Chapter 11 – Moving on Up

Cheshire paced around the safe a few times, not that he needed to; he was playing for show now, cracking his knuckles, holding his fingers up to judge the distance like a Hollywood director. The room was near silent as he stepped back a dozen paces and stretched his shoulders. With a flick of his wrist, the door of the six foot tall safe exploded off its hinges in a fireball, crashing into the steel reinforced walls of the lab.

Jakub let his breath out, magic on his tongue.

Hallorran and the small collection of engineers that had come to watch reacted with mixed cheers and boos. A few passed dollar bills back and forth from bets won and lost. As Cheshire turned to his audience with a bow, Hallorran herself shook her head and then offered begrudging applause.

“All right, you did it,” she admitted. She waved to her workers, who began rolling the next safe—a darker, squatter hunk of soon to be exploded metal—into the arena. “But this one might give you a challenge.”

“I’m telling you, it’s really magic,” said Cheshire with a charming smile. “There’s nothing you can put in front of me that I can’t make boom.”

“We’ll see,” said Hallorran, and her engineers began whispering again.

Cheshire shrugged and headed over to his newest test. Jakub chewed his lip as he watched, anxious for a cigarette.

It hadn’t seemed like such a bad idea at the time, accepting Hallorran’s invitation to see more of her operation. How it had turned into a demonstration and dare, Jakub wasn’t entirely sure. He glanced to the surrounding engineers and technicians, wary of so many eyes watching Cheshire employ his magic so casually. Years of dominance in Brooklyn had safeguarded them from snitches, but there was still no way of knowing what that reputation was worth across the river.

Of course, Cheshire didn’t seem to give that any thought. He spun the dial on the safe’s front and looked to Hallorran with an appreciative smirk. “Why, I couldn’t hear a thing!” he declared.

Hallorran folded her arms and watched him expectantly.

“Well?”

Cheshire stepped back. Once again he made good sport

of it all, rubbing his chin and leaning back and forth to take it all in. The engineers squirmed in anticipation. Then he backed off and clapped his hand over his eyes.

The door once again split open. Rather than target the mechanism he blew the hinges and handle at once. Jakub wondered if any of them were sharp enough to notice the difference.

Another mixed round of celebration and disappointment roused the gathering, and Hallorran dropped her arms with a muttered curse in Mandarin.

Someone at the rear clapped loudly as Cheshire made his bows, and Jakub glanced back. It was the stout, bob-haired technician that had assisted him through his operation months before.

While Cheshire consoled Hallorran and accepted the admiration of her employees, Jakub headed over to greet the tech. She offered her hand—her left hand—and Jakub took it, hesitating just a moment to be sure of his control. His handshake was firm, but friendly, and she grinned.

“Good to see you, Danowicz,” she said. “Sure looks like you’re doing well.”

“I am,” Jakub replied, only to falter. “Sorry, I don’t think I…”

The woman smirked. “It’s Tully,” she introduced herself at last. “Tully Paris. S’okay, you spent most of our time together unconscious. You’re taking good care of my boy there, I trust?”

“Of course.” Jakub glanced behind him, to where Hallorran was clucking over the safe while Cheshire tried not to grin. “Actually, since I’m here, maybe you can help me with something.”

“Sure. Doesn’t seem like any real work is getting done around here today.” She jutted her chin at the commotion and then took a step back. “Come up to the lab.”

Jakub followed her out, casting one look back at the group. He managed to catch Cheshire’s eye and gave a short wave, which he seemed to interpret well enough. Just let him have his fun, he thought as he rode the elevator with Tully up to her lab. It’ll be fine, and…he looks good when he’s happy. He scrunched his cheeks as they stepped off on the fourth floor.

Tully sat him down at one of the work tables, and he felt strangely at home among the many strewn tools and half-finished products. “It still locks up on me sometimes,” he explained as he stretched his prosthetic across the table between them. “Especially when I’m…tense.”

Tully dragged her tools closer, using a narrow hook to pop open the length of casing along the inside of his forearm. He flinched; for as much as he had adjusted to the limb, he still sometimes expected it to hurt. “There’s not much I can do about that, mechanically,” she admitted as she tucked a magnifier into her eye. “Your muscles just have to figure that part out.” She tapped on the exposed pulleys and gears; Jakub watched very carefully, trying to make sense of every adjustment. “Move your middle finger,” she said.

Jakub did so, watching with a kind of morbid fascination as the metal shifted back and forth, just like a tendon. “It does look a little stiff,” said Tully. “It could use some grease.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, and Jakub frowned uncomfortably. He remembered all her lessons and instructions well, but it was difficult to admit to her that he still found it disturbing, breaking himself open in such a way. When he didn’t reply, Tully’s expression softened and she stretched across the table for a grease gun.

“We’ll take care of it,” she said. “And then I can show you a few more tricks. I know it looks intimidating, but all of this can be adjusted pretty easily.” She met his gaze seriously. “It’ll get easier.”

Jakub nodded, grateful and attentive as she talked

him through a few small modifications. She even put tools in his hand and encouraged him to poke around himself. It was eerie at first, but as the different mechanisms began to make more sense, the knot in his stomach finally unraveled. With everything fine-tuned and his confidence restored, Jakub sealed the forearm panel back in place.

“Thank you,” he said.

Tully harrumphed. “Next time, I charge you.”

She began not to clean up, but to shove her tools and supplies to various corners of the table. Jakub allowed himself the chance to look around the lab with greater attention, spotting several more prosthetics that were in progress, what looked like a miniature car engine…and the long stock and barrel of a rifle. It was sleeker than any he had seen before, but with a belt- feeder that looked overly large for a weapon of its size.

