by Sam Michaels
‘Yes, Miss Garrett. I’ll keep an eye on things for you.’
‘Off you go then,’ Georgina told him.
Jane saw Knuckles out, and once the front door was closed behind him, Molly felt she could finally breathe again. ‘Is that it, Georgina? Is the business ours now?’
‘Yes, and rightly so. Mickey had no right to take it over. It’s always belonged to the Wilcox family.’
‘You’re not a Wilcox,’ Jane snapped at Georgina, which shocked Molly.
‘No, I’m not, thank goodness.’
‘So really, Molly should be running it and you should be working for her,’ Jane added haughtily.
‘Oh, no… no… I couldn’t… I don’t want to be running it,’ Molly said as she shook her head fervently in protest.
‘What’s your problem, Jane?’ Georgina asked and stood up. She looked like she was ready to fight Jane, and Molly could feel herself cowering.
‘I’m just pointing out the facts,’ Jane answered.
‘You heard Molly. She doesn’t want to run it and someone has to or there’ll be another Mickey the Matchstick waiting to jump in and take over. Is that what you want? Or perhaps you’d like to be in charge yourself?’
Molly sucked in her breath again and held it whilst she waited for Jane to answer.
‘I was merely saying that as Billy’s widow, the business is Molly’s.’
Molly didn’t like the atmosphere that was building between Georgina and Jane and they were referring to her as if she wasn’t in the room. ‘I don’t want the business,’ she blurted, and hoped that would be an end to the heated discussion. ‘I – don’t – want – the – business,’ she repeated slowly. ‘In fact, I’m handing over all rights to Georgina. There, job done. I’ll be happy to sign any paperwork but as far as I’m concerned, any interests in the Wilcox business that belonged to me now officially belong to Georgina.’
‘You can’t do that!’ Jane said and glared at her.
‘I can do what I like. I had enough of Billy telling me what I could and couldn’t do and I won’t stand by and allow you to do the same.’ Molly sounded firm but inside, she was trembling.
‘Norman made the business what it is today, and if Billy hadn’t killed him it would be mine. You’ve no right to be giving it away.’
‘If it wasn’t for Georgina, I’d have nothing to give away,’ Molly answered swiftly.
‘Fine, have it your way, but you’ll come to regret this. Do you really believe that Georgina is going to look after us? What makes you think she won’t take everything for herself?’
‘Whoa, let’s calm down, shall we,’ Georgina said and came to stand in between Jane and Molly. She then addressed Jane: ‘As I am to take charge, I’ll make sure that you and Molly get a cut of the profits, twenty-five per cent each. Ten per cent to Fanny and forty to me. Is that fair?’
‘I’m happy with that,’ Molly said, thinking how money really brought out the ugliness in people.
‘I suppose I’ll have to be too,’ Jane answered but Molly thought the woman looked like she had a bad smell under her nose.
‘Good. I’ll have papers drawn up but in the meantime, I’ve got work to do. If you’ll excuse me, I’m off to my office. Molly, would you mind popping to mine and letting my gran know what’s happened?’
‘I’d be happy to,’ Molly answered and smiled at her friend.
Georgina left and Molly was suddenly filled with dread. She didn’t want to be alone with Jane. The woman was obviously in a foul mood and the Wilcox temper unnerved her. ‘I’d better wrap Edward up nice and warm,’ she said as an excuse to leave the room.
As she walked into the hallway, she heard Jane mutter, ‘Yes, you do that. And while you’re there, you can tell him how you willy-nilly handed over his father’s business.’
Molly chose to ignore Jane’s snide remark. She didn’t understand why Jane was suddenly being difficult. After all, Jane had arranged the meetings with Knuckles and she’d been happy for Georgina to take control from Mickey. Mind you, Jane’s moods were becoming more erratic lately and her strange behaviour seemed to be escalating. Molly was becoming increasingly concerned that Jane was delusional and believed Edward was her son. She’d referred to the baby as Billy on more than one occasion.
