“They do say love is blind. Now can one of you kindly show me where to meet Miss Lily?”
Neither man reacted to his rudeness, making him feel uncomfortable. That wasn’t how he had been reared. He reached for the door handle but Robbie got there first.
“I won’t ask you for anything else, but please put aside what you think you know and give yourself time to get to know the real me.”
Charlie nodded, before walking out the door. Robbie directed him to where he should wait for Lily and left. He figured the man was going to find his sister. Nora. What on earth was she doing getting involved with a man like that? And a protestant to boot! But then, Nora wasn’t stupid; her head was screwed firmly on her shoulders. She wouldn’t have anything to do with a man unless he was honorable. Could he be wrong about Robbie Fenton?
Chapter 20
Dressed in her old dress, Lily walked through the kitchen to the servant’s exit. Nobody said anything to her; it was like she was invisible once again. Charlie was waiting at the door, smoking a cigarette.
“You look completely different,” he said, throwing the butt away.
“Amazing what an expensive dress can achieve, isn’t it?” she said, trying to be cheerful. It was rather difficult when her stomach was churning. By putting on the old dress she was invisible once more, was she also considered worthless?
“Well, only if the inner goods were gorgeous in the first place,” he responded waggling his eyebrows at her.
“Charlie, don’t get any ideas. We have a job to do and that’s all.”
“Yes, miss,” he said saluting her as if she were an army general. She laughed despite herself.
“See, that’s a big improvement. You have a beautiful smile.”
She chose not to respond. He had no way of knowing how many men had suggested the same thing, while very few ever gave her reason to. But then if he knew about her history, he wouldn’t be flirting with her now. She focused on the job in hand. As they walked toward the café Robbie had mentioned, Charlie explained how the gang wars of the 1860s had almost destroyed the neighborhood.
“Do you know how it got its name?” he asked.
“No,” Lily replied, thankful he was trying to make her less jumpy and irritated. She wished she could fast forward the next few hours.
“There are two different versions—neither one is official. A newspaper reporter had to have a police escort to report on a murder on 39th street and Tenth Avenue. In his article, he referred to it has Hell’s kitchen. The one I prefer was a policeman who used to patrol this neighborhood. Actually, he still might. But anyway, his name was Dutch Fred and the story goes, he was out one day with a new rookie and there was a huge gang fight. At least three people were murdered right in front of the cops. The rookie said something about it being like Hell itself, and Dutch Fred is said to have answered, it’s much cooler in Hell, this place is Hell’s kitchen.”
“Sounds like he missed his opportunity to be a poet,” Lily replied, mainly to show she was paying attention. She didn’t really care what it was called; she didn’t want to spend a minute more in this area of Manhattan than she had to.
Charlie carried on chatting. It was as if silence bothered him. “The mass demonstrations against the draft during the war still cause ill feeling today.”
“Why?” Lily asked despite herself. The civil war had happened long ago—before she was born.
“You could get out of the draft if you had three hundred dollars. So the rich people would pay some Irish bloke to go to war for him. Many never returned, but those that did paid a high price.”
“The rich will always benefit from the poor. That’s the way of the world.”
“Lily, you don’t mind me calling you that, do you? How did someone as young as you get so cynical?”
“So where’s this café then? Lily asked, hoping to deflect the conversation. She wasn’t going to talk about anything personal. New York was her chance to turn her life around. The less she said about her background, the better.
“Okay, I get the message. No talking about personal stuff.”
She didn’t dignify his comment with a reply but once more changed the subject. “Were you in one of the trains during the snow? Nora was worried about you.”
Charlie told her about his experiences during the blizzard, but she guessed from what he said, he had left the worst bits out.
“So what will you do now? Go back on the trains, or will you go west with your family?”
“I don’t know. Depends on whether I have a good reason to stay in New York,” he said.
She wished he would stop flirting with her. Usually she could ignore the men who did, but he was different. He got under her skin in a way no other man had. She folded her arms around herself in an effort to protect her heart. She couldn’t cope with being hurt, not again. Not ever.
