by June Tate
Lily felt jumpy as she made her way to the house. She took a long detour, glancing over her shoulder several times to ensure she wasn’t being followed. She was worried that Vittorio hadn’t been convinced by her story the previous night. Maybe that had something to do with his vicious lovemaking. Now she was angry when she thought about it. Whatever his problems, he wouldn’t treat her like that again. She felt used, like a whore.
When the coast seemed clear she headed towards the house, arriving with a sense of relief. She knocked on the door, then opened it and walked in. ‘Amy!’ she called.
Her friend emerged from the scullery, wiping her hands on a towel. ‘Lily! What a lovely surprise.’ She sensed that something was amiss. ‘What’s wrong?’
As she sat down by the fire, Lily gave a deep sigh. ‘I had to make sure I wasn’t followed. You see, Tom came to the club last night.’
‘What?’ Amy was shocked.
‘I know. I had a fit when I saw him. He was drunk, and demanded that we meet. I had to say yes to get rid of him.’
Amy looked gravely concerned. ‘Christ, Lily. If Vittorio finds out …’
Lighting a cigarette, Lily nodded. ‘I know. I’ve asked Tom to come here. I hope you don’t mind. It was the only safe place I could think of.’
‘Of course I don’t mind, this is your house after all.’ But Amy was cross. ‘Honest to God, Lily. You will have to put a stop to this. You know The Maltese. Nice as he can be, he won’t tolerate it. Then where will you be? Floating in the bloody docks, that’s where!’
Lily’s expression was full of concern. ‘You’re right, of course. He questioned me enough last night.’ She turned towards her friend. ‘I can’t go on like this. Tom has got to leave me alone. He can have no place in my life now.’
Amy looked surprised. ‘But I thought you loved him?’
‘Yes, but I’ve got to think of my future, and Tom’s no part of it. If you’d seen him last night, Amy … he was drunk, and vicious with it.’ She said firmly, ‘He reminded me too much of my father. In fact, I’m coming to the conclusion I’d be better off on my own. Free of all men.’
‘How would Vittorio like that?’ But before Lily could answer, there was a knock on the door.
‘I’ll make myself scarce,’ said Amy, heading for the stairs.
Lily felt her fingers tremble as she opened the door and stared into the hazel eyes of Tom McCann. Her breath caught in her throat. She stepped back, unable to speak.
He walked purposefully into the room and, throwing his cap onto the chair, immediately took her into his arms. ‘Let me look at you, Lily. Let me hold you.’ He pulled her to him and held her close.
For one glorious moment Lily gave way to her true feelings and held him tight, feeling the strength of his arms about her. Then she pushed him away.
He looked at her, a hurt expression in his eyes. ‘Why did you do that?’
‘Because this is madness. Don’t you ever stop to think? Why did you come to the club? Are you trying to make trouble for me?’
He caught hold of her and, gazing deeply into her eyes, said, ‘Lily, me darlin’, I could never hurt you, you know that. I love you more than life itself.’
She was suddenly angry. ‘No! I don’t believe you. If you really loved me you would be concerned for my safety. Instead you go out and have a few drinks, then full of Dutch courage you come to the club and demand that we meet. If I hadn’t agreed, who knows what might have happened.’
His eyes blazed. ‘What do you expect? You leave me easily enough. First you live with Fred, then you move in with the biggest villain in the docks. How do you think that makes me feel?’
She stood defiantly in front of the fire. ‘I am not interested, Tom You have no right to disrupt my life. You’d do better to look after your wife – after all, she’s pregnant with your child. She didn’t manage that on her own!’ Seeing his petulant expression she added, ‘What sort of a man are you, anyway? How can you come hounding me when you have such responsibilities?’
‘I worry about you, but you won’t listen to me.’
Taking a deep trembling breath, she said, ‘Tom. Sit down, please. We have to talk.’
His fingers shook as he took a cigarette from a packet, lit it and sat beside the fire.