Molly lifted him from his cot. ‘Don’t worry, little one,’ she cooed in a hushed voice as she held him protectively to her chest, ‘we’ll soon be out of here and away from your demented grandma.’
*
Georgina’s mind raced. She felt hugely relieved that her audacious plan had worked, because if the truth had been known, she didn’t have a back-up one. Now there was so much to do and she knew exactly where to start – Ezzy, her old friend who owned a jewellery shop near Clapham Junction railway station.
Her father had worked for Ezzy’s father; the two families went back years. Ezzy was a good man, one she knew she could trust and he wasn’t averse to being on the wrong side of the law. He was a fence of top quality jewellery and paid fairly for the things she and her dad nicked. Ezzy also had a group of young lads, dippers, working for him. They would bring him their stolen goods and he would exchange the merchandise with his cousin, Seth, who owned a jewellery shop in Manchester. In fact, she and her father had often done the London to Manchester runs on the steam trains. The income had kept the rent man happy on many occasions.
Ezzy let Georgina in through his new-fangled security system and greeted her with genuine affection. ‘My goodness, is that really you, George?’ he asked, holding her at arm’s length and eyeing her up and down.
‘Yes, Ezzy, it’s really me, only I’m Georgina now. George is in a trunk under my bed. Anyway, you’ve seen me dressed like this before.’
Ezzy beckoned her out towards the back of his shop. ‘Yes, but I forgot how beautiful you are. You look incredible – your father must be a proud man.’
‘Thank you,’ Georgina answered, and could feel herself blush. She wasn’t used to receiving compliments.
‘How have you been? I haven’t seen you in such a very long time. Can I get you some tea?’
‘Yes, thanks. I’m all right and I’m sorry it’s been so long but I’ve had a lot of stuff going on,’ she answered.
‘It’s fine, it’s fine, I know how busy you young people are. How is your father? I heard he’s, erm… not very well?’
‘He’s drunk, all the time. It’s not good but my friend is going to make him better.’
‘I’m sorry, George, I mean Georgina. It’s a shame. You know I think highly of your father. I hope your friend can help him. Now, what can I do for you? Have you brought me some quality pocket watches?’
‘No, don’t be daft, Ezzy. It’s been yonks since I did any pickpocketing,’ Georgina replied with a small chuckle.
‘You was the best dipper I’ve known. Your father taught you well. So to what do I owe this pleasure?’
‘Actually, can you shut up shop for the afternoon? I’ve got a proposition for you.’
Ezzy raised his dark bushy eyebrows as he spoke. ‘Shut up shop? But, Georgina, you know I’m a Jewish man. We never close for business unless we have to. My father used to tell me: Money will buy you everything but good sense.’
‘Trust me, Ezzy, you won’t lose any money.’
Ezzy wobbled his head from side to side as if weighing up his options, then went to the front door and locked it before returning to the back of the shop to sit in a worn leather chair. He offered Georgina a wooden slatted seat opposite his, and once she was sat, he said, ‘I’d like to hear your proposal.’
‘I’ve taken over the Wilcox business,’ Georgina replied and paused, waiting to gauge his reaction.
‘How? Mickey took over after Billy’s death.’
‘It doesn’t matter how, but it’s done. Malc and Sid won’t be visiting you again. You won’t have to give them any more money.’
‘You know about that?’
‘Yes, Dad let it slip to my gran and she told me. Malc’s
dead and you won’t be seeing anything of Sid.’
‘Dead? Are you sure?’
‘Yep, it’s true.’
‘But what about Mickey? He’ll soon have another of his ruffians round here and smashing up my shop if I refuse to pay.’
‘No, Ezzy, he won’t. Mickey’s out of action. You’ve seen the last of him.’
‘How do you know all this, Georgina?’
‘Because I orchestrated it. I told you, I’m in charge now.’
‘You’re just a girl, you couldn’t possibly…’
Georgina politely cut in, ‘With respect, I think you’re underestimating me.’
‘Um, I think you might be right,’ Ezzy said thoughtfully, then added, ‘and that would be a mistake for anyone to do. Now then, what do you want from me?’
