by Carol Rivers
‘What are we going to do?’ whispered Sal fearfully. ‘We’ll never get her out in this state.’
‘She’s legless,’ agreed Bev worriedly. ‘Even if we carried her between us, they’d see.’
‘There’s a door in the room at the end of the passage,’ suggested Marie.
They all turned to stare at her. ‘How do you know that?’ demanded Bev.
‘I went up there by mistake one day.’ She couldn’t say that she’d seen Hector in the room working, as he’d asked her to keep it a secret.
‘Blimey, you risked it.’
‘I saw a door with two bolts on it. It must lead out onto the alley.’
‘I think we should tell Teddy,’ said Vesta suddenly. ‘He might help us if we told him the truth.’
Bev stared at her. ‘That bit of hair coming out of your head must have loosened your brains, love. No, your gentleman would go straight to Wally.’
Vesta gave a pout. ‘If you say so. But it sounds very dangerous to me, when it isn’t even our fault, it’s Joanie’s. I’ve had enough frights for one night.’
‘Yeah, me too,’ agreed Rose.
Sal nodded. ‘Joanie will just have to take what’s coming to her.’
‘Charming,’ said Bev in a cold voice. ‘And you two are supposed to be her mates? Well, thank God it ain’t me stretched out there.’ Turning to Marie, she raised a pencilled eyebrow. ‘Do you feel the same?’
Marie shook her head. ‘The two of us could do it.’
Bev grinned. ‘You’re on.’
As soon as Teddy began to sing, Marie and Bev dragged Joanie out into the passage. With her arms slung round their shoulders Joanie moaned loudly as she tried to stumble along.
‘Shut up, you silly mare, or we’ll drop you right here,’ Bev hissed.
Marie tried not to inhale the damp and musty smell of the passage as it grew darker and more suffocating near the end.
‘You know we’d be brown bread if Wally caught us?’ said Bev, trying to catch her breath as they hauled Joanie along.
‘I know, my dad warned me before.’
‘Your dad?’
‘Yes, he’s the handyman now.’
‘What, like Sid was? But don’t your dad act or something?’ Bev puffed.
‘Yes, but Wally got him to clear the rubbish instead. That’s how I came across the room. Only I couldn’t let on to Vesta as Dad asked me not to say he’s just the hired help. He knows Mum and Vesta would worry.’
Bev stopped and took a deep breath. ‘Blimey, that’s rotten of Wally. Your poor old man is living in hope for nothing.’
Marie didn’t answer. She was too busy trying to support Joanie’s weight as she slumped between them.
Finally they came to the room at the end of the passage. ‘Blimey, we’re done for if this door is locked,’ gasped Bev.
‘Dad said he was going to fit a new lock. But he might not have done it yet.’ Marie reached out to grasp the handle.
‘Thank Gawd your old man ain’t on the ball,’ sighed Bev when the door opened and they dragged Joanie inside.
Marie slid her hand down the wall to find the light switch. The plaster was damp and peeling and the room smelled of decay.
‘Where’s the door gone?’ Bev asked when the light went on. ‘I can’t see one.’
‘It must be behind those crates.’
‘We’ll never shift all them.’
Just then, there were footsteps. Marie froze. Joanie groaned loudly. Marie heard Bev’s angry rasp, trying to keep Joanie silent. Marie was too frightened to turn round. They held their breaths, waiting to see if it was Teddy or Wally.
Chapter 18
‘Marie, what are you doing in here again?’ Hector’s voice was shocked as he gazed at the three of them.
‘Oh, Dad, thank goodness it’s you.’
‘I told you before, you mustn’t come here. What’s this?’ He pointed to Joanie.
‘She had too much to drink. And you know Wally’s rules. We can’t take her out through the club and we can’t leave her in the dressing room. We thought whilst Teddy was singing we’d try this way.’
Hector shook his head. ‘I piled the crates in front of the door as Wally told me to.’ He wiped his brow with his sleeve. ‘It took me ages.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Marie, ‘but we didn’t know what else to do. You see, Joanie is Irene’s friend. She was terribly upset when Irene died.’
Hector nodded slowly. ‘Yes, that was very sad indeed.’ He stroked his moustache as he considered the problem. ‘Well, I’ll just have to move the crates again. Lay your friend on the floor there. Then, please, both of you go back to the dressing room or else you’ll get into trouble, and me too.’
