by Tony Lavely
“Huh?”
“When suits show up back ‘ere to see a girl, especially one our age, means she’s on the way home.”
Beckie nodded as she pulled the peignoir closed. “We’ll see. Maybe. One’s my Dad, the other’s the guy I worked with. Here.” With both she and Julia now as decent as they were likely to be, Beckie opened the door.
“Okay, Dad, you deserve an explanation.” She ignored Julia as the girl dropped to the chair, folding her costume. “Okay.” She sighed and leaned against the table. “Mr. Jamse’s maybe explained what we did in April. Well, having gotten Cari back, and us too, we heard that these girls were kidnapped in California. You’re right, usually I wouldn’t think much about that. But this time, there’s a reasonable chance that we helped cause their kidnapping, ‘cause we, the three of us, weren’t available for whatever they had in mind.” She held up her hand, forestalling Jamse’s interruption. “Wait, please!” The command came out more sharply than she’d intended. She forced herself to relax. “So there’s that possible responsibility. And also, like both Mike and I said—”
“Mike,” Jim interrupted, “he’s beside himself, not knowing what you’re doing. And Melissa, too.”
“I’m sorry about that. But Mr. Jamse’s right, Lissa needs more time.” She paused. “She needs some attention, too, from Mike, or some guy at least, and Mike’s best, I think, to help her get over what we did.” Looking down, she smoothed her gown. “So that’s why they’re home and I’m here.”
She straightened, then carefully arranged herself to sit on the table while preserving modesty. “Nancy’ll be along soon to tell me time to go on—”
“Want me to take your turn?”
“No, Julia, thanks. You and Carol’ve done enough, taking me in.” She shook her head. “I’m tired.” She made a half-hearted effort to push her hair back into place. “But it’s okay.”
Nancy opened the door. She looked askance at the visitors. “Right, what’s this, then? Just saw you out front. And you,” speaking to Jamse, “you know no one back ‘ere.” She turned to Beckie. “You goin’ on, luv?”
Beckie nodded, then turned back to Jim. “You don’t need to see me again; it’ll be much the same as before. Wait here, I’ll be back, then we can leave.” She shrugged inside the peignoir and asked Nancy, “Is Julia done, too?”
Nancy nodded. “Yeah, we’ll be closing in a few more ticks.” Beckie followed Nancy out the door. “You think you’ll be back this time?”
“If you’ll let me, after having visitors back here.” She laughed but the smile dropped away. “And, if they’ll let me.” She sighed. “I’ll let you know.”
“Right. Be sure to let Nigel know ‘e owes you for the two nights anyway. And you ’elped ‘is business, you did.”
Beckie successfully negotiated the set on stage. However, as she stepped through the beaded curtain into the hallway, Julia grabbed her arm and pulled her into a different dressing room, this one closer to the stage.
“Com’on. I got your stuff, they dint know which was mine or yours. ‘Less you gonna stay with ‘em?”
Beckie stood in the room, looking at Julia. In mufti, the girl looked her years, but not lost, not like she didn’t know what she was doing. Beckie dropped the costume and pulled on clothes from the bag that Julia had brought. While she dressed, she made up her mind.
“I gotta go back to them. It’d be wrong to walk out on them like that. You know?” The other girl nodded with a sigh. “It’s just, I think I can get them to let me stay, if I say it right.”
“No, they won’t. They were talking while I was pickin’ stuff up. Ian, or whatever, is certain that you guys ‘ad nothin’ to do with whatever happened in California—”
“Well, it was only a possibility—”
“… and since ‘e’s got a girl ‘ere watchin’ over us, like, there’s no reason for you to be dancin’, ‘cause no one’s gonna be comin’ ‘round to kidnap you or anyone.”
“Oh. Damn.” Beckie dropped to the floor. “Well, that makes this a pretty stupid idea then, doesn’t it?”
“Not to me, it isn’t. I’d be proud if it were me ‘ad thought of it.” Julia sat down beside her, hugging her close.
“Thanks. What is it you guys say? Cheers?”
“Right enough we do. When we’re leaving.”