‘I’m glad you’ve asked. I need someone who understands the books. I don’t know the first thing about accounts but you do.’
‘I’m not an accountant, Georgina.’
‘I know but you run this place. I just need you to come to the office with me and look at the accounts. I need to know what sort of financial situation the business is in.’
‘I’m not the right person for this,’ Ezzy said and then snapped his fingers. ‘But I know a man who is.’
‘I’m not sure about asking anyone else. How do I know I can trust him?’
‘Because I trust him. He’s my son, Benjamin.’
‘You have a son? I didn’t realise.’
‘That’s because I never spoke of him. His mother died when he was very young. I couldn’t care for him so he went to live with my sister. Now, he is a young man and has moved back with me.’
‘Oh, great, but can he do the job?’
‘Yes, of course, it would be easy for him. He’s an accountant. He was working for a shipping company in Victoria, but against his advice they put a lot of money into a mining project and for whatever reasons, lost their investment. The company went bust and Benjamin lost his job. I think he would be happy for any work right now.’
‘I need him today, right now, is that possible?’
‘Yes, I’ll call him,’ Ezzy answered and went to the telephone.
Georgina wouldn’t normally have trusted someone she didn’t know, but she had every faith in Ezzy.
‘He’s coming immediately,’ Ezzy told her when he returned to the back room.
‘Good, thanks. Does he understand the sensitivity of what he’ll be doing?’
‘Yes, I briefly explained. He said it’s exciting for him, a change from his usual boring jobs.’
‘I can guarantee there won’t be anything boring about this.’
‘He’ll be here in ten minutes. Now, if it is agreeable with you, I’ll open my shop again,’ Ezzy said and laughed as he went to the front door. Then he sounded more serious when he added, ‘I’m very impressed with you, Georgina. I don’t think I know of any woman who could have taken control of the Wilcox business. I hope you won’t be expecting me to continue paying extortion money?’
Georgina followed Ezzy into the shop. ‘No, of course I won’t,’ she answered, ‘and it’s not extortion, it’s insurance.’
‘Call it what you like but it’s still taking money from people under duress.’
‘Well, things are going to be different from now on.’
‘I hope so, young lady. You can do better than the likes of Billy Wilcox or Mickey whatever his name is.’
Ezzy had a point that Georgina hadn’t considered before now. Extortion or protection rackets or insurance as Jane preferred to call it – it wasn’t a very nice business. Did she really want to be involved in using threats and violence to extract money from hard-working, innocent people?
It was something she’d have to give some serious thought to.
6
Varvara had scrubbed the office floor as best she could but Mickey’s blood had stained the floorboards. She was glad he was almost dead. Billy Wilcox had been vile and when he’d been killed she’d hoped her new boss would be an improvement. Unfortunately, it hadn’t taken long for her to discover that Mickey was just as cruel. Granted, he’d never mutilated her like Billy had done, but he’d still made her work as a whore, against her will, and for no money. His threats were enough to keep her from attempting to escape. She’d already lost one finger under Billy’s rule and wasn’t prepared to have any more of her anatomy cut off.
Varvara now sat on her bed and anxiously waited to find out what was going to happen next. She wanted to go to Dina, her sister, in the room next door but Knuckles had locked them in. All she could do was wait and pray.
Hours later, her body tensed when she heard the key in the lock turning. This was it – she was about to learn of her fate. Knuckles walked in and she leapt to her feet.
‘Come with me,’ he told her.
Varvara nervously licked her lips and followed the giant. He opened Dina’s door and instructed her to come too. When Dina cautiously walked from her room, Varvara could see she’d been pulling bits of her hair out again. Mind you, it wasn’t any wonder, not after the way Knuckles had attacked her when they’d been cleaning up the mess from this morning’s shooting. It wasn’t as if Dina had asked for trouble – she’d accidentally dropped the bucket of bloodied water.