‘But you can’t move all those again, love,’ said Bev anxiously.
‘I’ll manage. Now, hurry up and go, the pair of you.’
They lowered Joanie carefully to the floor. Marie went to her father and hugged him.
He patted her cheek. ‘Quickly now. If I’m caught in here, I can say I’m cleaning. But there’s no excuse for you.’
They crept back through the passage. Marie knew they were both too frightened to speak. As they arrived at the dressing room, Teddy’s voice faded at the end of his number.
‘Quick, we’ll just make it,’ urged Bev.
‘What happened?’ All the girls came rushing over as they shut the door behind them.
‘Her old man is gold,’ said Bev excitedly. ‘He’s getting Joanie into the alley for us.’
‘You mean Dad?’ said Vesta in surprise.
‘Yes, he heard us and came to see what the noise was.’ Marie looked at Bev.
‘You were dead lucky it wasn’t Wally,’ said Rose. ‘Listen, is that his voice outside?’
They all gathered at the door and listened.
‘Quick!’ whispered Bev. ‘Look busy! If anyone asks where Joanie is, we’ll say she slipped out as she was sick.’
Clothes flew everywhere, Bev began to hum, and Rose and Sal began talking loudly as they clattered the chairs around.
Marie felt herself caught up in a burst of action. All the time she was praying that Teddy and Wally wouldn’t go along the passage to the room at the end. At the same time she didn’t want them to come in the dressing room either!
Teddy was feeling pleased with himself as he walked off the stage; there had been a mild applause, which was something to be grateful for, as the customers rarely bothered. The men were too preoccupied with their drinking. And their paid escorts, some of whom were the Scoresbys’ tarts, had false smiles on their hard, painted faces as they tried to maintain their air of respectability. Not that this lasted long; the moment they opened their mouths it was obvious what they were.
Nevertheless, the twins were making their mark quickly, which had surprised him. They could actually sing! Wally had given him a generous handshake for finding them. But Teddy was beginning to wish he hadn’t. In no time at all they had been promoted to prime position. It was a place usually reserved for him, along with the extra cash it afforded.
Teddy felt a moment’s deep loathing for the Scoresbys. He needed them and feared them in equal measure. Swallowing down the bitter taste of disgust, he straightened his spine. Nothing and no one would spoil his plans or threaten the stash he was secretly saving. When he’d had enough, he was going to leave this country and disappear. He refused to live the rest of his life at the brothers’ mercy. His tart of a mother and the bullyboys she mixed with had had their pound of flesh from him. Now the Scoresbys would take what was left of him, if they could. But Teddy had other ideas. One day, he would be free of them and leading the life he truly deserved.
Teddy was halfway to the girls’ dressing room when Wally stepped out of the office. He froze.
Wally stabbed a finger in his chest. ‘Stop right there, a minute.’ Wally’s breath was sour from the whisky. Teddy swallowed and formed the same obedient expression he’d worn for the last six months.
‘Yes,
Mr Scoresby, how can I help?’
‘Where do you think you’re off to?’ Wally demanded. ‘Trying to do a bunk like you did when them South Londoners got a bit stroppy?’
Teddy had a feeling in his bowels that Wally was not best pleased with him. ‘No, of course not!’ Teddy pulled at his bow tie nervously. ‘You know I’m not so handy when it comes to the physical, Mr Scoresby.’
‘Shut your trap.’
‘Yes, Mr Scoresby.’ Teddy tried not to study the awful disfigurement of Wally’s face. It looked like two different people staring at him. One half bore a sneaking resemblance to his brother, Leo, the other to a monster that had curled inside his skin and taken up residence there.
‘You didn’t think I would notice you trying to do a bunk,’ said Wally in the kind of hushed, malevolent tone that Teddy knew was the hallmark of an approaching fit of temper. ‘That’s why I sent Pedro after you.’
Once again, Teddy kept quiet. He knew the worst was to come.
‘And then, what happens?’ Wally drew closer and Teddy’s breath almost stopped. ‘Pedro is all over you like a rash, like he was your mother or something. And what do I see next? Pedro is cutting that Bermondsey geezer, before the ugly sod gets to you.’
