by Sam Michaels
Edward cried out from his pram in the hallway. ‘I’ll see to my grandson; you pour the tea,’ Jane said and went to the crying child.
Molly’s eyes followed Jane as she left the room. The woman was even walking taller now and her shoulders were pushed back defiantly. It would be the first time Jane had held Edward. She’d always shied away from him, probably because looking at him reminded her of Billy.
Molly quietly walked to the door and peeked through to see Jane rocking the baby in her arms and gazing at him lovingly.
‘He looks just like Billy, doesn’t he?’ Jane said without taking her eyes from the child.
‘Yes, I suppose he does.’
‘He must never know that I killed his father.’
Something in Jane’s eyes made Molly nervous and she reached out for her baby. She didn’t want to think that Jane would hurt Edward, but at times the woman seemed unhinged. It made her nervous of sharing the same house and the sooner they reclaimed the business the better. She’d then be in a position to put a safe roof over their heads, away from the madness of Billy’s family and their tainted bloodline.
*
Georgina left her gran to doze in the chair next to the fire and went to her bedroom to think clearly. Now she had the backing of Molly, Jane and Fanny, she could make her move, but she had to do it correctly. There’d be no room for error as even the smallest of mistakes could cost lives. She was under no illusion as to what she was about to embark on, though she’d played it down to her gran. Mickey the Matchstick wouldn’t roll over quietly. He’d fight, kill if he had to, but Georgina was prepared to hit back harder.
She walked over to the window and stared out at the white film of snow covering the backyard. It was strange, but the snow never settled over the spot next to the coal bunker where her gran had buried a barrel with her dead husband inside it. She was still shocked at discovering that, after a fierce argument, Dulcie had caved Percy’s head in with a pan and then concealed his body. Georgina had grown up never knowing that her window overlooked his unmarked grave. She didn’t like the thought of it, but if things didn’t go as planned with Mickey the Matchstick, Percy’s corpse may end up with some company.
Georgina turned away from the window at the sound of her dad piling through the front door. She could tell by the commotion that he was plastered again. It wasn’t unusual these days. The man had been drunk since the day Billy Wilcox had organised for her to be viciously attacked. At the time, they’d thought she wouldn’t pull through, but she had, albeit with a few scars and a couple of teeth missing from the back of her mouth. Georgina was well healed now, but her father’s drinking had spiralled out of control. Her one hope was Lash. He’d told her he’d lock her dad in one of the caravans until his body was free from the alcohol. It sounded cruel, but Jack needed it and Georgina knew it would be the only way to save him from drinking himself to death.
The thought of Lash brought an uncontrollable smile to her face. She missed him more than she thought she would and, though she kept it to herself, she couldn’t wait for him to return. Her bare-knuckle fighter, the brawny gypsy who’d unexpectedly won her heart and promised to take her as his wife. Her stomach flipped and her groin clenched. She remembered his touch, so gentle yet firm, stroking her skin as she tingled in response. His kiss, his lips full and soft, caressing her own and teasing her mouth open with his tongue. His masculine scent, of pine needles and tobacco, of hard graft, and his rippling muscles, broad shoulders and strong arms. She’d felt safe there in his embrace.
It would be weeks, maybe months before Lash would be back in Battersea, and in the meantime, she had business to do. It wasn’t easy, but Georgina dismissed all thoughts of him and focused on the task at hand – Knuckles.
Jane said she’d arrange a meeting with the giant of a man. It was the first step and Georgina had to ensure she gained his trust. She couldn’t risk Knuckles double bluffing her and running back to Mickey with valuable information that would put them all at risk. It wasn’t as if they could offer Knuckles money and pay him for his loyalty. They didn’t have much between them, and all the paperwork for the Wilcox assets were in Billy’s office, even for the house in Clapham. Jane had never mentioned the house and Molly refused to move back into it, not that Georgina could blame her. It held nothing but bad memories and Billy’s blood still stained the sofas. Anyway, Georgina doubted it would still be empty. She assumed Mickey was probably running a brothel or a gambling den from it now.
