Chapter 10 – A Foot in the Door

Cheshire Bloom was all grins as he dressed in his brand new suit coat: a handsome, double-breasted Fiscella with side vents, fresh from the tailor. The wool was a deep and earthy burnt orange with the slightest hint of a pattern, perfectly matched to the season, elevated further by a chocolate brown silk necktie and wingtips. With his hair braided back and a broad- brimmed top hat perched on his crown he was, undoubtedly, an unmissable sight.

Cheshire hummed a cheerful tune as he bounded down the stairs of his apartment building, alight with excitement for the evening ahead. By the time he reached the street his heart had begun to pound, and he took a deep breath, reminding himself there was no reason to get that worked up. They hadn’t even started yet.

But when he came up on Jakub leaning against the car, there was no reasoning away the anxious flutter behind his ribs. They hadn’t seen much of each other the past two weeks, as per the boss’ orders Jakub had spent most of it recovering, and Cheshire planning his next job. The circumstance of opportunity, privacy, and courage hadn’t overlapped enough yet for them to have a real conversation about their unexpected “encounter” following Jakub’s surgery, and it was starting to put Cheshire on edge. Sooner or later they would actually have to…talk. About it. Right?

Even so, Cheshire kept up his carefree grin as he approached. When Jakub spotted him his eyebrows raised ever so slightly, but his face gave away no more than that. Cheshire tried to read a few lines from even just that much, but he had so little confidence left in his instinct. How many years had he gone without any inkling what lay beneath Jakub’s surface? So instead, he relied on his usual playbook. “How do I look?”

Jakub took a breath off his cigarette, keeping Cheshire in suspense. His face didn’t change. “You always look good.”

Cheshire blushed; he never would have expected to get a seemingly honest compliment out of Jakub, without some excuse or stipulation, let alone could have predicted the childish thrill it gave him. “You, too,” he said, finally taking in the rest of him. He straightened. “Is that a new coat?”

Jakub took another drag. His gaze had taken on a certain intensity that definitely meant something. “Do you like it?”

“Yes!” Without thinking Cheshire tugged at Jakub’s lapel even though it was already well pressed. The wool was sturdy, rich charcoal in color with a black button-down underneath—a far cry from the drab browns and tans he usually sported. “Yes, wow, this is Fiscella’s fall cut! It really suits you. I hope my friend gave you a good deal.”

He fussed with the seams a moment longer, only to realize that Jakub had gone very still. Blushing darker, Cheshire withdrew a step to give him some space. “Sorry. Just, it looks really good on you.”

Jakub’s cheeks were also a little red as he pushed away from the car. “Miklos helped me pick it out before he went back to Jersey.”

“Oh! Good man.” Cheshire watched, still a little out of sorts, as Jakub moved around the hood toward the driver’s side. “We’re going to have to do this a lot more often so you can get the most out of it.”

“Only if it works,” Jakub replied.

Cheshire was about to rush to reassure him when he was interrupted by the door opening behind him, and a thick Irish accent declared, “Bloody hell, Bloom, ye’re really wearing that?”

Cheshire spun about, but his defense died in his throat at the sight of Edward Burke walking up. Burke was also dressed in a new suit for the occasion, but tweed, olive green, with narrow blue and red striping. It might have been forgivable if not for the plain brown pants he’d paired it with. Cheshire couldn’t help but wince. “You’re one to talk.”

“What?” Burke brushed past him to climb into the back seat. “You don’t like it do you?”

“It doesn’t even—”

“Get in the car, Bloom, or we’re gonna be late.”

By then Jakub was already behind the wheel, so with a roll of his eyes Cheshire took off his hat and climbed in next to him. “Are we not waiting for Hannah? I thought she was riding with us.”

“Change of plans,” said Burke as Jakub started the car. “She already left for the hospital—Wanda’s in labor.”

“Really!” Cheshire whistled and elbowed Jakub. “Sure you shouldn’t be there, too?”

“Barney’s already named Hannah the Godmother,” said Jakub, indifferent. “I’ll visit after the job.”

“She’s got her whole family there with her,” added Burke. “They’re fine. We, on the other hand, have only one shot at this.”

“You don’t have to tell me,” retorted Cheshire. “It was my idea to begin with.”

“It’ll be fine,” assured Jakub. “Your plans always manage to work out.”

Cheshire glanced at him, startled by yet another rare compliment, but then his eye caught on the steering wheel. Jakub was driving mostly with his right hand, with just the thumb of his prosthetic hooked around it. Even after everything, the gleam of metal gave him a start whenever he was reminded. Still, he reassembled his charm quickly enough. “Damn right they do. And this one won’t be any different.”

They took the bridge into Manhattan. By the time they made their way to Midtown the afternoon was passing into evening, and the city street-goers had transitioned. Though not to the extent that they would have been in better economic times, the Manhattan sidewalks were crowded with diners and thrill-seekers, tourists and socialites. Jakub parked a few blocks down and the three of them walked the rest of the way to the immense corner building with a brilliant, glittering signboard that read: The Calypso theater.

Heads turned as they entered. After all, they were an eye-catching trio: Cheshire brilliantly overdressed for an evening cinema; Jakub, handsome but sour-faced; Burke, a clashy disaster, chin jutting forward. Cheshire was sure he heard his name at least twice as they made their way past the box office. He smiled and laughed and shook hands with a few curious men and women along the way. As they were passing the concessions he even handed out quarters to a few men and women waiting in line. By the time they’d reached the auditorium most everyone had noticed them, and they’d even attracted a pair of familiar faces: they were met before the door by Grace Overgaard and Thea Hallorran, fabulously dressed, arm in arm.

“Same old Cheshire,” Grace teased, grinning. “I had a feeling I’d see you here.”

“How could I miss the world premiere when the film’s practically about us?” replied Cheshire. He flashed Hallorran a smile. “Besides, Jakub and I promised your date we’d make the papers.”

“If anything tonight is making the papers, it’s definitely that hat,” said Grace, noticeably declining to correct Cheshire’s assumption.

