by Carol Rivers
Chapter 15
Work the next day came hard. The twins were put in the cutting room and made to complete a large order that had to be finalized that morning. The air was full of dust and debris, the noise of the machines sounded deafening. When they clocked off, they both had sore throats.
‘This isn’t a good start to our career,’ Vesta complained as they began to walk home. ‘First those dresses and now me throat is so dry I don’t think I can sing.’
‘We’ll gargle with salt water and soon feel better,’ Marie tried to encourage as they approached the dock gates. She felt dispirited after last night’s events. Her confidence had fallen to an all-time low. She wasn’t looking forward to returning to the club that evening.
‘I wanted to hear Teddy sing last night,’ Vesta continued to complain, dragging her feet. Her shoulders looked as though she carried the weight of the world on them. ‘But I couldn’t wait to get out of there.’
‘I’m just glad our dad never saw us in those dresses.’
‘Do you think he likes standing at the club’s front door?’ Vesta asked gloomily.
Marie hadn’t said that she’d seen him sweeping up. She hoped that was just an exception. ‘Mr Scoresby told him the job is important.’
‘But it’s only keeping out the riffraff—’ Vesta stopped, staring straight ahead. ‘Well, look who it is. Lover boy and his daft pal.’
Marie’s heart sank. Bing and Charlie were coming out of the dock gates.
‘Our luck has changed.’ Vesta straightened her shoulders and smiled, patting her curls into place. ‘This is the chance to get our music’
Marie glared at Vesta. ‘We can’t do that.’
‘Not “we”, but you. He’ll do anything you say.’
‘No,’ said Marie resolutely, beginning to panic.
‘Why not?’ Vesta clutched her arm. ‘Oh, please, Marie. All you have to do is ask nicely. I’ll keep Charlie occupied while you do it.’
‘Hello, girls,’ said Charlie as they approached.
‘Hello,’ said Vesta in a flirtatious manner.
‘Nice day, ain’t it?’ said Charlie, smiling.
‘Which way are you going?’ asked Vesta, which made Marie want to curl up and die.
‘Your way,’ said Charlie. The smile on his face was so wide it showed up under all the grime.
Vesta slipped her hand through his arm. ‘Come on then, handsome.’
Bing stared after them, then turned to Marie. ‘What’s up with your sister?’
‘She’s just being friendly.’ Marie blushed.
Bing gave a puzzled frown but then said, ‘I saw your dad at the Cubby Hole. He was celebrating your success at the Duke’s.’
‘It’s only twice a week,’ Marie shrugged. ‘Not like a full-time job.’
‘So you’re going to become a big star?’
She blushed again. ‘I don’t know about that.’
‘If I’d had any sense I would have kept me trap shut about the club,’ Bing said regretfully. ‘That way you might not have turned me down.’
Marie began to smile. ‘I said I wanted to be friends.’
The September sun streamed through his hair, making it look like bristles of gold. ‘Did you sing them songs I gave to Elsie?’
‘Yes, thank you. They were very good.’
‘Would it put me back in your good books if I got you some more?’
Marie felt he was reading her thoughts and felt guilty. ‘You don’t have to do that.’
‘It’s the least I can do. I’ve got lots of music at home. Shall I bring a couple round?’
Marie lowered her head. ‘That would be nice.’
He slung his jacket over his shoulder. ‘And if you see my mate, remind him he’s got a girlfriend already, will you?’
Marie watched him walk off. She was disappointed he hadn’t offered to walk her home. Had she hurt his feelings again when she had said he needn’t give them any more songs? Would he really call round?
She began to walk home, considering carefully what she was going to tell Vesta.
‘Did you ask?’ Vesta was eager to know after she had sent Charlie off.
‘Not exactly.’
‘What? After all the time I spent on Charlie?’
‘You’ve never shown any interest in him before.’
‘And I’m not interested now,’ Vesta replied in a huff.
‘I didn’t ask, because I didn’t have to,’ Marie said after a long and awkward pause. ‘Bing offered himself.’
‘He did?’ Vesta threw her arms around Marie. ‘I told you! He’s really crazy about you.’
