Chapter 20

20

AUGUST 14, 1927 MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

I thought of little else but Marcus's announcement the next morning. It was Sunday, so I ate an early breakfast with Father and Mother and walked the five minutes to the church where Father had pastored most of my life until he'd begun to travel and gain notoriety. The new pastor was young and eager and liked the attention that Father's presence brought each Sunday we could attend. We sat through the service, and then returned home. The last thing I wanted to do was visit South Carolina, but I would have no choice. The only benefit would be to post a letter to Grandfather and Nanny, but I would have to do it right before we left the city, so Grandfather wouldn't have time to look for me.

"You are quiet today," Mother said as she walked beside me up the steps and into the house, just behind Father. "You haven't told me how your time with Lewis went the other night."

"It was pleasant," I said with a smile. "The sunken garden at Como Park is beautiful."

"Did he ... declare himself?"

Father turned sharply at that question. "What is this?" he asked, standing in the foyer. "Who is declaring themselves for Caroline?"

"Lewis," Mother said.

"No." I shook my head. "He isn't declaring himself—didn't declare himself."

"Well," Father said, his voice gruffer than usual, "if he intends to, he must speak to me first. No man will declare himself to my daughter without my permission."

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I refrained, knowing it would disrespect him. Though I valued his beliefs, a lot of young people were starting to make their own choices about love and marriage, without their parents' permission. If Lewis was serious about me, and if I'd given him any hint of encouragement, he would honor my father and speak to him—but not before he told me.

The smell of roasted chicken filled the air as we stepped into the house. Ingrid had lunch on the table for us, so we washed up and took our places.

After Father said grace, he lifted one of the newspapers off the corner of the table where Ingrid had placed it. He rarely read the newspaper in the morning before church, but almost always looked at it as soon as we sat down for Sunday lunch. He didn't even read the front page as he opened it.

My attention immediately caught on the large headline: Rogers and Barker Suspected in Grocery Store Heist, Lakeville .

"What is that?" I asked my father. "On the front page."

He closed the newspaper and looked at the headline, frowning. "It's only rubbish. If they didn't give gangsters like Rogers and Barker so much attention, they'd go away. They're only doing it for the fame."

"They held up a grocery store? In Lakeville, Minnesota?"

"It appears so."

"When?"

Father looked closely at the article. "Last evening."

My heart began to hammer. Annie Barker was in Minnesota—and if she'd been in Lakeville, just twenty miles south of the Twin Cities, it might mean she was on her way to Saint Paul. But Lewis had told me that Annie and Lloyd often camped out for days after a burglary. What if she was camping somewhere between here and Lakeville? Could I find her? Would there be enough clues to track her down? Surely if the police couldn't do it, I probably couldn't, either. But I had to try.

My appetite was gone, though I forced down the food and tried to remain calm as we finished our meal. Mother and Father often napped on Sunday afternoons, so Father was fresh for his evening radio broadcast. If I took the family car to Lakeville, I could speak to the grocery store owners about Annie and see if there was anything I could discover about her and where she might be staying. I would have to get back to Minneapolis by six, when Father would need the car to get to the broadcast—and because I was supposed to sing the opening hymn. But that would give me four or five hours, enough time to learn something.

We were just finishing our meal when the doorbell rang.

Ingrid volunteered to answer it as I wiped my mouth, and a few seconds later, I heard Lewis's voice.

Mother tried to hide a pleased smile, while Father attempted to look stern.

"They're just finishing lunch," Ingrid said. "Won't you come in?"

The three of us left the table, since we were done eating, and met Lewis in the parlor.

"It's nice to see you again so soon," Mother said. "Won't you have a seat?"

"I'm not here to visit," Lewis said, his gaze landing on me. "I'm here to see if Caroline would like to go for an afternoon drive."

I studied him, trying to determine his motivation. Was it romantic? Or was he there to tell me about Annie?

"Do you mind?" I asked my parents.

"Of course not," Mother said.

"Just have her home in time for the broadcast," Father admonished.

"I will," Lewis promised.

I found my hat and purse on the hall table where I'd left them and said goodbye to my parents before following Lewis outside.

"Is something wrong?" I asked as we made our way down the porch steps and to his vehicle.

"Did you read the headlines this morning?"

"I just saw them when we sat down to lunch. Is that why you came for me? Do you know where Annie is?"

"No, I don't know where she's at, but I suspected that you'd head to Lakeville the first chance you got. And since I don't want you going alone, I decided I might as well take you."

I grinned and took hold of his arm. "Thank you, Lewis."

He looked down at me, his blue eyes shining as he winked. "Anything to spend time with you."