Varvara had tried to come between Dina and Knuckles. She’d have readily taken the beating for her sister but Knuckles had thrown her to one side and pointed a pistol at her. So, she’d watched, disgusted, as Knuckles had kicked Dina up the backside and when Dina had fallen to the floor, he’d put the boot in again, this time to her ribs. It should have hurt Varvara – the sight of Dina lying helplessly on the floor as the blood-stained spilt water seeped into her clothes – but Varvara had experienced so much pain in her life that she was numb to it now.
They followed Knuckles down the stairs. Varvara walked behind and hoped Dina would look over her shoulder. She didn’t, probably she was too afraid.
When they entered the office, Varvara was astounded to see a strikingly beautiful, tall, slender woman standing in front of the desk. The woman had the deepest, bluest eyes she’d ever seen. They were almost purple in colour and, immediately, Varvara was mesmerised. She was sure she’d seen her before, in this same office when Billy had been alive. This woman’s face wasn’t one to be easily forgotten.
‘Close the door, Knuckles,’ the woman instructed.
Varvara briefly pulled her eyes away to see Knuckles stand in front of the door. His huge body filling the doorframe. Whatever was going to happen, there was no getting past him.
Varvara looked back to the woman who now seemed to be studying her and her sister.
‘So, you are the Russian ladies. What are your names?’
‘Varvara and this is my sister, Dina,’ she replied, speaking for them both, her Russian accent apparent.
‘I’m Georgina Garrett, Miss Garrett. I’ll be running things around here from now on.’
Varvara wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly. Surely a woman couldn’t be taking charge? She must be the wife of someone powerful; it was the only explanation.
There was a short pause then Miss Garrett said, ‘I thought there were three of you?’
Varvara felt a little more confident talking to a woman, and answered, ‘Yes, there is. Tattie is upstairs. She’ll be tied to her bed.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ Miss Garrett said and turned her head to look at Knuckles.
He cleared his throat before answering. ‘We, erm, I have to tie her up. She’s always trying to run off. It’s for her own good.’
‘What do you mean, for her own good?’ Miss Garrett asked, clearly angered at what she’d been told.
‘Every time she did a bunk and we’d find her, Billy chopped a finger off. She’s already lost three. I think Mickey would’ve done the same, so I thought I was looking out for her by tying her down.’
Miss Garrett’s eyes widened and she spoke through gritted teeth when she growled at Knuckles, ‘Get up those stair
s and untie that woman, NOW!’
Varvara had to bite her lip to stop herself from grinning. She found it amusing to see the massive lump of a man jump to a woman’s command.
Then Miss Garrett asked, ‘Is this true? Is this how you’ve been treated?’
Varvara held out her hand and Miss Garrett appeared genuinely shocked to see that her little finger was nothing more than an ugly stump.
‘Billy Wilcox did this to you?’
‘Yes,’ Varvara answered solemnly.
‘I see,’ Miss Garrett said and then the door opened again and Knuckles dragged in Tattie. At the same time, Varvara heard a man’s voice from the corner of the room.
‘Damn,’ he said, looking embarrassed as he glanced round the room, then jumped up and grabbed a handkerchief from his trouser pocket.
Varvara had been so taken with Miss Garrett that she hadn’t noticed the man at the desk in the corner who’d just knocked a drink over his paperwork and was now furiously dabbing it.
Miss Garrett ignored him and introduced herself to Tattie who appeared less than impressed at having a woman for a boss.
Varvara couldn’t take her eyes off Miss Garrett as she walked behind her desk and sat down before addressing them again.
‘From what I can understand, it sounds like you’ve been forced to work here against your will. This is not how things will operate anymore. If you choose to leave, you may. Get your things together and go – simple. However, should you choose to remain, I want you to know that you’ll be looked after, paid for the work you do and nobody, and I mean nobody, will hurt you. You will be respected as working women and, in return, you will respect me as your boss.’
Varvara exchanged a glance with Dina. Tattie was already walking towards the door.
‘Let her pass,’ Miss Garrett said, and Knuckles stepped to one side. Tattie didn’t look back and they heard the front door slam. She’d left, without collecting her belongings; she’d just walked out of the door. Varvara was stunned that Tattie had been allowed to leave and began to believe she could trust Miss Garrett.