While she and Edward were on a break he never called or even wrote and time seemed to drag on forever. However, since she wasn't seeing her beau she got along much better with her parents. It also gave Florence some time to think. As her Young adult days continued to pass questions arose, like what she wanted to do with her life. At the time the answer seemed simple, she just wanted to be with Edward and she thought the only thing she needed to be happy was to spend more time with him. With this in mind, she decided to call up Aunt Thelma and see what kind of wisdom she had up her sleeve that she could lend Florence.
A few hours later the two of them met up in a nearby park.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50026406452_b15dbae795_c.jpgAfter exchanging greetings and gossip Aunt Thelma turned the conversation toward a more serious topic. "This catching up has been wonderful, but I get the feeling you have something in particular on your mind."
"Yes I do actually, " Florence said. "You see I met this boy and we've been together a long time, but there are times I feel like he's avoiding me or something."
The light mood of their earlier conversation vanished. " I assume this boy you're talking about is Edward Jones " Aunt Thelma said.
"Yes. How did you know?" Florence asked.
"There were a lot of people at that college graduation when you kissed him, right there in broad daylight. Now, stop dodging the question; what is it that you really want to ask me?"
Florence lowered her voice to a whisper and moved closer to her aunt. " I don't get to see him very often because he is a juice runner and as you know my father works for the police, so we can't exactly meet for normal dates and such. I also know that you are a juice runner yourself and I was hoping that perhaps your organization needed another member."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50026144856_5246ccf5dc_c.jpgAunt Thelma smiled then but quickly changed her expression back to something more serious. "Are you absolutely sure you want to join us? You could get in serious trouble."
"I'm sure," Florence said and Aunt Thelma's smile returned.
"All right then, come to the old warehouse in North Roaring Heights late tonight and we'll find you a job. The combination on the lock is 6642." Florence nodded and was about to walk away before Aunt Thelma stopped her with her voice. "One more thing before you go," Aunt Thelma said.
"What?"
Her aunt crossed her arms and appeared a little smug before she winked. "I'm a nectar maker, not a juice runner. I am an artist."
"I'll keep that in mind," Florence said before the two of them parted ways.
***Night fell and long after Florence's family was asleep she left the house and caught a cab and asked the driver to take her to North Roaring Heights, without giving away the exact location of the warehouse.
When she got out the cabby stopped her for a moment. "Are you sure you'll be all right, Miss? This isn't exactly the most lady friendly part of Roaring Heights."
"Trust me, I'll be fine," she said after giving the cabby a generous tip.
When the cab driver disappeared from sight though and the dark of the late hour engulfed her, it did feel like there were several eyes watching her from somewhere within the darkness. She picked up her pace and eventually broke into a run, at least until she was within a few feet of the warehouse. At that moment she slowed down to keep her dignity intact and approached the warehouse door.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50026406357_bff132bbae_c.jpgIt was an enormous structure of cement and metal and surrounded by garbage and old crates. It was a far cry from the Art Deco fair throughout the rest of Roaring Heights and the lock looked ancient and somewhat rusted, but the combination worked and the door opened with a loud creak. Florence stepped through the doors and closed them behind her. After that, she entered a hallway dimly lit by torches. Coming from inside were muted bits of conversation far ahead of her. Her heels clicked on the cement floor and echoed throughout the hallway. For a moment she wanted to turn around and forget about the job, but she ignored those impulses and kept moving forward. When she reached the overstuffed, but comfortably sitting room full of her future co-workers her fears turned into thrill and rebellion. She walked further into the room still and her heartfelt light as a feather when she spotted Edward for the first time in a long time. He was talking to an amazonian woman with dark hair. She wore one of the shortest flapper dresses Florence had ever seen, or so it seemed at the time.
At first, they didn't seem to notice her and the woman moved a little closer to him.
"Edward Jones, who is this lovely lady you're talking to?" Florence asked as politely as her jealously would allow.
Edward immediately backed away from the other woman. "This is my co-worker, Virginia Black. What are you doing here?"
"After missing you terribly and talking to Aunt Thelma about it, I decided to become a juice runner too," Florence said.
"This young lady must be your girlfriend, Florence. She's awfully young." Virginia said.