I playfully rolled my eyes, but inwardly, I wasn't laughing. It had taken me a long time to realize that almost every time Lewis teased me, he was sharing his real feelings. He probably thought it wouldn't hurt as much to be rejected if he could pretend it had all been a joke. But it wasn't a joke—not to him or to me.

We got into his Chevy and pulled away from the house.

The day was picture-perfect, with a bright blue sky, no humidity, and a gentle breeze. The temperatures had been in the upper seventies, and the landscape was lush with summer blossoms. Wildflowers grew along the sides of the road, and cultivated gardens dotted the yards in our neighborhood.

"Have you heard anything about Annie?" I asked. "Beyond what you read in the paper?"

"I wasn't on duty yesterday or today, so I haven't heard anything else," he said. "If they pulled off the robbery last night, they might still be in the Lakeville area."

"Do you think they'll head to Saint Paul?"

"Probably. But they might be planning other small robberies before they get there." He glanced at me as he said, "I was able to do a little research about Annie's life in Texas."

I turned to him, eager to hear what he had to say. "And?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

The automobile rumbled as we turned onto Lyndale Avenue and headed south. I was quiet for a moment, wondering what had caused my time-crossing mother to lead a criminal life in both paths. Was it something she could control?

"I want to know."

"She was born in a small town in Texas in 1892," he began. "Her father died when she was a few years old, so she and a couple siblings were raised by her single mother. It was a tough childhood, from all accounts. She wasn't a great student and dropped out to get married when she was fifteen."

I frowned. "She ran away with her merchant husband in South Carolina when she was thirteen. She was so young in both lives."

Lewis readjusted himself in the driver's seat, as if he was uncomfortable with what I'd told him about my second life. I thought of Marcus, who was always eager to hear about it. Nothing I told him made him act uncomfortable. It intrigued him to know more, which allowed me to share freely.

"Apparently," Lewis continued, "Annie's marriage wasn't great. She stuck it out until she was twenty-one, but then left him, though there's no record of divorce."

"She died when she was twenty-one in her other life. I wonder if that affected her relationship with her husband here?"

Lewis didn't respond as he glanced out the driver's side window, not inviting more information from me.

"Does it make you uncomfortable when I talk about my other life?" I asked him.

"Honestly? I don't know how it makes me feel. I'm still struggling to understand it."

"I've been living this way for twenty years, and I don't understand it, either." I nibbled my bottom lip, not wanting him to stop telling me about Annie, but wondering if it was worth his discomfort.

"Anyway," he continued. "She worked as a waitress for several years until she met Lloyd Rogers, and from what people have said, it was love at first sight for them. Lloyd was raised rough and had already spent time in jail for auto theft, safecracking, and burglary. Apparently, Annie took up with him right away, and they've not only robbed banks, stores, and funeral homes, but they're also accused of kidnapping a police officer and holding him for ransom."

As he spoke, my despair grew deeper and deeper. "So, if she's caught, she's facing prison time."

"That's the way of it." He let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, Carrie."

We were driving down Lyndale Avenue toward Bloomington, not far from Wold-Chamberlain Field, where Charles Lindbergh would land in his Spirit of St. Louis when he visited Minneapolis in just nine days. A lake appeared on the right, drawing my attention as a crane lifted from the water, spreading its massive wings in flight. Sunshine sparkled off the surface of the lake, shimmering like a thousand diamonds. The earth was so full of beauty, yet riddled with heartbreaking ugliness, too. Why had Annie chosen such difficult and destructive paths? Both of her lives had followed similar patterns. An early marriage to a man she didn't seem to love, then passionate second relationships with men who had shared in her lawlessness.

"What will you do if you find her?" I asked him, almost afraid of the answer.

He was quiet for a few moments, and then he said, "I'll have to do the right thing."

As a Saint Paul police officer under the O'Connor System, I wasn't sure what his definition of the right thing would be.

"I need to talk to her, Lewis. That's what all of this is about. No matter what happens, you'll let me talk to her, won't you?"

"I know why you're doing this, Carrie. My priority is to get the answers you're looking for." He took my hand in his.

I offered him a smile and squeezed his hand before pulling away. "Thank you."

He returned my smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Lakeville was swarming with curiosity seekers. The city's welcome sign boasted a population of seven hundred people, with dozens of wooden and brick buildings downtown. The grocery store that Annie and Lloyd had robbed sat at the north end of Main Street.

Several deputy sheriffs were trying to create a barricade from the tourists taking pictures of the little grocery store, while the owners were cleaning up the mess that Annie and Lloyd had left in their wake. Both large, plate-glass windows at the front of the building had been shattered, and a nearby fence had been broken, presumably by the getaway car, since the ground around it was torn up with tire tracks.

"They made a mess of things," Lewis said as we approached the crowd.

