A New Woman: Chapter 8
An Agent Carter Fanfic
Peggy and Edith arrived at the dancehall before the men. Edith closed her eyes and soaked in the music as she ran her hands down the satiny material of her dress. She thought about her brother taking her to the dancehall back home. She missed those nights, stumbling back into the house, unable to stand from laughter at Charlie’s mimicry of her various partners of the night.
Peggy took her arm, and she shook her head, clearing the memories. “Let’s go find ourselves a table,” Peggy suggested.
When Daniel and Jack arrived, the two women were sipping their drinks at what Edith guessed was the table with the best vantage point.
“Evening, ladies,” Daniel said as he sat down.
Edith looked up at him and smiled. Then her eyes caught on Jack and she choked on her drink.
He wore a nondescript navy suit and walked with a dark look and glance over his shoulder every few seconds. He never reached for his gun, but he was aware of it, and tension was etched into every line of his posture. There was no hiding he was a cop.
His eyes narrowed when she coughed and rubbed her throat. “Sorry,” she choked. “I’ve had a bit of a cough today.” She smiled and leaned her chin on her hand. “But look at you all decked out.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Peggy take a sip to cover her smile. Jack frowned like he knew she was teasing him, but couldn’t work out how.
“Seen any sign of Sutton yet?” Daniel asked.
“No, but if he’s only coming for the show, he likely won’t show up until later,” Peggy said.
“Guess we’d better settle in for a wait then,” Jack said.
Peggy smiled and pushed back her chair. “Well! I, for one, am up for a dance. Edith?” Edith grinned and followed her over to the dance floor, where they were each quickly snatched up by one of the many gentlemen looking for a good time.
She was sure Peggy was keeping a careful eye on things through the dances, but her only role tonight was to blend in, so blend in she would. The music was loud and the dances fast and carefree. She cycled through partners like flipping through a magazine, and, for once, she felt at peace. It seemed that, as long as she kept moving, she could outrun her pain and bad memories. The dance was too fast for them to keep up.
When she finally paused, breathless, Peggy offered her a drink.
“Having fun?” she asked.
Edith smiled. “Oh, very much. I haven’t been dancing in a long time.”
“Really? Why not?”
“I used to go with my brother all the time, but after he died, I just didn’t feel like it. Too soon, I guess. Then I moved here and didn’t know anyone. I didn’t want to go on my own, and Thea was always working–” She stopped. She didn’t want to think about Thea tonight. “Have you spotted him yet?”
Peggy sighed. “Not yet.” She chuckled. “Of course, he might have been scared off by Chief Thompson.” She gestured over to where Jack, having declined a seat, stood by the wall, watching everyone suspiciously.
Edith winced. “Oh dear.”
“I’ve been telling him for years he needs to lighten up a bit. Clearly, he listens to everything I say.”
Edith chuckled as she watched him for a moment, then she flashed a grin at Peggy. “I’ll be back.”
She wove through the crowd, deposited her drink sat the table Daniel kept, and wandered over to Jack, tapping his arm lightly. “Join me for a dance?”
His gaze never faltered as he surveyed the crowd. “Kinda busy here.”
“So is Peggy, but she’s been dancing for a while now.”
“No thank you.”
She slid her hand through his elbow and smiled up at him. “Please? You are supposed to be my date after all.”
To her surprise, he didn’t pull away. “I thought you weren’t going to interfere with the investigation.”
“I wasn’t, but you really need to relax.” She lowed her voice. “Everything about you right now screams ‘I’m a cop!’ You’re going to scare everyone away.” She tugged on his arm and walked backwards to the dance floor.
“Good. It’ll be easier to find Sutton.” Despite his sarcasm, he let her drag him along.
“How am I supposed to focus on finding this guy if I’m distracted dancing?” he asked as she slid her hand into his.
“I’m starting to think you can’t dance,” Edith suggested, raising an eyebrow.
“I can dance.” His tone sounded just defensive enough that she thought she actually hit the mark.
At least, until the music started.