Marie waited until Vesta let her go. Her sister’s mood had changed and her eyes were gleaming and bright. ‘What song are we getting?’
‘We’ll have to wait and see.’
‘Did you tell him how important it is?’ Vesta pressed.
‘I didn’t have to. And besides, he has lots at home, gathering dust.’
Vesta jumped up and down and clapped. ‘All our problems are solved!’ She slipped her arm through Marie’s. ‘When can we have them?’
Marie decided to change the subject. ‘Vesta, I hope you’ll remember Charlie has a girlfriend.’
Vesta laughed. ‘I’m just larking around.’
‘But you don’t like him.’
‘No, but I’d like to make Teddy jealous.’
‘Don’t play with people’s feelings, Vesta,’ Marie warned, stopping to look into her sister’s face. ‘You could hurt Charlie. And his girlfriend.’
Vesta stared at her. ‘Hark at you! I’m not the one playing with people’s feelings. You’re only being nice to Bing because he’s useful.’
‘That’s not true. It was you who encouraged me to get the music.’
‘Let’s not argue about men,’ Vesta dismissed, taking Marie’s arm again as they went up the steps to the house. ‘Girls should stick together. Especially girls like us.’ She laughed.
Marie glanced at her sister. Vesta had a familiar expression on her face. She looked like she was planning something.
That night’s performance went better than Marie had expected. They wore their pink dresses and tap shoes, and the songs were sung without fault. The musicians, whose names they learned were Benny, Jeff and Walter, all gave the girls the thumbs-up as they left the stage.
‘Sorry again about last night,’ said Bev when the twins returned and began to take off their make-up.
‘Yes,’ said Joanie quietly. ‘Mr Scoresby says we’re to mind our own business.’
‘I hope you didn’t get into trouble,’ said Marie. She didn’t want to fall out with them.
‘No,’ said Joanie, glancing over her shoulder. ‘It was Irene who got the sack instead.’
‘The girl behind the bar?’
‘Yes. Wally’s ex.’
‘I didn’t know that,’ said Vesta as she brushed her hair in the mirror.
Marie saw Bev nudge Joanie hard. ‘If you two want to hear Teddy sing,’ Bev said quickly, ‘he’s on now. You’d better be quick if you want to catch him.’
Vesta dropped the hairbrush and hurriedly pulled on her coat. ‘Come on, Marie, I don’t want to miss him tonight.’
‘I haven’t changed yet.’
‘All right. I’ll meet you at the back of the stage.’
Marie had no desire to hear Teddy again. She took her time in removing the little make-up she wore, then went behind the screen. As she took off her clothes, she overheard Irene’s name. In the mirror she could see the girls talking together. Their faces were very serious. What was it they didn’t want to say in front of her?
When she had hung her and Vesta’s costumes on the rail and put on a blouse and skirt, she slipped her coat over her arm and went to the door. ‘’Night everyone.’
‘See you next week,’ Bev and Joanie called, but the others were still talking in whispers.
Marie stood in the draughty passage outside. She tried to listen to what was being said in her abs
ence. But Teddy’s droning made it impossible to hear. Once again Joanie had been silenced by Bev, and Marie suspected she had been on the point of talking about Irene.
Marie looked along the passage. A pale light flickered at the end of it. She walked along slowly and turned left into yet another passage. The air smelled as though that part of the club hadn’t be used in a long time.
Finally the passage came to an end. A door was slightly open and she pushed it.
‘Dad, what are you doing?’ she asked in surprise as she saw the bent figure of her father behind some crates.
‘Marie! I might ask you the same.’
She walked over to where he stood. There was a door to his left, with two heavy bolts drawn across it. ‘Does that lead outside?’
‘Yes, but it’s not for general use. You shouldn’t be here. Did anyone see you come down?’
‘No. The door was open slightly and I could hear noises.’
‘This is a private area.’ He wiped the sweat from his face with a rag. ‘Wally has asked me to clear the rubbish and put a new lock on the door.’
‘What’s in those crates? They look heavy.’
‘They are a bit,’ Hector said quickly. ‘It’s mostly drinks for the new bar.’
‘New bar?’ Marie repeated.
