‘Nah, I don’t do straights,’ Austin said, sliding one out of the pack anyway. ‘I’ll light yours for you, though – seeing as you’re driving.’
Taking the lighter, he let his fingers graze Leonard’s thumb, smiling to himself when the older man didn’t immediately jerk his hand away. Good. Leonard was starting to relax. Handing the cigarette to him, Austin rested his head back again and sang along to ‘You Don’t Bring Me Flowers’.
‘You have a very nice voice,’ Leonard commented, admiring the way that Austin did both the male and female parts. ‘Have you ever considered taking it up professionally?’
‘God, no. Karaoke’s enough for me,’ Austin said. ‘There’s a pub in the Village where we all go on a Thursday. It’s run by a trannie called Marilyn, and everyone gets up and does a bit. You should come some time, you’d love it. They do all this kind of stuff.’
‘Sounds nice.’
‘It’s fab. And everybody’s dead laid-back. None of that nudging and winking, and “Ooh, what’s he doing in a place like this?” Everyone just goes to have a good time, and your business is your business, know what I mean?’
‘I think so,’ Leonard murmured.
‘Well, any time you fancy it,’ Austin said. Humming along to the music for a while, he said, ‘So, Mrs D does charity work, does she?’
‘Yes. Spring and summer are her busiest seasons,’ Leonard told him. ‘As soon as the sun comes out, you can guarantee that I won’t see her for weeks on end. She’s invariably already left the house when I wake up in the mornings and, now that I’m involved with the club, she’s usually tucked up in her bed by the time I get home, so our paths rarely cross.’
‘Ahh,’ Austin said sympathetically. ‘I bet you really miss her, don’t you?’
‘Mmm,’ Leonard murmured beside him. ‘Well, here we are,’ he said then, turning onto Kingsway. ‘Where would you like me to stop?’
‘Anywhere here,’ Austin said, sounding disappointed that the ride was at an end.
Pulling up, Leonard glanced out through the window at the deserted street. ‘Are you sure you’ll be all right? I can take you to your house, if you like?’
‘Best not,’ Austin said, smiling sheepishly. ‘I don’t want anybody thinking anything if they see us in the car together. It’d be all over the club by tomorrow that we were having an affair, or something. And I’m sure you don’t need that, do you? And I’d hate for you to stop talking to me just because other people can’t keep their opinions to themselves.’
Leonard’s heart was hammering in his chest. The boy genuinely liked him, and was trying to protect him. There were no games being played; no danger of turning up at the club to find his reputation in tatters. No danger of Avril finding out.
‘I, er, have to pass this way on my way home, you know,’ he said quietly. ‘So, why don’t I, um . . . well, I could give you a lift after work, couldn’t I? Save you having to waste your money on cabs.’
‘Really?’ Austin peered at him as if it was the kindest thing anybody had ever said to him. ‘Oh, wow, that’d be great. But what about your wife? Wouldn’t she mind having me in the car?’
‘Well, actually, now you mention it, she probably would,’ Leonard said, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. ‘Probably best if we restrict it to when I’m alone, then. Like you said, we wouldn’t want people to gossip, would we?’
Gazing at him, Austin sniffed softly. ‘You know what, Mr D, you’re one of the nicest men I’ve ever met. I’d give you a hug, but I don’t want to scare you off.’
Swallowing hard, glad of the masking darkness, Leonard said, ‘I’m not easily scared.’
‘Oh, well, go on, then,’ Austin giggled, lurching across to Leonard’s side of the car and throwing an arm around his neck, his other hand accidentally-on-purpose landing on Leonard’s thigh, high up. Near the groin.
17
JoJo and Vanessa couldn’t resist nipping into Zenith to show off before going round to The Diamond on Sunday night. Going in through the kitchen door, knowing that all the other waiting staff would be in there getting changed, JoJo coughed loudly and struck a pose in the doorway before strutting into the centre of the room, calling out, ‘All hail Queen JoJo and Princess Vanessa!’
Smiling smugly when everyone surrounded them to admire their new shoes and clothes, all wanting to know how they’d managed to afford them, they would say nothing, except that Tony Allen was the best boss – ever!
