by Sue Welfare
‘He makes my flesh creep. What do you think?’ Helen asked Charlotte, who was busy licking her lips and making a show of tidying her hair.
‘What do you mean?’ said Charlotte; she looked as if she was having a problem focusing. ‘What do I think about what?’
‘About Leon Downey and Vince?’
Charlotte curled her lip. ‘I don’t know. Leon seems all right to me and he’s pretty free and easy with his money. I like that in a man.’
‘I know, but he hasn’t said anything about work yet, has he? He hasn’t talked about what he does or who he represents or what he can do for us.’
Charlotte’s expression hardened. ‘Oh for God’s sake, Helen. Give the man a chance, we’ve only just met him. He told me that he wanted to get to know us better.’
‘Yes, I know, but don’t you think he ought to be talking more about business?’
‘We’re having a drink, breaking the ice, I’m sure he will get around to it. He’s just weighing us up, Helen, that’s all – sussing us out, seeing if we’re worth the investment. I mean if he signs us up we’re probably talking singing lessons, maybe dancing, and then there’s costumes and stuff like that. It’s a big investment. He told me he wanted to get a feel for us.’
‘Well, he’s doing that all right; he’s all over you like a rash,’ said Helen. She paused for a few seconds. ‘Do you think you ought to cut back on the vodka? You’ve had an awful lot to drink.’
Charlotte glared at her. ‘For God’s sake, Helen, just grow up, will you? Who died and made you Pope?’ she snapped.
‘I was only saying.’
‘Well, don’t,’ growled Charlotte. ‘It’s just a few drinks and it shows that we’re adults. This is how business works. Okay? A few drinks, a chat – and then we get down to business. My dad does it all the time.’
Helen nodded.
A few minutes later Leon reappeared, slid onto the bench alongside Charlotte, and slipped his arm around her shoulders. ‘Now then ladies,’ he said, leaning in close so they were forced to follow suit. ‘There’s been a bit of a change of plan. I’ve just had a quick word with Vince up at the bar and we were thinking as it’s getting late that we should head back to my hotel, maybe get ourselves some room service or a takeaway. And we can talk a bit more comfortably there. It’ll be a bit more private. So what do you say?’ He grinned. ‘Get the chance to get to know each other better.’
‘Yeah, sure, that’s fine by me,’ said Charlotte, nodding in agreement.
‘I’m sorry, but it’s getting late and I’ve got to get up early tomorrow,’ Helen began, while all sorts of alarm bells went off in her head.
‘Oh for God’s sake,’ snapped Charlotte. ‘It’s like going out on the town with Mary Poppins. It’s Saturday night, Helen, and this is important. This is our future we’re talking about here.’
Leon smiled wolfishly. ‘Yes, indeed, ladies. Now while you two sort out what you’re doing, I’ll go and give Vince a hand with those drinks.’ He got up and headed for the bar. He was barely out of earshot before Charlotte rounded on Helen.
‘I’m sorry but I’ve got to get up early tomorrow,’ she mimicked. ‘It makes us sound like a couple of bloody school kids. You know that you’re ruining our big chance to get him to take us on here, don’t you?’
‘But it’s true, and if you want my honest opinion, I think they’re both a pair of creeps, Charlie. They’re trying to get us drunk, and why aren’t either of them talking business? I don’t think Leon Downey is an agent at all and I do need to get up tomorrow.’
‘Oh for God’s sake – only for that bloody film thing. And who’s to say that that’s not a con too? Eh? I mean that bloke you talked to could have been anyone. This is important, Helen, surely you can see that – this is our career we’re talking about here.’
‘How could I forget? You’ve been talking about nothing else since we got here, and Leon Downey still hasn’t said anything about wanting to sign us up, or who else he’s got on his books, or anything about this agency he’s supposed to run, or what he does. I don’t trust him.’
‘Oh yeah, right, and you’re such a good judge of character.’
‘I’m just saying,’ said Helen.
‘He’s being careful, that’s all. I mean he must see hundreds of people. No, he’s seeing what we’ve got to offer. What we’re like. If Leon’s going to represent us he needs to know we can work together.’