He was a good dancer. A very good dancer. The band played their fasted song yet, but he never slipped or missed a step as they shuffled side to side. He spun her again and again until she was dizzy, but she loved every minute of it, and she was proud to see the hint of a smile tugging the corners of his lips. The music swelled until it seemed to rumble in her chest, and she closed her eyes for a second, letting memories of all the nights she had spent in dancehalls pour over her. The song ended, and so did they, with an elaborate spin that continued as long as the horns blared their last, vibrant note.
The pair hesitated a second, watching each other and breathing hard. Edith wanted to say something to make him laugh. Something to keep that smile on his face, but she couldn’t think of a thing.
“There, I’ve danced. Are you happy now?” he asked, though the expression on his face suggested he was pleased as well.
Edith let go of his hands, smirked, and lifted her chin. “Very.”
She watched him walk away, and when he passed their table, Daniel pushed a chair out with his foot and gestured to it. She couldn’t hear what they said, but Jack agreed to sit, looking much more comfortable now. Satisfied, she turned around to find Peggy standing right behind her.
“Well, that was entertaining,” Peggy said, raising her eyebrows. “I didn’t know he could dance.”
“Neither did I,” Edith admitted. “but turns out he’s quite the jive bomber.”
Peggy laughed. “Not something I ever thought I’d hear said about Jack Thompson.”
Peggy’s eyes flicked over Edith’s shoulder. Her smile didn’t falter, but her posture shifted. “He’s here. Why don’t you go sit down.”
Edith’s heart skipped a beat. “Now?” But Peggy was already moving.
She hurried back to the table, where Daniel was getting up. She glanced around, but Jack had already melted into the crowd.
“Stay here,” Daniel whispered as he passed, heading toward the backdoor. Probably going to cut off the man’s escape.
She sat down heavily and clutched her bag, ready to run if she needed to. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that she asked to be here. She wanted to come, to help if she could . . ."
She jumped when the screams started.
No, not screams exactly. They sounded more . . . annoyed. The crowd churned, and the shouted complaints quieted to a more steady grumbling. She bit her lip and stood up, trying to see what was happening, but she wasn’t tall enough.
With a huff, she dropped her bag onto another chair, then clambered up on her own. She saw a man in a black suit, pushing his way through the crowd. Not far behind him, both Peggy and Jack converged from opposite sides. He glanced back at them, then his eyes rose to meet Edith’s.
Shock and anger filled his expression, and she gasped as he reached the door–
Only for Daniel to step through from the other side with a set of handcuffs.
Slowly, she sank back down into her chair. A moment later, a hand touched her shoulder, and she jumped.
“Sorry,” Peggy said as she grabbed her own bag. “We have Sutton and we’re taking him back to the SSR. I can call you a cab.” She stopped, turning to Edith. “You’ll be fine taking a cab back, right? I imagine I’ll be out rather late tonight.”
“Yes, of course,” Edith assured her.
“Good.” Peggy took her arm and led her through the confused crowd and out to the street, where Jack and Daniel were waiting with their own car.
“I should be home by morning,” Peggy assured her as she climbed into the cab. Edith nodded and waved before she shut the door.
It was over, she realized as she rode away. The case was finished–or at least, her role in it was. The SSR agents would interrogate the man they’d caught tonight, and they would find out what he and Thea had been planning, and then Peggy and Jack and Daniel . . . they would leave, and she would be left in Chicago.
Alone, waiting in her old room for Mrs. Harrington to find some other girl to take Thea’s place.
She was grateful for the short drive. She didn’t think she could have held on much longer. She paid the taxi driver, then stumbled into Peggy’s friend’s house. Her bag fell to the floor and she dropped into a chair just as the tears started.
She felt a little better after the night’s sleep, but the melancholy clung to her all day, especially when Peggy never showed up that morning.
When she was finally able to leave work, she was so distracted that she didn’t notice the parked car outside until the man beside it called to her.
Thea’s voice in her head told her to pretend not to hear, but it was too late–she had already glanced over to see the man lift the corner of his jacket, exposing the hilt of a gun.
She froze.
“C’mere, sweetheart.” He opened the car door. “We need to have a little chat.”
Next chapter coming soon!