The Lost Girl of Astor Street(86)

“It’s no trouble.” But he’s jingling the change in his pocket.

“I’m so thankful to know my friend is seeing someone kind-hearted like you.”

Robbie’s smile goes soft, and it stirs something in my heart. I want him to be a good guy. I’m not exactly sure when I decided I like Emma Crane, but I do.

“When you’ve moved around as much as I have, there’s always a question of how long it’ll take for the new place to feel like home. When I met Emma, Chicago finally felt like home.”

“She’s the best sort of girl.”

Robbie ducks his head and smiles at his shoes. “I still can’t believe she’d be interested in someone old like me.”

Why thank you, Mr. Thomas, for opening up that window of opportunity. “You’re hardly old, Robbie. Surely no more than twenty-five.”

“Somewhere in there, yes.”

“And lots of girls like the idea of finding a man who’s already settled in a profession. What is it you do again?”

“I work for the railroad.”

“How long have you done that?”

“A few years.”

I gesture to the briefcase resting by the front door. “Do you always work in the evening?”

His smile is no longer the bashful variety, but rather the kind a person wears when making polite conversation. “Trains run at all hours of the day, unfortunately.”

“What exactly do you do for them?”

“Oh, I’ve done all kinds of things. I’m sure you’re not interested in the details of my work.”

“You might be surprised. Trains have always interested me.”

“Me too. Their power is incredible, the way the ground trembles when they pass. It’s fascinated me from the time I was a child.”

He goes on to talk about how his father was a railroad man, spinning a story both interesting and vague. The man certainly knows what he’s doing, knows how to cover up that he’s revealing nothing.

When Mariano strides through the door, relief sweeps through me. Sidekick’s tail thumps wildly, and I’m grateful God didn’t see fit for humans to have tails.

“Oh, Piper. It’s always something with you, isn’t it?” Mariano sticks out his hand to Robbie. “Thanks for taking care of her.”

No name, I notice.

“Just glad I was there to help.”

Hmm. None from him either.

Mariano’s gaze shifts back to me. He offers me a hand, his eyes sparking with amusement. “You really need to stop hanging out with those girls. They’re more trouble than you are.”

Robbie holds open the door, and Mariano hooks his arm around my waist to help me exit. On the sidewalk, I turn to Robbie. “Thank you for your help, Robbie. Again, I’m sorry for making you late.”

“No trouble at all. I’ll see you again soon, I’m sure.” Robbie tips his hat and strides away.

“Where am I parked?” Mariano murmurs in my ear.

“You’re the Ford by the street lamp. Emma should be waiting for us.”

“You’ve dragged that sweet girl into this?”

“Actually, that sweet girl dragged me into this, thank you very much. Can you see her in the car? She was supposed to return when the coast was clear.”

“See, this is just reckless enough to have your name written all over it.” In a fluid motion, Mariano sweeps me up into his arms. “The car is too far for you to walk. With your bad ankle and all.”

“You’re a real cad, Mariano Cassano. Do you know that?”

He grins. “I know I’ve missed you.”

When we get to the car and Emma’s head pops up from the backseat, I release the breath I’d been holding. Her mouth falls open at the sight of me and Mariano.

“Hello, Miss Crane,” Mariano says. “Fancy seeing you here.”

She blinks from Mariano, to me, to my wrapped ankle. “Well. Clearly, I need to be caught up.”

“Your friend here might be the death of me, Miss Crane.” Mariano plops me into the passenger’s seat and grins. “And I mean that in the nicest way possible.”

Sidekick hops in, and Mariano shuts the door.

“I’ll tell him it’s my fault,” Emma assures me from the backseat. “Did you really hurt your ankle?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“It wasn’t her fault, detective,” Emma says as Mariano opens the door and slides in. “I hired her to tail him. This whole thing was my idea.”

“Even without your aid, I suspect Piper would have eventually found some way to stumble upon a lair of men who would take great pleasure in shooting her.”

Emma’s mouth forms an O. “Not Robbie. He wouldn’t. I can’t imagine . . .”

“I didn’t mean Robbie. He took very good care of Piper.”

“Wasn’t she just brilliant?” Emma’s eyes sparkle. “She comes up with the most creative things.”

“Piper’s creativity blossoms when it comes to finding new ways to get herself into trouble.”

I smile sweetly. “That’s because I have such a handsome detective to come to my rescue. A handsome detective who I’m sure knows just the right people to figure out what Robbie is—”