Born to Dance

by June Tate

  Jackie climbed into the car. ‘If you’ve hurt him, I’ll …’

  The man laughed. ‘Don’t threaten me, son. Older and better men have tried and failed. I could chew you up and spit you out before you knew what happened!’ And, putting the car into gear, he drove away.

  At an old warehouse in the East End docks, the vehicle drew to a halt and Jackie was led inside to a small room, empty apart from a table with a chair either side. Wally Cole was sitting waiting with two of his men.

  ‘Sit down,’ he told the young man.

  ‘Where’s my brother?’ Jackie demanded.

  ‘He’s fine. You tell me what I want I know and you can both go home.’

  Jackie Williams racked his brains but he couldn’t imagine just what it was that he knew that was of any interest to the gang leader.

  ‘Where has Gerry Pike hidden the money he took from the two banks he knocked over?’

  So that was it, thought Jackie, and he was filled with apprehension because he had no idea. If he couldn’t give them the information they wanted, what would happen to him and Barry then? He would have to tell the truth; this wasn’t something he could blag because it would soon be discovered that he’d lied and then they would be in even deeper trouble.

  ‘Well?’ demanded Cole.

  ‘I don’t know, guv, honestly.’

  ‘I thought you were good mates with Gerry, having been to school with him.’

  ‘Well, yes, we were mates at school but now he’s my boss and he keeps such things close to his chest. He doesn’t broadcast that kind of information, it would be asking for trouble.’

  ‘Then who would he tell?’

  ‘Jimmy Knight, his right-hand man, must know, but no one else I wouldn’t think.’

  ‘Then you, my boy, will have to find out, won’t you?’

  ‘How the hell am I going to do that?’

  Wally Cole’s eyes narrowed. ‘If you don’t want no harm to come to your little brother, you’ll find a way.’

  Jackie pleaded with the man. ‘Please, Mr Cole, let Barry go. He won’t understand what’s going on; he’s a bit simple, you see. Being in a strange place will upset him, especially if I’m not around.’

  ‘Then you’d best find out what I want to know, quickly. Until you do, the boy stays with me. Understand?’

  ‘I’ve already reported him missing to the police,’ Jackie told Cole.

  ‘Then in the morning you go back and tell them he’s come home. Now don’t give me any grief, lad. Just do as you’re told – and soon. I’m not a patient man!’

  ‘Can I see Barry before I go?’

  Wally thought for a moment. ‘Fine, but you make sure he keeps calm whilst you’re away. I don’t want no trouble with him.’

  ‘Yes, yes I will.’ Jackie was anxious to see his brother. Hopefully he would be able to convince him to behave. Otherwise who knew what would happen. He was well aware of Wally Cole’s reputation as a hard man. There would be no compassion in him for his brother’s mental state. None at all.

  Jackie was taken to a room nearby. As he opened the door he saw Barry sitting at a table, munching on a biscuit. There was a man standing around smoking a cigarette looking decidedly bored.

  Barry looked up and saw his brother. First he smiled, then he looked angry. ‘The man said he was taking me to see Miss Bonny dance. He told me a fib! You take me, Jackie.’

  His brother crossed the room and knelt beside him. ‘Look, Barry, I can’t take you now, I’ve got to do a job for Mr Cole, the man who gave you the tea and biscuits.’

  ‘They were nice, chocolate ones. I’ve eaten them nearly all.’

  ‘I’ll bring you some different ones. Now you be good until I get back.’

  Barry’s expression changed. ‘I don’t want to stay here.’ He looked at the other man in the room. ‘He shouted at me, just like the old bugger used to. I don’t like him. I’ll come with you and help you.’

  The boy tried to stand but Jackie held his shoulder to stop him. ‘The way to help me is to stay here and be a good boy. If you do that, we’ll soon go home, I promise.’

  Barry leaned closer to his brother and whispered. ‘I don’t want that man to shout at me again.’

  Jackie whispered back. ‘Don’t you worry. I’ll make sure he doesn’t. OK?’

  ‘OK. You look after me like you always do.’

  ‘I’ve got to go now. Remember, be good, don’t cause no aggravation. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ He ruffled the boy’s hair, then walked over to the man standing guard.