Sitting opposite him, Lily started to speak. ‘How can I make you understand? I am not your responsibility any more, but your wife and child are. You are married and I’m with Vittorio. That’s the end of it.’
His jaw tightened. ‘What are you saying?’
‘Vittorio won’t tolerate me meeting another man.’
He leaned forward and taking her hand, said passionately, ‘Then come away with me. We’ll go somewhere safe.’
‘For goodness sake, don’t you ever listen? Mary is about to give birth to your child. You owe it to them both to be with her.’
Putting his hands over his eyes, Tom said, ‘I know. I know. I have to be with her. But perhaps later, we can plan to be together. I’ll look after Mary and the child, but she doesn’t love me. She doesn’t need me, only what I can provide.’
‘Oh Tom, I’m so sorry. I hoped you’d be happy. When the baby comes, things will be different, you’ll see.’
‘I’ll get a divorce.’
‘Don’t talk rubbish.’ Lily felt her anger rise.
‘Are you telling me you don’t want me? Is that it?’
Lily’s eyes glittered as she said, ‘Don’t let your male ego get in the way, Tom. It seems to me you’re simply angry that I’m with Vittorio. You haven’t asked if I’m happy. You haven’t given a thought to your child, growing up without a father. All you can think about is your own injured pride.’
His face was white with anger. ‘You can’t possibly be happy with that man. How can you be?’
Lily held his gaze. ‘Well, I am. He’s a gentleman.’
Tom rose to his feet, his mouth twisted with rage. ‘So you’d rather be the whore of a rich man than the wife of a poor one, is that it?’
Lily felt her stomach tighten at his insult. She leapt to her feet and slapped him hard around the face. ‘He’s more honest than you are. He never made me promises that he couldn’t keep. You already have a wife, remember? I suggest you go home to her and try to be a decent husband. Get out!’ She pointed a trembling finger at the door. ‘Get out – now!’
His face flushed at her dismissal. He put his flat cap on and strode to the door, slamming it behind him.
Lily, her whole body shaking, sat down.
Amy came rushing down the stairs. ‘Blimey, that was a bit strong, wasn’t it? I couldn’t help overhearing. The whole road must have heard the two of you.’
Lily, still raging inwardly, said, ‘I don’t give a damn. Perhaps now he’ll leave me alone to get on with my life in my own way.’
‘I’ll put the kettle on,’ said Amy, not knowing what else to do.
At the Club Valletta, Vittorio was having his own problems. Sitting at the desk in his office, he listened to the words of Detective Inspector Chadwick.
‘I thought I’d come myself and break the news, Mr Teglia.’
‘And what news is that?’
‘We have a new Chief Constable. Quite different from the last one.’
Vittorio’s slow smile crossed his lips. ‘I do hope so. I read the other one retired through ill-health.’
The policeman looked at him, his jaw tight. ‘We both know why he resigned. But this new man doesn’t have the same perversions. In fact, he is going to campaign to clean up Southampton – the red-light district, the brothels, the clubs that run above the law.’ He paused. ‘He’s also cleaning out the few bad apples in the police force.’
The Maltese raised his eyebrows. ‘You are admitting there are bent coppers?’
‘You should know – you pay most of them.’
‘Really!’ said Vittorio in mocking tones. ‘That’s tantamount to slander.’
‘Only if I was lying. So you won’t be getting your informat
ion any more. There will be no more privileges for you, sir.’ He added in a derisive tone: ‘Your time is running out.’
Vittorio held the other man’s gaze. ‘I run a strictly legitimate business.’
Chadwick allowed a smile to cross his features. ‘Probably for the first time in your life. And only because you know we’re watching you. But your takings are well down.’
For one moment Vittorio’s eyes narrowed.
The detective got to his feet. ‘You can’t go on much longer. Once this Chief makes his aims known, what business you have … will cease.’ With a triumphant smile he said, ‘I’ve got you just where I want you.’
Vittorio chuckled. ‘We all have our illusions, my dear fellow. You keep yours. They won’t last long.’
