They had found the Dovetail Theatre. It was only four days after they had escaped from the hospital, but Riff was already feeling better than he had before. He wasn't healed by a long shot, but the wound had stopped its sporadic bleeding. Somewhere along the line, he'd been given stitches, but they were shoddy. So were Bernardo's. Riff suspected that they weren't administered by the hospital, which added to the mystery of just what had happened to them. Bernardo, as a boxer, had plenty of experience with stitches and had told Riff that both of theirs would need to come out again. Riff, as a person disliking the idea of ripping out stitches, had told him to go jump in the Hudson. Bernardo had laughed.
At the moment, still bearing uneven stitches, the two men were loitering in a back alley across from the theatre with cigarettes and clothes Riff had "borrowed" while Bernardo got some food. The Dovetail was closed at the moment, seeing as how it was early morning on a weekday, but they wanted a look around before going in during a show when there were people (and possible suspects) around. There was a single light on inside, and a solitary girl was sweeping the floor.
"I guess we're gonna have to break in the back door," Riff shrugged, pushing up the sleeves of his new jacket.
"That sounds like a mala idea," Bernardo said doubtfully. "And it's illegal."
Riff looked over in disbelief. "What are you worrying about breakin' the law for? You're a gang leader."
"We're not a gang, Riff," Bernardo said, keeping his eyes on the theatre. "We formed the Sharks to protect our people."
"From what?" Riff asked, baffled. This whole time, he'd been under the impression that the Sharks were a rival gang that deserved to be fought off.
"You."
Bernardo's reply should have surprised Riff more than it did. He'd learned a lot over the past few days about Bernardo, and each new thing surprised him less than the last.
"Then I guess I'll just smooth talk the cleaning lady," Riff said sarcastically. "I'm sure she'd be happy to let two dirty nobodies in after hours."
"No, you'll send her screaming. That, or she'll slap you. I'll do it," Bernardo said, adjusting his own jacket and strolling across the street. Riff hurried to smudge out his cigarette and followed.
Bernardo reached the door and rapped on it gently with his knuckles a few times. The girl looked up, frowned warily, and walked over. She pointed at the "closed" sign in the window, but Bernardo smiled and shook his head. The girl hesitated, then unlocked and opened the door a fraction.
"Can I help you?" She had long brown hair, pulled back into a ponytail, and an apron tied over her clothes.
"Hola, mucho gusto. My name is Ben. My friend and I were here last night, but he thinks he might have left his wallet by accident."
Riff gave an awkward wave when she glanced over momentarily.
"He's Rand. What's your name, if I may ask?"
Riff cursed Bernardo's warm tone and personable manner as he tried to suppress an amused snort and look suitably pleading.
"I'm Sarah."
"Well, Sarah, is it alright if we come in and look for it? I promise we won't be any trouble."
Sarah frowned, but gave in under the begging look Bernardo was giving her. "Aright, but you have to leave if you can't find it. I'm not supposed to let anyone in if the manager isn't here."
"Loretta, right?" Riff asked, casually as he could manage, as they entered. The main room had several small circular tables with chairs around them, vaguely facing a stage along the opposite wall to the entrance.
"That's right," Sarah said, seeming relieved to hear this 'proof' that they were, in fact, customers. She reached for the handle of the broom again, then paused. "I've been cleaning this main room, but haven't seen any wallet." She looked suspicious again.
"I wouldn't have dropped it in here," Riff said, spotting a partially open door to the left of the stage that appeared to lead into a hallway. "I went out back to talk to one of the performers. I'll just check on back there, yeah?" he started to walk towards the hall.
"Oh, no, I don't think you should-" Sarah began, but Bernardo cut her off.
"His cousin or something. We came to see them perform last night, but Rand had one too many…"
Bernardo's voice became more distant as Riff walked farther down the hall. He could only distractedly be chagrined at Bernardo painting him as someone who couldn't hold his liquor, but had more important things to focus on.
There were three doors in sight before the hallway turned to the right. The first and only door on the right opened onto the stage. The first on the left was a dressing room, bursting at the seams with colorful costumes and a couple stools. One of them was knocked over. Two vanities had mirrors and lights, makeup displayed across the desk-like surface. He stepped inside momentarily, glancing around, but didn't spot anything particularly suspicious. Deciding he didn't have time for a more thorough search, he set off to check the next room.
The second door to the right was a storage room. Shelves held boxes, a broken table was in the corner, and a few spare chairs dotted the place. He opened one box to see extra dishes. With one last glance, he left the room.
"Did you find it yet?" Sarah's voice called. Bernardo's voice rose momentarily as he brought up Jazz. Jazz? Really?
He rounded the bend to see two more doors. One, at the end, was an exit that led into an alleyway. The other, on the left, opened into an office. There was a name plaque to the side: Loretta.
He tried the knob.
It was locked.
"Da-" he was tempted to kick the door, but didn't want to alarm dear Sarah anymore.
Sure enough, high-heeled footsteps were coming down the hall. He shoved his hands in his pockets and started in the direction of the main room, doing his best to look despondent.
"Well?" Sarah asked as he turned the corner and they almost ran into each other. "Did you find it?"
"No-"
"Then get out."
She ushered the two of them toward the door, kicking the door to the stage shut with her foot as she passed.
At the door, Bernardo turned around. "Lo siento, I'm so sorry to have taken up so much of your time."
She lost a bit of her indignant huff and sighed. "Yeah, but you have to go now."
"Of course." Bernardo gave an elegant bow.
"Uh, yeah, thanks a lot," Riff said awkwardly.
She rolled her eyes but didn't look mad. "You can come back when the theatre opens again tonight to look more, if you need to."
They exchanged a glance.
"Perhaps we will, at that."
