Yet she supposed that she had not exactly given the man the most restful repose the night before. Rory approached Zeke cautiously, Duffy hard on her heels.
Despite how low she called Zeke’s name, it was impossible not to startle him. He jerked awake, springing to his feet, fists drawn back. When he realized it was Rory, he expelled his breath in a long sigh. He lowered his arm, adjusting the brim of the battered felt hat, which had nearly flown off.
He smiled even as he complained, “About time you got back here. I was ready to—” His smile vanished when he saw Duffy at her shoulder.
“Hello, Morrison,” Duffy said. “I like the hat.”
Zeke’s hands balled into fists. To Rory’s dismay, he took a menacing step forward. Luckily, Duffy understood the better part of valor. He ducked behind Rory, using her skirts as a shield.
“Take it easy, Morrison. You wouldn’t want to be arrested for two murders.”
“Why not? They can only hang me once.”
“Zeke!” Rory positioned herself firmly in his path, splaying her hands against his chest. “Mr. Duffy seems to have been as much a victim as you. He believed that story was true.”
“Maybe I should teach him to check his facts.”
Duffy peered round her. “I haven’t seen anything in your behavior yet to convince me I made a mistake.”
With such a beginning, it was all she could do to get the two men to sit back down on the bench and talk. When they did, she positioned herself as a buffer between them.
Although still glaring at Duffy, Zeke was persuaded to tell his entire story, from Decker’s threats to O’Connell’s attempt to shoot him in cold blood to the escape in the balloon.
“The balloon. That’s the first I heard of that.” Duffy gave an ecstatic sigh. “What a story! I hope it’s all true. With a tale like that the editor would give me the whole front page. Those smart-mouthed reporters from the Times would be green.” As another thought appeared to strike him, Duffy looked more subdued. “That is if I still have a job. Lord, Morrison, you wouldn’t sue the paper, would you, over one little mistake?”
“No, I’d be more likely to bust up your printing press.”
Duffy brightened. “Oh, that’d be all right, but my editor hates lawsuits.”
Rory tapped her foot, growing impatient with the pair of them. “Before we worry about breaking presses or writing new stories, we need to deal with the problem that Mr. Morrison is still wanted for murder. Mr. Duffy, in a court of law, would you be willing to reveal the name of the man who gave you the false information?”
“Court of law, hell,” Zeke said. “All Duffy needs to do is assure me it was Decker, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
Rory exchanged a glance with Duffy. He apparently understood her unspoken plea, for he hedged. “Well, the matterseems more complicated than that. There could be someone else besides Decker involved. That friend of yours, Addison, was doing extensive investigating, wasn’t he? He implied he had uncovered more than one villain. It might be better, Morrison, if you kept a low profile and let me do a little nosing around.”
Rory’s heart sank as she saw that Zeke was not about to agree to that. Being inactive for this long had chafed him raw. Another argument ensued, but this time she had Duffy on her side.
“At least let me drop by police headquarters,” Duffy said. “I have a few contacts there. I can see how their investigation is going, find out whether your place is guarded, if it’s safe for you to return home.”
When Zeke shook his head, Duffy continued to plead. “Aw, what’s a few more hours? Look, I’ll lend you a few dollars and—” He paused to grin. “I never thought the day would come that I would lend money to anyone, let alone the richest man in New York. Anyhow, you could nip off to some quiet restaurant and feed your girl here.”
Zeke stiffened. “She’s not my girl. She’s my fiancée.”
Rory nearly choked at that. As usual Zeke was rushing over her with the force of a gale wind. But she had no chance to protest in the face of Duffy’s delighted exclamations.
“Another story! I can see the headlines. Tycoon Weds Balloon Girl. They’ll have to give me a special edition.” He looked as though he were about to die and cross the threshold of heaven. “Just remember, Morrison, when this is all over, you owe me. The entire tale of your life, starting with day one, where you were born, who your parents were?—”
“I don’t owe you anything except a punch in the nose.” Zeke felt ready to deliver it. But his gaze went to Rory’s face, her eyes clouded with an anxiety that hadn’t been there when Zeke had first met her. She shouldn’t have been that pale. Maybe there was some wisdom in letting Duffy pursue a few inquiries.
“All right. Give me the money and get the hell out of here.”
Duffy turned out his pockets and managed to come up with a dollar. Folding it into his fist, Zeke was filled with a wry amusement, remembering the night he had taken Rory out to dine at Delmonico’s. He had tipped the waiter more than that.
While Duffy disappeared on his mission, Zeke discovered the dollar was enough to purchase ham sandwiches and coffee from a little deli. Afterward, he and Rory returned to the park and lingered on one of the benches, watching the sun set over the rotunda at City Hall.
There was little talk between them. Rory was too tired. Zeke draped his arm about her, nestling her head against his shoulder. Perhaps it was foolish to hang about out in the open so much, but he didn’t see much sign of an extensive police search for him. The city was a big place, the locale of many crimes. Maybe the murder of Addison had already passed into insignificance.
Zeke couldn’t let that happen. He owed the man more than that. Maybe even the punishment of Decker would not be enough. So what could he do? Erect a statue to Addison’s memory? The park was already full of them, just more places for pigeons to roost.