A look of fury crossed the detective’s face. ‘Not this time, you bastard. You’re on your way out.’ He walked to the door. ‘I’ll keep a cell waiting for you – sir.’
As his office door closed, Vittorio’s smile vanished and his expression hardened. He knew that the man was right. Unless he made other plans, he was finished in the club business. Getting up from his chair, he crossed to the door, opened it and called, ‘George!’
He motioned to George Coleman to sit down. ‘We have a new Chief Constable who’s not going to be a friend. I want you to collect all the outstanding gambling debts and the loans. I need to accumulate all my assets. But take care, we’re being watched.’
When he was alone, Vittorio sat back in his chair. If the police made it impossible to continue with the club he would have to sell up, move to another town. A legitimate business wouldn’t bring in the revenue he was used to and he’d been wealthy for too long to lower his standard of living. He’d worked too hard to do that.
Later that evening, Lily, sensing the concerns of Vittorio, tried to find a solution. ‘I know that you weren’t too keen on making the club legitimate, but these past weeks haven’t been so bad. If you were to get rid of the rest of the girls and decorate their rooms as guest rooms, you could have a thriving business, within the law.’
Her lover’s lips twitched with amusement. ‘You are determined to turn me into a pillar of the community, aren’t you, Lily?’ He looked suddenly serious. ‘It’s not that simple. We are to have a new Chief Constable who’s on a crusade. He will certainly want to close me down.’
‘But he won’t be able to,’ she persisted. ‘Look – there is always a need for hotels for the passengers arriving and wanting accommodation until their ship sails. There are businessmen, needing beds. Commercial travellers. You could use the old gambling room as a room for business meetings. If you’re running a legal place, what can he do?’
‘You think the reputation of the place won’t put people off?’
Lily gave a wicked grin. ‘Quite the opposite. It’ll give them a thrill, staying in a place that used to be a brothel. And there’s another thing. I remember you saying it’s not what you know, but who you know. You have the contacts to bring in business. Use them.’
He looked thoughtful. ‘You may have something. Besides, there are many ways to skin a cat.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘It’s as I told you, supply and demand. People always want money. Some banks won’t take them, but I could set up a business dealing in finance. The percentages would be high, of course.’
‘But you do that now.’
‘True, but not on a legal basis. A proper company with accounts would be legal.’
‘In other words, you’d still be in the same business, except for the prostitutes?’
He leaned back, a satisfied look on his face. ‘Exactly. Do you think I’d let some jumped-up Chief Constable get the better of me?’
Lily was filled with trepidation. ‘So it would just be a cover?’
‘Look, Lily. All kinds of businesses are some kind of scam, people trying to put something over those in authority. It’s the way of the world. You just have to be clever about it, that’s all.’
The following morning, Vittorio called his girls into his office one by one, explaining that he was having to dispense with their services. He gave them all a small bonus, which made the parting easier for them, with the exception of Iris.
‘So you’re just going to chuck me out on the street?’
Vittorio looked at her coldly. ‘Be careful, Iris. Don’t let that big mouth of yours get you into trouble.’
‘I’d have thought it would have paid you to keep me on, Mr Teglia,’ she sneered at him, her mouth twisted spitefully.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise. ‘Oh, and why is that?’
‘I know what’s been going on here. You wouldn’t want me to tell anyone, would you?’
He didn’t raise his voice or change his expression. ‘I can’t believe you are stupid enough to try and blackmail me, Iris. Even you couldn’t make such a big mistake.’
Her smile faded. ‘It’s just that I don’t understand why I can’t stay.’
‘Don’t question me, you little bitch. Just be grateful that you lasted so long. If you hadn’t been so good with the clients and so handy with a whip, you would have gone a long time ago.’ His eyes flashed with anger. ‘Now get out, and remember who you are dealing with.’
George, who had been helping his boss, looked at Vittorio. ‘Do you think we’ll have trouble with her, guv?’
‘You follow her and make sure we don’t.’
‘How far shall I go?’
‘Teach her a lesson, then put her on a train to somewhere a long way away. Tell her if she comes back, she’ll leave in a box.’