They had earned themselves a nice little wedge the night before, and all they’d had to do was lap-dance for a load of horny old men. Vanessa had hated the dancing, but she’d got on with it, knowing that she wouldn’t have to do it for long if Tony went ahead with the idea of the cabaret. And she’d been more than happy when they’d hit the shops today and she’d realised that she didn’t have to buy the cheapest of everything, because they would probably earn as much again tonight. Plus, Tony had lined up a private session for them with an old judge at a hotel later in the week – a session which, he had promised, would be very profitable.
JoJo had been nervous when Tony had called her into the dressing room after hours. But she’d soon cheered up when she’d realised that he wasn’t going to bollock her – even more so when he’d slipped her an extra fifty for one little blow job. If things went on like that, her days of scrimping and scraping on her poxy waitress wages would be long gone.
They were still showing off when Austin came in a few minutes later. Giving their shoes a cursory glance, he sniffed dismissively and plonked his foot on a chair, casually examining his nails as everyone turned their attention to his new trainers.
‘Wow, man, they’re bum!’ one of the waiters said enviously. ‘I saw them in Foot Locker the other day. They cost, like, one-sixty, don’t they?’
‘Uh huh,’ Austin drawled, as if the money meant nothing. ‘But you’ve got to pay if you want the best in this life.’
Hanging back on the edge of the circle, Kalli narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Where had he got the money to be buying expensive trainers? And if he was that well off, why hadn’t he paid the bills instead of treating himself? There was something funny about this. Last night he’d said that he was going to get himself a sugar daddy, but she knew he hadn’t been to a club to find one, because he’d got back to the flat just one hour after she had. So he wouldn’t have had time.
Pushing the door open just then, Fabian came in and glared at the staff. ‘Oh, so this is where you’re all hiding, is it? You do know we open in fifteen minutes?’ Standing back as they trooped out, he raised an eyebrow at JoJo and Vanessa. ‘Are you supposed to be here?’
‘We’re fine, thanks for asking,’ JoJo replied cockily. ‘Our club doesn’t open till eleven, so we can do what we want.’
‘Not in here, you can’t,’ Fabian retorted, looking them up and down, taking in all the new gear they were wearing. And what had they done to get the money for that? he wondered. There was no way that Tony Allen was stupid enough to pay them up front – or that much – for waitressing. So what else was going on behind that closed door?
Staring insolently back at him, JoJo said, ‘Something taking your fancy, Fabian?’
‘It’s Mr King to you,’ he snapped. ‘And no, it bloody well isn’t taking my fancy. Quite the contrary, in fact.’
‘You can’t talk to me like that,’ JoJo retorted, facing up to him in the knowledge that she had powerful friends now. ‘I don’t work for you any more, I work for Tony.’
‘You work for me,’ Jenna corrected her, having come in just in time to hear what JoJo was saying. ‘Which, in turn,’ she added frostily, ‘means that Mr King is still your manager – in here, or in there. Understood?’
‘Yes,’ JoJo murmured, dropping her gaze.
‘Good,’ Jenna said, nodding towards the back door now. ‘Off you go, then.’
‘Out the back?’ JoJo gasped. ‘But it’s raining. Can’t we just go through the club?’
‘No, you can’t,’ Jenna
said firmly. ‘The adjoining door stays shut during club hours – as I’m sure you’ve already been told. If that’s a problem for you, I suggest you go straight there in future, instead of coming in here bothering people.’
Gritting her teeth, JoJo turned on her new heels and marched out with her nose in the air. Just wait till she was Tony’s proper girlfriend. See if that pair of dipsticks ever dared talk down to her like that again!
Smiling nervously at Jenna, Vanessa said, ‘Sorry,’ then followed her friend out.
‘Cheeky bitch,’ Fabian muttered when the door slammed shut. ‘She’s lucky you came in when you did.’
‘Don’t let it get to you,’ Jenna told him, guessing that he must be even more annoyed to hear the insolence in JoJo’s voice just now than she had been. The girl obviously thought she was onto a good thing working for Tony, but Jenna wasn’t having her coming in here rubbing it in everyone’s face. And she certainly wasn’t going to let her get away with being disrespectful to management.
‘Any idea what’s going on over there?’ Fabian asked now. ‘Only I couldn’t help noticing what those two were wearing just now. Obviously new, as well, which they certainly couldn’t afford on their wages. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?’