“I love it,” Hallorran declared. “And I want one.”

“I’ll introduce you to my tailor sometime.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” Hallorran turned her attention to his companions. “Mr. Burke,” she greeted before settling more decidedly on Jakub. “Mr. Danowicz. How is everything?”

“Good,” said Jakub. “I’m still getting the hang of it, but…” He lifted his left hand and used it to undo the button on his suit coat. “…I’m learning.”

Hallorran beamed happily. “Excellent! Very impressive for so soon. I knew you’d have it figured out in no time.”

Burke cleared his throat. “Begging yer pardon, but we should be getting to our seats, yes?”

The stream of people heading into the theater was growing steadier, and making them an even more obvious obstruction. “I guess that’s our cue,” said Cheshire. “Enjoy the show, ladies.”

“Stay out of trouble,” said Grace, the slant of her eyebrows a little too knowing. She and Hallorran showed themselves inside, and Cheshire and the rest followed, picking a seat relatively close to the exit.

“The paper said the first reel starts exactly at six o’clock,” said Cheshire as he reclined, Burke and Jakub on either side. He pulled a pocket watch from the interior of his coat and checked the time. “Then it’s one hour to intermission, which will be fifteen minutes give or take.”

“That’s a small window,” said Burke, scrunching his nose up.

“It’s a fine window. As long as the truck is on time, we’ll be fine.”

“And if it’s not?”

“Then we abort,” said Jakub, comparing his watch to Cheshire’s. “You’ll finish the movie like nothing was supposed to happen.” Satisfied, each tucked their watches back into their coats. “Do you see him?”

Cheshire took off his top hat and leaned forward, scanning the room. He had never met the mysterious “Lucky,” self-proclaimed boss of all Manhattan’s organized gangs, but he was armed with Burke’s description: tall, lanky, thick dark hair, fancy. It wasn’t much help in such a large theater and he couldn’t see any pockets of attendees that were drawing more than their fair share of attention.

Cheshire admitted defeat. “Eggy?”

“I don’t see him,” Burke said, leaning into his palm. “But he’s got to be here somewhere. No way he’s missing an event like this, see?”

Cheshire smirked to himself. “Well, if he does, no way he’s missing the next one.” He reached into the inside lining of his hat and pulled out a small bag of peanuts. He handed one to Jakub. “You’re sure you’re ready for this, right?”

“Of course I am.” Jakub tucked the peanut into his shirt pocket, and as the theater lights began to dim, he stood. “Good luck,” he said, and he slipped out of the theater before the doors were closed.

Cheshire watched him go, allowing himself a moment for worry. He had felt a great deal more blind confidence for his plan when it originated with Hannah at the lead. There was no doubting Jakub’s efficiency and composure, but his current dexterity…

Burke eyed him for a while before giving him an elbow. “You can call’t off anytime,” he said.

“It’ll be fine,” Cheshire said, being careful not to make

a mess as he cracked open a peanut shell. “If he says he’s ready, he’s ready.” He settled into his chair just as the title, Chicago Smoke, came up on the big screen.

***

Jakub took his time making his way down 50th Street. He took in the sidewalk crowds, the amount of traffic on the streets, the number of shops still open. If Cheshire had made his plan with an audience in mind, he wouldn’t be disappointed.

Jakub lit a cigarette and crossed the street to where a black and white patrol car was parked along the sidewalk. After tapping on the passenger side window three times he let himself in.

Gertie was behind the wheel, already dressed in a blue jacket and slacks. It wouldn’t have passed for a standard Manhattan police uniform under close scrutiny, but at a glance it was definitely convincing. Jakub held his cigarette between his teeth as he shrugged out of his jacket to change into a “uniform” of his own. “Is everything set?”

“The girls are in position,” said Gertie. “We last heard from Leon half an hour ago—the car stopped for a dinner break right on schedule.”

“Leon?” Jakub frowned thoughtfully as he struggled a little getting his mechanical hand through the uniform sleeve. “Shouldn’t he be with his sister? The baby’s coming.”

“Really?” Gertie shrugged. “Well, no way to let him know now. What good would he be to her anyway? He gonna help her push?” She gave Jakub’s sleeve a tug to help him straighten it out in the small space. “Better that he’s here. He keeps saying he’s got to prove himself again, after…”

She cast Jakub a sideways look he didn’t return. “If it’s what the boss wants, fine,” he said. Finally dressed, he rolled down his window just enough to flick the ash from his cigarette. “He doesn’t have anything to prove to me.”

“If you say so.”

They settled in to wait. Jakub passed the time with his left hand on his knee, practicing different movements: clenching his fist, pointing, waving, twisting a latch. He pulled a pair of gloves out of his jacket pocket, put them on and tried again. Over and over, for the next hour. Gertie wasn’t much for conversation anyway and he wanted to be ready.

When the time drew closer, Gertie leaned forward against the wheel with a pair of binoculars. By then Jakub’s cigarette had long since been smoked down and he was eager for things to get underway. The moment she straightened up, his heart gave a thud.

“I see it,” said Gertie, passing the binoculars to Jakub so she could start the car. “Let’s hope Bloom knows what he’s doing.”

Jakub looked for himself, and he could barely make out past the intersection the tall, domed roof of the armored car that was heading straight for 50th and 9th. He tossed the binoculars into the back as Gertie pulled into traffic. “It’ll be fine,” he said, and as they neared the theater he glanced to the upper windows. “Bloom always makes it work somehow.”

***

Chicago Smoke wasn’t, by Cheshire’s estimation, a very accurate depiction of the thrilling bootlegger lifestyle, but it sure was entertaining. He laughed along with the rest of the audience through every sharp-witted argument between its clever protagonists, oohed and ahhed over their busty shared love interest, leaned forward with excitement through the gunfight that punctuated the end of the first act. It was overblown and melodramatic but it reminded Cheshire so much of the adventure serials and radio dramas he had been addicted to as a boy. It heightened his curiosity a hundred fold for what Chicago’s leading families were really like, and how closely they matched their depiction.