Jakub nodded toward it. “What’s that?”

“Hm? Oh, my other  boy.”  Tully  flashed  him  a

mischievous look. “Want a peek?”

***

“I promise,” said Cheshire, not for the first time, as he handed his suit coat to the nearest engineer. “I did not smuggle anything in here.”

Hallorran wasn’t convinced, so he let her unbutton his cuffs and check his pockets to be sure. “You did something,” she continued to accuse as she dug through his coat while the engineer held it up for her. “There’s no such thing as magic.”

Cheshire heaved a dramatic sigh. “You’re right. It’s a trick.” When Hallorran whipped toward him, he shrugged. “But I’m not telling.”

Hallorran glared at him, but slowly the humor crept back into her pinched eyes, and she wagged her finger at him. “You,” she said. “Oh, you. I’m going to get you.”

Cheshire laughed, but he did have to squash a sudden prick of apprehension to do so.

After a few more rounds of questions and teasing, Jakub returned, and he and Cheshire bid Hallorran and her workers farewell. They drove away from the headquarters beneath a dreary December afternoon, snow melting along the sidewalks. Cheshire was very pleased with himself.

“Hallorran is a powerful ally to have,” he said, hoping it didn’t sound too much like he was desperately heading off any admonishment from his partner. “And I think she realizes the same about us, yeah? We already know she doesn’t have any problem keeping things off the books. She could be the leg up in Manhattan we need.”

“That’s insensitive,” said Jakub, and Cheshire winced, only to realize that the very slight tilt of Jakub’s eyebrows meant he was probably joking. Wonders never ceased. “You shouldn’t have shown them so much of your magic, though.”

Cheshire shrugged. “She’s not going to rat me out. What good would that do her? There isn’t even an award on my head yet.”

“Yet?” Jakub repeated frowning.

“Yeah—we’re famous outlaws, after all.” Cheshire gave Jakub an elbow, hoping to coax some reaction from him to translate. He was eager for the practice. “You’re gonna start seeing our faces on posters like the wild west.”

“Yours, maybe,” said Jakub, but there was no interpreting approval or disapproval from the thoughtful tilt of his head.

They stopped at a café for lunch close to Times Square, watching people move up and down the streets, carrying on their busy lives. All in all everything looked extremely normal. It made Cheshire squirm.

Jakub waited until the waitress had delivered their soups to broach the subject. “Burke still doesn’t have anything, does he?”

“Not for lack of trying,” Cheshire said with confidence. “Whoever has taken over Lucky’s operations, they’re being extremely careful about it, and quieter than a mouse. Every few weeks another lieutenant disappears, poof.” He dropped a cracker into his soup, letting it bob and nearly spill. “Either it’s every man for himself and there’s no one person to point at, or it’s one person, and everyone else is too scared witless to talk.”

Jakub frowned thoughtfully. “I didn’t think there was anyone that high up in the Manhattan gangs that could do that.” “Neither did I,” Cheshire admitted, and he gulped down

a few mouthfuls of soup. “They haven’t even tried to retaliate for that truly inspired hit of ours. I guess we just have to wait until Burke’s ear catches something for us.”

After lunch Jakub insisted they do some prowling of their own, so they took to the city. They visited a few shops that were well known to be under Lucky’s protection, wandered down to the wharf just to be seen. Cheshire couldn’t help but be deeply pleased by the amount of recognition paid to him, but it didn’t result in any new information. At last the pair headed back across the river, empty-handed but not yet discouraged. Whoever was pulling the strings, it wasn’t as if they didn’t know where to find the competition, after all.

As Jakub drove them back to their building, Cheshire leaned back in his seat. “You know, I’ve been thinking,” he said. “Maybe I should get a new apartment, closer to the water.”

“Why?” Jakub asked immediately, and with a sharpness that seemed to embarrass him right after. He rubbed his nose. “It won’t look good to the boss. He likes having everyone close by.”

“Yeah, but it’s not so smart, is it?” replied Cheshire. “If Manhattan’s boys come looking for us and we’re all in one place. And you have to admit I’m the flashiest target.”

“That’s your own fault.”

Cheshire smirked. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he bragged, but then he swallowed, and he lowered his tone. “Besides, I sure wouldn’t mind being able to invite you over for a drink without worrying about how thin the walls are.”

Jakub’s cheeks went rosey, which was exactly the reaction Cheshire had been looking for. “I’ll bring it up to Hannah,” Jakub volunteered. “She’s more likely to give the okay if it’s my idea.”

“Perfect,” said Cheshire, and once they’d turned onto their street, he reached down to skate his fingertips along Jakub’s thigh. Jakub looked to him with such intensity that Cheshire considered the merits of renting a hotel room to tide them over, but then his eye caught on the sidewalk outside their building, and the group of police officers there. “Uh-oh.”

Jakub saw and immediately slowed. “Shit.”

“It’s all right.” Cheshire leaned forward, counting at least five officers in uniform, as well as a woman in a blue suit arguing with some of Kozlow’s men. “Let’s go see what they want.”

“You’re sure?” asked Jakub warily, though then the woman looked their way, her eyes narrowing. There was no

mistaking that she had spotted them. Making a run for it didn’t seem like an option with police cars already lined up along the street, their drivers so close by.

“It’s all right,” Cheshire said again, and with a sigh Jakub parked along the curb. “We haven’t even done anything lately.”