Hector looked over her shoulder. ‘Yes, Wally and Leo intend to open one here for their most select trade.’ He smiled nervously, which seemed unusual to Marie. Her father was always so full of confidence. She saw how hard he was breathing and sweating. His clothes were all dusty too. ‘Dad, I don’t like to see you doing this work. It’s heavy labouring.’
‘It’s only temporary, my dear,’ Hector dismissed, wiping his forehead again. ‘I’ve agreed to fill in as their handyman until there is a spot for me in the cabaret. Now, not a word to anyone about this. I don’t want your mother to worry.’
Marie nodded. ‘We’ll wait for you in Duke Street.’
He caught her arm. ‘No, I may be longer than usual, so go on home.’
‘What shall I tell Mum?’
‘Just that I was given overtime.’
Marie didn’t want to leave him. Hector might look strong, but he wasn’t used to hard physical work. He wasn’t cut out to be a handyman.
‘Go along, love.’ He shooed her off and reluctantly she made her way back down the dark passage.
‘Where have you been?’ demanded Vesta as they stood in the wings, listening to Teddy’s pathetic attempts at crooning.
‘I took me time to get changed.’
‘I should think you did!’ whispered Vesta. ‘You’ve missed the best part. Just listen to him. Isn’t he wonderful?’
Marie could see that Vesta was besotted by Teddy’s performance, as she stood with a dreamy expression on her face.
Chapter 16
The next morning, Sunday, Marie was first to answer a knock on the front door. When she opened it she was surprised to find Bing standing there. ‘I thought these songs might do,’ he said as Vesta joined them.
Vesta looked at them and frowned. ‘ “Tiger Rag” and “Where The Blue Of The Night”?’
Bing nodded. ‘ “Tiger Rag” is by the Mills Brothers, a good tune to dance to. The other is from Bing Crosby’s radio show, but I warn you, it could take some practice.’
‘We can ask Benny, the piano player at the Duke’s, to play it for us,’ suggested Vesta.
‘I’d offer myself,’ Bing said, ‘but I’m driving some friends out to Epping Forest. Doubt there will be many more nice days like this.’
Marie wanted to ask who his friends were. Were they Charlie and his girlfriend?
‘Let me know if I can help,’ he called as he ran down the steps.
They stared after him as he climbed into the car. Marie was surprised when she saw him slide a straw boater onto his head. She noticed he was wearing immaculate white flannels and a blue blazer; was he looking as smart as that for someone special?
‘Who’s he taking out, I wonder,’ said Vesta when they went back in.
‘Don’t know,’ shrugged Marie. ‘And I don’t care.’
But Marie found herself thinking about Bing. Would she have liked to be the one who was sitting next to him in his car? Still, she couldn’t expect the offer as she had made it quite plain that she wasn’t interested. Perhaps another girl had been given the opportunity and had taken it.
Teddy was trying to make a quick getaway. He’d done his fair quota tonight. This being a Wednesday, the club was closed and it was poker night. All evening the stakes had been high. A group of nine hard faces sat at the table with Wally and Wally was a bad loser. The Scoresbys’ addiction to gambling was a problem here in the East End, where rival gangs all vied to be top dog. Not so up West in the brothers’ gentlemen’s club, where the wealthy were willing to take big losses and not make a fuss. They had too much to hide, what with their fresh totty provided by the Scoresbys, guilty secrets that could end a political career or ruin a marriage. They always allowed the brothers to indulge themselves when Wally or Leo took to the tables. The wealthy liked to say they had rubbed shoulders with the East End’s roughest and toughest, knowing the game had been rigged from the first hand.
Teddy shook his head in wonder at the punters’ foolishness. Life must be so uneventful for them that they were quite willing to risk their careers and standing for a night’s excesses.
Teddy slipped quietly to the wings of the stage. He intended to go along the passage to the end room, Wally and Leo’s secret project, where there was a hidden exit. He’d go through it and out into the night unobserved.
Uncomfortably aware that he had bitten off more than he could chew with Irene, Teddy didn’t want a repeat. And he was very much afraid he might be saddled with one. Last month, Wally had paid a backhander to the Law to turn a blind eye to the late-night gambling and drinking. That backhander had led to Irene’s downfall. Screwing around with Wally had given her an inflated ego and sealed her end.