As soon as the lights raised for intermission, Cheshire popped out of his seat. “Incredible!” he declared. He tossed his hat into Burke’s lap. “Hold onto that for me—I need to go powder my nose.”

“Don’t take too long, okay?” said Burke, doing an admirable impression of casual.

Cheshire left the theater and headed toward the bathrooms, diverting at the last moment to instead slip down a side hall. Having surveyed the interior the week before, he had no trouble finding the employee stairwell and making his way up two steps at a time to the third floor. From there it was a right, a left, and another left to take him to an unused storage room overlooking the nearby intersection.

Cheshire slipped off one of his gloves and palmed the last of his shelled peanuts. He rolled it against his fingers, concentrating on the weight and the shape. “Heavy headed west,” he mumbled to himself as he crouched down and opened a window for a better view. “Jake from the east. The girls blocking traffic.” Already he could tell that the number of cars heading through the intersection had thinned, without anyone on the street having taken particular notice yet. He leaned just far enough out to get a better look westward and grinned at the sight of the armored car driving along, as oblivious as could be.

It was a golden opportunity, and all thanks to Burke’s recent efforts selling the Kozlow name throughout Manhattan. It hadn’t taken much effort at all to coax from one of the smaller gangs in Lucky’s orbit that First National’s armored cars were making more and more pickups in broad daylight, trying to discourage the rise of robberies in the tough economy. Only a little effort past that to learn which restaurant the drivers always chose for their dinner break, always at the same time. And when it just so happened that they would be passing the largest theater in town during one of the largest premieres of the year…nothing could have stopped Cheshire from taking the risk.

He watched the armored car approach the intersection— and the passably-painted Model A Jakub would be in approaching from the opposite side. Cheshire scanned the area one more time and then took a deep breath. Focusing. He sure hoped Lucky really was in the theater somewhere. Certainly Manhattan’s premiere thug would hate to miss the real show.

The red on all four traffic lights blew out at once. Cheshire tried to keep it restrained, so as to maybe pass as some kind of electrical failure, but the one furthest got away from him a little—the casing split with a thunderous crack and shot the glass like a bullet through the awning of a nearby shop. A serious electrical failure, then. Cheshire ducked lower to be sure he wouldn’t be seen, smiling to himself. “You’re up, Jake.”

***

Even though he was expecting it, Jakub flinched just as much as Gertie at the blast. All the surrounding cars stopped in alarm as smoke poured from the corner lights, one of them half cocked from the force. Jakub stared. As accustomed as he had become to the results of Cheshire’s magic, it was the first time he’d seen it in action since the accident that claimed his arm. He hated that the familiar, tangy smell of the magic gave him goosebumps. Luckily he didn’t have time to dwell on it, though, as Gertie was already stopping the car in the intersection, and it was time to go to work.

The heavy had halted partially through the intersection thanks to its less than ideal brakes. After some confusion the driver attempted to keep going, only to realize that the cop car was blocking their route, other startled drivers clogging the other lanes. As Jakub and Gertie disembarked, a security guard hopped out of the cab to meet them.

“Everything all right?” called Gertie before he could get too close, hands on her hips. She had clearly been practicing.

“We’re fine,” the man replied, casting mystified glances up at the traffic lights. “Mind clearing the road so we can pull through?”

“Sure, sure. Mind if I ask what you’re carrying?”

Jakub veered off, circling to get a look at the back of the truck. “What does it matter?” the guard was asking, but he ignored him, resisting the urge to look up at the theater. So far, so good, he thought, spotting Leon running up the line of stopped cars. As long as we’re quick…

Leon was red in the face, probably terrified, but he threw himself on the back of the armored car anyway. Pedestrians who had already stopped to watch the commotion began to shout and point. Hannah  would  have  been  better  at  this  than me, Jakub thought, already a little embarrassed at the prospect of so many eyes on him. But it was too late to worry about that, so he screwed his fake police cap on tighter and picked up his pace. “Hey!” he shouted in his best American accent. “What do you think you’re doing!”

Leon continued to pull furiously at the back of the car, making a good show of it. As Jakub wrestled him down the driver stepped down from the cab as well, increasing the drama of the unfolding commotion. “Did you really think that would work?” the driver chided as he gave Leon a sharp slap across the face. “That we’d just leave it unlocked for you?”

“Please, I just—I need the money,” Leon blubbered, not putting up a fight. “My family—”

Gertie and the other guard were headed their way, and as Leon continued to plead, Jakub turned back toward the steel- plated door sealing up the goods. There were two slots for keys and a Hallorran emblem etched alongside. I hope she doesn’t take it personally, Jakub thought, and he wedged Cheshire’s peanut into the handle.

“Looks secure,” he called.

“Of course it’s secure,” scoffed the driver. “It’s Hallorran made. Even we can’t open it.” He grabbed Leon by the scruff of the neck and started marching him toward the front of the car again. “Idiot. I take it you’re going to arrest him?”

“Of course.” Jakub took Leon’s elbow, easing him away from the driver as they headed away from the rear. “Come along, now.”

“B-But my family,” Leon babbled. Jakub might not have been holding a grudge against him, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Cheshire was, to have assigned him this role in the diversion. “They’ll starve without me!”

“Tell it to the judge,” Jakub grumbled, maybe going a little too far, judging by the strange look Gertie cast him. He cleared his throat. “Hurry up—we’ve held up traffic too long already.”

Twenty… he thought, bracing himself for the next blast.

Nineteen…eighteen…

***

“Seventeen…” Cheshire said under his breath as he bounded down the stairs back toward the lobby. “Sixteen… fifteen…”

He stopped right before the staff door, taking only a second to catch his breath and straighten his suit. With one hand in his pocket—still gripping the peanut—he strode into the lobby where many of the movie-goers had gathered during the intermission. Spotting a group of women he had treated to popcorn at the start, he headed toward them.

Visualize, he thought, running his thumb back and forth against the dimpled shell in his pocket as he pictured one just like it tucked into the latch of a steel Hallorran door. He outlined the shape of it in his mind and imagined a fire burning on the inside. Three…two…

“Ladies!” he greeted, and the trio grinned and welcomed him. “What did I miss?”

