Part 15 (2/2)

Gloria was grateful for the article. It was the first story about her case to appear, and it set the tone for everything that followed. Instead of depicting her as a notorious criminal, the press hailed her as athe new womanaa”a leader for flappers and other strong-willed women to follow.

Only, she didnat feel like much of a heroine right now. Everything in this place was graya”the brick walls, the sheets on her cotas too-thin mattress, and the steel desk bolted to the wall. Sometime soon, the Chicago police would show up to take her to a more permanent cell in that city. There would be a trial, then most likely prison for life.

For the past three days, Gloria had felt as if shead done nothing but answer questionsa”from the police, the FBI, the hordes of reporters. Then there had been visits from her friends. Clara had come every day, sometimes with her editor and sometimes without.

aHopefully my articles will get you out of there soon,a Clara had said earlier that day, leaning against the bars of Gloriaas cell. aNo offense, Glo, but gray is not your color.a aDonat worry, Gloria,a Parker had said. aWith everything Claraas been writing about you, the judges in Chicago will award you some kind of medal before they let you spend another second in prison.a Head given Gloria a tight smilea”she figured he was being casual to calm her nerves about staying in a holding cell.

Truthfully, Gloria liked Parker: He seemed even more intelligent than he was attractive, and that was saying something. But she kept hoping Clara would turn up with Marcus instead. Gloria had been very happy to see Marcus the day after her arrest, but he hadnat been his usual jokey self without Clara.

aMarcus, what happened between you and Clara?a Gloria had asked.

Head smiled a watery shadow of a grin. aWho cares about my depressing tales of lost love? Youave got bigger problems. Figured out how to tunnel outta here yet?a Lorraine had shown up just as Marcus was leaving. aSo, anyway, Iam so, so sorry for what I was going to do, I didnat think Carlito would hurt you, I justa”a Gloria put her hand up. aStop. I will never forgive you for what you did to Clara back in Chicago or what you tried to do here. You were ready to let Carlito kill me and Jerome just because I was mad that you ratted out my affair to Bastian? Because I was angry with you for making such a show about Clara at my party?a aCarlito said he wouldnata”a aNo one is that stupid, Raine, not even you.a Lorraine was silent. Gloria sighed, and then said, aBut like it or not, you saved Jeromeas life and mine. So a thank you.a Lorraine grinned. aAnytime, ma chrie. So a has Hank asked about me?a Gloria had been allowed one tearful telephone call to her mother. Shead expected her mother to be angrya”about her running away, about Jerome, about Tony, about all of ita”but Beatrice had been nothing but happy to talk to her little girl again. Beatrice had arrived in New York a few days earlier and had spent every moment working every connection she had to get Gloria out of jail.

Gloria hadnat heard from Lowell Carmody yet, and she didnat really expect to. Her father had been ready to cut her off when he found out about Jerome. Gloria was pretty sure that on the disapproval ladder, gangster-killing was at least a few rungs above a black fianc.

Her chest tightened at the thought of Jerome.

Along with Vera and Evan, head been barred from visiting her even once since shead been arrested. It was so incredibly unfair. Gloria and Jerome had spent their last month together in New York fighting over their impossible future. And just when theyad decided to make the impossible possible, to go up against the world with only each other as allies, to do everything that love was about, theyad been torn apart.

She sat up quickly when she heard footsteps in the hall.

Agent Hank Phillips appeared outside her cell. At the Opera House, Gloria had thought Hank was twenty or twenty-one. But in his black suit and tan trench coat, with a few daysa stubble on his chin, he looked a little older, maybe twenty-four or twenty-five. Of course, head have to be at least that old if he was an FBI agent.

aHey there, princess,a he said, smiling. aStill pasting up that sc.r.a.pbook of yours?a Gloria shrugged. aNot like Iave got much else to do.a aNow, thatas where youare wrong.a He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket. aWant one?a After days of snarky insults, Hank was being weirdly nice. Still, Gloria hadnat had a cigarette in ages. She stood, and Hank lit two cigarettes. He handed one to her and she took a puff. She ended up coughing. aThese things arenat good for a person.a Hank crossed his arms. Lorraine had told Gloria how Hank had tricked her. Gloria didnat have a lot of love for Lorraine, but the trickery made her dislike Hank even more.

aIave got a proposition,a he said. aYou can sit here in jail, or you can do something for us.a What sort of help could the FBI want from her?

aItas not you weare after, Gloria,a Hank said. aThere are bigger fish to fry. And we can use you to get to them. Iave talked to some folks on your behalf, and weave come up with a deal: If you help us, you go free. If you donat, well aa He took a drag from his cigarette. aBut itas not gonna be easy. Thisall probably be the hardest thing youall ever have to do in your life.a Gloria glanced back at her sc.r.a.pbook, thinking of the last few lines of Claraas article.

So, girls, take heed. Whenever you feel as if youare really pus.h.i.+ng the limits, think of Gloria Carmody. Think of all sheas been through and push further, push harder. Fight for what you want, for the people you love. Be a true flappera”be fearless.

Gloria certainly didnat want to spend the rest of her life in jail. She wanted to be with Jerome, to make music with him onstage and in life. And she had better live up to her own example, right?

She looked down at her left ring finger, wis.h.i.+ng shead been allowed to keep that one bit of sparkle in this cell. Shead only worn the ring for a few hours, but already her finger felt wrong without it.

The hardest thing she would ever have to do in her life? She had already killed a man, fled her childhood home, lived in poverty, had her heart broken, and been arrested and sent to jail.

What could be harder than that?

Then Gloria realized: living a life without Jerome.

That would be the hardest thing.

She put a hand on her hip and stared Hank straight in the eye.

aWhat do you need me to do?a Jillian Larkinas fascination with flappers and the 1920s began during her childhood, which included frequent home screenings of the cla.s.sic Julie Andrews/Carol Channing film Thoroughly Modern Millie. She lives in New York.

Young. Wealthy. Defiant. Beautiful. Dangerous. Itas 1923 a and anything goes.

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