They disembarked and headed toward the building, as easy as you please, Cheshire’s face a picture of innocent curiosity, and Jakub’s…same as usual. The woman squared her shoulders to them, expression tense as she waited. She was tall and her posture was strict, the lines of her eyebrows and the slope of her nose almost architectural, her suit and tie well pressed. Cheshire could see the title of “inspector” or “agent” written all over her. Even her hair, brown curls wound tightly off her shoulders, proclaimed discipline. She was barely saved from total Federal homogeneity by her hat, at least: a simple but elegant slouch hat with a lavender flower pinned to the side.

Cheshire reached the first of the officers and stepped around him. “Excuse me,” he said, making like he was going to head into the building without anything more than a friendly smile. He didn’t get past a second step.

“Cheshire Bloom,” said the woman.

Cheshire turned, grinning curiously as if noticing her

for the first time. “Yes? Can I help you?”

“U.S. Marshal Hazel Adalet,” the woman introduced herself. “I need you to come with me.”

“Marshal?” Cheshire repeated, ignoring the second part. “Then I was close—I had you pegged as ‘Agent’ for sure.”

The officers and gang members around them shifted their weight, watching closely as if witnessing a stand-off. Hazel continued to stare back at Cheshire, unimpressed. “All the same,” she said, “you’re coming with me.”

Cheshire faced her properly then, stuffing one hand into his pocket, which she eyed critically. “If you’re here to confiscate my whiskey, you’re a little late,” he said jovially. He mimed raising a bottle with his other hand. “All gone.”

“I’m not here about prohibition,” said Hazel, irritation showing more pronouncedly on her face. “Get in the car, now.” Cheshire regarded her for a moment, still smiling easily.

Kozlow’s boys were still watching, tense as if waiting for a word from him that would turn this meeting into a confrontation or

worse. Jakub was practically humming at his side, taut like a spring. But despite his bravado Cheshire did know better than to declare war on the entire U.S. Marshal’s office. There was nothing to do but shrug, take a step closer, and say, “I’d be delighted.”

Hazel gestured to the car impatiently, and Cheshire flashed the Kozlow boys an easy smile as he made his way over. But then she cleared her throat, added, “And you, Mr. Danowicz,” and Cheshire froze.

That didn’t bode well. But when Cheshire glanced back, he found that Jakub didn’t look any different. Still tense, certainly—still ready for one signal from Cheshire to send him to action. But his face was as neutral as ever as he followed Cheshire across the sidewalk, and without a word he moved around to the car’s far back door.

Hazel eyed him, waiting until both men were climbing inside to slide into the front passenger seat. One of the officers took the wheel while the others returned to their own cars, and soon the procession was underway.

Cheshire settled into the back seat. He wasn’t terribly concerned, not yet—they had faced plenty of run-ins with authorities of all kinds over the years, even U.S. Marshals, and come away more or less unscathed every time. It must be about the heavy,  he thought, unable to keep his lip from turning up. She’s got nothing she can hold us on. But then his humor quickly died with the sudden realization…she had asked for Jakub by name, too.

Jakub stared straight ahead impassively. He chewed his lip in want of a cigarette but otherwise didn’t seem concerned, either. If Hazel had the armored car’s driver, there was a possibility of him recognizing Jakub, and that ought to be taken seriously. But there wasn’t much left to do but play their parts well, so Cheshire took a deep breath.

“You’re going to tell us what this is about at some point, aren’t you, Madam Adalet?” he called to the front.

He was right behind Hazel’s seat, so even seeing her head turn, he had to rely on his imagination for her unamused glare. “‘Marshal’ will suffice, Mr. Bloom.”

“Oh, sorry. I’m not sure what the etiquette is for these situations.” Cheshire smoothed down his necktie and fussed with his cuffs. “Usually when I’m arrested I have an inkling of

what it’s for, and can be better prepared.”

“You know what it’s for,” Hazel retorted.

Cheshire clicked his tongue. “I honestly don’t. Maybe we can play twenty-questions for it?”

Hazel turned further, shifting in her seat so that this time Cheshire would be sure to see the hooked slant of her brow. “I’m not here to play word games with you.”

“Neither am I,” Cheshire said cheerily, glad to have that better view. He wanted her to see just how calm he was. “This is my attempt to interrogate you. How am I doing?” When Hazel didn’t answer other than to intensify her glower, he added, “I know I’m no federal agent, but maybe you can give me some pointers.”

“Shut up,” Hazel snapped, and she turned forward again so sharply that her curls bounced against her ears. “Save it for the station.”

The station, as it turned out, was one Cheshire knew especially well: Precinct 49. It held only one mark of distinction for him, which spurred his heart over a few stumbled beats as they pulled in. He made sure none of that apprehension made it to his face, even though he could feel Jakub watching him.

They climbed the front steps and headed inside to be greeted by a slew of anxious and curious eyes. The normal bustle of the police at work went quiet as Hazel and a pair of officers led their captives toward the far end of the room. Cheshire paid them no mind, at least outwardly. He kept his smile in place, hands in his pockets, Jakub silent and intimidating by his side. The cautious attention being paid them was gratifying, certainly—this was the notoriety he had dreamed of as a boy— but as they moved closer to a desk near the rear, his hair stood on end. He wasn’t sure he’d know how to react.

But Detective Daniel Alice wasn’t at his desk, despite the coat draped over the back of his chair, the open folders laid out. It took Cheshire a moment to locate him—standing at the back of the office, next to a hall that led even further into the building. His arms were folded over his chest and his eyes heavy with mistrust. Cheshire managed not to gulp, smile nailed in place, as they passed.

“Detective,” he greeted. “Bloom,” Alice replied coldly.

And that was it, seemingly. He allowed the group to

pass, and though Cheshire should have left well enough alone, he couldn’t stand not knowing what they were really up against. He paused and turned back, feigning innocent curiosity. “You’re not joining us?”