The explosion from outside was enough to startle everyone in the lobby. More than a few people shouted in alarm and everyone looked to each other in confusion. Cheshire jumped with them, pretending not to notice that Burke was heading his way. “What was that?” he declared, and he faked a nervous laugh. “Did the movie start without us?”

“That sounded like outside,” said one of the women, pale-faced.

“Let’s go see!” said her friend, and soon dozens of them were doing the same, everyone hurrying to the exits to get a glimpse of the source.

The intersection was in chaos. Though he had a very good picture in his mind Cheshire was sorry to have missed seeing the explosion, as he was sure it ranked among his best. The door of the armored car was swinging loose, smoke in the air, drivers out of their cars and fleeing into nearby shops. In no time there would be police everywhere, but for the moment there were only two—a very tall woman and a very handsome freckled officer, who were ushering the heavy’s guards away from the detonation.

“It’s a robbery!” Jakub shouted, bless his heart. “We have to get the car out of here!”

Gertie shoved Leon into the “police” car. “Go, I’ll follow you!”

“Wait,” said the driver, but by then Jakub had snatched the keys off his belt and was climbing behind the wheel. He tried for the passenger door but couldn’t get it open before Jakub had started to pull away. He tried for the police car but Gertie was already racing after the heavy. The two security guards gaped at each other, speechless. And thus, right in front of the eyes of at least fifty baffled New Yorkers, the Kozlow Gang made off with five thousand First National dollars.

“What just happened?” asked one of the women next to Cheshire.

“It kind of looked like the cops just stole an armored car,” said another, everyone watching as the security guards began to argue and curse.

“It kind of did,” agreed Cheshire. “These are hard times for everyone, I guess.”

“Cheshire Bloom!” Grace stormed up to him, her eyes wide and incredulous, though she also seemed to be trying to look cross with him. “Tell me,” she said, but then she paused, casting glances at the many people nearby. “Cheshire.”

“What?” Cheshire snuck his glove back on as he gave a helpless shrug. “I hope they let us finish the movie before the cops insist on questioning everyone. It was really getting good.” Grace glared at him, but Cheshire was over the moon,

and his excitement was infectious. She gave up her exasperation and surrendered a helpless grin. “Yeah, it was,” she said. When Cheshire glanced past her, he could see Hallorran hanging back, grinning as well.

The cops did come—the real cops, full of questions and outrage. Cheshire stuck close to the trio of women and was relieved to see that Burke had latched onto some fellows of his own, each of them firm in their alibis. “Would I still be here if I had anything to do with it?” he asked of more than one officer. A few were familiar enough with his reputation to find it infuriating.

He wasn’t the only popular guest. When Cheshire was given a breather to take in the room, he noticed a peculiar number of officers gathered around a pair that had watched the heist unfold only a few feet away from him: a very large, pale man with a terrible haircut; and a curvaceous woman with a dark complexion draped in a very thick and very expensive- looking fur. He couldn’t remember if he had taken notice of them in the theater, despite being a striking pair. As he crept a bit closer, trying to overhear the officers’ questions, the woman looked in his direction.

Her recognition of him was obvious, but he couldn’t quite define the strange mix of interest and irritation she was fixing him with. When their eyes met, she quickly turned up the collar of her fur and looked away, shoulders inching up as if shy. It drew the attention of her barrel-chested companion, who also glanced Cheshire’s way. His expression was no less challenging: he grinned and gave Cheshire a wave as if they were old friends, even though Cheshire was confident he would have remembered that dull, straight haircut.

Cheshire followed his lead with a grin and a wave but was careful to divert his attention back to the various other movie-goers around him by the time the cops looked over.

Burke at last jogged over to him and returned his top hat. “Who’s that ye’re waving at?”

“Hm?” Cheshire thumped his hat back on. “No idea. You know’m?”

Burke very slyly cast an eye at the pair. “No. They know you?”

“Sure seems like it.” Cheshire didn’t want to get caught paying too much attention when the mystery pair was surrounded by so many cops, so he deliberately turned his back and looked to the crowd. “They gonna let us finish the movie or what?”

***

Jakub took the truck straight to the river. With the smoking back end and Gertie in the black and white they were able to blow through most intersections, and they made good time to a small pier closed in the hard times. Gertie’s sisters met them there, and they quickly divided up the money bags between the two cars. Jakub took the wheel of one with Leon, Edith’s daughters the other, and they split up to take different routes across Manhattan back to the bridge.

“It worked,” Leon said, still a little breathless and afraid to celebrate too much. “I can’t believe that worked.”

“You did fine.” When they stopped at a red light, Jakub tossed his cap and jacket in the back below the seat. In truth he still felt a little light-headed himself and was anxious to get back to Brooklyn as quickly as possible. He wanted to see Cheshire’s face when the loot was counted and the celebrations began—with his handsome grin and his silver laugh and his fancy new suit. It made his face feel hot thinking of it, and he prayed Leon didn’t notice.

“We should go to the hospital first,” he said once they were on the bridge and headed home. “Your sister was in labor last I heard.”

“Really?” Leon straightened in his chair, but then he

frowned. “We’re not going to drop the take off first?”

“Why? The cops aren’t going to check a hospital parking lot for their thousands of dollars.” He looked through the rearview mirror and could see police cars gathering at the entrance to the bridge, setting up a roadblock. He sped up. “It’ll be safer there than home.”

“Oh, right. Sure.” Leon nodded a few times too many. “Wow. I still can’t believe it worked.”

They reached the other side, where the Brooklyn police were gathering as well. “I’ll talk,” said Jakub as Leon went pale. “Don’t say anything, don’t smile. Just keep looking nervous.”

“No problem there,” Leon replied weakly.

Jakub slowed to a halt next to one of the cop cars, even though they hadn’t quite finished setting up an organized sieve for the cars exiting the bridge. As confident as he was, he kept his left arm out of sight after rolling down his driver’s side window. One of the officers giving orders took notice and approached: an older gentleman Jakub had seen on duty many times. “Good evening, sir,” he said. “May we pass?”