With little available cash, Georgina wasn’t sure how she’d be able to persuade Knuckles to jump Mickey’s ship and join forces with her, but one way or another, she had to do it. And if her powers of persuasion failed, she had one last option, she thought, and patted the small handgun in her pocket.
‘Georgina, are you coming down for your dinner?’ her gran called up the stairs.
Georgina’s guts were churning. Nerves, she supposed. She couldn’t stomach the thought of food. Instead, she went downstairs and put her coat on.
Her gran came from the kitchen. ‘I’m just dishing up. Where are you going?’
‘I’m not hungry, Gran. I’ll be back in a while. I’m popping out to get a newspaper.’
‘You and your newspapers. I don’t know what sparked this sudden interest in world affairs. You’ve got enough to be worrying about here, let alone who’s invading who abroad. Go on, bugger off. I’ll keep your dinner in the oven. Stay out of trouble.’
Georgina closed the door behind her as her mind raced. Stay out of trouble, huh, that was a laugh. She’d be making trouble soon, more trouble than the likes of Mickey the Matchstick had ever seen.
As she turned the corner heading towards Mrs Peterson’s shop, her heart thumped harder when she saw Malc and Sid’s car parked outside. What were Mickey’s men doing there other than robbing the place?
Georgina picked up her pace. Mrs Peterson was a widow thanks to Billy Wilcox and she wouldn’t allow his gang to terrorise the woman.
Outside now, she paused and thought about brandishing her gun. But there were two of them and she’d likely get shot. Either that or arrested and she couldn’t face being in a police cell again, not after what had happened last time. She dismissed that vile memory and peeked through the glass in the door but Sid blocked her view. She hadn’t seen him and Malc since they’d bundled her into a car and beat her half to death. She intended on getting her revenge but now wasn’t the right time. They were part of her plan in getting rid of Mickey but she couldn’t turn her back on poor Mrs Peterson.
Gulping hard, she heard the bell above the door chime as she opened it.
Sid, still with his back to her, growled, ‘The shop is closed. Fuck off.’
‘It looks open to me,’ she said, undeterred.
Sid turned to look at her, a wicked leer spread across his face. ‘Ha, George Garrett, as mouthy as fucking ever.’
Georgina looked past Sid and was surprised when she saw Mickey’s flame red hair, his face snarling, and Malc next to him.
‘Get her out of here,’ Mickey ordered.
Sid went to manhandle Georgina backwards, but she brought her knee up sharply and caught him in the groin. He gasped, doubled over and seethed profanities. She quickly brought her knee up again and grabbed the back of his head and yanked it down at the same time. As she kneed him in the face, the crunch of his nose bone was unmistakable and Georgina smiled.
Malc pulled a gun and pointed it at her, saying, ‘You’re only alive ’cos Billy told me not to kill you but Billy ain’t here now.’
‘No, put it away, Malc,’ Mickey said. ‘The street’s busy. There’d be too many witnesses. Anyhow, she ain’t worth wasting a bullet on.’
‘I’ll fucking kill her,’ Sid barked, blood running from his nose.
‘I’d like to see you try,’ Georgina said to him.
Sid went to grab her but Mickey intervened. ‘Leave her, let’s just collect the money and go.’
‘But I ain’t letting her get aw
ay with this,’ Sid said.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll see to it that she doesn’t. Right, Mrs Peterson, pay up and we’ll leave you in peace.’
The woman rooted in the till and with shaking hands, she handed over some cash.
Mickey stepped towards Georgina. ‘Don’t get in my way, George, ever, or I’ll let Malc put that bullet in you.’
Georgina stepped to one side, her pulse racing. Even though she was armed, she knew it would be suicidal to try and take on all three of them at once.
‘I’ll be seeing you, George, you can count on it.’ Mickey smirked as he passed, Malc and Sid behind him, their eyes blazing at her.
The door closed and she watched as they drove off. Mrs Peterson looked unsteady and grabbed the counter for support.
‘Have they done this before?’