To his surprise, Hazel turned back as well, watching Alice just as expectantly. But the detective shook his head. “Marshal, you have use of the rooms,” he told her, ignoring Cheshire. “And you have your deputies. That’s as far as I’m required to cooperate.”

“Suit yourself,” said Hazel, displeased but not pressing the issue. She continued on. “Let’s go, Bloom.”

He followed, though only a few steps later she motioned for him to enter one of the hall’s side rooms. As he did so, one of the deputies tapped Jakub and gestured to a different door across from it. After a moment of angry stalling, Jakub begrudgingly complied. He cast Cheshire one more hard look that probably translated to Keep your mouth  shut  before the door closed him in.

The separation caused Cheshire’s confidence to falter, but only slightly. It wasn’t as if they had complicated stories to keep straight, and now that the threat of Alice had passed, he was convinced he had nothing to fear from a newer, younger challenger. The room they entered had only a bare table with two chairs on one side, one on the other. Cheshire helped himself to the two-chair side, just to watch Hazel’s deputy flounder a moment. Eventually the poor man decided on the less embarrassing option of standing behind Hazel’s chair as she took her seat opposite.

“Well, you got me,” said Cheshire, reclining as best he could in the small, uncomfortable chair, hands folded in his lap. “But I still don’t know what this is about.”

Hazel, meanwhile, folded her hands on the table, leaning

forward. “Where were you October Twenty-fifth?”

“The twenty-fifth?” So it’s the heavy after all, Cheshire thought, which was relieving for him, but for Jakub it was another matter. He squinted and pursed his lips as he gave the matter deep thought. “What day was that? A Tuesday?”

“Saturday,” Hazel said crisply, watching him closely and offering nothing more.

“Oh! That Saturday?” Cheshire nodded sagely. “That was the cinema premiere! You should have just said that.”

“And you were at the premiere?” Hazel pressed.

“I mean…” Cheshire shrugged. “You know I was, right? It’d be pretty anti-climatic if you brought me out here to ask about an event I didn’t attend. So I assume someone told you they saw me there.”

He made a show of glancing around the room, as if such a witness were already there with them. The room didn’t have any windows for spying—a positive ID of him at the scene would have only hurt their case rather than helped, anyway. When he drew his attention back, Hazel was glaring at him, still as stone.

“You were spotted there by dozens of eye witnesses,” she said. “Before, during, and after the theft.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re not going to deny noticing the armed robbery just outside the theater, are you?”

“Not at all—it was thrilling. Better than the picture.”

Hazel looked to the deputy, and he unbuttoned the front of his coat, pulling from inside a file folder. He handed it to Hazel, who set it down on the table without opening it. Cheshire contained his curiosity. “There were five thousand dollars stolen from that car,” Hazel resumed, interlocking her fingers over the folder this time, as if taunting him. “The car itself was badly damaged. The locking mechanism was destroyed by some kind of explosion.”

“Fascinating,” Cheshire said dryly. “What’s that got to do with me?”

“You’re a well known arsonist and thief,” Hazel retorted. “It has everything to do with you.”

Cheshire shrugged in return. “If you say so.”

“You started small time,” said Hazel, not yet losing her patience, but Cheshire could already see she didn’t have the stamina to outlast him. “Home invasions, safecracking. Graduating to warehouses, a steel plant, an auto repair shop…” She fixed her eye on him. “And now armored cars.”

“You’ve obviously been talking to Danny,” said Cheshire. “But I’ve never been charged with a crime, let alone anything as serious as all that. So you must be thinking of someone else.”

Hazel opened her file and began to page through it. “It’s you,” she said confidently. “Whether or not the locals are interested in going after you has nothing to do with me. And where I come from, we recognize the work of magic.” She

stopped paging through her file to fix him with a knowing look.

“You reek of it.”

“Thanks,” said Cheshire.

He hadn’t been trying to be clever or difficult—he was, internally, half reeling from the thought that the federal government had agents well-versed in the supernatural to throw at him, which should have occurred to him long before then. Still, it worked enough to cause Hazel some pause. She glared at him until it was painfully obvious he had no intention of giving her anything else.

“The lock on that armored car was broken open in a matter of moments,” Hazel tried again. “Only magic could have done that.”

Seeing her slightly off kilter set Cheshire straight once more. “Okay,” he said.

Hazel’s eye twitched. “You’ve been spotted at every relevant scene in the past several years.”

“If you say so.”

“You’ve mutilated and murdered people with this magic,” Hazel persisted. “And that’s all you have to say?”

Cheshire squashed a tiny pang of guilt and gave another shrug. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you want me to say. I don’t have any magic and I’ve never hurt anyone.” He winked. “Except a few broken hearts.”

Hazel clenched her fist against the table.

***

Jakub sat across from a pair of marshal’s deputies, but his attention wasn’t on them; he saved his glare for the mirror on the far wall, which bore a frame to try and hide the fact it was sunken into the wall. Whoever was watching from the other side Jakub wanted them to know he knew they were there.

“Jakub Danowicz,” said the elder of the two deputies. “You’re one of Kozlow’s best boys, aren’t you?”

“What of it?” Jakub asked impatiently.

The deputy looked surprised, as if having expected a denial. “You’ve been pulled in half a dozen times since entering the country,” he continued. “Suspected of theft, transportation of illegal liquor, arson and assault. You’ve seen and done it all, haven’t you?”

“Do you mind if I smoke?” asked Jakub.

The deputy frowned, and he and his partner exchanged a look, but then he relented. “Go ahead.”