  ‘I don’t want to hear you’ve shouted at my brother when I get back, because if I find out that you did, Mr Cole won’t get the information he wants and he won’t be pleased. Understand?’

  The thug just looked at him and didn’t answer. Knowing there was no use arguing, Jackie left the room, hoping his threat would be enough to keep the man quiet. But he was shaking inside. How the hell was he going to find where Gerry had stashed the money from the robbery? How long would Wally Cole wait, and how long before young Barry became so scared he would cause trouble? Hands thrust deep into his pockets, he walked away, trying to think of a plan.

  Twenty-Two

  As Bonny prepared for the evening performance, she was relieved to receive a message that young Barry Williams was safe. His brother had called the box office and asked them to tell her the good news. She told Mickey all about it when he called to take her home after the show.

  ‘You say his brother is Jackie Williams?’

  She saw his frown. ‘Yes, that’s right. Why?’

  ‘Jackie Williams is part of Gerry Pike’s gang. They’re a load of villains; you don’t want any part of them, darlin’.’

  ‘But young Barry isn’t a member of any gang, for heaven’s sake! He’s just an innocent boy whose brain hasn’t fully developed.’

  ‘That may be, princess, but Jackie is and he isn’t innocent. Just be careful is all.’

  Whilst Bonny was performing that night, Jackie Williams was giving his own performance, trying to ingratiate himself with his old schoolmate and boss, Gerry Pike. He started reminiscing about their days at school, how close they were as kids. ‘And here I am now, working for you, helping you to make a name for yourself.’

  Gerry looked sceptically at him. ‘I made my name all by myself. I don’t remember anyone helping me.’

  With a quick laugh, Jackie corrected himself. ‘Of course you did, you know what I mean. You really are something now. You’ll be bigger than your father ever was.’

  Jackie had found Gerry’s Achilles heel.’ ‘Do you honestly think so?’

  ‘No doubt about it. Don’t get me wrong, your old man was as hard as they come and I respected him as did everyone, but you, Gerry, you’ve got class!’

  The young thug thrust out his chest with pride. ‘Bloody right I have. Look at these threads.’ He smoothed the material of his tailor-made suit. ‘Bespoke! Dad bought his off the peg at Burtons. Fifty shilling tailors! No class, dressed like everybody else, but not me, I’ve got style.’

  ‘Once you’ve laundered the bank money, you’ll be able to go to London to Savile Row; you know, where the toffs go. After all, money will be no object then, will it? You could have your shoes handmade too.’

  Gerry looked at him and smiled. ‘Now that – the shoes, I mean – I’d never thought of.’ He put his arm around Jackie. ‘You’re a good mate; I’ll have a suit made for you too.’

  ‘Blimey! Thanks Gerry. I hope the cash is in a safe place. It would be a pity if it was lifted, then neither of us would get any new threads.’

  ‘Don’t you worry about that; it’s as safe as the Bank of England.’ Gerry grinned broadly. ‘Mind you, that’s not so safe is it, otherwise how could I have robbed it?’ He doubled up with laughter.

  Jackie joined in the laughter. ‘I expect you’ve got someone standing guard over it so it’ll be quite safe.

  ‘No need,’ boasted Gerry. ‘It’s placed in a clever position that no o
ne would think of looking. You know what they say about the most obvious being the safest. I’ve got a key and so has Jimmy Knight. We don’t need an armed guard. This is enough.’ He showed Jackie a key on a chain attached to his trouser belt. ‘It never leaves me, and Jimmy’s never leaves him.’ He patted Jackie’s shoulder. ‘Don’t you worry; your new suit is safe.’

  As Gerry walked away, Jackie wracked his brains as to where the money could be hidden. Obviously Gerry had been clever about it, and knowing him as he did, Jackie realized that his friend would have been inspired to choose a hiding place that was different, to fool everyone. He had a devious and clever brain, which had kept both of them out of trouble in their schooldays. He would have to try and get inside the mind of Gerry Pike to solve this problem. In the meantime, poor Barry would be fretting without him.

  Barry was indeed getting restless, fidgeting in his chair until the man guarding him snapped at him. ‘For Christ’s sake, will you keep still!’