“Well, I’ll probably be leavin’ really soon, if what you said is true.” She dried her cheeks, and got up, pulling Julia up behind her. “Let’s go and I’ll face the music.”
The two walked back to their dressing room to find Jim and Jamse standing nervously watching the door. “We weren’t sure you were coming back,” Jim said.
“Wasn’t sure I was. Then I thought, you came all the way here to try and, I don’t know, save me from myself or something. So, like I told Julia, I thought if you were going to go to all that trouble, I oughta try and see if you’re right. And anyway, try to explain what I’m doin.’ More than before.” She paused, to see if anyone was going to break in. “I guess you don’t think it’s a good idea for me to be here tryin’ to get taken again?”
Jamse beat Jim to speak: “I certainly do not. Your father and I have somewhat differing reasons and in a moment, he can speak to his. Mine, however: we are as certain as we can be that the plans in California were made even before Carina was abducted. It seems unlikely that they were even accelerated, given the number of people who appear to have been involved.”
Beckie watched while Jamse looked around the room, shifting uncomfortably. It’s really too small to move around here…
“You recall Ms. Stadd? Bethany?” Jamse continued. Beckie nodded, only half of her attention on him. Sure looks like Dad’s getting tense. “Ms Stadd’s brief here is to ensure that no one leaves this establishment unwillingly.
“Finally, Ms Saunders has presented the gentlemen who abducted Carina, and then you and Melissa, to local law enforcement. At last report, while you were dancing a few moments ago, they remain in custody. Their incarceration means that that path to Werner is closed. Thus, there seems to be little benefit to your continued work here, other than to Nigel and his aud—”
“Beckie,” Jim broke in, “I am shocked and stunned that… that you’d ignore… us… all of us, and fly all the way here to… to…”
He can’t even put the words together, he’s so mad. Glad I’ve never seen that before! Wish I wasn’t, now…
“I’m trying to stay calm, rational, but it’s damned hard! While we’ve raised you to be independent, we didn’t think you’d be sneaky or—”
“Dad… Dad!” She watched his eyes focus on hers. She felt tears flowing. “I’m sorry you feel that way. Believe me—”
“Can’t ya see?” Julia hollered as she pushed off the chair to confront Jim. “This’s exactly the reason she left you in the flippin’ dark!” She used her fist against his shoulder to punctuate her words. “Even Jamse here is willin’ to listen, but you… You’re down her throat like a bad drink!” Julia turned and pulled Beckie away from the table, then pushed her into her father’s chest. “Now, listen! We know you’re mad, and that you don’t understand… ‘Cause you can’t!” She reached around Beckie to grab Jim’s chin, to force him to look at her. “So, leave off all that and if you have something else to say…”
Beckie turned to take Julia by the waist. “Thanks. Now go sit down, otherwise I’ll have to beat you up, and Carol wouldn’t like that.”
She turned back to her father. The humor hadn’t gotten through. “You look a little… Well. You don’t need to tell me that you don’t want me here; that you don’t want me worried about the girls in California; that… That you don’t really want me to grow up.”
She saw his eye glisten. When she took his arm to steady herself as she reached to wipe his cheek, she could feel his tension, unrelieved.
“No, Beckie. I’m just not ready, I guess, for your growing up to be… done so… quite so soon.”
She hugged him.
H
e returned her hug, but then released her. “I need to sit, I think…”
Julie shot up from the chair and slid it across the floor to him. With a look to Julia that Beckie wished for herself, Jim pulled it to the wall and sat. Julia took the table. Beckie folded herself into a seated position next to the front leg of the chair, where she could watch his face.
“Mr. Jamse says, ‘Indeed’ all the time. I was a little surprised the first few times, but…” She glanced over to see the man’s small smile. He’s got a pretty nice smile. But he doesn’t use it much. “Well, that’s just talking. Dad, Julia covered what you were gonna say, I guess.” He nodded. “Maybe more… succinctly, eh?” He nodded again, but Beckie was pleased to see a twist of his lips that might become a smile. If he let it. “Then it’s my turn.” She sighed, but then gave him a little smile. “First, you gotta know that I do appreciate your coming all this way, spending money, taking time from your work to make sure I’m okay and that I’m not making some big mistake.” She gave her father a grin that she hoped wasn’t as twisted as it felt.