The following day, Vittorio called Lily into his office. ‘Sit down, my dear, I want to have a serious talk with you.’
Lily felt her stomach plummet. Things had been so unsettled, she was sure that Vittorio was going to impart bad tidings. Or had he found out about her meeting with Tom?
Sitting back in his chair, he studied her at length.
With a feeling of discomfort, Lily challenged him. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’
He chuckled softly. ‘Darling Lily. How quickly you are on the defensive. Nothing’s wrong, I can assure you.’
She let out a sigh of relief.
‘I have a proposition to put to you that I think you’ll like.’
She looked apprehensive. ‘I will?’
That slow smile touched his lips. ‘You know, you’ve come a long way since the first time we met. You’ve blossomed into a lovely young woman. Your intelligence has been a revelation, your ability to learn a pleasure to watch. All of which can now be put to great use.’
Lily looked at him with suspicion. ‘Get to the point, Vittorio.’
His laughter filled the room. ‘That’s one of the things I love about you. You don’t beat about the bush.’ He lit a cigarette and, blowing the smoke out slowly, said, ‘I’ve decided to take your advice.’
Her eyes widened with surprise. ‘About what?’
‘Becoming legitimate.’
For a moment she was speechless. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Making the club legal. Using the rooms for paying guests, the gambling room for business meetings. What is more, I’m thinking of putting the club in your name – transferring the licence. It will be your name over the door instead of mine.’
‘You’re what?’
‘You see, Lily, if it’s to be a success, I must step back from it. Then the police may leave me alone. If they think I’m still around here, then we’ll be hounded until we have to close.’
‘But I can’t run it on my own! I don’t have the experience.’ Her face was white with shock.
He agreed. ‘Of course you don’t. I will still run it, but from behind the scenes. You will front it. After all, you’ve learned a lot. And in some areas, you’re capable of overseeing things. As far as the public and the police are concerned, you will be in charge.’
She looked uncertain. ‘You think I can carry it off?’
‘Yes, I do.’
‘
What about the staff? Will they mind if they think I’m their boss?’
He shook his head. ‘That won’t be a problem. I’ll speak to the head waiter and the chef. Things will carry on as before. They’ve always done a good job. Nothing will change on that score.’
She looked thoughtful. ‘I do have a few ideas of my own, if we’re to start again.’
Vittorio looked surprised. ‘Do you? Like what?’
Lily was filled with enthusiasm. ‘It would be nice to have a doorman in a uniform. It looks classy. I saw a picture of one in a magazine the other day. After all, this won’t be a brothel any more. We have to show the punters some difference. The man on the door is the first impression they get.’
With a thoughtful look, Vittorio said, ‘Yes, that’s a good idea. I’ll find the man.’
‘Not one of your bruisers!’ exclaimed Lily.
With a chuckle Vittorio said, ‘No. But it will be somebody who can cope with trouble if it happens.’
‘I’ve got another idea too,’ said Lily tentatively.
‘Go on.’
‘Well, don’t you think it would be rather nice to have a pianist play during the lunch-time period? In the evening we have Harry’s band, but during the day, the place has no atmosphere.’
Vittorio’s slow smile played at the corners of his mouth. ‘My goodness, Lily. You have been doing a lot of thinking lately.’
‘I know just the man,’ she said eagerly.
‘Very well. Get him in. We’ll see how it goes.’
Leaning back against the chair, Lily was filled with excitement. She was convinced the club could be made to pay, but she wasn’t sure that she could handle it. ‘The idea of running this place frightens the shit out of me!’ she confided.
‘You will have to learn to temper your language, my dear.’
Frowning she asked, ‘You’re not expecting to make a lady out of me, are you?’
He nodded. ‘Yes – a very successful one. You can do it, Lily,’ he urged. ‘You know you can. Look how you manage the crowd when you sing, and after. No one works the tables like you. Already you have learned so much.’
Pondering on Vittorio’s words, Lily knew that he was right. She grinned cheekily. ‘You really believe I can?’