The officer leaned down, glancing between the two of them. “Where you boys coming from?” he asked. “And where are you headed to?”

Jakub didn’t have to work hard to keep any incriminating emotion out of his face. “We’re headed to the hospital—his sister’s having a baby.”

The officer considered that a moment and asked, “Boy or girl?”

Leon tensed as if working up an answer, but Jakub beat him to it. “We won’t know until it’s out,” he said plainly. “But his sister’s a girl.”

The officer smirked, and after a quick glance toward the back seat—Jakub managed not to hold his breath—he straightened up again. There was a knowing look in his eye that didn’t prevent him from waving them on. “Good luck to her,” he said, and Jakub nodded his thanks and drove them on.

Leon let his breath out in a rush. “Shit, I thought he’d made us. Do you think the others will be okay?”

“Gertie can handle herself,” Jakub reassured him.

“They’ll be fine.”

He made a left turn after getting away from the bridge, but as he went to straighten the wheel out, he realized with a start—and a jolt of the car—that his left hand was clamped tight around it. He ground his teeth and tried to force the fingers to loosen, but he suddenly couldn’t remember which muscles to flex or relax to make it work. With a muttered curse he pulled to the side of the road.

Leon watched, unspeaking, as Jakub gave the mounting plate above his elbow a sharp twist. The apparatus separated, and immediately the fingers relaxed into their default state, letting the arm drop into its support brace. Jakub glared at it for a while, frustration getting the better of him. “Fuck.”

Leon gulped. “You okay?”

Jakub took a deep breath and reconnected the arm with a snap. “I’m fine,” he muttered. After giving each of the fingers a wiggle to make sure nothing mechanical had seized up, he put the car back into drive and continued on.

“Jakub,” Leon said carefully. “Listen, I—”

“What happened wasn’t your fault,” Jakub interrupted, though he then did his best to gentle his tone. “I don’t blame you. So you don’t need to say you’re sorry again. I don’t want any more apologies, from anyone.”

“Sor…okay.” Leon sank deeper into his seat. “I understand.”

They continued on to the hospital mostly in silence. Jakub wished he could have said something more to reassure him, but he was too busy being grateful that Cheshire wasn’t there to see the arm come loose.

By the time they arrived at the hospital it was nearing ten o’clock. It took some coaxing of the staff, but eventually one of the nurses led them back to where the Kozlow party was waiting: Barney, Hannah, and Wanda’s parents were there, all of them laughing and hugging each other. It was one of the more bizarre sights Jakub had ever witnessed, at least to him personally. He had no idea how to respond when Barney ran over and grabbed him in a tight hug.

“It’s a boy!” Barney declared. He leaned back, face aglow—Jakub could only stare. “It’s a boy, and he’s healthy, and he’s huge. I wish I could show you but he’s with Wanda in the ward—we’re not allowed in.”

“Congratulations,” said Jakub, mystified to see Barney beaming so openly.

“We’re going to name him Kasper, after my father,” Barney prattled on excitedly. “Kasper Kozlow II. And then the next one will be after her father, and after that, maybe after a saint or something. You know?”

“He’s not ‘the second’ if it skipped you,” Hannah told him, as if it wasn’t the first time she’d had to remind him. But she was also smiling, which baffled Jakub just as much.

“So what? He’s my son, I’ll name him what I want.” Barney clapped Jakub’s shoulder a few times. “He’s gonna be taller than either of us, they can tell already.”

“That’s…congratulations,” Jakub said again. “How’s Wanda?”

“Oh, she’s fine. She was a champ. They said I’ll get to see her in an hour, I guess.” He glanced past Jakub and finally took notice of Leon, who was talking happily with his parents. “Leon!” He stepped past Jakub to repeat his enthusiastic greeting. “Leon, it’s a boy!”

As the pair of them chatted, Hannah moved to take Barney’s place with Jakub. “It’s something, isn’t it?” she said, her smile crooked. “Barney of all people, a father.”

“Yeah,” Jakub replied awkwardly. Seeing everyone so excited and cheery was having the opposite effect on him, and he didn’t know what was expected of him. “It is. Good for him.”

Hannah lowered her voice to keep from disrupting the celebrations. “What about the job? Did it work?”

“Perfectly,” Jakub said, immeasurably glad to be talking about something else. “It went off just like Bloom said it would. Half the take is in the car outside.”

“You brought it here?” Hannah gave a short, incredulous laugh. “Hell, of course you did. You’d better get it home, though. Between the baby and Bloom I’m worried about the boss’ blood pressure.”

Jakub was fairly certain that social niceties obligated him to at least offer to stay, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. “I’ll give all the boys the good news,” he offered instead. “We’ll get the take stored away before anyone comes looking.”

“Good.” Hannah also gave him a hearty clap on the back. “Good work.” What she meant was I’m glad you’re back, but she didn’t have to say it.

Jakub bid Barney goodnight, promising to visit once Wanda was released from the hospital and could take guests. Barney’s spirits were too high for either of them to risk talking about the job considering who would get the credit for it, and he gave Jakub one more hug before seeing him off. With Leon staying behind for his sister, Jakub returned to the car alone, and once behind the wheel he let out a sigh. What a strange night it had been already, and he still had too much to look forward to.

The Kozlow building was alive with celebration when Jakub arrived. They greeted him with laughter and handshakes none of them would have dared a week ago. It was overwhelming, but at least it was better than, How are you today? Jakub endured, and though most of them had started drinking already, he managed to organize them well enough to move the loot to the cellar and into waiting crates. Gertie and her sisters arrived soon after, with tales of narrow escapes from over-eager local coppers, but they seemed more exhilarated by their ordeal than concerned. Soon everything was listed and stored, and Jakub made his report to Boss Kozlow.

Kasper was already partway through a bottle of whiskey when he received Jakub in his suite. “Good,” he said, echoing Hannah’s sentiments from earlier. “Good work. Though if they’re so easy to fool, I wonder if we need Bloom next time at all.”