“But while I appreciate it, you’ve also gotta know that I so want to help those girls, and it seems to me that whatever Mr. Jamse’s done hasn’t done much so far, least according to Sue.” She turned to focus on Jamse. “So without a different plan that I can help with, I’d ask you to have Barbara let those guys go so I can keep on dancin’ now that I’ve figured it out, and depend on Carol and Nancy and Beth to make sure that the right guys take me, so I can at least see where they are.”
She turned back and noticed her father’s steady gaze. She dropped her eyes. “It’s funny, but dancin’ out there doesn’t embarrass me. I mean, there are a lot of things I’d rather be doin,’ except for the reason I’m doin’ it.” With a grin, she looked up. “Is that what they mean by ‘The end justifies the means?’ Anyway, I think there are worse things to do, like ignoring those girls if I could help.
“So, unless you’ve got a different plan, I’m gonna stay here and try to get to him my way.” She thought for a few seconds. “I s’pose you could bring the police, or even jus’ drag me outta here and back home, but I hope you won’t; that you’ll trust me enough to let me help. Even if you’re upset ‘cause you think I didn’t trust you.”
Jim shifted on the chair, then sighed. “You all know Julia’s right. I had a chip on my shoulder about this whole thing, about your relationship with him.” He inclined his head toward Jamse, keeping his eyes locked on Beckie’s. “Ready to pronounce judgement and snatch you out of this… place. I didn’t think about how proud I should be… how proud I am of your making an attempt, even if I thought it misguided. You were making an attempt to help people. People you don’t know, may never know.” His voice got a little stronger. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t like the things you’re doing with him. And I don’t like that you don’t feel you can share things with those who love you. That hurts.”
“Daddy—”
“Let me finish. I’ll ask you again to come back with me, but I don’t see that it’ll do much good. And absent a ball and chain, forcing you to come back home won’t work, either. After all, your mother and I raised you and Mike to make up your own minds and to do the right thing. But I didn’t expect that would mean you would put yourself in jeopardy, or expose yourself, out there.”
“Don’t be silly. These guys aren’t interested in my mind. I’m out there because my body, such as it is, is the tool I have to work with. It’s like you using your knowledge or the people who work for you or Mr. Jamse using, I don’t know, but I’ll bet he has a lot of things he uses. Like Beth, dancing here too.” She stood and took her father’s hands, squeezing them tight. “As for the rest, it’s a risk I gotta take. I don’t expect to get hurt, but no matter what, I love you and Mom. I wouldn’t have wanted anything different.”
“Well, Rebecca,” Jamse said, “I heard you offer a way out of this disagreement.” He looked at Jim. “While I determine an alternative approach, I shall not force you to leave London.”
“Right, then, let’s get outta ‘ere,” Julia stood, rubbing her butt. “Carol’s been ready since I met you; she’s jus’ waitin’ to see what’s gonna ‘appen.”
“Dad, I’m gonna go with Carol and Julia,” Beckie said. “You won’t have to worry ‘bout me.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bomb
BECKIE TRAILED JULIA AS THE girl opened the door and led the way to the back entrance, calling to Carol that they were on the way out. As they stepped down into the alley, Beckie turned back. “If you want—” She heard a phone’s discordant ring. “… to get h— Hey! Wha— mphitt!” she hollered as someone suddenly shoved her forward and down. She hit the side of a big car and saw a brilliant flash accompanied by the loudest noise she’d ever heard. The car pushed back as if fighting off her impact.
Her head was ringing, not good for anything. She was shaking.
She convulsed as something large and heavy thudded on the other side of the car. What the fuck was… Broken glass fell out of her hair. Slowly, she tried to calm herself, then looked around. Along with the dust filtering down, burned rubber and another smell, bitter and acrid, burned her nose. An odor of burnt meat added to the unpleasant aroma. Julia’s bald head was in her stomach; the girl was beginning to tremble and Beckie could feel her little sobs. She stretched gingerly to make sure all her parts were still connected, then sat up to see to Julia. The girl was in the same state she was: stunned but not bleeding. She pressed down her feelings. No time for bein’ scared. I gotta see about Dad and Mr. Jamse. I hope… Beckie got to her knees and began to push up. They were right behind— Julia grabbed her belt and pulled her back down. The girl’s hand shook.
