Songbird

by Josephine Cox

  As she drew nearer, the doubts set in. He was such a volatile man, so unpredictable. How would he react? The moment she was standing before him, her courage began to waver.

  “So! Here you are at last, eh? Took you long enough to make your way back, didn’t it?” he said smoothly, in the softest tone that made her shudder. “You needed to punish me, was that it?” He traced her jawline with his finger and she felt hypnotized by his touch.

  “That’s not true, Steve, and you know it,” she whispered.

  “So why don’t you tell me what the truth is, then.” He stepped closer, his eyes boring into hers. “You’ve not been singing elsewhere, or I would have heard. So where have you been hiding? Got a bit on the side, is that it?”

  “Will ye leave her be!” Sensing trouble, Alice quickly intervened. “Go easy on her, for heaven’s sakes,” she urged in a low voice. “There’s a million an’ one eyes trained on the pair of youse.”

  Steve’s display of temper had not gone unnoticed by the regulars, some of whom did not believe the holiday story. They had seen the way he acted with her, controlling and possessive. So who could blame them for hoping she might have escaped, found a new life, a new man, one who might cherish her the way she deserved.

  Impatient, they called out to her now. “Come on, Madeleine, we’ve missed you! Get up there and strut your stuff!”

  The clapping rose to a deafening crescendo. “We want Songbird! We want Songbird!”

  “All right, all right!” Laughing, she gestured toward the stage. “I’m on my way.”

  As she turned from him, Steve caught her by the arm. “What do you mean?” he demanded. “Surely you’re not thinking of performing tonight?”

  “Why shouldn’t I?”

  “Because you’ve only just walked in, dammit! We need to go somewhere quiet, somewhere we can… talk.” Although he had other things on his mind than talk. “You’ll want to rehearse – decide the songs, organize the musicians. It all takes time.” He gave a lazy smile. “Besides, we’ve already booked a comedian for tonight.”

  “He’s been canceled,” Alice interrupted.

  “Canceled!” Steve swung round to face her. “What the hell are you talking about, woman? Who canceled him?”

  “I did. And if ye want to make something of it, I’m ready.” The little woman had a look in her eye that Steve knew all too well. If it wasn’t for the fact that Alice ran the club in his absence, was totally trustworthy and knew how to keep her mouth shut about his business deals, he would have thrown her feet first out the door long ago.

  Instead he issued a stark warning. “Be careful, lady. You don’t want to overstep the mark.”

  There were many ways of being rid of people like Alice, and he knew them all.

  Defusing the situation, Madeleine told him hastily, “It’s not Alice’s fault. It was me – I arranged it all. And now the boys are backstage, ready when I am.” She smiled, pleased with herself. “You see, I haven’t just walked in,” she admitted. “I was here this afternoon while you were at the races. Me, Dave and Dino rehearsed all afternoon.

  “You did what! And why the devil wasn’t I told?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I asked them not to let on,” she replied boldly. “We timed it for when you wouldn’t be here. I’m sorry, but, well… we all thought it would be a nice surprise for you.” She peeped at him from her soft dark eyes. “But it’s all right, isn’t it, Steve?” Most times she could wheedle her way round him, and thankfully this proved to be one of those times.

  He studied her a moment, wanting to hit her, aching to love her. “You’re a witch!” His desperation to have her was all he could think of. “Well, all right. But I won’t pretend I’m not rattled at being hoodwinked.” The sound of handclapping and foot-stamping was deafening. “Your fans are getting restless. You’d best go.” He took another moment to study those mesmerizing dark eyes, then warned her, “Don’t think you’ve got the better of me. I can take you or break you.” But his cutting remark was a lie, and they all knew it.

  Without a word and giving him no time to change his mind, Madeleine hurried away to the dressing room.

  Steve took his drink to the small table at the side of the stage which was reserved for him. On the way, he paused to exchange a word or two with his clients.

  “She’s back then?” The well-dressed man who spoke was a known thug. “If she were my woman, I’d never have let her get away in the first place. Not losing your touch, are you?”