“There’s the café. How will you know which girls to approach?”
She stared at him wondering if he really believed she was that naïve and innocent. He stared back, the air between them tingling. She was the first to pull her gaze away.
“You’ll recognize them, won’t you?” she asked flippantly.
“You must have a very low opinion of me. I ain’t never gone in a place like that, my gran would kill me.”
Lily laughed. “Do you always do what your gran says?”
“Have you met her?”
Lily shook her head.
“Wait until you do and you won’t have to ask that question. Now come on, I want to get this finished.”
Chapter 21
Lily followed him into the café. Was he in a hurry to get away from her? What did it matter? It shouldn’t, but it did.
She pushed her shoulders back, letting her eyesight adjust to the darker interior of the café. She spotted a table where a few miserable looking girls were sitting. She poked Charlie and pointed discreetly in the direction of the table. He ordered a drink and sat at another table where he could keep an eye on her. She walked up to the girls and asked if she could join them.
“Free country, but don’t you want to sit somewhere else?” The girl who answered had a sullen expression but it was the look in her eyes that scared Lily. She was only about sixteen, yet her eyes were dead.
“I was hoping you could help me, please,” Lily began.
“Listen, lady, we can’t help ourselves, never mind you.” The belligerent response came from an older girl who blew her cigarette smoke in Lily’s face. Lily caught the tell-tale bitter fragrance wafting from her. She couldn’t blame her. There were many a time in her past where Lily would have given her right arm for some opium to escape the hell she lived in.
“I need a job. I heard someone called Duffy was the man to speak to. Where would I find him?”
“Duffy? He’s not hard to find. Why ask us?” the girl asked, still belligerent but now more focused on Lily. She wasn’t as badly affected by the opium as she first appeared. Lily knew she had to be careful. She looked around her pretending to be scared, then inched closer to the girls.
“I wanted to know what it was like working for him. I ran away from someone already. I don’t want to have to go through that again.”
“Like we believe that. How do we know you’re not working for Duffy, checking us out to make sure we ain’t complaining about him?”
Lily couldn’t blame the girls for their distrust. She’d been just like them when Doc Erin tried to help her.
“Come into the outhouse and I will show you proof.” Lily offered, for once, thankful for the physical scars she earned working as a lady of the night.
“Why can’t you show us here?”
Lily looked around her. “I can’t, it’s private.”
“I’ll go with her, you girls stay here. Someone get some coffee.” The girl turned to Lily. “Name’s Mattie. Come on, let’s see your proof.” Mattie led the way to the outhouse in silence. Lily saw Charlie get off his seat to follow but shook her head so he sat back down.
Once outside and in relative privacy, she inched up her skirt to show Mattie the hideous scar on her leg, a legacy of her work for the pimp Dickenson. “I got more but I ain’t showing you them.” Lily changed her accent to how it had been before she met the Doc and Alicia.
Mattie took a deep drag on her cigarette. “Can’t you go somewhere else? You already paid a high price. Why would you want to work for Duffy?”
“I heard he treated his girls better than some.”
Mattie laughed but it turned into a hacking cough quickly.
“You need a doctor.”
“Don’t make me laugh. No doctor can fix me. Don’t know who you been speaking to but Duffy, he’s just about the worst of them. Do yourself a favor, walk away and keep on walking.”
Lily hesitated, trying to work out if Mattie would help them. “How long you been sick?”
“A while.”
“I know a doctor, she would take care of you.”
“A lady doc? You hit your head or something?” Mattie looked at her suspiciously. “You ain’t here for joinin’ Duffy, are you? What are you looking for?” She grabbed Lily’s upper arm in a vice-like grip. “Don’t play with me, love, I ain’t dead yet.”
“You’re right. Duffy has made some threats about a friend. I used to…I did live as you do. That’s not a lie. But I don’t want to go back to that life. I want to save my friend, too, if I can.”