With his right hand, Jakub reached into the pocket of his coat. He flicked open the box of cigarettes with his thumb and pulled one out with his teeth. The deputies watched, taking note of every action, as they were meant to. Only once Jakub had lit and was enjoying his first drag did he speak up again. “So? Are you going to ask me if we’re responsible for Lucky?”

The deputy raised an eyebrow. “You know something about Alonzo Lecce’s death?”

“Isn’t that why you’re here?” Jakub cast another glance at the mirror and finally settled on the pair in front of him. “Kozlow’s crew shows up in Manhattan the night he dies. We control most territory east of the river, now. Why not try for Manhattan?” He breathed a wreath of smoke. “If you’re hoping for a cut of his territory you’ll have to wait, though. Lucky wasn’t us and it’ll take a while to bring all the gangs together again.”

“They’re already—” the younger deputy started, but the

first quickly hushed her quiet.

“The bureau is looking after the Lecce murder,” he resumed. “We’re with the U.S. Marshal’s office investigating the armored car robbery on October twenty-fifth.” He flipped open a small notebook. “You were identified as being at the scene and we’d like to take your statement.”

Jakub took another drag. “I already gave my statement to the police at the cinema.”

“No, you didn’t. There’s no statement from you on

record.”

“It wasn’t much of a statement.”

“Then you won’t mind giving it to us again now,” said

the woman, a bit too eager for her own good.

Jakub gave them a few moments of silence. “I went with Bloom and Burke to the cinema for the premiere,” he said eventually. “I didn’t care for it, but Bloom seemed to like it. Melodrama.”

“We’re not asking for—” said the man, but the woman leaned forward suddenly.

“What were the two protagonists fighting over in the first act?” she asked, eyes gleaming.

“A woman,” Jakub answered precisely.

“And what did Georgie give her at the New Year’s ball?” she pressed.

Jakub blinked. Who would have guessed that Cheshire’s many recountings of the night would come in handy weeks later? “A derringer pistol. For her garter.”

“And who did she end up with?”

“I don’t know. They didn’t let us finish the picture.”

The deputy leaned back, satisfied with his answers. Her superior gave her a look and then continued his questioning. “How much of the robbery did you see?”

“No more than anyone else,” said Jakub impassively. “I went out with the others when I heard the explosion. We saw the armored car drive away. I thought the police were handling it—I didn’t know it was a ‘robbery’ until the papers started talking the next day.”

The deputies considered that for a while, and Jakub got the distinct impression they were suppressing the urge to glance over their shoulders. They have the driver, he thought, resisting the same urge to look to the window. They ’re trying to get him to identify me. He continued to wait patiently while the pair mulled over their possible questions.

“The robbery was carried out by a man and a woman,” the head deputy continued at last. “A slight man with dark hair and a poor complexion, and a very tall woman with short hair.” “Slight?” Jakub repeated, offended, and both shifted

slightly. “You’re implying that’s me?”

“You were seen entering the cinema but the police didn’t see you leave with the rest of the guests,” the deputy argued.

“I blend in,” said Jakub, and he imagined Cheshire smirking next to him. “I hope you’re not thinking I set off an explosion and drove an armored car through busy streets in my condition.”

“Your condition?” the woman echoed curiously, just like he had hoped.

Jakub lifted his left arm to the table, letting it fall an inch so that it rattled loudly. Both deputies jumped and then stared. He was careful not to move at all with them looking at the limb so closely, their expressions shifting from surprise to confusion. They exchanged another long stare.

And while they were dumbfounded, Jakub took the

opportunity to glare at the mirror again. If you’re really back there, he thought, willing the message to show in his face, you had better reconsider.

***

“You really expect me to believe this was all coincidence?” Hazel demanded. A shrillness was creeping into her tone, and she slapped her fancy hat down onto the table next to her files. “The front man of Brooklyn’s leading crime family shows up in Manhattan on the night of a high profile murder and the robbery of an armored car, and you have nothing to do with either?”

“Nothing, sadly,” Cheshire replied, calmer than ever. “If I could take credit, I sure might, because it sounds really impressive.”

Hazel seethed, though she fought herself down from whatever her first retort would have been. “We have the driver of the car,” she said. “He’s going to identify your friend as one of the robbers. So how sure are you that don’t want to talk to me?”

“I’m sure,” Cheshire said, trying not to let himself dwell on the possibility Hazel was putting forth. Jakub could take care of himself and had never failed to talk his way out of suspicion, despite his social shortcomings. Even so, Cheshire’s nerves suddenly got the better of him. “In fact, I think I’m done talking to you entirely.”

He stood, his chair scraping back. Hazel immediately pushed to her feet as well but was a step too short to intercept him before he could reach the exit. “I didn’t say you could leave,” she said. “We’re not finished here.”

“Am I under arrest?” Cheshire asked, his hand on the door. When Hazel ground her teeth but couldn’t answer, he smirked. “If not, there’s nothing stopping me from walking out this door.”

He opened the door and stepped into the hall, and he nearly ran straight into Jakub leaving the opposite room. After a moment of surprise, he grinned openly. “You all finished?” he asked.

“Yeah,” said Jakub coolly, and though he was holding his left arm in an awkward manner, he headed back the way

they had come without further explanation or a glance back. Cheshire was happy to follow.

“Bloom!” Hazel protested as she chased them to the mouth of the corridor. “You’re not fooling me!”

She reached for his arm, but before she could take his sleeve, Detective Alice intercepted. “Marshal,” he said patiently. “If they’re not under arrest they’re free to go. And I can’t let you arrest them without evidence.”

“Evidence?” Hazel repeated, exasperated. “It’s magic.

What evidence do you expect to find?”

The pair of them continued to argue as Cheshire and Jakub moved on. But Cheshire couldn’t help himself. When he glanced back and saw the marshal so agitated, it put a smile on his face, and he wanted her to know it. “Marshal!” he called.