  ‘I want to go to the lavatory, now! Jackie gets cross if I pee my trousers.’ The boy held his crotch. ‘I want to go badly!’

  ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake.’ The man grabbed him by the shoulder and led him out of the room along the corridor and, opening a door, pushed him into a room with a toilet. ‘There, and hurry up.’ Closing the door he muttered angrily to himself, ‘I’m a bloody nursemaid now!’

  Barry looked around to see if there was any way of escape but there was only a skylight. He relieved himself, tucked himself in and opened the door slowly, but his keeper was ready for him and led him away by the scruff of the neck, but Barry had spied a door at the end of the passage way. If only he could run away. But he was then pushed back into the room he’d occupied since Jackie left him.

  ‘I want my brother!’ he cried.

  ‘For goodness’ sake shut up or I’ll clout you one.’

  Barry kicked out at him and caught the man in the shins.

  With a cry of pain, the stranger turned on the boy and hit him round the head. ‘You behave yourself or I’ll beat the living daylights out of you.’

  Barry curled up in a ball, holding his head, his ears ringing from the force of the blow. ‘I’ll tell Jackie about you!’ he said, then hid his head again, waiting for the next blow, but the man sat down, cursing to himself.

  When Bonny woke the following morning, she found herself thinking about young Barry, wondering what had happened to him and how he’d got lost. The boy had endeared himself to her with his innocence and childlike behaviour, and having taken note of the address that his brother had left at the stage door, she decided to go and see for herself that young Barry was none the worse for his escapade.

  Jackie Williams was shocked to see Bonny Burton on his doorstep. He looked dishevelled, having had little sleep trying to sort out where Gerry could have hidden the money, which would enable him to release his young brother.

  ‘Hello, Jackie! Are you all right?’ she asked anxiously.

  ‘Oh, yes, yes, Miss Burton. I didn’t sleep very well last night, that’s all.’

  ‘I thought I’d come and see Barry and make sure he was all right. Can I come in?’

  Jackie couldn’t think of an excuse quickly enough to keep her out, so stepped back. ‘Yes, of course.’ He led her into the kitchen.

  Bonny saw the remains of a meal on the table and quickly noted it was for one person only. The house was quiet and knowing that Barry was a noisy boy, Bonny wondered where he was. So she asked.

  ‘He’s gone to the shop for some food and a comic,’ Jackie said quickly.

  But the young man didn’t look at her as he answered and he appeared nervous and uncomfortable. Bonny sensed that something was seriously wrong. ‘He’s still missing isn’t he?’

  Jackie looked at her in surprise. ‘What makes you say that?’

  ‘You’re hiding something from me, I can tell. What is it, Jackie? Maybe I can help.’

  Her kindness was the young man’s undoing. ‘You can’t, Miss Bonny. No one can help me. It’s something I have to sort out myself.’ He blinked away tears as he spoke.

  ‘Where is Barry?’

  ‘He’s staying with some folks I know but I’ll soon get him back.’

  ‘What do you mean, get him back? You make it sound as if he’s a prisoner!’

  Jackie burst into tears.

  Eventually the whole sorry story came out. It was such a relief for Jackie Williams to be able to share this enormous burden with someone. ‘I promised to take care of him and he’ll be scared on his own with strangers.’

  ‘You must go to the police and tell them what you told me.’

  He went pale. ‘I can’t do that! Gerry will kill me. If he doesn’t, then Wally Cole’s men will get me and they would certainly kill my brother. Don’t you see?’

  ‘Oh, Jackie, what can we do?’

  ‘I have to discover Gerry’s hiding place. That’s the only way out.’

  ‘Have you any idea at all where to look?’

  He shook his head. ‘He said it was the most obvious place that no one would imagine looking, that’s all I have to go on.’

  ‘Where is Barry being kept?’

  He described the place to her. ‘But it’s well guarded. It’s not like anywhere that I could creep in and get to him without being discovered.’ He began to fidget. ‘Look, Miss Bonny, I have to get on with my search, so I’m sorry but I must ask you to leave.’

  She reluctantly rose to her feet. ‘Please let me know what happens, won’t you?’