‘Yes, it’s the third time. You’re brave, Georgina, seeing to that bloke like that, but there’s no way of stopping them. I’ll have to shut up shop, sell it or something. With them taking all my money, it’s not worth staying open.’
‘No, don’t do that. I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.’
‘You can’t, dear, but thanks for trying. I heard him – he threatened you. They won’t let you get away with roughing up that man like you did. I don’t know about you but I could do with a stiff drink. I’ve a bottle out the back if you care to join me?’
‘No, thank you. If you’re all right, I’ll get off.’
Georgina paused in the shop doorway, more determined than ever to bring Mickey down now. And she knew she had to get to him before he got to her.
3
It had been a week since Georgina had talked Molly, Fanny and Jane into an attempted takeover of the Wilcox business, and now, as her granddaughter walked into the kitchen, Dulcie thought how magnificent she looked. For most of Georgina’s life, in a misguided attempt to protect her from men, Jack had raised his daughter as a boy. She’d been made to wear boys’ clothes, been taught to steal like a boy and to fight like one too. It had been less than a year since George had transformed herself into Georgina, and still the sight of her would take Dulcie’s breath away. She looked a lot like her mother, only taller and broader, with dark hair that made her stunning eyes stand out. It was a blessing that she took after Sissy in the looks department rather than Jack. Though he was her son and she loved Jack dearly, she was under no illusion. He even said himself that with his sticky-out ears and wonky nose, he’d fallen out of the ugly tree and had hit every branch on the way down.
The long, dark-blue skirt Georgina wore, cut a few inches over her slender ankles, elongated her shape further and, teamed with a structured matching jacket, it gave her a powerful look. She was already a tall woman and the small-heeled shoes added another couple of inches to her impressive stature. She was dressed to make an impact.
‘So today’s the day?’ Dulcie asked, knowing that Jane had arranged for Knuckles to visit her house.
‘Yes, and I’m ready for this.’
‘Good. You’re a strong woman, Georgina, but don’t let him fool you.’
‘Don’t worry, Gran. If Knuckles had half a brain, I might be worried.’
‘I take it you’ve got a plan?’
Before Georgina could answer, they heard Ethel let herself in through the front door and she came bounding into the kitchen.
‘I is here now,’ the young woman announced with childlike gusto.
‘I am here now,’ Dulcie corrected her.
‘Yes, me too,’ Ethel said, oblivious to her grammatical mistake.
Dulcie concealed a smile. Ethel was twenty-five, Molly’s older sister, and though sweet-natured, she had the mind of a seven-year-old.
‘Right, Ethel will sit with you until I get back,’ Georgina said as she quickly opened her clutch bag, looked inside and snapped it closed again.
Dulcie knew Georgina was carrying the gun in her bag. It offered some peace of mind but she hoped Georgina wouldn’t have to use it.
‘You take care, love,’ Dulcie called as Georgina marched up the hallway. It was clear her granddaughter was set on a mission. She leaned back in her chair and watched in awe as Georgina took her coat from the newel post and threw it on before wrapping a fur cuff over her shoulders. Dulcie thought Georgina looked as if she’d just stepped out of the page of one of those fancy fashion magazines, rather than being on her way to confront one of the borough’s hard men!
Georgina threw a wicked smile over her shoulder before leaving and Dulcie’s heart began to race. She had every confidence in her and it wasn’t the first time Dulcie had been sat at home waiting for Georgina to return from sorting out a bloke, but this was different. When Georgina had gone to cut out Mike Mipple’s tongue, Dulcie had known it would be one on one and wasn’t too worried, but this – Georgina could be walking into a trap! She could be taking on the whole gang! When Billy was at the helm, the gang had already made two attempts at destroying Georgina. Granted, Billy was dead now, but what if Mickey wanted to finish what Billy had started?
‘Shall I makes us a cup of tea?’ Ethel asked.
‘Yes, love, that would be nice,’ Dulcie answered and plastered on a fake smile, hoping to hide her nerves from Ethel.
Georgina had to come home safely, she just had to! Jack was too pickled to pay the rent, and she wasn’t in a fit state to work the streets anymore. She relied on Georgina and she loved the girl dearly.
