Once a Thief - By Frances Devine Page 0,2
Ben. Does she look like a robber to you?” Mrs. Kramer placed a hand on her husband’s arm and frowned at Blake.
By this time, Blake was ready to let the matter drop and slink away, but then he glanced down at the girl.
She stared back at him, her full lips tipped ever so slightly in a triumphant smirk.
He tightened his lips and scowled at her. The little thief was going to get away with it unless he insisted. He squinted and spoke with grim determination. “Surely someone saw her in the bank. That should settle this matter.” He threw his own “take that” smirk back at the girl.
Mr. Kramer nodded. “Let’s go into the bank and wait for the police. They should be able to get to the bottom of this.”
Blake heard a sharp intake of breath and glanced at the girl.
She quickly lowered her gaze.
Grim satisfaction swelled in his chest. “Good idea. I’ll escort the young lady myself.” He snatched the cap from the sidewalk and then took her by the arm, none too gently, and helped her up. When she winced, he felt a stab of guilt and loosened his grip. They trooped down the street and into the bank, with the girl casting scathing looks at Blake. He would feel like an idiot if she turned out to be innocent. But she had been running after the other robbers, and besides, what was a young girl doing gallivanting around town dressed like a boy? She was guilty, all right.
“What’s the trouble here?” Officer Brady’s booming voice preceded his solid frame that shoved through the bank door.
“Mr. Fowler’s been robbed!” one of the sales clerks blurted out.
“Well, I know Mr. Fowler’s been robbed.” The officer turned a scathing look on the young man. “I’m here to get particulars of the crime.”
Mr. Kramer stepped forward. “It seems this gentleman was robbed of his wallet and watch. Mr. Nelson here believes he has apprehended a suspect—”
“Mr. Nelson is quite mistaken.” Mrs. Kramer interrupted. She motioned to the girl who stood silently. “This poor girl is obviously not a crook.”
“And I say, at least find out if anyone saw her in the bank during the robbery,” Blake insisted.
Officer Brady squinted blue eyes at the girl.
“All right, then. If anyone saw this wee young thing thieving with a gang of hoodlums, step forward and identify her.”
When no one moved, he nodded and turned back to the girl. “What’s your name, lass?” He gave her the once-over, and one corner of his mouth pulled up. “And what’s a bonny young thing like you doing running around in a lad’s suit of clothing?”
Blake stared in disbelief. The officer spoke to the girl like a kindly old grandfather. And with a twinkle in his eye at that.
“Danielle Grays–s–s–s, sir.” She stumbled over the words and spoke so softly, Blake could barely hear her.
“And what about the boy’s clothes?” Blake demanded, raising an eyebrow in her direction. Was he the only one who thought that was more than a little suspicious?
Panic crossed her face for a moment. She swallowed and suddenly her face crumpled. “They were my brother’s.” She lifted imploring eyes to Officer Brady and continued. “He died in the orphanage, you see, and when I left, I took his clothing with me.” She covered her face with her hands and began to sob. “Because they were all I had left of him.” She took the handkerchief Officer Brady offered, wiped her nose daintily, and sniffled. “Then my dress wore out, and I had nothing else to wear.”
Blake looked on in astonishment. Officer Brady had fallen for it. Blake couldn’t help but feel just a touch of admiration for the performance.
“Now, now, don’t you cry, my dear.” The officer’s lined face seemed about to crumple, too. “And I’ll warrant you’ve been sleeping on park benches now, haven’t ye?”
The girl looked startled for a moment, then biting her lip, she nodded.
“Well now, young man,” the officer said with a stern look at Blake. “I think your question is answered. And not one person saw her in the bank anyway.”
Blake snorted. “Of course they didn’t! She had her hair hidden under this cap.”
Officer Brady pursed his lips and exhaled loudly, then after throwing a disgusted glance at Blake, he smiled at the girl.
“Little lady, I hate to be troubling you, but if you please, put the cap on and stuff your hair up under it.”
❧
A bolt of panic shot through Danielle. She looked from the kind face