Beckie leaned back down to hear her over the ringing. “St… sta… stay ‘ere,” the girl hissed. “Might st… sti… still be watchin.’”
“Gotta see ‘bout Dad and Mr. Jamse,” Beckie whispered back, but stayed on her hands and knees, crawling through the glass and other debris to find both men lying slumped against the building. Jamse was moving, but her father wasn’t. God, please let Daddy be alright!
She was still quaking when she reached her father. Thanks, Julia. I woulda fallen over if I tried to stand! While the car had shielded him as it had the girls, the blast had blown out the windows. Even with the safety glass, both his and Jamse’s faces looked like raw meat, with little rivulets of blood signaling to her that they were alive. But as she looked more closely, she saw that Jamse had apparently shielded his eyes; the flying glass had cut mostly his lower face.
Jamse was shaking his head as Beckie reached her father. Carol burst through the back door, running out to find Julia still crouched behind the car. Over Carol’s exclamations to Julia and outraged shouts from farther up the alley, Beckie heard the funny London police sirens approaching.
Jamse reached behind Jim’s head, feeling about carefully. “He has struck his head, but it does not appear to be serious.” Beckie ripped off a sleeve to have something with which to wipe the blood from her father’s face. He stirred at her touch, trying to sit up in spite of both Beckie and Jamse holding him down.
Jim groaned even louder as Beckie tried to gently work some of the glass from the cuts in his face. Jamse caught her hand. “The physicians will do a better job, and I believe they will be here in moments.” The police were prompt, and Carol quickly hustled both Julia and Beckie off to the side where they might not attract the attention of either the police or the growing crowd of curious bystanders. She pushed a slip of paper into Beckie’s hand. “When they’re in, grab a cab and tell him this address. He’ll bring you ‘round. When you’re on the way, ring us up, and we’ll come let you in.”
When the ambulance did arrive, both men were able to walk to the vehicle; Beckie ran to accompany them.
During the ride to the hospital, Jamse explained that a motor bike with packages tied on had caught his eye as the cell phone rang. The man standing down the street holding somethin
g had provided him the final impetus to shove the girls toward the protection of the car’s mass, and then attempt to shield himself. Jim came last, not quite soon enough.
In the Emergency ward of Saint Thomas Hospital, the doctors were quick with Jamse, merely making sure his wounds were clean and that his shots were up to date. However, not only did Jim’s loss of consciousness worry them, they also wanted to make sure that any injuries to his eyes were found and treated. They sent Beckie away, preferring that no friends or relatives accompany him to the operating theatre. With a squeeze of her hand, Jim told her to go and register him for a hotel room once he got out. “And don’t let Mom find out about this yet, please.”
“‘Don’t tell Mama,’ eh?” They both laughed; Jim’s sounded just as forced as Beckie’s.
Beckie joined Jamse in a cab. She wasn’t greatly interested, but noticed they entered the same hotel they’d stayed in during the April visit. She chose to stay in the room she took for Jim. She would meet Julia and Carol later in the morning, after the sun had risen. A quick call made sure they wouldn’t be waiting up for her.
Tired though she was, sleep did not come quickly. Lying between the sheets after her shower, she turned the events of the night over, first in sequence, then at random, then trying to sort them by causality. Dancing, Jamse’s feelings, and her father’s, at finding her at Nigel’s. Try as she might, no common thread seemed to emerge except disapproval of her actions.
She knew, though she hadn’t said so, that she did enjoy the dancing; she had liked it with Melissa in April, and she liked it now. So you’ve got a little exhibitionist in you, girl. I guess… But those girls… This’s the only way I can get to them. She was afraid that Jamse had effectively closed off the route she was trying to take, and unless he was willing to reopen it… Might as well go home.