‘He said that, did he?’ asked Helen, her eyes on the two men who were now huddled together deep in conversation at the bar. Leon and Vince kept glancing in Helen and Charlotte’s direction and laughing, which did nothing at all to allay Helen’s suspicions. ‘I just think the pair of them are dead dodgy,’ she said.
‘You already said that, and you know what? I really don’t care,’ said Charlotte. ‘If Leon Downey can get me into show business and away from Billingsfield then that is all that matters as far as I’m concerned. Do you understand?’
‘You don’t mean that, Charlotte.’
‘Oh, don’t I?’ Charlotte glared at her. ‘Trust me, Helen: I mean every single last word. Just don’t screw this up for me, do you understand?’
‘Why don’t we at least ask him for his business card? We could go and see him at his offices, during the day – do it properly. Ask your dad to come with us.’
Charlotte glared at her. ‘Listen to me, Miss Goody-Two-Shoes. I don’t want to go running to my daddy to sort this out for me. Okay? And I wouldn’t come over all Julie Andrews with me if I were you, Helen Heel. I’m not the one living with my boss’s son.’
‘I’m not!’ Helen protested.
Charlotte just raised her eyebrows and drained the last of her vodka. ‘I think you’ll find that you are. I’ll do whatever it takes to get on, do you understand me? Whatever it takes. And from where I’m sitting it looks like you did too –’
Which was the moment that Leon and Vince swaggered over. ‘Righty-oh, ladies, so are we all set then? Plan is we’ll knock this last one back and then we’ll head for the hotel, okay?’ said Leon.
Helen looked up at Vince’s hands. He was only carrying two glasses, Charlotte’s vodka and Coke and her orange juice.
‘Sounds fine to me,’ said Charlotte, taking her drink. Helen accepted her glass from Vince with a murmur of thanks. She took one sip and knew without a doubt he had laced it with vodka.
‘I was just wondering,’ she said, setting the glass down on the table in amongst the chaos, while looking up at Leon, ‘if we could have one of your business cards?’
Charlotte glared her, but Leon Downey didn’t so much as hesitate before replying. ‘Of course you can, petal,’ he said, patting his pockets in a show of searching, and then he grinned, ‘Oh, hang on a minute, no, sorry, sweetie. I’m afraid I haven’t got any of the new ones with me tonight, my dear. We’ve just moved our office into new premises and I haven’t got any with my new address on me,’ he said. ‘You know what printers can be like.’
‘I don’t mind one of your old ones,’ Helen pressed, picking up her handbag. ‘Or I could write your new address down. I’ve got a pen.’
Leon laughed. ‘Well, aren’t you just the Boy Scout, always prepared, are you? What else have you got in that bag of yours? Not got scampi and chips in there by any chance, have you? Only I could murder a plate of chips.’
‘Me too, or how about a nice juicy steak?’ chipped in Vince.
‘Or a pie,’ snorted Charlotte.
All three of them were laughing at her now. Helen could feel her colour rising.
‘Come on,’ said Charlotte, grabbing her coat while knocking back the drink that Leon had just brought over. ‘Let’s get going, it’s getting really boring in here.’
Leon helped her on with her coat, all the while leering at Helen. ‘Now there’s a girl who knows what she wants,’ he said, glancing down at Charlotte’s cleavage with a grin. ‘Always this keen, are you, baby? She’s just the kind of girl we’re looking for, isn’t she V
ince?’
Vince nodded. ‘She should go far.’
Helen said nothing.
‘Come on then,’ said Leon to Charlotte, slipping his arm through hers. ‘Let’s get out of here. My hotel is just around the corner.’
Helen hung back. She didn’t want to go anywhere with any of them, but there was a part of her which felt responsible for Charlotte’s wellbeing. It was obvious Charlotte was drunk; her hair was a mess and her mascara was smudged around her eyes. Under the lights in the pub’s hallway Charlotte’s smeared stage makeup made her look more like a hooker than a sixth former. Not that Leon seemed to mind. As Charlotte turned towards the door she stumbled; Leon reached out and caught her. There was a split second when Helen wondered what was going to happen and then Leon pulled Charlotte close.