Mattie’s eyes widened. Lily decided she might as well tell her.
“We got a chance to put Duffy away for good. The man I am working for will help any girl who helps us.”
“Right. He’s our guardian angel, is he?”
Lily couldn’t blame Mattie for being bitter. How many times had people known she needed help and just walked on by?
“He is. At least he could be. He has his reasons for helping. I can’t tell you what they are, only that this girl is important to someone this man is close to. So what do you say, will you help us? I’ll get my doctor friend to treat you.”
Mattie took another long drag of her cigarette. “What do you need?”
“We heard he was mistreating the girls. Making young ones work for him. Hurting them.”
“And? He can’t go down for that.”
“He can if they add kidnapping to the charges,” Lily said earnestly. She had to make the girl believe her. Had to get her on her side. “Mattie, I know you didn’t chose this life. I certainly didn’t. I was thirteen.”
“Doesn’t matter now how I got into this game. It’s all I know. Duffy might be a bad one but at least I know him. If he goes, who will I work for?”
“What about getting a real job?”
“Listen, lady, I can’t make up my mind about you. You’re either soft in the head or you’re up to something. There are no jobs, not for the likes of me. I’m not going to get a job in a shop or a factory, am I? One look at me and everyone knows what I do for a living.”
Lily knew what Mattie meant. She could tell when someone saw through her “good girl” look as she called it, but she wasn’t about to admit it. Any sign of weakness and Mattie might leave without helping. She couldn’t risk that. “It doesn’t have to be that way. I promise you this man will help. I know it’s hard to trust, as it was hard for me too. But my life changed and yours can as well. Please, Mattie, you’re sick and we both know that cough is serious. But there are young girls in that house, girls who deserve better. Can’t you help me to help them?” Lily knew she was begging but she was desperate. Mattie took a last drag of her cigarette and threw the butt away.
“Come back inside.”
Chapter 22
Mattie hadn’t told her what she was going to do. Lily followed her, wondering if she was going to tell the others what Lily was really up to.
She caught sight of Charlie; very glad he was there to protect her if she needed it. She didn’t acknowledge him but walked behind Mattie back to where the girls were sitting.
“She’s legit. So, girls, what do you say about taking her back to the house to meet Duffy?”
Lily nearly fainted. She didn’t want to meet Duffy in person. She was about to make an excuse when the girls confirmed their agreement. They picked up their things and made their way to the door.
Lily hung back as Mattie took her time to move. “I don’t want to go into Duffy’s house.”
“You said you wanted to help didn’t you? This is how you do it.”
“Isn’t there another way?” Lily asked, desperation making her look around for an escape route. It was all very well being brave when she was surrounded by people in the café, but in the house she would be all alone.
“Do you want my help, or don’t you?” Mattie stared at Lily, a look of defiance in her eyes.
Lily looked at Mattie. She didn’t have a choice. Not if she wanted to take down this Duffy guy.
“I’ll come.” She hoped Charlie would trail after them. Although once she was in the house, what could he do to help her? She shuddered at the thought of what may be waiting for her.
Chapter 23
Charlie sat drinking, trying to look as if he belonged in the café and wasn’t interested in the girls at the other side of the room. He nearly died when Lily got up and went outside. He rose to follow, but a look from her had him retaking his seat. He ordered another drink. A girl came over to chat, he indicated she take a seat and bought her a drink. It would help his cover until such a time as Lily needed him.
The girl told him her name and attempted conversation, but soon gave up when he didn’t have much to say to her. She seemed happy enough to sit in silence with her drink. Charlie glanced at her a couple of times, she was younger than Nora by a few years although the look in her eyes told him she had seen too much of the world already. She was like a hunted animal, ready to flit yet vulnerable too. As if she wanted someone to find her, look after her.
What had he had to drink? There must be something in the beer other than the usual stuff. He wasn’t usually this insightful. He saw Lily leave the café, the girls with her. The girl sitting with him made her excuse and left.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“Home,” she said without a second look at him.