  He nodded as he walked her to the door.

  As Bonny walked away she racked her brains as to what she could do. The only person who she could turn to was Mickey. Hailing a taxi, she made for Foxy Gordon’s gym.

  Mickey O’Halleran was just climbing out of the ring after a workout with his sparring partner when he saw Bonny enter. He saw her anxious expression and, removing his headgear, he hurried over to her. ‘Whatever is the matter, darlin’?’

  She quickly told him what had transpired.

  His frown deepened with every sentence. ‘No way can you get involved with this!’ he declared. ‘These men are dangerous.’

  ‘How can I stand by and let Barry remain a prisoner? That poor boy will be demented!’

  He firmly led her to a nearby bench and put his arm around her. ‘Now you listen to me, Bonny. This is out of your hands! For goodness’ sake, we are talking bank robbery, gang warfare and maybe murder! You try and interfere and your life could be in danger, and no way can I let that happen.’

  Foxy wandered over after seeing the worried expressions on the face’s of the two of them. ‘Something wrong, Mickey?’ His boxer was due to take part in a major bout and he didn’t want anything to upset his concentration.

  Mickey’s frustration boiled over. ‘Will you talk to Bonny and make her realize she could be in danger!’ He then explained the whole situation to his trainer.

  Foxy was intrigued by the tale. So the rumours were right. It was Gerry Pike who had pulled the bank jobs – and he was trying to take over Wally’s territory. It was a pleasing scenario, he thought. ‘So Jackie has no idea where to look for the money, you say.’

  Bonny shook her head and repeated what Jackie had told her about the hiding place.

  Foxy looked thoughtful. ‘Somewhere obvious, you say. Clever little bugger, that Gerry Pike. But Mickey’s right, Bonny my dear. No way can you be involved. It’s far too dangerous.’

  ‘But what about Barry? We can’t leave him there!’

  ‘No, you’re right. Jackie’s a cocky little bleeder, but he does look after his brother and neither of them have had it easy. You leave this with me, love. But you must promise me that you won’t try and get involved, because if you do, you’ll be putting your head in a noose. Then my champ here will want to come to your rescue, fight or no fight, and I can’t have that. Understand?’

  ‘Yes, I understand.’

  ‘Good.’ He turned to Mickey. ‘You get a shower and take this young
lady away, buy her a coffee somewhere, calm her down.’ Then he walked to his office to mull over what he’d heard.

  Twenty-Three

  Giles Gilmore sat at his desk, reading the financial statement before him. The show was booked up for months in advance. The success of Broadway Melody was more than he’d hoped for. He was secure and financially he would make a killing, but there was one more ambition of his to be filled. He wanted to put a show on Broadway in New York. That truly would be the pinnacle to his career … and he now had a production he felt he could take to America. It would take time to organize – and money. With the show promising a long run, he had the time, but there would be a lot of hurdles to cross first. His backers would have to be approached, of course. He frowned. That meant he would have to consult Foxy Gordon in particular. After all, the man owned forty per cent of the stock. It was not something he contemplated with any great pleasure.

  His involvement in Giles Gilmore’s production was the furthest thing from Gordon’s mind at the moment. He was far more interested as to where Gerry Pike had stashed the money from the bank robberies. He sat quietly in his office in the gym, writing down every detail that he knew of the young hoodlum, trying to gauge his hiding place. A place that was different. One that no one would consider looking in. Young Pike must feel secure about it if there was no guard on the cash.

  He made a list. His home? No, that would be unwise. Where did the young thug go to for fun? He liked clubs, but it wouldn’t be there. His office, maybe, where he ran a business under the guise of house clearance and the sale of second-hand furniture. His showroom beneath, perhaps? There would be all sorts of stuff displayed that could be suitable, but wouldn’t that be obvious to the police if they were to search? They surely would open every drawer, every chest? He scratched his head. What else was important to Gerry? The only other thing was his love of clothes. He went to a tailor in Whitechapel; Foxy knew that because Gerry used to boast about how good the cutter was. Perhaps he would go along and get measured up for a suit. He could do with a new one and it would be a good opportunity to question the tailor. Maybe he could give Foxy a lead during their conversation. It was worth a try.