‘You know you really are a pretty little thing,’ he said, ‘I reckon that what you need is someone to take care of you.’ And with that he kissed her, his hands working their way up under her coat.
Helen stared at him in horror and felt an icy finger track up her spine. ‘Stop it! Don’t do that to my friend,’ she barked. ‘Leave her alone, you old lech.’
Lazily Leon looked up. ‘Your friend doesn’t seem to mind. Do you, poppet?’
Charlotte groaned and then giggling some more kissed him back and rubbed her body up against his.
‘She’s drunk. You got her drunk. This isn’t right –’ protested Helen.
Leon laughed. ‘No one forced her to drink anything. She enjoys a drink, don’t you, pet? Nothing wrong with that.’
‘Come on, Charlotte, let’s go home,’ said Helen, trying to grab hold of Charlotte’s other arm. ‘It’s getting late. Let’s go back to the flat.’
‘And who is going to give a sod about what time either of us gets home? You know my dad didn’t even bother to come and watch us tonight?’ slurred Charlotte. ‘After all the bloody fuss he made about being careful and caring so much and not signing anything without him being there, all that yak, yak, yak, and he didn’t even come to see me.’ Charlotte mimed a nagging mouth with her fingers. ‘Well, sod him. I’m an adult now and I can do what I like, I can take care of myself.’
‘I know you can, but we don’t have to go back to the hotel with them. You can stay at my place,’ said Helen, hurrying after her. ‘There’s room on the sofa; Harry won’t mind. I could go and ring him and he’ll come and pick us up, or I can ring your dad if you like?’
‘Oh, just bugger off, will you?’ said Charlotte, shaking herself free of Helen’s grasp. ‘Why do you always have to spoil everything, Helen? Come on, Leon, where did you say you’re staying?’
Vince made as if to take Helen by the arm but she pushed him away. ‘Get off me!’ she growled.
‘I thought I explained to you about being nice to me and Leon?’ he purred. ‘Although I like a girl with a bit of fight, if you know what I’m saying?’
‘You are repulsive,’ she hissed.
Vince laughed. ‘That’s not what your mate thinks though, is it? Just look at her all snuggled up with Mr Downey. They make quite a nice couple, don’t they?’
Helen shivered; she wanted to be anywhere else but here with the three of them. Leon pulled open the pub door and guided Charlotte through, while Helen slipped through quickly, bypassing any help Vince might try to give. Outside in the street it was cold and still raining. Cars cut through the puddles kicking up waves of water.
‘Are we getting a cab?’ asked Charlotte, looking up and down the almost deserted streets.
‘You’ll be lucky,’ laughed Vince. ‘And anyway the hotel is only just around the corner. Won’t take more than a couple of minutes. Do us all good to have a little walk. Get a bit of air.’
Now that she was outside and upright Helen could feel the full effects of the alcohol washing over her, while a little further along the pavement Charlotte was swaying and giggling, still supported by Leon Downey.
‘I really think we should go home, Charlie, please,’ said Helen. ‘I could go and find a phone box and call Harry, he’ll come and get us if you like. He said he would – what do you think?’
‘I heard you the first time. And it’s Kate, remember?’ Charlotte slurred. ‘Kate Monroe, and I don’t want to go home with you to that poxy little flat. Leon here is going to see to it that my name is up in lights, aren’t you, Leon?’ She pointed up to a nearby building to demonstrate her point, leaning back against him.
He leaned in closer and kissed her neck. ‘Whatever you say, sweetheart. Whatever you say.’
Charlotte giggled. ‘I like your style, Mr Downey,’ she said.
‘Harry won’t mind,’ Helen continued. ‘You know he won’t.’
‘And who is this Harry then?’ asked Leon. ‘He your boyfriend, is he?’
‘No,’ said Charlotte. ‘He’s hers. She lives with him.’
‘Really? Now there’s a thing; it’s always the quiet ones you have to watch. Doesn’t lover-boy mind you being out on the lash with another man?’ said Vince, moving in closer. ‘Or are you bored with boys? Fancy finding out what a man’s like, do you?’ He smelt of beer and sweat and cigarettes.