Charlie watched as the door closed behind Lily. What the heck was he supposed to do now? Wait here or go after her? He stood up, then sat down again. She had told him to wait. He had to trust she knew what she was doing. For both their sakes.
Ned Duffy threw back another whiskey. He didn’t like sitting in the same saloon for long. Too many opportunities for people to come up and ask favors. What did they think he was? Father Christmas? Didn’t they know that for every favor he granted, there was a payback? Sometimes it was as insignificant as a quick roll in the sack, others a lifetime of informing for him. He rubbed his wallet thoughtfully. He hoped the bribe he’d paid was enough to secure Floyd’s release. Thankfully, he’d had some of his own men working the shift when Floyd was brought in. They couldn’t tell him the reason why though, which caused him concern.
Still, he needed to get the little weasel out of there. It was too risky to kill him while he was in custody, but he wouldn’t remain alive for long once he got his freedom. He was a loose end. He knew too much and people like Floyd always had a price. They didn’t understand loyalty. No, Rory would have to get rid of him. The sooner the better but first he had to convince the judge to order the release.
Would the bribe be enough? Judge Gleeson was becoming greedier. Or rather, his wife was. Ned smiled. Imagine how upset the missus would be if she found out her darling husband liked nothing better than to entertain the young ladies Ned employed. The younger the better.
Maybe that was the way to secure the Judge’s loyalty once and for all. There was a new girl in the house. He should arrange for a visit from the Judge. But he’d have to leave it a few days. He’d been a bit heavier handed than he meant to be. Stupid girl had tried to fight back. Still, he’d enjoyed breaking her spirit. In fact, he might just have to pay her
another visit before he passed her along to the Judge. Floyd could wait another day or so. He raised his hand. Paulie Short was beside him before he put it back on the table.
“You want something boss?”
“I think our friend would benefit from a little visit. Can you arrange it? Nothing too obvious mind, just a reminder not to talk. I need a couple of days to secure his release.”
Paulie smiled but not with his eyes. “You got it boss.”
“Paulie, remember no visible marks.”
Paulie nodded and waddled off. He always reminded Ned of an overstuffed goose. Ned knew he lacked height, but standing next to Paulie Short, he looked tall. He couldn’t remember Paulie’s real name. They’d called him “Short” for years. He was another one he could trust. At least, he thought he could. But you never knew in his trade. Someone had been squealing. Was it Rosie? She’d been married to one of his men. Couldn’t remember his name now, he’d been killed in a raid. Ned had tried to persuade Rosie to come work for him but she said she wasn’t a whore. Funny how women thought like that. All of Rosie’s friends, including Carmel Doherty’s grandson, brought her presents and drinks. In return, she slept with them. Why was that different from accepting hard cash?
Charlie Doherty, now there was a way to get back at Carmel. Once and for all. Charlie was staying in New York from what the gossips said. If he found out Rosie was behind the leak to the press, she would have to go. He could frame the murder on Doherty. Wouldn’t take long to wipe the smile off Carmel’s face if her grandson did the hangman’s walk. With a self-satisfied sigh that would strike fear into any decent person’s soul, Ned Duffy sat back in his chair and stared out the window. With an oath, he stood up again. Sure as Duffy was his last name, Doherty was across the street drinking in the Red Spirit café. What was he doing down this neck of the woods? Watching him closely, Ned knew Charlie wasn’t just socializing. He kept looking this way and that as if he were watching out for something. Was it Rosie? As soon as he thought about the merry widow, he dismissed it. It was way too early for Rosie to be around town. Just at that moment, a striking blonde woman came out of the café and said something to Charlie. They seemed to be arguing. Judging by the woman’s dress she was another lady of the night. Seems Rosie didn’t hold Charlie’s fancy any longer. Ned got a good look at the girl. She was young, but over eighteen. She was also pretty, and had a figure to drive a man wild. He moved. He had to know more. Calling one of his runners over, he told him to find out who the woman was.
New York Hope Page 6