  “You’d best mind your tongue.” After Madeleine’s sudden disappearance, Steve Drayton had been made to suffer many such comments. “You’ll never see the day when I lose my touch,” he retaliated. “Keep them on a string but cut them a bit of slack now and then… they’ll always come running back. Steve Drayton will never be short of women. What’s more, I’ll still be making money, long after you and your kind are finished so you’d do well to remember that!”

  Moving away, he placed his drink on the table, lit up a Dunhill and settled back in his chair, the beginnings of a smile crossing his face as he swept his gaze over the many customers, so flush with money he could almost smell it.

  He was no fool. Since Madeleine had been gone and the clients had begun to drift away, the vultures were circling, biding their time in the hope that he might be forced to sell. The club was in a prime location, and in excellent nick. There were many competitors who would just love to walk in and take over.

  Yes, it was true, Madeleine was the star attraction and there was no one else like her; she was the one who drew people from every corner. He had been in business long enough to know she was the magic money-spinner who kept him at the top. But he mustn’t let her know that. Nor must he let her forget that it was he who had given her the chance to show what she could do.

  Over the past two years he had built her up. And if she didn’t play his game, he thought fiercely, he could so easily knock her down again.

  He would too. Without a second thought.

  Looking about, Steve was pleased with what he saw. Every manjack here was thrilled that Madeleine Delaney was back in town!

  Like himself, they were settling down, confident that they were about to enjoy a very special performance.

  And as usual, they were not disappointed.

  It was twenty minutes before Madeleine appeared onstage. Prior to that it was organized chaos behind the scenes, with Alice helping her choose from the three dresses she had brought earlier. “You’ll be wanting to knock ’em dead tonight.” Alice was beside herself with excitement. “Ooh now! This is the one to send ’em wild!” Whipping the shocking pink dress from its hanger, she held it against the girl. “What d’ye think, me darling?”

  Madeleine thought Alice had chosen well. “OK, let’s go for that one,” she agreed. “Pink dress, black belt and shoes…”

  “And that sparkly diamond clip in your hair?” Alice suggested.

  The two women worked methodically in front of the big illuminated mirror, with makeup, perfume and hairspray until finally, Maddy Delaney – the Songbird – was ready to face her public.

  When she emerged onstage, the punters went wild, and who could blame them? In the sexy knee-length gown with its sweetheart neckline, long skinny sleeves and back kick-pleat, she was both classy and glamorous.

  Her long thick locks were swept off-center to the top of her head, so as to cascade naturally down one side; the diamond clip accentuated the depth and sparkle of her eyes, and the stiletto heels gave her legs a long, slender appearance.

  When the music started up and her pure, powerful voice rose to the rafters, the crowd fell silent. Maddy had chosen to sing The Beatles’ new hit, “Yesterday” – a song which the public all over the world had taken to their hearts. The hush was complete as she sang to a sea of upturned faces about the sorrow of lost love and loneliness.

  Each haunting song that followed was a story, and when finally she bowed and thanked them, the audience gave her and the musicians
the rapturous applause they deserved.

  And so, the evening was finally over. As Steve Drayton watched the punters go, a celebratory cigar drooping from his mouth, his hands were itching to count the takings. “I reckon we’ve done all right,” he boasted, as Alice closed the outer door. “Now that Madeleine’s back, there’ll be no holding us.”

  “If you want her to stay, you’d best mend your ways,” Alice declared. “You almost lost her because of your bullying. Next time, it might well be permanent.”

  None too pleased at her unwelcome advice, he bit back, “When I need your opinion, I’ll ask for it. And if I find you’ve been trying to turn her against me, well now…” He nodded affirmatively. “I’ll have no choice but to deal with it… if you know what I mean?”

  Alice knew well enough what he meant, but she played him at his own game. “Whatever makes you think I might try and turn Madeleine against you?” she asked sarcastically. “When you’re doing a perfectly good job of it yourself!”

