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“Yes, Ruby’s not feeling quite herself and needs a bit of cheering up.”
George scoffed.
“Seriously, she does.”
He sighed. “Well, I’m glad I could steal you from your social calendar this afternoon for myself.”
She kissed him. “Me, too.” She paused. “You don’t mind if I go out again with Ruby tonight.”
“No, but…”
Vickie braced herself. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear a but.
“I’d like to go out with you for dinner this week. Tomorrow night will have to do.”
“It’s a date.” She smiled at him. Things were just right between them. A little rocky at times, but right for them. She wriggled off of him and stood.
“Maybe I’ll keep the new outfit for tomorrow night for you,” she said with a sassy tone to her voice.
“I’m sure it will be worth the wait.”
“Naturally.” She held out her hand and helped him off the couch. “Now, let’s get something to eat.”
Dressing, she found herself thinking about the Black Hearts Club. She slid on her vest and slipped her fingers into the pocket.
The invitation was still there.
It was real.
It was happening.
She was going to go again.
A shiver went down her back. She wondered what type of spiritualistic performance she might see tonight. More talking with spirits? Or something different? It was all very delightfully intriguing now that she knew the truth about Miguel, and it had been a message for Ruby, but her mind was still whirling with questions. What was the next Black Hearts’ meeting going to bring? She was nervous as hell about it, but at the same time, she couldn’t wait to find out.
Chapter 11
“Looking smart, Dr. Wenderlen,” said Vickie as she got into Ruby’s steamcar. She clipped on her seat belt as the driver took off, and they headed into the city. That was one thing she had told George—they were going into the city. At least he was relieved to hear that as it was a safer destination compared to the Port or the southern suburbs where the crime rate was high.
“Why, thank you, darling. I must say this is a much better suit you bought for me,” said Ruby with a glint in her eye. She wore black trousers, a black high-neck shirt, and a deep claret vest under a black tailored jacket that was her own and could pass as being worn by a man. Her hair was pinned under a wig of short dark hair. To Vickie, she still looked like Ruby, but if they could fool people last night, then she was confident they could again tonight. That wasn’t what was worrying her. Her mind was more concerned with how she was going to discover what the Black Hearts Cub was really about. She wished she had a plan.
Vickie laughed. “I had expert help.” She was glad that Ruby was presenting as her usual happy-go-lucky self.
Ruby smiled. “You did, and thank goodness I was around to help you. Now, you do have the invitation?”
“Of course.” Vickie took it out from a hidden pocket in her deep purple dress and held it up for Ruby to see.
“Good.” Ruby nodded. “You do look smart yourself tonight, darling.” She changed her voice to a deeper tone.
Vickie smiled. Ruby had helped pick out this dress for her in one of the previous shopping trips together. She would have preferred to wear a pair of her leather pants, so she could be ready for action if the need was required. This dress was socially acceptable for such an invitation that the Black Hearts Club demanded but also practical. She could move her legs if needed. It was long-sleeved but tailored to her arm, with a ruffled-type collar that was wide and emphasized her bust with the help of the black belt she wore. The dress cascaded down long in the back but mid-thigh in the front. A little daring for the night, but she decided to take the risk. She was wearing fishnet stockings with long black boots. She’d even thought of bringing the Gatling gun that fit on her wrist, but she couldn’t get to it without raising George’s suspicions.
While Ruby was looking happy and seemingly her usual self, Vickie needed to be sure before they entered the venue. She didn’t want anything to happen, and if Ruby got upset again, that could run the risk of their cover being blown.
It didn’t take long before the driver stopped at 55 North Terrace, the address on the invitation. Vickie couldn’t help feeling a little déjà vu being back in the city two nights in a row, going to the same club with Ruby dressed up as her husband. At least the destination was different.
She peered through the window of the steamcar, looking upward at the ten-story building to see if she could see any hints of the part that was on the rooftop. There were only a few lights, suggestive of nothing. The Black Hearts Club was curiously secretive. Would she find out what that secret was tonight?
There was a beefy man in a suit looking rather grim standing by a door under the number 55 of the Victorian-style building with red bricks and white edging around the windows. It looked authentic but was a replica of the architecture of the past. It had survived the war, though it was more human loss that occurred as countries fought for dominance. Vickie noted that the venue had a different feel than last night’s venue. She wasn’t sure if that was good or not, but having security at the front suggested that whoever was running the Black Hearts Club was being careful, and there had to be a reason for that. Her stomach turned on itself with nerves.