"How are we going to speak to the owners or the law enforcement?" I asked him. "It doesn't look like they're letting anyone get close."

"I'll show them my badge."

Lewis took charge as he gently nudged people out of our way and stopped by the first deputy he found.

"I'm Detective Lewis Cager from the Saint Paul Police Department." He showed the deputy his silver badge, and though he was wearing street clothes, the deputy nodded and let us pass.

An older woman was sweeping broken glass as a man nailed boards over the window. Both looked tired and careworn, with deep wrinkles around their eyes. The woman appeared to have been crying, and when she looked up at our arrival, her eyes grew wide.

"You," she said as she stopped sweeping and pointed at me. "Who are you, and what do you want?"

My mouth parted at her strange and unwelcome greeting.

Lewis glanced at me, curious, and said, "You must look like Annie."

The woman narrowed her eyes. "You know Annie Barker?"

I shook my head, not able to explain my connection to her. "No," I said honestly. "I don't know her."

"You look just like her—only younger." The woman put one hand on her hip. "Are you sure you don't know her?"

"What's this about?" the man finally asked as he approached. "Are you more curiosity seekers?"

"No." Lewis showed the couple his badge. "I'm a detective with the Saint Paul Police Department, and we're here to ask some questions."

The woman continued to eye me with distrust, but Lewis didn't let it stop him.

"We're looking for Annie Barker and want to know what you can tell us about her."

"I already told the sheriff everything I have to say." The woman went back to sweeping. "I got a business to run, and I don't have time for nonsense."

"What do you want to know?" the man asked, casting a disparaging look at the woman.

"What way did they leave town?" Lewis asked.

The man nodded to the north. "They headed out that way."

"Toward the Twin Cities?" I asked, though it was obvious.

"As far as I can tell."

"And were they working alone?" Lewis asked. "Or were there more than two of them?"

"I only saw the two of them. The woman came in first, browsing the shelves. After she had a basket full of food, the man came in with a gun and demanded all the money in our register. After I gave it to them, they ran out of here with the food and the money, but he decided to turn and shoot the windows out for the pure fun of it. Me and the missus had to duck, or we might have been killed. I heard them squeal out of here, and they must have hit the fence because it made a ruckus. As soon as I knew they were in their car, I ran out after them and saw them speeding out of town."

The woman scowled at me, as if I was the one responsible for this mess.

"Did you hear them say anything helpful?" Lewis continued. "Anything about where they might be heading?"

"Sure." The man nodded. "When Lloyd walked in, before he showed his gun, he said, ‘What's taking so long, Annie? I want to get to Saint Paul before dark.' And she said, ‘I'm ready when you are.' Then he showed his gun, demanded our money, and they left."

My gaze caught on Lewis's, and he nodded, letting me know he understood the significance of the man's statement.

"Thank you for your time," Lewis said to them. "You've been very helpful."

"I don't want to see you around here again," the woman said to me. "No one who looks like that Annie Barker is welcome in these parts."

Her words hurt more than they should. In 1727, I was carrying the shame of being Anne Reed's daughter. Now, in 1927, I was being judged because of her, too. She cast a shadow over both my lives, and I'd never even met her.

Lewis put his hand at the small of my back and led me to his vehicle. "Don't let her get to you," he said.

We got into his Chevy, and he pulled away from the store, heading back toward the Twin Cities.

"What will we do now?" I asked.

"I'm taking you home."

"I'm not going home until I talk to Annie."

"How are we supposed to find her this afternoon, before your father's broadcast? I'll need some time to ask around."

"Let's go to the Green Lantern. Isn't that where criminals check in?"

"I'm not taking you there, Carrie. Besides, even if she did check in, it doesn't mean she told them where she's staying."

"Please, Lew—"

"End of discussion. It's far too dangerous, and what would people say if they saw you there?"

I clenched my hands, frustration mounting. "I'm so tired of being told what I can and cannot do. I'm an adult. If I want to go to the Green Lantern bar, then I should be able to go."

"It's reckless." He shook his head. "I won't be responsible for putting you in danger."

"You won't. I'm choosing to go. Why must I rely on you and my father and Marcus to make all the decisions for me?"

He frowned. "Who is Marcus?"

My bluster faded as I realized I'd misspoken. I had never intended to tell Lewis about Marcus. What would he think if he knew I was a captive on a pirate ship and that I'd foolishly fallen in love with a pirate? But I had to say something.

"He—he's someone from my other life." I looked out the window, not wanting him to see my face, afraid I might give away my feelings. We were driving north toward the Twin Cities again, passing sprawling farmlands on either side of the road.

Lewis was silent for a moment, then he asked, quietly, "Are you in love with this Marcus?"