  “This is the last warning, Alice. Just keep your nose out of my business.” He caught the defiant look in her eye and shook his head. “You need to listen to what I’m saying! Oh, I won’t deny you’re worth your weight in gold here. But like I said before, you are not indispensable.”

  “I never thought I was,” Alice said, beginning to empty the till. “Though you won’t find better than me.”

  “Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn’t. We’ll just have to see, won’t we? So now, if it doesn’t go against your high principles, d’you think you could close up and see yourself off these premises? I’ll cash up tonight. Tell everyone they can go home – you’ve all done very well tonight.”

  Steve sank into a reflective mood as he mechanically counted the takings. The sight of Madeleine on stage, her slim curves draped in silk, had reminded him of what he had been missing; twice he’d been to the flat he’d bought for her in Battersea, but there was no sign of her, and so he began wondering where she was, and who with. And yes, there had been others to satisfy him in Madeleine’s absence, but they were just filling in, until she came back… as he knew she would.

  Hearing a noise behind him, he swung round. “What! Are you still here?” Alice had become a thorn in his side, and if he had his way, it would be a mere matter of time before she was permanently removed.

  On his words, Alice picked up her handbag which she’d left by the till and hurried away. There was no need to antagonize him further, she wisely decided. But she vowed to make Madeleine see sense; if not today, then soon.

  Before something really bad happened.

  With that in mind, she set off in search of Raymond, a shy, bumbling giant of a man who worked like a dog, and was solely responsible these days for keeping the club clean and shipshape.

  Being another fortunate “find” for Drayton, Raymond kept himself to himself, avoiding company and speaking only when spoken to. An orphan raised in a strict children’s home, he had been a wanderer sweeping the streets when Drayton came across him. Within a week, he had him working at the club.

  Poor Raymond was forever grateful to his new boss. Given a windowless room where he could lay his head, free food from the club and a measly wage on a Friday, he thought himself a fortunate man.

  “Ray, where are you?” Alice looked about, but could see no sign of him. Going to the bar, she asked one of the barmen there, “Jack, have you seen Raymond anywhere?”

  Jack was genuinely friendly, honest as the day was long, and deeply fond of Madeleine – not in any sexual way, he was not that way intended – but he was prepared to stand up and defend her. Alice had seen the way his boyish features tightened whenever he saw Drayton bullying her. Hard-working and ambitious, Jack nevertheless remained untainted by the world of Soho; in fact, he wanted to run his own club one day.

  In answer to Alice’s question, Jack gestured to the far side of the room. “Last time I saw him, he was clearing the back tables.”

  Alice thanked him. “The boss is especially keen to have the club emptied and locked for the night.”

  “Why? What’s got into him? Most nights he’s here till all hours, him and his cronies, gambling and drinking. What’s so different about tonight?”

  “Sure, it’s no good asking me!” Alice rolled her eyes to the heavens. “Best do as he says though. Ye know what a vile bugger he can be.”

  “Alice…” Jack lowered his voice to a whisper. “He doesn’t know, does he?”

  “If you mean, does he know Madeleine was with you all that time, the answer is no – at least I don’t think so. He hasn’t said anything.”

  Jack was concerned all the same, “You and I both know, he’d go mental if he found out. Not because anything would have happened between me and Madeleine.” He smiled a sad little smile. “He knows the way things are with me. It’s just that I care about her! When I caught her crying in the back alley that night, I knew she needed to get away from him… if only to send him the message that she’s not his sole property to do with as he pleases!”

  Alice understood his frustration. “The trouble is, she loves him – though God only knows why.”

  “I’m well aware of that,” Jack sighed. “It was plain enough – the way she kept mentioning his name, even wanting to get back to him from the minute she came in through the door.”

  “Well, it was Drayton who put her up there in front of the crowds,” Alice conceded. “Unfortunately, she seems to think she owes him for that for all eternity, when all the time any self-respecting club owner would have cut his arm off for the chance. Anyways, all we can do is hope she comes to her senses, sooner rather than later.”