Hazel whipped around, anger written all over her, and Cheshire offered her a wink. “Better luck next time,” he said.

“Son of a—” Hazel took a step toward them, but again Alice drew her back. The cold distrust in his eyes dampened Cheshire’s triumphant spirit, but not enough to prevent him from chuckling as he and Jakub showed themselves out of the station.

“Phew!” said Cheshire once the pair of them were out on the sidewalk again. He stretched his neck and shoulders as if they had been detained for hours. “Well, that was certainly educational, wouldn’t you say?”

Jakub was staring at him. His brows were drawn in and his eyes intense, and Cheshire thought, Ahh, he’s making that face. Cheshire straightened his tie. “I don’t know what you told them,” he said, smirking. “But I’m sure it was brilliant.”

He leaned in for a kiss, but before their lips could touch,

Jakub flinched back, saying, “What?” Cheshire froze awkwardly. “What?” “What are you doing?”

“I’m just…” Cheshire straightened up, his cheeks red. “You were making that…” he started to explain, but then he looked again, and the words withered in his mouth. Jakub continued to glare at him, as usual, but… Oh, no, Cheshire realized. No, that’s actually him angry this time.

“Sorry!” he chirped, and then he cleared his throat, struggling to recover a jovial tone. “Sorry, misread that one. Let’s, um…get a cab.” He started walking to get them away

from the station. “Really rude of them not to offer us a ride back, don’t you think?”

“What did you tell them?” Jakub asked as they walked. He scrubbed his hand across his cheeks self-consciously; the subtle blush he was trying to hide only made Cheshire’s attempts to interpret more complicated. “That marshal looked ready to throttle you.”

Don’t worry about any of that now, Cheshire counseled himself. “She sure did, didn’t she? Can’t imagine why; I barely said a word.”

Jakub snorted with disbelief. “This isn’t like the local police,” he scolded. “Even if you manage to scare her off, the feds will send someone else. We need to be more careful.”

“She’s got nothing on us,” said Cheshire confidently.

“You can’t prove magic in court.”

“She can with a witness.” Once they were far enough away from the station Jakub gave his left arm a shake, wiggling his fingers. “You shouldn’t have been showing off this morning.” Cheshire pulled a face, and luckily he spotted an approaching taxi. He moved closer to the street to wave it down.

“You were all for it when we went in.”

“I was not,” Jakub retorted crossly. He dropped his cigarette and snuffed it out against the curb. “I warned you.”

“Hallorran is not going to turn me in,” Cheshire tried again. “She likes me—she said so.”

“She said so.” Jakub narrowed his eyes on him. “In those words?”

“Well…not in exactly those kinds of words, but in words that could be implied, yes.”

The taxi stopped, and Cheshire held the door open so Jakub could enter first. He did so, stoically, and Cheshire couldn’t help but gulp as he took the seat next to him. But a car ride in silence was not one of the options on Cheshire’s menu, and once they’d pulled away from the curb he barreled onward. “In any case, I’ll be more careful from now on,” Cheshire promised. “Keeping it under wraps. There are plenty of other

ways for me to make a fool of myself in public.”

He glanced to Jakub, hoping for some sign of amusement, but Jakub was glaring out the window instead. “And in private,” Cheshire added, a little sullen. “But, at least that will be further away from the boss soon. Should save him

some embarrassment.”

“Not until I okay it with them,” Jakub reminded him. “It’ll take some convincing.”

“Sure, sure.” Cheshire sighed   with   semi-forced

enthusiasm. “Just think of the new closets I’ll have to fill.”

Cheshire chatted idly about the wishes for his new living space for the rest of the drive, since that was an easy enough topic for the cabbie to overhear. Only once they were headed into their building did Jakub speak up more than to snort to move the conversation along. “The deputies let something slip when they questioned me,” he said. “Someone has pulled the Manhattan gangs together already. I assume the feds know who.”

“Damn, I should have pressed the marshal about it.” Cheshire hummed thoughtfully as they made their way up to his floor. “What else did they say?”

“That’s it. If only we had better contacts inside…” “Most of the precincts are in our pocket by now—might

as well get in on the feds,” Cheshire agreed. “I’ll mention it to Burke, see if he has any new leads.” He stopped in the stairwell at his floor, hesitating. “I really will be more careful, okay? No more showing off the magic.”

Jakub stared back at him, and Cheshire braced himself for a stern talking to. But then Jakub moved closer, took his face in both hands, and rose up on his toes for a kiss. Cheshire was too caught off guard to make much of it—by the time he reached for him, Jakub was already pulling back.

“Good,” said Jakub, and he slipped past Cheshire to continue up the stairs without looking back.

Cheshire watched him go, leaning back against the door frame. How am I ever going to get the hang of this? he wondered, but he smiled to himself as he stepped out into the hall in search of Burke. He wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.

***

“Bloom says he didn’t give them anything, and I believe him,” Jakub reported. “All he has to do is deny, and the feds don’t have a case. I convinced the others that a credible witness wouldn’t have missed the fact his assailant was missing an arm.

They seemed to buy it.”

Kasper listened intently from behind his desk, his fingers steepled atop it. He didn’t appear cross or concerned, to Jakub’s relief. He had never taken the threat of the law very seriously in any case. Hannah, on the other hand, was leaning against the nearby bookshelf. Her folded arms didn’t bode well. “Good,” Kasper murmured after a considerable pause.

“Good work. Tell Bloom to keep his head down for a while— whatever the next big job is, leave him out of it. The marshals have plenty to keep themselves busy with. They’ll lose interest in him.”