Teddy shuddered. There had been no way he could do it. He’d had to get someone else to do the job for him. It had cost an arm and a leg, and he begrudged taking it from his savings.
Thinking of arms and legs, Teddy hurried on his way. And he almost made his escape – would have, if Pedro hadn’t called him back.
‘Teddy bear, you’re wanted.’ Pedro’s high-pitched voice drifted along the passage. Teddy froze, then turned slowly round. Pedro blew him a kiss from the palm of his hand. ‘You’re too pretty to leave the party early.’
Teddy groaned inwardly. His shoulders fell forward and, as if he were being pulled by an invisible chain, he retraced his steps.
As he entered the club, the air was dense with smoke. Wally’s fearful disfigurement still made Teddy squirm as he stood at Wally’s side. Wally sat at the table with Joanie on his knee, her arms around his neck. Teddy felt the urge to slap her. She hadn’t learned from Irene, who was supposed to be her best mate. Instead, she had taken Irene’s place. And now Wally was making the most of it.
‘Get me a drink,’ Wally ordered without looking up. The other players, all guarding their hands, glanced up at Teddy. They knew, as he knew, Wally’s run of luck was sure to be contested. The hands he had played all evening stank like bad fish. Which was why Teddy had been trying to make an exit before he was told to step in and stop trouble.
Teddy walked over to the bar. Pedro raised his eyebrows and blinked his long black lashes. He handed a clean glass to Teddy. ‘He didn’t want me to pour it for him, sweetheart, though I did offer.’
‘I’ll bet you did.’
‘Don’t be like that, Teddy bear. Green ain’t your colour.’
Teddy ignored the remark; Pedro enjoyed playing to his effeminate side, even though he was tall and had a good physique. But Teddy never underestimated the barman. Wally hadn’t hired Pedro for his ability to make cocktails; Pedro was insurance. He came with his own lethal speciality: a knuckle duster with a razor built into the metal, which made him almost as danger
ous as Leo.
Teddy heaved a fatalistic sigh. He was part of the Scoresbys’ machine. For now. But there was a day not too far off – a day he had been planning since Wally and Leo had set him up at the Duke’s.
Pedro’s dark eyes gleamed as he leaned close. ‘Haven’t you noticed the looks on the faces of the three idiots opposite Wally?’
Teddy nodded. He’d noticed all right. That was why he had been trying to make himself scarce.
‘South of the river mob,’ continued Pedro under his breath as he poured Wally’s drink, ‘and they must fancy their chances on Scoresby turf. So if Wally’s next hand is a flush, be prepared.’
Teddy nodded gratefully. He knew that if he was in a tight spot, despite their bickering, Pedro would be the one he’d look to.
Taking a deep breath, Teddy took the whisky over to the table. He managed – just – to keep his hand from shaking as he passed it to Wally, who downed the drink in one.
Teddy’s heart dropped as Wally threw down his cards. An ace, a king, a queen, a jack and a ten. All hearts. And Wally’s fourth lucky flush of the evening.
Minutes seemed to drag by, although Teddy knew it could only be seconds. All the players sat still. Then one by one, they left the table, leaving only the bald punter and his two mates. Teddy saw Wally grin, urging Joanie off his knee, then lean forward to claim the pot.
But a fat hand got there first. ‘I reckon you’ve got more than your dick stuffed down your trousers, pal,’ said the bald-headed idiot with a mouth and nose that had lost direction in his fat face. ‘You don’t strike me as having enough nous to play four flushes in a row, so you must be having a joke, right?’
Teddy closed his eyes in distress. These were the words he had dreaded to hear. He glanced nervously over towards Pedro, who reached out to knock lightly on the partition wall.
Wally stood up. Teddy took a nervous step back. The bald-headed contender rose to his feet, as did his mates. One of them tried sliding a hand inside his jacket, but Wally shook his head. ‘Stop right there,’ he said in a malevolent whisper, ‘or that move will turn out to be your last one.’
Once again time seemed to stand still for Teddy. Until a tall, dark-haired figure wearing a hand-tailored suit emerged by the bar.