Her Father's Daughter

by June Tate

  Later that evening, Johnny made his way to the Club Valletta with some trepidation. His whole future depended on tonight. He’d put his father behind bars for Victoria; would she appreciate what he had done for her? He walked slowly towards her office.

  Victoria looked up as there was a tap on her door and Johnny stepped inside. She looked happy to see him and he wondered how long that would last.

  ‘Have you got a minute?’ he asked.

  He looked so serious she wondered what was wrong. ‘Of course, close the door and sit down.’

  He walked round the desk, perched on the end of it and took her hand in his.

  ‘Whatever is the matter?’ she asked.

  ‘Before I tell you, I want you to know that I love you very much and I would die rather than have anyone hurt you.’

  Her heart sank. Whatever was he going to tell her?

  ‘When I first came to the club, I was working for my father. Some of your clientele are wealthy men and I was to find those who had money and property which held things of value, stuff that would sell to customers who wouldn’t ask any questions.’

  Victoria started to speak but he hushed her. ‘Please, darling, listen to what I have to say, then you can talk,’ he asked. ‘I’m afraid I was the cause of the burglary at Henry Charterhouse’s home. I passed information on to my father, about his wealth and . . . well, you know the rest.’ He gazed at her and hurried on. ‘But then I realized that I had deep feelings for you and I went to my father and asked him not to continue with his plans.’

  ‘What plans?’ asked Victoria as she withdrew her hand from his.

  ‘I had given him two more addresses. But I didn’t trust him so I made sure these men installed a brand new alarm system that my father’s men wouldn’t be able to break.’

  Victoria looked at him coldly. ‘Go on.’

  ‘Well, then your flat was trashed.’

  She looked at him, understanding beginning to dawn on her.

  ‘As you now know, I discovered who had done this and went to call on him, as I told the police. But later, after the beer barrels had been tampered with, it was discovered he was working for my father.’

  ‘What?’ She looked horrified.

  ‘He was trying to get to me through you. Well, Victoria, I couldn’t possibly have that!’

  ‘So what did you do, Johnny?’ The icy tone in her voice chilled him to the bone. I’ve lost her, he thought – but he carried on.

  ‘I made an anonymous call to the police and told them where the stolen first editions were being kept – in my father’s warehouse. They got a warrant and searched it. They found them and, at this moment, my father is sitting in a cell in a London prison, waiting to be sent to trial for being in possession of stolen goods.’

  Victoria was finding it difficult to take all this in. ‘You shopped your own father?’

  ‘I had to! He wouldn’t listen to me, he didn’t want me to leave his organization and make an honest living. That he couldn’t understand – and he certainly didn’t want me to be involved with you. He’s a very possessive man.’

  He saw the look of consternation in her eyes.

  ‘I do love you, Victoria. I couldn’t let him put you in danger, I couldn’t!’

  She didn’t know what to say.

  ‘Look, I know this has come as a shock to you, but I have been honest. I have cut myself off from my father because I love you and now I want different things from life. I hope you can understand what I’m trying to say. When you’ve had time to digest all this, call me . . . and please – don’t break my heart.’ He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, than left the office.

  George Coleman saw him walk out of the club, noted the unusual slump of his shoulders and knew that something was amiss. He walked to the office and entered.

  He looked at Victoria and asked, ‘What’s wrong?’

  She gazed up at the man she’d known from a child, a man she trusted with her life – and told him.

  George listened carefully until she’d finished. ‘So how do you feel about all this?’ he asked.

  ‘I wish I knew,’ she confessed. Then, shaking her head, she added, ‘How could I ever trust him again?’

  He stared hard at her. ‘Don’t you realize just what this lad has done because he loves you?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Listen, when he first came here I didn’t either trust or like him, if I’m honest. In fact, I went out of my way to let him know this, but I have to tell you, Victoria, I now admire him and I do trust him. Pat Daniels is not a man to cross. His men are scared witless of him. He has a fearful reputation, and Johnny has not only broken with him but put the bugger behind bars! He has put himself in danger over you, do you realize that?’