Teddy’s thoughts were running along the same lines and he hated to admit it, but Wally was right. Pedro had saved him from a very nasty pasting. And though Teddy had been grateful for it, he could see retribution in Wally’s menacing expression.
‘What is it with you and him?’ Wally demanded in the same threatening whisper. ‘I didn’t take you for a pansy too.’
‘I’m not,’ objected Teddy before he could think what he was saying. ‘Pedro’s just a good friend. We don’t—’
‘I don’t give a flying fart what you two are,’ Wally interrupted, his tone contemptuous. ‘But he ain’t your minder, he’s mine. That’s what I pay him for. To cover my arse and ignore yours.’ Teddy thought Wally’s eyes looked mad. ‘Now, I’ve given him a rollicking and he knows he’s on his last breath. And I’m telling you the same: when it comes to a bundle, you put yourself in the front line, right? If there’s a blade coming at me, you take it, or he does. Not like the other night when you fainted away like a bleedin’ fairy princess.’
Teddy felt himself go scarlet. His blood pumped humiliatingly into his face. How he hated this man who degraded him.
‘Got it now, have you?’ The punch to his shoulder made him fall sideways. Another clout around his jaw and he was reeling against the wall. He could hear Wally laughing and all Teddy could do was pray this was just a moment’s anger.
‘This little slap,’ sneered Wally, snatching Teddy’s lapels and pulling him close, ‘is just to remind you about your terms and conditions of working for the firm. Right?’
Teddy nodded silently as Wally tightened his grip.
‘And now you can get rid of that dozy cow Joanie, who thinks she’s God’s gift to men. I could have danced better than she could tonight, the clumsy bitch. And then you can start upping the ante with the twins. We’ve had the all-innocence bit and the men are lapping it up. Now it’s time to give a sneak preview of what our goods really have to offer.’
Teddy felt his head being forced back into an unsustainable position. ‘Y . . . yes, Mr Scoresby.’
‘Get ’em new costumes. And not them red tarts’ outfits they had on before. Let’s have a bit of decorum, as it don’t take a genius to know we need to work up the demand, not give everything away all at once.’
Teddy stared into Wally’s eyes. Would he ever escape the Scoresbys? They were killers, violent thugs who stopped at nothing to get what they wanted. He still couldn’t get the mental image from his mind of Leo splitting open the South Londoners’ faces whilst Wally had broken their arms. They had enjoyed every moment and revelled in the screams.
‘Well, what are you waiting for?’ Wally demanded, roughly pushing him along the passage. ‘Go and give them two girls the good news that we’re rigging them out with new clobber. And don’t forget that tart Joanie.’ Wally smiled evilly, stretching the ugly red scars on his face and drawing an index finger across his throat.
Teddy backed away as Wally watched him. Who was to be next, Teddy wondered. First Sid, then Irene and now Joanie. It was a growing list. And Teddy knew that Wally savoured every violent act, almost for the sake of it.
Marie was putting on her coat as Teddy entered the dressing room. The girls all stopped what they were doing.
‘What do you want this time?’ Bev demanded, glaring at him.
Teddy looked at Marie and Vesta. ‘You’ll be pleased to know that Mr Scoresby says you can have new costumes.’
Vesta jumped up from the chair where she had been sitting. ‘Oh, Teddy, that’s wonderful!’
‘It’s been left up to me to decide the style.’
‘Could we have one like that Kay English’s, the Ziegfeld girl in that lovely photo?’ asked Vesta.
‘We’ll see.’
‘Oh, Teddy, thank you.’
‘Have you learned any new songs yet?’
Vesta was already nodding. ‘Oh yes,’ she said eagerly. ‘We’re practising all the time.’
‘And is the boss buying us new costumes too?’ interrupted Bev in a bitter tone. ‘Or do we have to make do with what’s on the rail?’
‘If you’ve any complaints you’ll have to speak to Mr Scoresby.’ Teddy looked past her, to Rose and Sal, who were hurriedly packing their bags. ‘Where’s Joanie?’ he demanded, looking round the room.
Marie’s heart gave a lurch. Bev closed the lid of her make-up box with a snap. ‘She buggered off whilst you were singing,’ Bev answered with a toss of her head. ‘The poor cow was sick and couldn’t dance properly.’
‘What was wrong with her?’ Teddy asked.