As Ethel filled the kettle, Dulcie took a long breath and tried to calm herself. She glanced through the back door towards the coal bunker, and though it was ludicrous considering that she’d killed him, she silently prayed. ‘Please, Percy, keep my Georgie safe. You never did much for me when you was alive, but please, do this one thing for me. Watch over my girl.’
*
Georgina strode purposely through the streets of run-down terraced houses and up the small garden path towards Jane’s house; but before she had a chance to knock, Jane pulled the door open.
‘He’s here,’ she whispered as Georgina passed her on the step.
‘Has he said anything?’
‘No, but he looks worried.’
‘Good,’ Georgina answered. She didn’t feel in the least bit nervous as she felt she had the upper hand.
Jane helped her off with her coat and followed her through to the lounge. Knuckles rose to his feet as she walked in and removed his flat cap, then nodded a greeting before throwing his huge frame back onto the sofa.
‘Thanks for coming,’ Georgina said and smiled charmingly.
‘Yeah, well, I suppose I should have come round sooner, you know, checked on Mrs Wilcox and that. Billy would have wanted me to.’
‘Yes, I’m sure he would. He loved his mother,’ Georgina said, trying her best to sound sincere. She sat on an armchair opposite the large man and kept her clutch bag on her lap. She noticed Jane bite on her lower lip and look at the floor. ‘It’s been a difficult time for Mrs Wilcox and her daughters. She lost Billy in such tragic circumstances and so soon after the untimely death of her husband, Norman.’
Knuckles fidgeted uncomfortably and looked nervously from side to side. It was no secret that he’d helped Billy hide Norman’s body in the basement of the brothel in Queenstown Road. Of course, he couldn’t be sure if Mrs Wilcox knew the truth about her husband and the man had no idea that Jane had been the one who’d then killed Billy. The police had put his death down to a bungled burglary.
‘It’s been very good of you and Billy’s friends to keep the business running smoothly, but Mrs Wilcox is ready to take over the reins now. You’ll be generously compensated for your time over the past three months and if you’d like to continue working for the Wilcox name, a suitable position would be found for you.’
Knuckles pushed his massive bulk forwards and pointed his chubby finger at Georgina. His brow furrowed as he asked, ‘I beg your pardon? Are you suggesting you’re taking over?’
‘No, I’m not suggesting… I am taking over.’
&nbs
p; ‘Look, George—’
‘Miss Garrett,’ she interrupted.
‘Miss Garrett, I ain’t running nothing, I’m on Mickey’s payroll, that’s all. It’s him you need to be having this conversation with, but he’ll laugh in your face. I ain’t being funny, pet, but a woman can’t run the business. I know you can handle yourself, but even so, this ain’t no place for a lady.’
‘I appreciate your concern, Knuckles, and to be honest, I agree with you somewhat. That’s why I’d like to make you an offer. Be on my payroll instead of Mickey’s.’
‘Thanks, but I don’t think so. You ain’t got a hope in hell of taking over from Mickey. Look, a word of advice – stay clear. He’s already talking about getting you done over for what you did to Sid.’
‘Jane, would you mind fetching us some coffee?’ Georgina asked in a pre-planned ploy to get her to leave the room.
Jane agreed, and once she was alone with Knuckles, Georgina leaned in closer towards him and lowered her voice as she said, ‘See this.’ She opened her bag and showed Knuckles the contents. ‘This is the gun that killed Billy. I fired two bullets. The first one left him breathing, so I fired again and blew his fucking brains out,’ she lied. ‘I’ve got four bullets left. Do you still think I need to be worried about Mickey?’
Knuckles rubbed his hand over his sweaty forehead. ‘No way, you didn’t do it… you didn’t kill Billy… did you?’
‘Yes, you know there was no love lost between me and him. I’m not going to threaten you to keep your mouth shut, but I am asking you to, for Mrs Wilcox’s sake.’
‘More like you’re worried I’m gonna go back and tell Mickey what you’re up to.’