  ‘What do you mean, in danger?’

  ‘Pat Daniels won’t let him get away with this. It’s not in his nature.’

  ‘Oh my God! What will he do?’

  Shrugging, George said, ‘To be honest I don’t know, but if I was young Daniels I’d be looking over my shoulder a lot and wouldn’t walk down any dark alleyways, that’s for sure.’

  ‘But his father is going to prison. I don’t know for how long but he’ll be out of the way. Johnny will be safe for a while.’

  George looked at her with affection. ‘You have no idea, have you? Many a job has been run by a gangster who was inside. If old man Daniels has a mind to do something, being inside will make no difference, he’ll just give the orders.’

  ‘So what can we do?’ She suddenly had an idea. ‘What if Johnny was out of the country for a while?’

  ‘What are you driving at?’

  ‘Bruce is being stationed in Malta; he told me that if I ever needed a bolt hole I could go to him.’

  George looked at her in disbelief. ‘You would ask Bruce to help the man who broke up his engagement? I can’t believe you would be so heartless . . . anyway, I doubt if Johnny would go. He’s made of stern stuff; to run away wouldn’t be his style.’ He looked hard at her. ‘I wonder if you know this lad at all, if you could believe that.’

  And he left her alone feeling like a child who had been scolded. But he had made his point and Victoria began to understand just how serious a step Johnny had taken – because of her.

  ‘He said what?’ Pat Daniels looked at his solicitor as they sat in an interview room in Wandsworth prison.

  ‘He said he was too busy to get away at the moment but he’d be in court when your case came up.’ He thought his client was going to have a fit; his anger was such that his face was beetroot red and he seemed unable to breathe for a moment.

  ‘That little bastard! Who the bloody hell does he think he is? How dare he treat me this way – his own father?’

  ‘I’m sorry, Mr Daniels. I did as you asked me.’

  But Daniels was still fuming. ‘Well, I won’t put up with it. The boy needs a lesson on who is boss and I’ll see he gets one!’

  ‘Now, please, don’t consider doing anything foolish.’ The solicitor was worried, knowing the man who sat before him. ‘You don’t want anything more for the police to be able to hold against you.’

  Big Pat looked at him disdainfully. ‘Don’t be a bloody idiot! I know what I’m about. The only reason I’m in here is because of my son. Until now, the police have never been able to prove anything against me.’

  ‘You don’t know for certain that Johnny put you here.’ The man was trying to diffuse the situation.

  ‘Oh yes I do. None of my men would go against me. It’s all because of a bit of pussy! My God, a woman would never come between me and my job.’ He sat running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

  The solicitor rose from his seat, gathered his papers together and started to walk towards the door. ‘It’ll be a few weeks before your case comes before the court. I’ll be in to see you again before then.’

  ‘They’re going to send me down, aren’t they?’ the criminal asked.

  ‘I’m afraid so. I�
�ll do my best but I don’t hold out much hope to be honest.’

  The warder stepped forward and placed the handcuffs back on Daniels’ wrists. Pat looked at the manacles and his features tightened in anger, but he didn’t say a word as he was led away.

  That evening, Johnny Daniels was sitting dejectedly in his flat, drinking a glass of whiskey when his front-door bell rang. Muttering under his breath, he went to the door and opened it.

  ‘Hello, Johnny,’ said Victoria, ‘can I come in?’

  ‘Are you sure you want to?’ he asked.

  ‘Excuse me?’ She looked at him with raised eyebrows. ‘What happened to the Daniels charm, I’d like to know? The Johnny I once knew would welcome me with bright eyes and high expectations, wondering how long it would take to get me into bed!’

  A slow smile crept across his features as he stared at her. ‘That’s very true.’ He held out his hand. ‘How about thirty seconds?’

