Free Whistling in the Dark by Tamara Allen

the apartment, Jack checked at the window, to see the light still on below.
    Harry peered over his shoulder. "Conscientious kid."
    "To say the least."
    Throwing off his clothes, Jack pulled on a nightshirt and crawled into bed. Harry had dropped into a chair with a magazine. "You staying?"
    Harry shrugged. "Ain't walking home at this hour."
    Jack patted the mattress. "You can sleep over here. I promise to keep my hands to myself."
    Harry picked up his hat and put it on top of the lampshade, dimming the room, then deliberately settled further back into the chair cushions.
    Jack smiled. "Thanks, Harry."
    "Go to sleep already, will you?"
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    - Nine -
     
     
    Jack woke to the sight of Harry, still in shirt and trousers, drooling peacefully on a pillow. Tempted to take a snap for posterity, Jack decided to fetch up some breakfast instead.
    Dressing, he went down to find that Ox had opened and was bashfully assisting two ladies with the assortment of Japanese wraps. Despite his shyness, Ox always had as much fun showing folks around as they had exploring the place. Jack knew why. The emporium was still as magical to Ox as it had been when they were kids. Jack felt a certain gladness over that, doubly so because he didn't believe the shop would ever regain its magic for him.
    And it didn't help to walk out the door and find Ned Hennessy leaning on a sparkling new brougham at the curb. The brilliant shine of his black hair couldn't match the harder shine in his eyes.
    "Well, if it ain't Chase's favorite trained monkey--" His gaze slid to Vance Fletcher, who was probably putting a permanent dent in the running board as he sat there, smoking a cigarette. "Oh, sorry. Second favorite," Jack said, turning down the temperature in Ned's gaze even further. "You boys waiting on Chase?"
    Vance heaved himself to his feet and stood in the middle of the sidewalk, an impassable mountain of muscle that reminded Jack of stickball days and the way Vance always left the other kids, Jack included, lying in the road groaning. He did not impress as handily with the weedy brown moustache, the eyes dull as dirt--and the brain behind them that Jack figured hadn't seen half the use his fists did.
    "We ain't waiting on Mr. Chase." Ned unbuttoned his coat just enough to let the Colt .32 automatic catch the sun. "We're waiting on you."
    Ned had never been much of a fighter, unless cornered. The lethal weapon he liked to keep under his carcoat--that, Jack recalled vividly. "Trade in your Luger?"
    Ned smiled and opened his coat further to show off the piece tucked in the holster. Jack snorted. "Swell. Why don't you lend one of them to Brainless Bates here?"
    "He's a lousy shot." Ned seemed to notice the irritated jut of Vance's jaw and went on hastily. "Of course, who ain't, compared to me?"
    "You're really coming up in the world, Ned. Breaks my heart I'm not in your set anymore."
    "I'll bet." The smile didn't waver. Ned had to keep up appearances, after all. "Speaking of breaking..."
    He nodded at Vance, who laid a heavy hand on Jack's chest and pushed him in the direction of the alley. Jack's disgust shifted into uneasiness. "Now hold on a minute. I told Mr. Chase I'd pay him back." He sidled toward the shop door. "You're breaking bones a little prematurely."
    Ned slipped an arm over Jack's shoulders. "Slow up a minute. Give me a chance to explain Mr. Chase's policy." He moved into the alley, dragging Jack along. "It's like this. Your other bill collectors, they send you a friendly little notice hinting you should pay up before they shut off your gas or quit sending over your groceries, right? Mr. Chase gave you till the end of the month but he still likes to send out a notice, you might say--a reminder your payment's coming due."
    "You couldn't just drop me a note in the mail?"
    Ned chuckled. "Same old Jackie. Always trying to be funny. You know, it's a mean shame you had to borrow from Mr. Chase in the first place. You