Jakub felt his left hand start to seize up again, and he shoved it into his pocket. “We couldn’t have opened the back of the truck at all without him. It was Hallorran made.”

“He calls too much attention to himself,” Kasper continued to grumble as if he hadn’t heard. “Everyone will know this was us.”

Normally Jakub would have kept quiet, let Kasper speak his mind and let his silence serve as his loyalty. He remembered Cheshire straightening the seams of his jacket and couldn’t. “Sir, that was the point. We want the Manhattan gangs to see us as equals. With Bloom there it lets everyone know it was us without giving the police any evidence against him. It wasn’t just about showing off—it’s a smart plan.”

Kasper didn’t reply for a while, his gaze still focused elsewhere. After a lengthy delay he said, “Good to have you back, Jakub. Good work.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Jakub, and he kept his hand in his pocket as he showed himself out.

There, Jakub hesitated. Most of the building was still awake, and as he made his way slowly down the stairwell he could hear people moving about in several rooms, playing music and laughing raucously. The drinking had most likely resumed and it smelled like some were even preparing another round of supper. Rejoining them was as much an exhausting prospect as a welcome one, and Jakub leaned his back against the stair wall a moment, massaging the tense muscles above his prosthetic to get them to loosen. He might have abandoned everyone for well-earned sleep if not for a great cheer from the third floor, followed by very familiar, very welcome laughter.

Jakub rushed into the hall and there found the majority of Kozlow’s loyalists who had wisely camped out in front of Cheshire’s door. Cheshire himself was among them, one arm slung jovially around Burke’s neck as he tried to unlock his apartment while laughing uproariously. He was every bit as flamboyantly dazzling as he had been earlier, and more so—his grin couldn’t have been wider, every white tooth on display.

“They didn’t even let us finish the movie!” he lamented, still laughing. “For my next heist, I’ll be stealing the reels, so we can project it against the side of the building!”

He finally got the door open, and he tugged Burke inside amidst a chorus of cheers. Jakub hurried to follow. Once everyone settled there might not be any moving them until morning. Sure enough, as soon as they entered, Cheshire’s entourage each began claiming space on the table, the chairs, even the open window sill and floors. Two ambitious new recruits took to the head and foot of the bed to have the best seats for the tall tale Cheshire was sure to regale them with. Jakub hung in the doorway, chest tight and out of sorts, until Cheshire spotted him just as he was opening a bottle of whiskey. “Jakub!” Cheshire passed the bottle to Burke and headed straight for him. “You made it!”

He snatched Jakub up in a firm hug that had him seeing stars. He was warm and he smelled like fresh wool—Jakub went red and was too mortified to move, convinced that as soon as Cheshire let him go everyone would see the truth in his face. But then Cheshire pulled him toward the bed, shooing one of the newcomers out of the way so he could drag Jakub into a seat next to him on the mattress.

“Have a drink,” Cheshire insisted, waving for Burke to give back the bottle. “We have to hear your side of the story, too! I hope you didn’t lose the uniform—you were such a convincing cop.”

“If you say so,” replied Jakub, and relief had never felt so much like panic as he relaxed into Cheshire’s side, a warm arm over his shoulders. “I do still have the uniform.”

“Perfect! You’ll be a hit at Halloween.” Cheshire pushed the bottle into his hand. “Drink! And tell us everything.”

He was too handsome to refuse. Jakub took a long gulp and then quickly passed the bottle on before he could be goaded into more. He told a brief, stiff version of the events and was grateful when Gertie’s sisters enthusiastically filled in the blanks. Cheshire listened with rapt attention, laughing and commenting along the way. He kept Jakub close at his side and refused several prompts to give his version of the events until Jakub was finished. But when he did cough up his story, it was with unmatched excitement, and Jakub listened just as attentively.

It was a bewildering experience. Over the past seven years he had spent dozens if not hundreds of nights just like this: tucked under Cheshire’s arm, drinking until the early hours while everyone basked in Cheshire’s merriment. It felt as much like home as anywhere could, and he should have been plenty used to it, enough to not make a fool of himself in front of everyone. But this time, when Cheshire’s arm rubbed against his shoulders, he remembered its strength at his back, drawing him close. When Cheshire flashed him a winning smile, he knew what those lips tasted like. Whenever Cheshire took a breath, it reminded him of a quiet chuckle in a dark room.

And he couldn’t stop thinking, Maybe. When the bottle came back around, he took another long drink. Maybe, just one more time.

***

Normally, by the time the booze and the stories ran out, Cheshire would find himself winding down and ready for a long night’s sleep. For once, as the night dragged on he only wound tighter, growing more and more conscious of Jakub leaning into his side.

And he couldn’t stop thinking, He’s glaring at me. That’s a good sign, right? His chest thrummed with energy every time Jakub shifted. Can’t you all just leave so I can find out?

“Well, we drank all the liquor,” Cheshire declared once the opportunity arose. “So you might as well all go home.”

Everyone grumbled and laughed, and one by one they began to pick themselves up. Cheshire bounded to his feet and immediately felt a chill without the heat of Jakub’s body under his arm. “Busy day tomorrow,” he prattled as he shook hands with everyone making their way out. “Lots of money for us to spend, right? And newspapers to read.”

“Hell of a plan,” Gertie congratulated him at the door, and she gave him a punch to the arm that had him wincing. “But it won’t work a second time.”

“Then I’ll come up with a new one,” Cheshire assured her, and though she shook her head she was smiling as she left with her sisters.

There were still a few stragglers when Jakub stood up and said, “There’s something in the take I wanted to show you.”

Cheshire gulped. He turned around to find Jakub fixing him with that same heavy, dangerous look, and his skin prickled all over. “Sure!” he chirped, and he motioned for Jakub to head out ahead of him. “Just close the door when you leave, Burke?”

“Sure.” Burke slumped his chin into his palm, eyes lidded, deeply sloshed. “Sure, sure thing, okay.”