‘I’ve got no idea what they’re doing,’ Jenna admitted guardedly, not really wanting to get into any sort of speculation with him – although she was wondering much the same herself. ‘I’m just going to grab a quick coffee while we’ve still got time,’ she said then, changing the subject. ‘Would you like one?’
‘No, thanks.’ Fabian glanced at his watch. ‘I’d best go out front and make sure everyone’s where they’re supposed to be.’
‘All right. Well, I’ll be out as soon as I’ve had this,’ Jenna said, switching on the kettle.
Following Austin when he rushed into the foyer to show his new trainers off to the girl on the pay-desk, Kalli grabbed him. ‘I want a word with you.’
‘Not now,’ he said, wrenching his arm out of her grip. ‘I’ve only got a minute.’
‘I don’t care,’ she hissed, jabbing a finger at his feet. ‘I want to know where you got the money from.’
‘I told you last night,’ Austin whispered, wishing she’d pack in glaring at him in front of everyone like a tiny little monster. ‘I found a nice old man to take care of me.’
‘Where?’ Kalli demanded disbelievingly. ‘You weren’t out long enough to go to a club. So, unless you picked one up on the street, you’re lying.’
‘For your nosy information,’ Austin told her, ‘I did meet him on the street, after you took off in the cab last night. I already knew him, but we just haven’t talked before.’
‘And you talked last night, did you?’
‘We sure did.’ Austin grinned. ‘And then some.’
‘And he gave you money?’
‘Enough to buy these and pay the bills. Which is exactly what I’m planning to do first thing Monday, so you can stop nagging now, can’t you?’
‘You are disgusting,’ Kalli snapped, her lips as tight as a drawstring purse. ‘That’s prostitution.’
Widening his eyes, Austin drew his head back. ‘Whoa there, Miss Dynamite! Isn’t that a bit kettle-potty?’
‘Don’t you dare compare what you’ve done to what happened to me,’ Kalli warned him, her eyes sparking with hurt and anger. ‘You had a choice, I didn’t!’
Bringing both hands up to his mouth, Austin said, ‘Oh, God, Babe, I’m sorry. I should never have said that. I didn’t mean it.’
‘Didn’t you?’ Kalli said, still peering at him with pain-filled eyes. ‘I wonder sometimes. But, no, you’re right. It’s got nothing to do with me. You can do whatever you want.’
Reaching out as she turned to walk away, Austin took one of her hands in his. ‘Let’s not fall out, sugarplum. I’m doing this for you as much as for me. Honest, I’m really gonna pay the bills on Monday. You don’t even have to pay me back.’
‘I’ve already got my share, thank you,’ Kalli told him curtly.
‘Well, keep it. Buy yourself something nice.’
‘No, thanks. If I want anything, I’m quite happy waiting until I can afford it.’
‘Okay, fine,’ Austin said, losing patience. ‘You play the martyr if you want, but I’ve done nothing wrong, so don’t think I’m going to grovel. And it’s not dirty, because I really like him – so there!’
Watching as he stomped away, Kalli exhaled loudly. She didn’t agree with what he was doing, but she sincerely hoped that he did like this new man of his, because it would just be too nasty for words to have taken money off him otherwise.
Opening the door just then, Bobby stuck his head inside and looked around. Seeing Kalli, he waved her over.
‘Do us a favour, and go tell Jenna there’s a bloke out here asking to see her.’
‘Sure,’ Kalli said wearily. ‘Who is it?’
‘Dunno.’ Bobby shrugged. ‘Some black guy. He reckons he’s been told to come and see her about picking up some stuff an old DJ called Victor Brown left here. Can you go now, though? Only we’ll be opening in a minute, and them at the front of the queue are gonna get funny about him walking in ahead of them.’
‘Won’t be a minute,’ Kalli said, already setting off.
Jenna had just sat down with her coffee when Kalli popped her head round the door.
‘Sorry to disturb you, but there’s somebody out front asking to see you.’
‘They’ll have to wait,’ Jenna said, taking a sip of the coffee. ‘This is the first cup I’ve had all day.’
‘I think you should come,’ Kalli urged. ‘I think it might have something to do with Vibes.’