"I'm not much younger than Edward," she said. It was a poor defense that sounded childish, but it was the only response Florence could come up with at the time.
"May I have a moment with my girl?" Edward asked Virginia.
"No problem," she said before she moved over to a table with a champagne fountain surrounded by wine glasses on top of it.
"If your father ever found out you were working for us..." Edward started.
"He's not going to find out I'm working for you guys. Besides I'm an adult, he can't tell me what I can and cannot do." Florence said, looking back she never sounded less like an adult in her entire life.
"I'm not sure we have any openings," Edward said
Before Florence could correct him, an older man, possibly in his mid-forties approached the two of them. "Who is this lovely young lady who has graced our presence?" he asked.
"Florence, this is Clyde Reeves, my boss," Edward said and then turned away from Florence to Clyde. "Mr. Reeves this is my girl, Florence Nolan. She would like a job, but I was just saying that we have no positions available."
"It is true that we have no positions available in the warehouse, but the leggy doll who used to serve drinks at the Palm Tree Bar just up a married, and that position is now open." Mr. Reeves said.
"I thought all bars in Roaring Heights were closed," Florence said.
"We run them.... unofficially, but we get large crowds every night. That place could definitely use a gal like you. " Mr. Reeves said.
"Working at a speakeasy just sounds like the Bee's Knees! When can I start?" Florence asked.
"Tomorrow night," Mr. Reeves said. "I'd also recommend working on your Athletic skill, just in case are juice runners are injured or arrested. Not to mention our customers at the Palm Tree Bar like a well-shaped lady."
Florence wasn't exactly sure how she felt about Mr. Reeves' comment, but at the time she really wanted the job, so she agreed to his terms. After that, she signed her work contract, kissed Edward, and headed home.
***The next morning Florence rose fairly early and set-out to work out a little as Mr. Reeves advised.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50080628472_03f4508654_c.jpgAs always though, her step-father was also up early and was just about to leave for work when he noticed Florence and approached her.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50079798478_9d08ee0769_c.jpg"Well this is new." her step-father said. "I've never seen you work-out before."
"We ladies have to watch our figure and mine hasn't been the best lately," Florence said, it was a poor lie since it wasn't something she cared about until she met Clyde Reeves.
Her step-father's face grew serious. " Some of my neighborhood watch saw you talking with your Aunt Thelma in the park yesterday and another was doing his North Roaring Heights rounds and he saw you get out of the cab and head towards some old warehouses. Let's step inside and have a little breakfast and a chat."
In a last-ditch effort to avoid an unpleasant conversation, Florence said, "Won't you be late for work?"
"Yesterday I was promoted to Cheif of Police, I can be a little late to work." her step-father said.
With no other choice, Florence followed him back inside the house. Ruth was at the table, but her father sent her away before he took a seat. Nervously, Florence took a seat next to him.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50080628442_880e007169_c.jpg"What are your thinking? " her step-father asked. "Your Aunt Thelma is a person of interest and my crew has been watching that warehouse for a few days now as a suspected juice-runner hide-out. Why on Earth were you over there last night?"
Florence attempted to dodge the question. "I didn't know Aunt Thelma was a person of interest."
"No, but I bet you knew she was a juice-runner."
Florence stood up from her seat. "Aunt Thelma is a nectar-maker, not a juice runner. Besides those people shouldn't be considered criminals anyways. As far as I know, they haven't caused anyone, any harm!"
Her father stood up as well, but more slowly and far less emotionally than she did. "A couple of my officers have been injured by them. Thankfully nothing serious, but who knows what else they are capable of."
"They wouldn't be injured if they just left well-enough alone! Besides being part of the group is the only way I'll ever get to see Edward."
"I knew that beau of yours was trouble! You will break-up with him immediately because no-one under my roof will fraternize with the enemy!
Florence pushed her chair underneath the table as possible. "Fine, I won't live under your roof then. Starting now I'll find a place of my own and I will keep working for the juice-runners whether you like it or not!" With that she walked out of the kitchen and away from her step-father.
It was one of the most reckless, immature decisions Florence would ever make.
Author's Note: Please ignore the horribly anachronistic security cameras around the warehouse and athletic clothes Florence is wearing in this chapter. 
