would be by his side.
As she made to leave the room to search for her friend, the door opened and Esme flew in.
Darby almost fell into the bureau, shaking with surprise. And relief. “Esme.”
Esme ran into her arms and they held each other for a moment. “Are you ready to hit the big time?”
“What?” Darby pulled back.
Esme’s skin was shiny with sweat, her eyes wide. “I stopped by earlier but couldn’t find you. Where have you been?”
“Talking with Sam. About you.”
She studied Darby’s face. “I see you’ve heard the news. The police screwed me. Royally.”
“Sam showed me the article. You talked about babies being given heroin; did you really see that happen?”
Esme shrugged. “I live in the slum. Of course that’s what I see.”
Darby should never have assumed Esme’s world in any way mirrored her own. She’d seen more foulness in her life so far than Darby probably ever would. She pulled Esme down to sit on the bed. “Why would you work for Kalai in the first place?”
“You saw those louts. I had to; it was part of my job at the club. Buckley knew it; everyone knew it. No surprise there. Why do you think the Flatted Fifth was so popular? Because it was an easy place to score. And I needed cash, in order to get all decked out and make a scene. I couldn’t do it if I looked average. Glamour ain’t cheap.”
“Why did you go to the police?”
Esme flinched. “For you, of course. I figured we’d use the money to get an apartment. Then they fucked me. Quigley swore word wouldn’t get out, but it got leaked to the papers.”
“You named the musicians. You didn’t think the police would go after them?”
“Everyone knows jazz musicians do drugs. No surprise there. And now I have enough dinero that we can hang loose until our careers take off.”
Darby’s heart ached for her friend. There was no way Esme could ever show herself again in New York. “You ruined people’s lives.”
The bravado fell from Esme’s face and she stared blankly at the floor. “Well, I’m sorry for that part. But I got screwed, too. Mrs. Eustis just fired me.”
“You’re in terrible danger. So is Sam.”
“I wonder who you’re more worried about.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m terrified for the both of you.”
“We’ll be fine.” She glanced over at the suitcase. “And I’m glad you’re packed up. I have a cousin with an apartment where we can crash until the coast is clear.”
Leave it to Esme to have a backup plan. But it was too late. “I went to your acting school and they said you’d never enrolled.”
Esme walked to the window, pressed her forehead against the glass. “Those idiots wouldn’t recognize talent if you gave them a roomful of movie stars.”
Darby had taken Esme’s ambition for something solid and positive. A girl who could rise up against all odds and prejudices with her confidence.