Marcus was two hundred years away, on a pirate ship in Florida. Yet he was just as real as Lewis. I didn't want to hurt my friend, but perhaps it would be best if I told Lewis, so he knew where my heart belonged.

With a deep breath, I said, "Yes. I am in love with Marcus."

His hands gripped the steering wheel so hard, his knuckles turned white, but he kept his face neutral as he nodded. "How long have you been in love?"

"Not long."

"Does he love you?"

Did Marcus love me? I knew he cared for me. His words the other night had revealed a depth of longing he couldn't hide. And he was scared to hurt me, but did he love me?

I clasped my hands on my lap, feeling defeated and scared. How would I face my life once Marcus was gone? Even if he did love me, there was no future for us. "I don't know if he loves me."

Lewis let out a breath and shook his head. "He loves you."

I looked up at him quickly. "How do you know?"

The gaze he turned to me was filled with such longing and tenderness, it broke my heart. "I can see it in your eyes. He loves you as much as you love him, even if he hasn't told you."

My heart beat hard. I wanted to believe Lewis, but it hurt too much to think that Marcus loved me as much as I loved him and neither of us could have what we wanted.

"What's keeping him from telling you?" he asked me.

I swallowed, trying not to let my emotions take over. "It's complicated."

"We have another twenty minutes until we reach Minneapolis."

"You're not going to like what I have to say."

"Try me."

And so I told Lewis all about Marcus Zale—and I was right. He didn't like it one bit.

After I told him everything, he was silent for a long time.

"You fell in love with your captor?" he asked, almost accusatory.

"Marcus isn't my captor," I said softly. "Captain Zale is my captor. Marcus has been nothing but kind. He encouraged me to tell my grandfather where I am, and he's going to help me find a place to live."

Lewis gave me such a scathing look, I knew he was both angry and afraid for me. "I don't trust him, Carrie."

"You don't know him."

"He's a pirate. He's no better than Annie and Lloyd."

"Or my brothers, or anyone else that's making poor choices." I crossed my arms. "You don't understand. Marcus wants to change."

He scoffed. "People don't change."

I stared at Lewis, surprised at his attitude. "Why would you become a police officer if you didn't believe people could change? Isn't that what you hope? That the criminals you apprehend will turn their lives around, given the opportunity?"

"No, Carrie. This is more proof that you're na?ve. I am a police officer to save innocent people like you from scoundrels who want to hurt you. End of story. And Marcus Zale sounds like the biggest scoundrel of all."

"I knew I shouldn't have told you."

"Because you knew I would recognize a villain when I heard one." He pressed his lips together. "Why is love wasted on fools?"

My temper flared to life. "Are you calling me a fool, Lewis?"

He pulled over to the side of the road and leveled a challenging glare at me. "Yes! You have an honorable, hardworking, and dependable man right in front of you, offering you a happy life. And yet you have given your heart to a pirate who refuses to declare his love for you. I think that's the height of foolishness."

My body temperature had risen, and I was so angry, I chose to overlook the declaration he'd just made. "Take me home, Lewis."

"With pleasure. Because that's the most reasonable thing you've said all day."

Neither of us said another word on the way back to my house.

When Lewis parked on the street, I got out of his vehicle and headed up the sidewalk.

I heard Lewis's door open, and a moment later, his gentle voice stopped me. "Carrie. Wait."

I stood for a heartbeat, now more sad than angry. When I turned, I found him just a few feet from me. I'm not sure if I went into his arms, or if he drew me in, but I found myself embracing him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, close to my ear.

"I'm sorry, too."

"You have to know how I feel about you."

I simply nodded, unable to find my voice.

"I know your feelings don't match mine," he continued. "And maybe that's my fault for being—"

"It's not your fault—or my fault. It's just the way things are." I slowly pulled back. "I know I'm a fool for caring about Marcus the way I do, but my heart belongs to him, Lewis. I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry." He tried to smile. "Because you're right. It's not your fault that you've fallen in love with a—" He couldn't seem to say the word.

"Pirate?" I asked, half smiling.

He shook his head, but I could see he was trying to make light of the situation. "One of the reasons I've always admired you is because you're intelligent and thoughtful. If you've found a reason to fall in love with him, then he must be a good man. I shouldn't have tried to belittle him in your eyes."

I returned to Lewis's embrace and whispered, "Thank you."

He held me tight, as if he didn't want to let me go, but he finally did. "I'm heading to the Green Lantern. I'll tell you if I learn anything helpful."

I nodded, trying to pull my emotions together.

"Please promise me you won't look for Annie without me," he said. "I couldn't bear if you got hurt."

"I won't."

"Good." He tried to smile again. "Goodbye, Carrie."

As Lewis pulled away, I knew why I was so upset.

There was some truth to what he'd said about Marcus.