‘Will you just get off me. I’m not out with you,’ snapped Helen, pushing him away. ‘And Harry is a man not a boy. I’m only here because we thought this was a business meeting.’
Vince made a teasing whooping sound. ‘Little Miss Business.’
‘It is a business meeting,’ said Leon, turning round to face her. His eyes were bright, his expression full of dark humour. ‘And as soon as we get back to the hotel, trust me; we’ll be getting right down to business, won’t we, Vince?’
The tone of their voices made Helen shudder. As they rounded the corner into the market square Leon headed across the road and up the steps towards the Billingsfield Arms, with Charlotte on his arm. Charlotte was still horribly unsteady, but each time she stumbled Leon steadied her and she leant more heavily on him for support. As they reached the main doors Helen looked first at Vince and then at Leon, and knew that there was no way she was going to go inside the hotel with them.
‘Charlotte, come on,’ Helen pleaded one more time. ‘Let’s go home.’ She might as well have been talking to herself.
‘Why don’t you go home then, sweetie,’ purred Leon. ‘If you can’t play with the grown-ups you’re better buggering off back home to what’s-his-name.’
Helen glared at him, and not for the first time she felt torn between looking after herself and taking care of Charlotte. She hesitated long enough for Vince to say, ‘So are you coming in or are you going to stay out here in the rain?’
Helen looked at Charlotte, whose expression was one of drunken contempt. ‘Stop being such a wet blanket. I don’t need a nursemaid,’ Charlotte said, waving her away. ‘You bugger off back home to Harry. I can take care of myself.’
Helen stared at her. ‘Charlotte, please –’ she said.
‘You heard the lady,’ said Leon, stepping between them. ‘Why don’t you just get yourself off home and don’t you worry your pretty little head, your friend will be safe with us, won’t she, Vince?’
‘Oh yeah,’ said Vince, stubbing out his cigarette. ‘We’ll take good care of her.’
Helen doubted it very much, but other than physically dragging Charlotte away or going inside with them there was very little else she could do.
‘I’m going,’ Helen said, hoping her leaving might change Charlotte’s mind.
‘Well, bloody well go then.’
‘I need to be up in the morning.’
‘Yeah, yeah, so you keep saying,’ said Charlotte, waving her away. ‘You run along home then, peasant,’ she giggled. ‘It’s going to be wet and muddy tomorrow so just make sure you wrap up nice and warm.’ And with that Leon swept Charlotte in through the doors, with Vince following them close behind.
Helen watched the doors close behind the three of them. It was cold and dark and quiet now. Standing on the pavement in the rain Helen felt horribly alone and vulner
able. She shivered and then turned to make her way back to the flat. As Helen crossed the road a car slowed down and a gang of lads rolled down the windows and whooped and catcalled after her. As they drove off she caught sight of herself in a shop window – with her hair teased up and so much makeup on she looked like she was on the game. Pulling her collar up Helen hunched against the biting wind and hurried back to home and to Harry.
Away from the main square the maze of side streets and alleys was deserted. Her heels cracked out a rhythm on the slick damp pavements. Helen felt cold and alone, tired, drunk and sad, and it was with a huge sense of relief that she climbed the stairs up to the flat. She had barely got her key in the lock when Harry threw open the door for her. She had never been so pleased to see anyone in her life.
‘There you are, thank God you’re all right, I was getting worried about you,’ he said, his expression a touching mix of anxiety and relief. ‘You’re soaked right through. Come on, get yourself inside, I’ve got the fire going. I’ll grab you a towel.’
‘Have you been waiting up?’ asked Helen.
He looked a little sheepish. ‘Yes and no, I suppose I might have been. I went to bed but then I couldn’t sleep.’ He peered past her onto the landing. ‘Where’s Charlotte got to?’
‘I couldn’t get her to come back with me.’ The words broke up in Helen’s mouth, and she bit her lip. ‘She went back to the hotel with this man, you know, the one who told us he was an agent? I’m almost certain that he was lying, Harry. I can’t believe she wouldn’t come with me.’
He put his arms out and she stepped into them, grateful for the warmth and the comfort, and wondered if he was going to kiss her again.