  “I did right, didn’t I?” Jack asked worriedly. “I mean, offering her my spare room for a while?”

  “Of course you did the right thing,” Alice assured him. “No way should we have let her come to me because, as we suspected, it was the first place he came looking.”

  Jack pursed his lips, folded a bar towel and placed it over the pumps. “For her own sake, I wish she could see him for what he really is. A complete bastard!

  He knew how fond Alice was of her. “She’s too trusting, and he knows it.” The anger trembled in his voice, “I tell you, Alice, if it wasn’t for her asking me not to, I’d have tackled him long before now. But she won’t have it. As it was I pleaded with her to stay on at my place – even offered to move out for as long as she wanted. I tried all ways to stop her from coming back here to him, but she wouldn’t be told.”

  Alice chuckled. “That’s the way she is – headstrong and independent. But I’m keeping an eye on things, don’t you worry.”

  “Alice, promise me. If he hurts her, you will tell me, won’t you? I can’t abide bullies.” Jack’s face darkened. “I swear to God I’ll swing for him if he touches her again.”

  “I will.” Alice could lie convincingly when necessary.

  And she was lying now.

  The last thing she wanted was to involve Jack any deeper. He was a sensitive young man, albeit strong and able, and no doubt in a fair fight he could easily take on a man like Drayton. But there were others – ruthless criminals and villains who, if paid enough, would snuff his life out like a candle.

  Alice could never risk that happening.

  Losing no time, Jack went away to instruct the others, “The boss wants us off the premises – like now.”

  “Why the hurry?” The old barman had been with Drayton these past four years.

  Jack shrugged. “Who knows?”

  “Another closed game with his mates, is it… losing their ill-gotten gains at the table.” The man gave a snort of disgust, “Bloody fools. More money than they know what to do with.”

  Having located Raymond, Alice asked, “How long before you’re done?”

  Six foot tall, with shoulders wide and strong as an oak door, Raymond often doubled as a bouncer, evicting the undesirables. “Half an hour tonight,” he answered shyly, avoiding Alice’s eye. “Back at eight in the morning to finish off.
”

  Alice nodded, and then gave a stifled yawn. “It’s been a long tiring day, and I need my sleep.” Bidding him farewell, she hurried away to get her coat.

  Before leaving, she intended to have a quiet word with Madeleine. She was deeply suspicious. Steve Drayton was acting out of character and it worried her. What with Maddy taking off the way she did, without so much as a word, and then turning up out of the blue like that… and all he had done was give her a gentle chiding. It was not like Drayton to suffer public humiliation quietly. There would inevitably be some kind of retribution.

  In her dressing room, Madeleine had changed into a robe and was seated before the mirror, removing the makeup from her face.

  Engrossed in what she was doing, she did not hear him come in. It was only when he stepped forward that she saw his image in the mirror.

  “God Almighty, Steve!” she exclaimed. “You scared the daylights out of me.”

  Before she could turn round, he was on her, his long lean fingers toying with her hair, caressing her slender shoulders, then sliding down toward her breasts. When she raised her head, he leaned forward to kiss her on the neck.

  Suddenly, without warning, he clenched his fingers about her throat and squeezed.

  When she began to struggle, he increased the pressure until she could barely breathe.

  Then, just when it seemed she might pass out, he released her.

  “You’ve been a bad girl,” he murmured. “You walked out on me without a word.” He tutted. “That was so cruel.”

  Cursing her to hell and back, he began to pace the floor, madly ranting on about what she had done to him. “Weeks you’ve been gone, and not one word! I went to the flat twice, and it was empty, so I knew you hadn’t been staying there. Then you just walk back in, as though nothing has happened. Did you never think how I felt? Christ! I was almost out of my mind, not knowing what was going on, not to mention being slagged off by the regulars with their smart-arse remarks. ‘Where’s your woman? Frightened her off, have you?’ Laughing at me behind my back!” His face looked wild.