  Twenty

  Two days later Victoria received a call from Bruce Chapman. He was soon to leave for his posting in Malta and wanted to see her to say goodbye. They decided to meet in the cocktail bar of the Polygon Hotel. As she replaced the receiver, she remembered how she was going to use their relationship and ask him to supply a refuge for her lover and was full of remorse to think she could have been so tactless. She had treated Bruce so badly; the least she could do was send him off to Malta with good grace. Picking up her handbag she left the club.

  When Victoria arrived at the Polygon, she saw Bruce sitting at the bar in conversation with the barman. Bruce was wearing his uniform and she couldn’t help but think any woman would be proud to be on the arm of such a good-looking man. But she had turned him down. Nevertheless, he would always be very special to her, no matter what.

  Touching him lightly on the shoulder she asked, ‘Buy a lady a drink, Captain?’

  He was delighted to see her and, leaning forward, he kissed her cheek. ‘Any time, tiger, what’ll it be?’

  They settled at a table by the window.

  He gazed admiringly at her. ‘You look wonderful as always, darling. How are things?’

  ‘Fine, thanks. Now tell me about your posting.’

  ‘I’m likely to be in Malta for quite a while,’ he said. ‘Perhaps you’ll be able to get away and visit me some time . . . a sort of holiday in the sun?’

  Bruce had never been able to hide his feelings and she saw the longing in his eyes and was saddened. ‘We’ll see,’ she said with some hesitation.

  He tried to cover his feelings. ‘What’s up, tiger? Afraid you won’t be able to resist me?’ And he laughed.

  She chuckled with some relief. ‘You are so bad!’

  He kept the conversation light. ‘Well, you know, sex doesn’t always have to have any strings attached. We could just have fun, enjoy each other as we have always done, then you could come home again having had a good time with an old friend.’

  But behind his jollity, Victoria, who understood him so well, knew that he was still hurting and wished there was something she could do to change this, but it was too late.

  ‘We’ll always be friends, Bruce. Nothing will ever change that and one day you’ll meet a good woman, one who is really worthy of you.’

  All pretence fell away from the captain. ‘I have already met that woman, Victoria. There will never be another who could ever mean so much to me.’ He leaned forward so no one could hear him. ‘It’s not too late you know. We could still make a future together if you had a mind to.’

  She was overcome with emotion and fought to keep it under control. ‘I’m sorry, Bruce,’ was all she could say.

  He sat back, sipped his drink and smiled softly at her. Cocking his head to one side, he said, ‘Well, it was worth a try. Come on, I’ve booked a table for lunch.’ And he led her into the dining room.

  Despite the continuing food rationing, the menu was not too bad. They joked about the rabbit on offer, wondering if the staff had been out shooting, then ordered the fish. Bruce chose a bottle of wine and they sat chatting about different things, carefully avoiding anything personal. As usual he made her laugh and they enjoyed the meal. Just as they had finished their dessert and were drinking coffee with a liqueur, Victoria saw a pageboy enter the dining room in his smart green uniform and pillbox hat. He was carrying a gift-wrapped parcel and a bouquet of flowers. She was astonished when he made his way to their table and presented her with these.

  ‘For me? Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes, madam,’ was the reply and the boy walked away with a jaunty air. She looked at Bruce who was smiling at her bewilderment.

  ‘Just something to remember me by,’ he said.

  She placed the flowers on an empty seat next to her and, still holding the large, flat box with its extravagant bow, felt just like a child at Christmas.

  ‘Can I open it?’ she asked breathlessly.

  Bruce started laughing. ‘You know you’ll never be able to wait, carry on.’

  She removed the bow and lifted the lid and started to remove the tissue paper.

  Beneath the layer was an exquisite nightdress in the softest pale silver satin. She closed the lid quickly, her cheeks red with embarrassment and looked up at her companion.