Jakub strode from the apartment, and Cheshire followed, nervously chatting all the way up the stairs. “All that practice with the peanut really paid off,” he said. “Say that a few times fast, huh? It pays to practice your peanut when pilfering a pretty penny from police. Er, as police?” He chuckled. “You really were great, you know. Maybe the next premiere should have you as its star.”

“I didn’t do that much,” said Jakub as they stepped out into his hallway.

“What do you mean? You did everything.” Cheshire leaned against the wall while Jakub opened the door to his apartment. He licked his lips. “I’m really glad you were up to it. Hannah thought it might be too soon, but everything goes so much smoother when you’re around.”

“It would have worked just as well with Hannah.”

Jakub let them in, and Cheshire closed the door behind him. We’re alone. He gulped again as he glanced around the apartment. He had started to become accustomed to finding Miklos in the kitchen or on the sofa, and the absence made their sudden isolation even more palpable. They hadn’t been alone in Jakub’s apartment together since…

“I have another whiskey,” said Jakub, “if you wanted to drink more.”

“Sure, unless…” Cheshire shivered as he faced down Jakub’s stoic expression, but he did manage a grin. “Did you really have something to show me? Or did you bring me up here to fool around?”

Jakub’s already red cheeks flushed darker, and he hurried closer. Cheshire held his breath; Jakub collided with him with such eager insistence that he stumbled back, the door rattling behind his shoulders. Then Jakub’s mouth was on his, just as heavy and confident as his glare had been, and he murmured happily in relief. Oh thank God, I wasn’t imagining it.

Jakub drew him away from the door. His kisses were urgent and he tasted like the whiskey. Cheshire let himself be tugged into the bedroom step by step, his heart fluttering. It still surprised him just how aggressive Jakub was, and he had to struggle to keep up—he kept having to squash the incredulous little giggle that threatened to bubble out of him.

Cheshire tossed his hat on the nightstand. “You’re sure you’re not just drunk?” he teased, though he was harboring some concern that this would look like a mistake come morning. “I am drunk,” said Jakub as he started unbuttoning Cheshire’s jacket. “But I’ve wanted to take this suit off you

since you came out in it.”

“Wow,” said Cheshire before he could stop himself. He slipped his fingers under Jakub’s shirt. “I didn’t think you even knew how to talk like that.”

Jakub made an embarrassed face and fumbled with the buttons. “Just…help,” he grumbled, focusing instead on taking his shirt off. Before Cheshire had finished with his he was leaning in again, demanding another kiss. It was dizzying and wonderful.

At last Cheshire was out of his jacket, shirt, and tie. He tugged Jakub closer and flinched at the press of cool metal against his ribs. The reminder only managed to dull his spirits for a moment, though, as then Jakub backed him up against the bed. His pulse stammered all over again and he climbed eagerly onto the mattress. “You really did look good in the uniform,” he said, charmed as Jakub untied his shoes for him. “I’d let you arrest me.”

Jakub flashed him a look so inviting his cock twitched.

Maybe next time, he thought, grinning, as he finished kicking his shoes off and Jakub his. Then went pants and finally Jakub was crawling into Cheshire’s lap, already hard and breath heavy. They wrapped each other up, their kisses beginning to bite. It still felt so impossible, and Cheshire could only follow Jakub’s lead, letting the momentum sweep him up.

Jakub gave him one more, heart-melting kiss before pulling back to reach for the bedside drawer. He passed Cheshire a condom and a small bottle of oil. Cheshire smiled to himself as he unwrapped the condom. I guess  he  was  expecting  we’d be back here after all, he thought, but he didn’t get the chance to say as much, as Jakub was already at his lips again. He went to slide the condom on Jakub, and was surprised when Jakub instead guided it to him.

Expected…and planned? Cheshire wondered, hissing quietly as Jakub slicked his cock with the oil. I didn’t think he’d be the type to— Then his shoulders were forced back against the headboard, and it made more sense; Jakub was just as much in charge as their first time. It suited Cheshire fine. He welcomed Jakub into his lap and onto his cock, groaning in appreciation.

“Not too loud,” Jakub warned him, though his voice was just as rough.

“Sorry,” said Cheshire. He watched with fascination as Jakub caught his breath—drank in the furrow of his eyebrows, the red of his lip between his teeth. When Jakub began to move he had to clamp his own jaws shut to keep from letting out another throaty groan at the faster-than-expected pace. Clearly Jakub wasn’t interested in wasting any time; he took Cheshire by the shoulders and rode him hard, not nearly as cautious about the headboard hitting the wall as he was their voices. Cheshire gripped his hips but it felt more like grasping a lifeline than helping him along.

“Jakub,” Cheshire panted, trying to keep his wits about him. “You’re really…okay with this?”

Jakub scoffed loudly. “You’re still asking now?”

He screwed down hard, and both of them shuddered, not quite successfully stifling their moans. It was blissful up until Jakub’s left hand clamped like a vice on Cheshire’s shoulder.

“Ahh—” Cheshire hissed, gritting his teeth. His hand went instinctively to Jakub’s to try to loosen it, though he immediately felt guilty. “Easy, easy.”

Jakub hummed as if acknowledging, but his grip didn’t let up. Instead he slowed his pace, rocking nearly off of Cheshire’s cock and then back down. Though shivering with restraint he kept steady, and suddenly the tone changed: his expression softened, lips slack and eyelashes fluttering; his breath whispered and sighed with every pulse. He looked vulnerable in a way he had never shown before, and it was so thrilling Cheshire forgot that his shoulder was throbbing. When they kissed it was fuller and deeper, and Cheshire was in awe.

How did we not figure this out  sooner?  Cheshire wondered, overwhelmed by sentiment. He shifted so he could lean more deeply into the headboard and lowered one hand to Jakub’s cock, just so that he could see his face with the first squeeze. Watching Jakub bite his lip against a groan was a beautiful reward; Jakub’s heavy-lidded stare just before he leaned in for another kiss even more so. No one’s ever looked at me like this…

Jakub hummed against Cheshire’s mouth and began to speed up once more. Cheshire welcomed it, stroking him in time, letting passion and pressure mount between them until it overflowed in a fiery climax. Jakub followed a moment later, and the two of them smothered their voices against each other’s mouth until they were panting and spent.