‘Oh?’ Jenna immediately put the cup down and stood up. ‘Why, what did he say?’
‘I haven’t actually spoken to him, but he told Bobby he’s been asked to come and see you about something you’re storing for an old DJ called Victor Brown. Bobby wouldn’t let him in because we’re not open yet, but he told me to let you know he’s out there.’
Thanking her, Jenna rushed to the foyer and told Bobby to let the man in. She felt ridiculously nervous all of a sudden, because Vibes hadn’t been in touch for months, and their last conversation had been so stilted and short that she hadn’t dared ring him in case he’d decided to cut ties with her.
The man was tall and pleasant-looking, and when he spoke Jenna heard that he had the same soft American accent as Vibes. She wondered if Vibes had actually sent him over to get his stuff. Or, worse, had he come, too, and was waiting around the corner somewhere so that he didn’t have to see her? Oh, God! He must really hate her. And, what about this man – did he know her shameful secret too?
‘Hi,’ the man said, his eyes smiling as he held out his hand. ‘It’s Jenna, isn’t it? I have seen you before, but we didn’t actually meet.’
‘Oh?’ Jenna gazed up at him questioningly.
‘New Year’s morning. You gave Vibes a lift home.’
Remembering, Jenna said, ‘Ah . . . you must be one of the men in the garden?’
‘Running around with the Super-Soaker,’ he admitted, grinning sheepishly. ‘Yeah, that was me.’
Just then Bobby opened the door and tapped his watch.
Nodding, Jenna turned back to the man and said, ‘I think we’d best get out of the way. It’ll get rather crowded in here in a minute.’
‘And I’ll probably get lynched for jumping the queue,’ he said, looking around as the first people came through the door.
‘We’ll go to my office,’ Jenna said, waving him through the clubroom door. ‘Sorry,’ she said then. ‘I didn’t ask your name.’
‘It’s Kenneth,’ he told her, gazing around. ‘Hey, this looks great. I came in once, when Victor first started here, but it looks way different now.’
‘Thanks,’ Jenna said, a confused frown on her brow. ‘Sorry, did you just say your name was Kenneth?’
‘Yeah, that’s right.’ He looked down at her with a half-smile. �
��Don’t tell me Vic’s been bad-mouthing me?’
‘No, nothing like that,’ she assured him, opening the door to the offices. ‘I just thought Kenneth was his son’s name, that’s all.’
‘He doesn’t have a son,’ Kenneth told her quietly as he followed her up the stairs.
‘Oh, I see,’ Jenna murmured. ‘I must have misunderstood. When he was talking about the baby, he mentioned Kenneth, and I assumed it was another child. Sorry.’ Unlocking her office door, she went in, switched the light on and waved him towards the couch. ‘Can I get you a drink?’
‘A light beer would be good,’ he said. ‘But I’m cool with whatever if you haven’t got any. Neat shot,’ he said then, looking at the picture of the tramp on the wall. ‘Sure looks happy.’
‘Simple pleasures,’ Jenna said, pouring him a brandy and handing it to him. ‘No beer, I’m afraid.’
Thanking her, Kenneth went and sat down. ‘Sorry for dropping in at such an awkward time,’ he said when she joined him. ‘I came earlier, but I couldn’t get an answer, so I thought I’d best try again when I knew someone would be here. I just wanted to set up a time to come get Vic’s stuff out of your way. He was concerned that he’d left it too long already.’
‘It’s not been any trouble,’ Jenna replied, her mind whirring with questions. ‘I, er, haven’t actually spoken to him for a while. I assume he’s been busy with his family?’
Looking at her, a flicker of sadness came into Kenneth’s eyes. ‘He hasn’t told you, has he?’
‘Told me what?’ Jenna asked, aware that she was gripping her glass a little too tightly. Could it be that Vibes’s wife had found out about the kiss and was giving him a hard time? She didn’t want to be responsible for causing them trouble.
‘His family are dead,’ Kenneth explained quietly.
‘Oh, my God,’ Jenna gasped, instinctively putting a hand to the necklace that she hadn’t taken off since Vibes had fastened the catch. ‘That’s terrible. How? When? He sounded fine last time I spoke to him. Did something happen after that?’
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