  ‘I bought it for you when we were in France but you had left for England before I could give it to you. I waited for the right moment – but now, I’ve run out of time.’

  ‘Oh, Bruce, it’s beautiful, thank you so much.’

  ‘Well, darling, whenever you wear it, think of me.’ He beckoned the head waiter over and asked for the bill. Then he ordered a taxi to take Victoria back to the club.

  ‘I have an appointment,’ he told her when they were outside, ‘so I can’t take you back myself.’

  As the taxi drew up, he took her into his arms and kissed her longingly. ‘You take good care of yourself and remember, I’ll send you my address. If you need me, pick up the phone. Promise?’

  She felt her eyes fill with tears. ‘Yes, I promise. Now you take care, Bruce, and keep in touch.’ Then quickly turning away, she climbed into the car.

  As she was driven back to the docks, she wiped away the tears which slowly trickled down her cheeks. If only things were different, Bruce would have been such a great husband, but she had made her choice and she wondered just why life had to be so bloody difficult.

  The next few weeks passed without incident and life carried on. Johnny’s business was growing and he took on more men to cope with the extra work, Victoria worked hard in the club, trying to keep her clients happy with the odd themed evening to make things interesting and the cash flow healthy. There was a circus theme with the waiters dressed as clowns, a cabaret of tumblers, George was dressed as a ringmaster and a trapeze was set up on the stage with a female acrobat twisting and turning as the three-piece band played. It all added to the fun and her clients appreciated it. Life was difficult enough these days with all the restrictions still in place despite the ending of hostilities.

  Victoria had invested some of her money in a smallholding which, run by a couple of ex-servicemen, supplied her restaurant with eggs from the chickens, some of which were bred for slaughter. Fortunately her chef was talented and as she often said ‘could make a meal out of the contents of a dustbin!’ All of which was appreciated by her clients. Especially the night the chef roasted a suckling pig, raised on the small holding. On that night the restaurant was fully booked!

  Eventually Pat Daniels’ case was due to be heard in court and his solicitor informed Johnny of the time and place. When he told Victoria about it, she offered to go with him.

  He gave a wry smile. ‘No, darling, that would not be a good idea. There is already enough bad feeling between my father and me. If he saw you sitting with me in court, it would be like a red rag to a bull!’

  ‘Just you be careful,’ she warned, her brow creased with concern.

  He held her close. ‘Don’t you worry about me, Victoria; I can take care of myself.’

&nb
sp; But when she mentioned this to George and Sandy, who had called into the club, George said, ‘I’ll go if you like, love.’

  I’ll come with you,’ said Sandy.

  The spectator’s gallery was full on the first day of Daniels’ trial and the two men sat in the only empty seats left. They both leaned forward as Pat Daniels was led up the steps to the dock.

  He was smartly dressed in a suit and tie. His polished shoes shone as a shaft of sunlight caught them, but his face was grim. He cast a gaze around the courtroom and stopped when he saw Johnny sitting there. He looked coldly at him and the two men sitting above glanced at each other.

  ‘No love lost there then,’ George remarked to Sandy, who just nodded in agreement.

  The case only took three days before the jury were sent out for their deliberations. It didn’t take many hours before they returned with a verdict of guilty. Pat Daniels stood as the judge prepared to sentence him. The prisoner didn’t listen to the judge’s summing up. He knew he was going down, all he wanted to know was for how long and when he heard the words ‘three years’, he stared over at Johnny and continued to look at him with an expression of hatred as he was led away.

  ‘Oh my God!’ muttered George Coleman. ‘That lad is in serious trouble. Come on, let’s get out of here and get a beer.’

  As they stepped outside the court, they saw Johnny about to walk away and called him over.

  ‘What on earth are you two doing here?’ he asked.

  ‘Victoria was worried about you, so we said we’d come along. We’re going for a drink,’ said George, ‘come with us, after that I think you need one.’ They walked away together to the nearest pub.