“I’m really okay with this,” said Jakub, and Cheshire laughed and kissed him again.

That’s as good as talking about it, right? Cheshire thought as they stretched out on the bed together, sharing a few more tired kisses. This is good.

“There really is more whiskey,” Jakub offered. “If you want another drink.”

“Mmm, I’m—” Jakub’s hand finally came off Cheshire’s shoulder, and he managed somehow to keep a flash of pain out of his face. “I’m parched! Why don’t you get cleaned up—I’ll grab the bottle.”

“All right.” Jakub frowned slightly, but he didn’t seem to see through him; he kissed Cheshire again and climbed off the bed. “It’s under the sink.”

Cheshire waited until Jakub was in the bathroom with the water running before moving. “Shit…” He gave his shoulder a rub and could already tell he would soon have a dark, thumb- shaped bruise against his collar bone. He threw the condom out and tugged on his shirt on his way to the kitchen. The last thing Jakub needed was to see bruises.

Cheshire only took a few sips of the whiskey before Jakub returned. He handed over the bottle, but before he could take his turn in the bathroom, Jakub held up a cigarette. “Got a light?”

Cheshire lit it without thinking, but when Jakub took a long drag, savoring, he sensed some greater meaning behind the action he couldn’t pin down. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” Jakub waved toward the bathroom. “Go ahead.”

Mystified, Cheshire took some time to clean up. When he returned he dropped into the bed and stretched out, making himself at home in the hopes that Jakub would find it too hard to ask him to leave. “We have to think that Lucky and his crew will have something to say about tonight,” he said. “They’ve never come across the river before but that could change now, depending on whether he has a sense of humor.”

“His boys were giving restaurant reviews to newspaper reporters,” replied Jakub, dropping onto his back next to Cheshire. “He has a sense of humor.”

Cheshire smiled and took a chance, draping his arm across Jakub’s stomach as he wriggled closer. “Yeah, that’s true.” He watched Jakub’s profile for a while as if seeing him for the first time, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “You have so many freckles.”

Jakub cast him a strange look, but then he relaxed. He took one last drag off his cigarette and snuffed it out in an ashtray on the nightstand. “Do you wanna stay the night?”

Cheshire shrugged and then had to smile wide to hide his wince. “I’m too tired to move,” he said, hooking his glasses over the headboard. “So unless you wanna carry me…?”

Jakub turned away, and Cheshire couldn’t see what he was up to until he heard a shift and a clink of metal. It was with a pang of guilt that Cheshire realized he’d removed his prosthetic to set aside. But before he could dwell on it, Jakub backed up again, settling against his chest.

“You’re too heavy for me to carry,” Jakub mumbled. “That’s it, then.” Cheshire pressed a tender kiss to

Jakub’s shoulder and relaxed against him. “You really were handsome in your new coat tonight.”

“You, too,” said Jakub, and soon both of them were fast asleep.

***

Jakub woke up for the second time in Cheshire’s arms, and it was no less emotional than the first. He turned his face into his pillow and prayed Cheshire wouldn’t wake up until he had composed himself. He’s still here. With a deep breath Jakub turned to see Cheshire’s face, letting his sleepy calm reassure him. This is real. He couldn’t even judge the reality against his imagining of it, because he’d never honestly believed it was possible, had never dared let fantasy go that far. But Cheshire was wriggling into him, smiling even in his sleep, and as Jakub kissed him he felt something fierce and defiant solidify in his chest.

Cheshire hummed and stirred. “‘Morning,” he mumbled. He peeled one eye open only to immediately wince against the light streaming through the windows. “Mm. Coffee.”

“Coffee,” Jakub agreed, and once his arm was reattached he helped Cheshire out of bed.

They got dressed, and after a quick peek in the hallway to make sure it was empty, they took the elevator to the ground floor. Jakub was sure to retrieve his suit jacket from Gertie’s car on the way, looking to enjoy more compliments on his newfound good taste. As they settled in the diner for coffee and breakfast Cheshire was animated as always, recounting a more precise version of their heist and full of ideas for future ones. Everything was starting to feel like a brilliant version of normal when Burke burst into the diner brandishing a newspaper.

“Bloom! Danowicz!” He raced to their booth and all but threw himself in the seat next to Cheshire. “Lucky’s dead.”

“What?” Cheshire snatched up the newspaper and began to read as Jakub leaned forward. “‘Alonzo Lecce, better known by his alias Lucky Lecce, was found dead in his Manhattan residence late yesterday evening. Police are not releasing any details other than it is believed to be homicide.’”

“Explains why he didn’t make the picture, don’t it?” said Burke. “Christ.”

“Hell, he really missed both shows, didn’t he?” Cheshire said glumly. “Can you believe that timing?” He gave a shrug. “At least we have an alibi for it, I guess.”

Jakub tugged the paper over to read for himself, but the article was more speculation than fact, full of reminders of the “alleged” criminal empire Lucky was leaving behind. “If Lucky is dead, who was his lieutenant?” he asked. “Who takes charge of the Manhattan gangs?”

“Fuck if I know,” said Burke. “Lucky rounded them up from all over the city. Napoliello, his fixer? The west bankers? Any one of them could be bidding for power now.”

Cheshire considered that for a long moment, and Jakub kept his eyes on him. He could see the gears behind Cheshire’s eyes twirling to life and felt them grinding in his chest with anticipation. Whatever faith he’d had in his partner before, it had hardened tenfold, and in that moment he would have happily gone to war for him. He just had to say the word.

“Any one of them,” Cheshire repeated, mischief curling his lips. “And after last night, I’d say our hat is in the ring.” He smirked at them both but then focused on Jakub, beaming and devious and as handsome as ever. “This is going to be even more interesting than we planned for.”

He clinked Jakub’s mug in a toast, and the scheming resumed.