The Missing White Lady: A 1920s Historical Mystery (Penelope Banks Murder Mysteries) by Colette Clark

Author:Colette Clark [Clark, Colette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“The Silver Palace? Don’t tell me you’re changing careers already, Pen. I thought you were drowning in kale?”

“It’s not for me, it’s for my latest case. I finally have an interesting one, though it may be far more complicated than I thought.”

Penelope was at the Peacock Club in Harlem, formerly one of her most lucrative locations at which to play cards. It was a jazz club that was laxer than other places, like the segregated Cotton Club, when it came to the races intermingling. For many people, that bit of risqué was the appeal—that and the abundance of contraband alcohol served.

For Penelope, it meant comfortably having a drink with Lucille “Lulu” Simmons. Lulu was the one who had once helped her navigate the more unsavory underworld of gambling and illegally obtained “medicinal” brandy.

“My, my, my, this detecting business is much more interesting than I thought,” Lulu hummed with a smile, her stunning, cat-like eyes studying Penelope with amusement.

“You’re welcome to change careers yourself and join me,” Pen offered, somewhat hoping her old friend would accept. She was beginning to realize that being able to talk things out with a second person was a benefit in this job, and Lulu was one of the savviest people she knew.

Lulu laughed and lifted her glass. “I think I’ll settle for the champagne. I can’t imagine what my mama would think, me chasing down criminals. She already assumes I’m bad news, singing jazz at night. ”

“Does she know where you are right now?” Pen asked with a smirk.

“She knows I’m out with a friend, and that’s all she’s gonna know,” Lulu replied smartly. “Now that I know you’re looking into the Silver Palace, I’m sure she’d have a heart attack if I joined you. Not that she knows what goes on there, mind you.”

“So you know of it?”

“I’ve heard of it,” she said, making it quite clear she had nothing to do with the place.

Pen grinned. “So what have you heard?”

Lucille took a sip of her champagne and eyed Pen over the rim. After pulling it away and swallowing she took a breath and exhaled. “I’m not one to talk dirty about any fellow performers but I do know girls only end up working there for one of two reasons. Either their only talent lies in what they look like, and I mean below the neck if you get my drift. Or, they have a history that keeps them from working at more legitimate venues.”

Penelope thought about the show she’d seen. It was true that most of the ladies on stage were lovely, though somewhat lacking in the talent department. Even Daphne, as pretty as she was, could have used a few singing lessons if she wanted to replace Daisy. But Daisy had a nice enough voice and could dance. So what was her sordid history?

“Does that go for the producers and others involved with creating the show?”

“Especially them,” Lulu said with a laugh. She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head toward the club behind her.

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