Love Is a Dangerous Dance novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Rooftop

Geoffrey took me into the prop room behind the stage, locked the door, and leaned on it.

Stuffed swans, a papier-mache throne and a rack of velvet capes watched us from the shadows.

"I saw his shoe," he said.

"Under the curtain, in my father's study."

"I looked at it for two full seconds and told my father to give you air."

"Why?"

"Because I'd rather lie to him than watch him find a man there."

"Geoffrey, who is he?"

"I don't know his name." His eyes were red at the rims.

"I know he isn't a waiter, and I know he's been in the building for weeks."

"I know my father is afraid of something this month."

"Afraid of what?"

"I don't know that either." He pushed a hand through his sandy hair.

"Please just ask him one question for me."

"Ask him who he works for."

"He works alone."

"Nobody works alone, Portia."

The way he said it made my skin prickle.

"I'll ask," I said.

"Thank you." He gripped my hands. "And whatever he says, don't let him choose for you."

I didn't know what to make of that.

I stood there in the dust with my heart knocking and let it go.

At two in the morning, the Marlowe was empty except for the night watchman asleep in the lobby.

I climbed the iron stairs behind the fly gallery, the same stairs my father had climbed, and pushed open the roof door.

The wind hit me in the face.

The city spread out below in a thousand yellow squares.

Alec stood at the edge of the roof beside a chimney stack, with a heavy canvas bag at his feet.

"Paper originals," he said, without turning. "A dozen boxes' worth. Got them off the truck."

"Did anyone see you?"

"Only the driver. He's asleep in his cab, and he'll wake up with a headache."

"You promised."

"I hit him once, and I didn't leave a mark."

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