“I agree.” Jakub looked to Hannah, waiting for her to offer her thoughts. When she didn’t, he took breath and continued. “Even so, I think we should take…certain precautions.”

“Precautions,” Kasper echoed. “What do you mean?” “Now that the permits have gone through, those new

buildings by the river are going to start construction,” said Jakub, reciting the logic he had hastily assembled before this meeting. “It’s a big project, and one of ours should be nearby. Bloom is visible enough on his own that having him around will send a message.”

“You want to put him in charge?” Hannah asked doubtfully.

“I want to put him next door.” Jakub spared her only a glance before focusing on Kasper. “I’m sure there’s an empty apartment close by he can rent. Something nicer than he has now will keep him happy and give him something to do there while we wait for the heat to cool off.”

Hannah shifted her weight. “Bloom gets carried away easily. We don’t want him getting it into his head that he’s the boss around there.”

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t,” Jakub replied, just coldly enough that it came off extremely convincing. Even Kasper nodded.

“I see your reasoning,” said Kasper. “But he is something of a loose canon. I like having him where I can see him.”

Jakub hesitated to say more. Even if Cheshire wasn’t there—and Hannah would never share anything said in this office with him—it made his stomach turn anyway. “Of course,” he said carefully. “He stands out wherever he goes. But…that just makes him a bigger target.” Kasper straightened

up, and Jakub could feel Hannah’s stare growing harder, but he continued. “We still expect Manhattan to come down on us eventually. If they or the marshals come for him…better he’s not here when they do.”

Kasper spent another long, thoughtful pause on those words, mulling them over as if chewing through them. He looked to Hannah, and though Jakub chose not to check for himself, whatever was in her face must have convinced him. At great length, he nodded. “Yes. I agree.” He leaned back in his chair with a sigh. “Hannah will make the arrangements. Nothing too gaudy—just enough to keep him happy. We’ll pick a few more of the boys to move, too, so it doesn’t look like he’s being singled out.”

Jakub nodded. “All right.” A shiver ran under his skin. “Do you want me to—”

“No,” Kasper said predictably. “No, you stay right here.” He waved vaguely. “Hannah will make the arrangements.”

“Yes, sir,” said Jakub, and seeing it was best not to push his luck, he headed out of the apartment.

Hannah came right behind him. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” she asked. “The last thing we need is for Bloom to get a big head.”

Jakub stopped in the hallway to face her, a pulse of honest frustration behind his ribs. “He’s been with us for years, and he’s always been loyal.”

“He has,” Hannah conceded. “But things change.” She fixed him with a searching gaze. “Was this really your idea? Or was it his?”

“Mine,” said Jakub, wondering if he would regret later how easy it was to lie to her. “Barney will be glad for it. Now he can bring his family to visit the boss without having Bloom underfoot.”

Hannah sighed, making a face that spoke of too much time spent listening to Barney’s complaints on that topic. “True enough,” she said, and together they headed down to their floor. “At least Gertie is out that way, too. She can keep an eye on him.”

“He’ll be fine. This will be good for everyone.”

When Jakub reached his apartment, he went straight to his bed and threw himself on it. There was plenty of daylight left, but he was already exhausted, praying for the clouds to

darken so he could get some sleep. As he curled up, chilled but not wanting to move to reach for a blanket, he marveled at how quiet the building suddenly was.

There would be no more coming home late to the sound of merriment from Cheshire’s apartment. No outrageous stories through the night as Kozlow’s little soldiers jostled for a drink and a good seat. No waking up with a hangover only to be soothed by Cheshire’s laughter making its way through the halls. He should have been more concerned about encroaching gangs and federal agents, but those worries couldn’t reach him. The move hadn’t even happened yet and already he missed Cheshire. It hurt more than he thought it should have.

It’ll be better,  for  everyone, Jakub told himself as he burrowed his face into his pillow. More privacy. Less distractions. Less Hannah around. He grumbled as he kicked his shoes off and tried to work beneath the covers while moving as little as possible. And once we know more about Manhattan we’ll be working together every day anyway. It won’t change.

I’ll see plenty of him.

Jakub gave up on the bedding and just twisted into the most comfortable position he could manage. He suggested it because he wants us to have more time together, not apart, he continued to rationalize. He said so himself. He’s not running away. He went for that kiss, didn’t he?

His cheeks flushed, and he smothered his entire head

beneath the pillow. I’m so stupid.

***

Ten days later, Cheshire had a charming new apartment on Kent Avenue.

The boss had ordered most of his available hands to the move of Cheshire and three others. They made light work of the essentials, as the apartments were already decently furnished. The bulk of the effort went to Cheshire’s wardrobe.

“Look at this closet!” Cheshire declared as he sorted and resorted his jackets on the racks. “I have room for at least… six more ensembles.” He laughed to the sound of everyone groaning. “And even more in the hall! What do you think?”

He looked to Jakub, who was plugging in a bedside lamp. Cheshire had talked at him an awful lot through the day

without much response, and the silence was getting under his skin. When Jakub returned his latest with a disinterested hum, he tried not to let it dampen his spirits. “One thing I just can’t figure out,” he said as he finally settled the garments to his liking. “Whatever happened to that fantastic Christmas jacket I had made a few years ago?”

Jakub fumbled with the lamp, which Cheshire made an effort not to notice. He was still sensitive about his dexterity, after all. “What about it?” he asked without looking back.

“I can’t remember the last time I saw it.” Cheshire checked through the garment bags one more time to be sure. “I was hoping we’d find it in the move… You haven’t seen it?”

“No.” Jakub finished what he was up to and straightened.

“I assumed it got ruined that night with the Foleys.”

