The Double Vice: The 1st Hidden Gotham Novel by Chris Holcombe (free ebook reader txt) 📕

late. The line is already halfway down the street and it’s back that way.” He gestured to their right.

The couple flinched at the harsh brogue and moved along, casting furtive glances over their shoulders.

“I see your usual graciousness extends to strangers as well,” Finn said.

He began to take off his disguise one layer at a time. First went the whiskers.

“These blasted things are just itching my face. Honestly, the things I do for you people.”

“Finney,” Joe said, “tell us what happened.”

Once the whiskers were off, Finn examined them. “He’s an odd one, that Walter. First, his darling mother walked him all the way to the front door.”

Dash asked, “Of the apartment?”

The coat was next. Finn slid it off his shoulders and folded it over his forearm. “Of the building. She stood there and waved him goodbye. She watched him leave, almost like she was making sure he left. I didn’t dare move from my spot until after she went back inside.”

“Well played, Finn.”

Finn grinned as he picked up the wig from the ground. “I’m going to pretend I don’t hear a note of surprise in your voice. It would be shameful if the two of you doubted my abilities.”

He shook out the wig and added it to the garments draped over his forearm.

“I was half a block behind him the whole time. Needless to say, he did not go to the Committee of Fourteen.”

A man in his twenties came up to Finn. “Excuse me, are you an actor in this playhouse?”

Finn gave him a most thorough once over. “Hello, stranger. Why do you ask?”

The man pointed to Finn’s disguise. “You’re coming from another performance, aren’t you?”

Finn was amused. “In a manner of speaking.”

The man leaned in and lowered his voice. “Can you help a gentleman out with a ticket? All the preview performances are sold out and I’m dying to see this show before the ticket prices go up.”

Joe intervened. “Look, lad, we’re having a conversation here.”

The man held up his hands. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to offend.” He tipped the brim of his fedora. “Have a good night, sirs.” He turned and walked towards the box office line.

Finn whirled around to Joe. “How dare you interrupt what was an obvious flirtation. Goddess knows, I need a distraction as my poor, sweet Valentino is still laid up after his surgeries.”

Dash asked, “Any news on that front?”

Finn sadly shook his head. “Still waiting and seeing.”

Joe’s fiery brow wrinkled again. “Who cares about that Valentino bloke. Finney, where did Walter go?”

Finn rolled his eyes. “All over. I must say, I am just exhausted after today.” He reached into his front trouser pocket and pulled out a scrap of paper, unfolding it. “I wrote down all the places he visited. Maybe you can tell me what they mean, because darlings, I have no earthly nor heavenly idea what that man was doing.”

He squinted as he read from the paper.

“First, he went to a café on 86th and Madison for breakfast. Then down to some of the Times Square cinemas and caught a couple of motion pictures. The Big Parade and Ben Hur, if anyone’s interested. Then he went to the German motion picture theatre back up on 86th. Last stop was the bank. Then he went home.”

Dash couldn’t conceal his puzzlement.

Finn returned the piece of paper to his pocket. “I trust you’re as confused as I.”

Dash said, “He’s acting like a man of leisure.”

Joe added, “A man without a care in the world.”

“Do you think he knew he was being followed?”

Finn shook his head with disgust. “Again, with the doubt! Boys, he never once looked back nor over his shoulder. Didn’t stop in front of shop windows to catch someone in a reflection. I crisscrossed the street several times, so I was never directly behind him or across from him at any time. Trust me, there’s no way he spotted me.”

Dash laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Good work, Finn. I apologize.”

“I’ll accept that apology over a drink and a sailor.”

A foursome of women walked up to them. Without missing a beat, Finn pointed to their right. “Box office line is that way, dearies,” he said before they could ask.

As the foursome moved away, Joe said, “What does this mean, lads?”

Dash replied, “I’m not sure, but I think it’s telling he lied about being employed by the Committee. Oh! Remember, Joe? Walter wanted information by Thursday, and I asked if we needed to bring it to the office? He was quick to say to bring it to his apartment.” Dash smiled in triumph. “That’s because he doesn’t work at the Committee at all.”

“Well, lassie, hold up. What if he took off a few days to let the bruising heal?”

“Yes,” Finn said, “he really took a beating that night, much deserved. Perhaps he didn’t want his colleagues to know he’d been in a fight. I imagine anti-vicers look down on brawling.”

Dash nodded. “You’re right.”

Joe added, “And don’t forget, the Committee spies on entertainment places regularly. Maybe that’s what this lad was doing.”

“But Karl said he worked in the finance department, not in the field.”

Finn said, “Maybe Karl was lying.”

“It’s possible.” Dash looked up at the purpling sky. Night was coming. “Let’s see if he goes to work tomorrow. If not, then he’s lying to all of us as well as his mother.”

Joe grunted. “Makes ya wonder why.”

Finn held up a pointer finger. “Excuse me, but let’s go back a bit. Did you say we owe him information by this Thursday? As in tomorrow? We don’t have anything to tell him!”

Dash replied, “We might, gents. We just might.”

He filled them in on his conversation with Prudence Meyers.

“A legal case?” Joe said.

“Criminal by the sounds of it. If Pru is building a case against Walter, then we might see some interesting behavior in his daily activities.”

“How do ya know Pru’s building a case against him?”

“Educated guess. I can’t see this woman working for the likes of him, but I absolutely can see her working