‘Must’ve eaten something.’
Teddy frowned. ‘Her dancing was terrible. Mr Scoresby noticed.’
‘You’d dance terrible too, if you’d been on the lav all night.’
Teddy was silent for a moment, then walked up to Bev and pointed a finger. ‘I want to see her and quick. So make sure she gets the message.’
‘Yes, your lordship,’ nodded Bev as she ignored him and wiped off her lipstick. ‘Any other errands you’d like me to run?’
‘You’re a lippy cow,’ he growled, meeting her gaze in the mirror. ‘Just do as you’re told.’ The atmosphere in the room was tense as he turned and walked over to Marie. His eyes went over her, slipping down to her breasts. Marie was glad she was wearing her old coat as it covered her figure.
‘You need a new image,’ he told her in a smooth voice. ‘Mr Scoresby likes his girls to set an example. I’ll take you up West to buy some quality clothes.’
Marie felt her skin crawl. ‘No thanks,’ she told him coldly. ‘I’m not one of Mr Scoresby’s girls. I’m just an employee.’
Teddy laughed. ‘Have it your way. But Mr Scoresby pays you, remember that. And handsomely too.’ He shrugged, walking back through the dressing room, kicking from his path the shoes scattered over the floor. Then suddenly he stopped.
Marie saw Bev stiffen as she watched him warily.
Slowly turning, Teddy frowned at her. ‘Joanie’s never gone off early before. Are you sure she’s not pulling a fast one?’
‘She’s never had the shits so bad before,’ said Bev casually.
‘Does she still live in that dump at Whitechapel?’
‘No.’ Bev’s voice betrayed the first sign of fear. ‘That was Irene’s place. They shared a room together.’
‘Where is she living now?’
Bev rolled her eyes. ‘Christ, Teddy, how should I know? I ain’t her mother.’
Teddy glared at her. ‘You’d better pass on what I’ve said or someone will pay for it,’ he threatened, then left the room.
Bev sank down on a chair. Her face was white and her hands were shaking. ‘I could do with a fag.’
Rose and Sal came over. ‘You shouldn’t have spoken to him like
that,’ said Sal, pushing her brown hair away from her face. ‘He knows something’s up.’
‘What else was I to do?’ demanded Bev crossly. ‘Neither of you two stepped in to back me up.’
‘No, because we’ve got more sense than you,’ muttered Rose, sliding her arm through Sal’s as though speaking for both of them.
‘He gives me the creeps,’ Bev mumbled, ‘but I won’t kowtow to him. He just likes to throw his weight around.’
‘Teddy isn’t like that!’ Vesta burst out. ‘You’re just upset because we’re getting new costumes and you’re not.’ She looked at the others. ‘None of you seems to give Teddy any credit for what he does. He has to manage all the acts as well as look after Mr Scoresby. And you, Marie, had the nerve to turn him down when he offered to get you some decent clothes. I wish he’d asked me, because I would have grabbed the chance.’
Bev’s lips trembled as she looked at Vesta. ‘I ain’t jealous, love. The fact is, he scares me, although I put on a front. And he scared me even more tonight, wanting to find Joanie so badly.’
‘He probably guessed she was drinking,’ said Vesta shortly. ‘You should have told him the truth.’
Bev laughed. ‘Yeah, you think so?’
‘Yes, I do.’ Vesta turned to Rose and Sal. ‘If Joanie has got herself into trouble, it’s not up to us to get her out of it. Tonight we could have all been blamed for what she did. Even our dad.’ She crossed her arms and faced Bev. ‘As from now, Joanie has to look after herself.’
Bev got up slowly. She walked over to Rose and Sal. ‘Do you two feel the same?’
Rose went crimson. ‘She has got a point.’
Sal nodded. ‘If you and Marie had got caught, we could have lost our jobs.’
Bev gave a mirthless laugh. ‘So I take it that none of you is prepared to help me with the poor cow out in the alley?’
The two dancers shrugged. ‘Sorry,’ said Rose, glancing at Sal. ‘But we think Vesta’s right.’
Bev shook her head in dismay. ‘And to think, I once thought of you as friends, just like Joanie did.’ She turned and snatched up her bag, striding to the door.
Marie hurried after her. ‘Wait, Bev, I’ll help you.’