“Right…” Cheshire chewed his lip a moment. He didn’t remember all that much from that night at the plant, between the drinking and the injury… He gave the scar on his cheek a rub. “Yeah, that’s probably it.” He turned away to survey the space.

Jakub had moved to the door and was waiting for him there. His expression was hopelessly blank, but Cheshire couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than that, something he was meant to puzzle out. “What do you think?” he asked, his real question, What are you thinking? struggling behind it. “Hannah picked a good one.”

“She did,” said Jakub.

He was staring, maybe even waiting for something. Cheshire glanced back into the apartment’s living room—how new for him, to have separate rooms at all—but there were still several people milling about, helping to stock his kitchen. “It’s going to be strange, huh?” he said distractedly. “We’ve been under the same roof for so long.”

“Yeah,” said Jakub.

Cheshire edged a bit closer. “I’m gonna miss not having you around all the time.”

“Yeah,” Jakub said again, but then he looked away, making Cheshire feel as if he’d misstepped.

“But you’re welcome any time, of course,” Cheshire tried to recover. “In fact, we’re probably going to celebrate a lot tonight. You’ll stay, won’t you?”

“Sure,” said Jakub, and he started to walk out.

It didn’t feel right to leave it that way. Cheshire grabbed Jakub before he could get too far—twisted his arm across Jakub’s front, drawing him back by his shoulder. He turned Jakub to face the bedroom while closing the door with his other hand— not enough for the close of the lock to alert anyone outside. Feeling Jakub go tense against his chest made his heart pound, nervous and hopeful at once.

“In fact, I’m going to get another key made for you,” Cheshire said quietly, close to Jakub’s ear. “That way you can come in and out anytime you want.” He licked his lips, praying that this time, he wasn’t misinterpreting Jakub’s slow intake of breath. “You can just…slip in, without anyone knowing. Anytime.”

Jakub leaned into him, still tense. Cheshire could feel his eyelashes flutter. “You’d like that?” he said, bordering on sarcasm.

But Cheshire was determined to take it seriously. “I would,” he replied, sincerity making his voice rougher. He swallowed and felt Jakub do the same. “Anytime—all the time.” He chuckled quietly. “It’s a much bigger bed than I’m used to. I’ll be lonely by myself.”

He didn’t really think Jakub would fall for a line like that, but it sure seemed to get to him after all; Jakub grabbed Cheshire’s arm and twisted, angling for a kiss. Cheshire happily obliged, humming with renewed confidence and nervous exhilaration—the rest of their crew was only a few feet away. In fact, he could hear footsteps approaching. He held Jakub’s lips as long as he dared and urged him back just as someone pushed against the door, thumping him in the back with it.

“Sorry,” said Hannah, and Cheshire was embarrassed to abandon Jakub to her for a moment, but there was no way he could keep a panicked grin off his face then. He went to check on the lamp Jakub had just positioned while Hannah asked, “You two all right?”

“Fine,” said Jakub, his voice as level as ever. “Let’s

finish up—I’m hungry. Coming, Chesh?”

“Yes!” Cheshire bobbled the lamp shade, fixed it, and then turned back to them with a very casual, very inconspicuous smile. “Yes, let’s break in this place properly!”

In the kitchen, one of the boys had already opened a bottle of whiskey, and they were setting out every available

glass, bowl, and saucer capable of holding a few sips to share it with. They laughed and toasted to Cheshire’s newfound freedom as if he were a graduating schoolboy. And just as the conversation turned toward a real meal, the phone rang.

Cheshire didn’t think anything of answering. He still had a teacup with whiskey in one hand, laughing, as he brought the receiver to his ear. “Brand new Bloom residence,” he greeted cheerily.

“Well howdy, Bloom,” said an equally jovial but completely unfamiliar voice. “Sure is swell seeing you again.”

Cheshire laughed, glancing into the bedroom to see if one of the boys had picked up the second receiver. It sat in its cradle. “Ah, well,” he said. “I wish I could say the same, but this is a telephone. And sadly I can’t see you through the line, friend.”

The stranger on the other end laughed with him. “That is a shame. Because I’m sure that Fiscella you’re wearing is even more impressive up close.”

Cheshire’s stomach turned over as he again made a sweep of the room—everyone was accounted for, none of them paying any attention. “You like it, do you?” he said, stretching the phone cord as far as he could as he looked to the apartment entrance, and finally the windows. All the curtains had been thrown open for the sake of better lighting during the move, giving him a view of the cleared construction site across the street, and the river beyond. He squinted into the afternoon light. “I’ll introduce you to my tailor.”

“Oh, I think our time together would be better spent introducing you to my tailor,” the man replied, so affable it barely registered as condescension. “You come on over the river any time, Bloom. We’ll have a gas.”

“Chesh?”

Cheshire jumped, startled to find Jakub right beside him. He motioned for quiet, but by then the line was dead. He waited a moment to be sure before hanging up. “Did you hear that?” he asked.

Jakub frowned at him. “Who was it?”

Cheshire moved to the west-facing windows and peered out. He was starting to draw everyone’s attention, but he ignored their questions for a while, scanning the immediate view for any glint of light off binoculars. It had to be someone at the

construction site—across the river was too far. No spyglass was good enough to spot him from Manhattan, and yet…

“Cheshire,” Jakub insisted. “Who was on the phone?” “It was…” Cheshire caught himself grinning, and he

threw his arm around Jakub’s shoulders. “I’ll tell you later,” he whispered, and he turned both of them toward his other guests. “Greetings from my new neighbors!” he explained, tugging Jakub back toward the phone so he could retrieve his teacup. “Now let’s get back to finding something to eat.”