1929 Read Online Free Page A

get us on
there,” he suggested with a tentative shrug.
    “What guys? What kind of trouble?” Caleb
asked cautiously.
    “Roman Grey and Harvey Duggins. You don't
know them. They got into gambling bad a couple of years ago. They
did okay at first but tempted fate and ended up losing a lot. They
dipped into the petty cash fund at the dock office because they
didn’t want their families to find out. They figured they’d win
back what they had lost and replace the money. Didn’t work out that
way, though.
    “Long story short, it got so bad they ended
up messing with the numbers in payroll, and some accounts came up
short. The big boss started getting suspicious, and they came to me
in a panic. I pulled an all-nighter and fixed the books to hide the
missing money. They gave me some cash the next day. I didn’t ask
where it came from, but I took it and worked some magic on the
Street,” he said, smiled and raised his eyebrows twice. “A week
later, I gave them back their money ten-fold. They replaced the
money to payroll, petty cash and banked the rest. All important
parties none the wiser.” He leaned forward and poured another
drink, obviously proud of himself.
    Jonathan looked at him incredulously. “You do
know that was illegal, don’t you?”
    Aryl shrugged. “No harm, no foul. Besides,
saving their asses back then just might save ours now.”
    “It’s worth a shot. How soon can you talk to
these guys?” Caleb asked.
    “I’ll go in the morning. Dock runs six days a
week, and so do we now. No more bankers’ hours for us,” Aryl said
with a gruff laugh.
    “Well, I can start scouting for apartments,”
Caleb added. “I know of some property owners that deal in
affordable housing.”
    “I can go with you,” Jonathan volunteered
flatly.
    “I really need you to stay here with Arianna.
I can’t take care of business if I’m worried about her running off
again.” Jonathan shifted in his chair uncomfortably.
    “It would really help me out, Jonathan,”
Caleb pleaded.
    “Fine,” he said, clearly irritated. “Maybe I
can pack the drapes and sort through the china. I’m sure Maura’s
got an extra apron and headscarf around here somewhere.”
    Aryl stifled a laugh from the mental
picture.
    They continued to talk for the next hour:
possible places to live, what to bring, how much cash each couple
had and what bare necessities they would need.
    During a quiet moment, Ava came in the room
with Claire close behind her.
    “Caleb, Arianna is asking for you.”
    He took a deep breath and finished his drink.
“I’ll be right back,” he said as he lumbered toward the stairs.
     
    ∞∞∞
     
    Caleb stood outside the bedroom door. Arianna
lay curled on her side in the large bed. The bedside lamp dimly
illuminated the room. Her crystal blue eyes were puffy from crying
and her short, glossy black hair disheveled. Of course, Caleb
thought she was still the most beautiful creature who had ever
lived. Sometimes he had so much pride in her that he pitied his
friends whose wives were more ordinary. There was nothing ordinary
about Arianna. Her voice was raspy when she spoke.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered, sounding
genuinely ashamed. She moved lethargically to the center of the
bed, motioning for him sit by her. “I didn’t think you’d come. I
thought you probably hated me for what I did.”
    “I don’t hate you, Arianna, I couldn't. I
know you were just scared.” He reached to touch her face, but she
turned away.
    “It’s not just that.” She pulled herself up
and sat cross-legged, leaning her elbows on her knees. “I don’t
think I can do this.” She hung her head in a combination of shame
and exhaustion.
    “Do what?” he asked cautiously. She really is
leaving, he thought, and his heart twisted with pain, beat faster
with fearful dread. She mustered the courage to look him in the
eyes. Her voice was broken and uneven when she began.
    “It’s not that I don’t love you. I do, Caleb.
With all