by Sam Michaels
‘No, I suppose not.’
‘Good, I’m glad we agree on that. So, would you like to explain to me the reason why you are allowing Charlotte to do all the work?’
Elsie pursed her lips then shrugged again.
‘I see. Do you want the job?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe,’ Elsie answered belligerently.
Georgina’s temper snapped and she said angrily, ‘Fine. You can leave anytime you like. You’re not a prisoner here as you were with your husband. In fact, I’ll make it easy for you. You’re sacked. Get your coat and hat and leave. And you needn’t think you’re getting paid for the time that you’ve sat in my café, drinking my tea and eating my cakes.’
‘But—’
‘—No buts. I don’t want to hear it. Go. Now.’
Elsie sloped off, leaving Georgina shaking her head in disbelief. Charlotte had been right – Elsie’s attitude had been appalling. Georgina wished Johnny good luck with the woman, glad that Elsie was no longer her problem.
Charlotte stuck her head through the office door. ‘She’s walked out!’
‘I know. I sacked her. Get hold of Fleur. She should be out of Holloway by now. I’ll have to leave that with you because I’ve got enough to be getting on with,’ Georgina answered as she thought about her next task.
‘No problem. I like Fleur and she’s a grafter,’ Charlotte smiled.
‘Once you’ve trained her up, you can jack in the café if you like?’
‘No, I think I’ll stay. I know I said I didn’t want to do it but, actually, I quite enjoy working here. Gotta dash, there’s a customer.’
The door closed and Georgina rubbed her forehead. She had a splitting headache but needed to think clearly. It was Thursday. Tomorrow would be Friday. The Top would be dead by the end of the week. She would kill him. That’s what she’d told Temi Zammit and it’s exactly what she intended to do.
*
Geert Neerhoff opened his eyes to excruciating pain in both his arms. The searing agony was almost unbearable but he couldn’t scream. He felt like he was choking and struggled to breath. He cried out but there was no sound, just a muted groan. The pain at the end of his arms intensified. Why couldn’t he call for help? Panic coursed through him. Was he dreaming? Having a nightmare? His eyes, wild with fear, looked around. He recognised he was at home. In his kitchen. He couldn’t talk. Oh, God, he hurt so badly. Then he realised he was gagged and at that moment, the terrifying memories flooded back. He raised his arms in front of his face and stared in shocked horror at the charred and swollen stumps where his hands should be.
Vomit rose in his throat at the disgusting sight. The gag. The vomit. He couldn’t expel it from his throat. He couldn’t swallow it back down. He couldn’t cough it back up.
Instinctively, he tried to undo the knot at the back of his head that secured the handkerchief in his mouth that was killing him. He had no fucking hands!
He couldn’t breathe, slowly choking to death on his own puke.
Geert jumped from the seat and ran to the kitchen drawer. A knife, a pair of scissors. Anything to cut off the scarf so that he could breathe again. He reached for the handle of the drawer and tried to hook his blackened thumb under it. The pain. Then it dawned on him again. He had no fucking hands! He wouldn’t be able to hold a knife, let alone use it to free himself. He wanted to call Doris to help. His lungs ached.
Geert staggered towards the table, desperate to breathe. A feeling of floating out of his body washed over him. He saw his severed hand and reached out for it. Using his arm, he scraped it towards him but then collapsed to the floor. His hand fell from the table and landed on his face.
Geert Neerhoff died in severe pain while staring in horror at his disconnected hand that covered his eyes.
25
On Friday morning, as Charlotte got ready to go to work in the café, Georgina tried her best to behave normally around the girl. But inside, her heart was racing with fear.
‘Charlotte, sit down a moment, please.’
‘Is everything all right?’ Charlotte asked as she sat on the arm of the sofa.
‘Yes, everything is fine. I just want you to know that if anything ever happens to me, you’ll be looked after.’
‘Why are you saying things like that?’ Charlotte asked worriedly.
‘No reason. But you know my line of work comes with danger. Anything could happen. I want you to feel assured that with or without me, you’ll be taken care of.’
‘Shut up, Georgina, you’re scaring me. Are you doing something today?’
‘No, nothing out of the ordinary,’ she lied.
‘Then shut up and don’t talk like you’re going to die!’ Charlotte cried.
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.’
‘So stop being so bloody morbid!’
‘All right, calm down. I wish I hadn’t said anything now.’
‘Yeah, me an’ all, Georgina. I hate the thought of losing you. It’s bad enough having to worry about Tim off fighting at war, without worrying about you too.’
‘You don’t have to fret about me. You know I can take care of myself.’
‘Yeah, I know. And make sure you do, eh?’
‘Always, Charlotte, always. Now, time’s getting on and you’d best be off to the café.’
‘Ain’t you coming?’
‘Later. I’ve got a few things to do first.’
‘Like what?’ Charlotte asked, her eyes narrowing.
‘None of your business, young lady. Now, bugger off.’
Charlotte huffed but called cheerio as she closed the door behind her. Georgina looked at the clock on the mantel again. Only two minutes had passed since the last time she’d checked. Her hands felt clammy as she wrung them together.
‘Come on, Johnny,’ she mumbled under her breath.
At last, Georgina saw the car pull up and rushed out of the house. She checked her waistband for the umpteenth time. It was there. Her gun, fully loaded and with the silencer attached, tucked in the back of her belt. She wore a smart, dark blue jacket that matched her skirt and hid the weapon well.
‘Good morning, Miss Garrett. Where to?’ Johnny greeted her cheerfully.
Georgina stared straight ahead. ‘To see The Top,’ she answered, and swallowed hard.
‘The Top. Any reason why?’
‘Yes, Johnny, because I said so.’
‘Fair enough.’
‘Did you get me some more of those sleeping pills?’
‘Yes, here,’ Johnny answered and pulled them from his pocket to pass them to her.
‘I suppose Elsie has had plenty to say?’ Georgina asked.
‘About what?’
‘About me sacking her.’
Johnny’s head snapped round. ‘You’ve sacked her?’ he asked, surprised.
‘Yes. Keep your eyes on the road. I sacked her yesterday. Didn’t she tell you?’
‘No, she never mentioned it.’
They drove the rest of the way in silence. Georgina thought Johnny was probably wondering why Elsie hadn’t told him that she’d lost her job. It seemed strange but maybe Elsie had been too embarrassed to say anything. Yet somehow she doubted that.
They passed a young mother pushing a navy blue and cream pram with one hand, while dragging a young lad along with the other. It made Georgina think about her children. Her stomach churned. She might never see them again. Was attempting to kill The Top really worth it? She pondered this for a while, and finally decided that yes, it was. She couldn’t live with herself in the knowledge that The Top was alive and David was dead. And Temi Zammit had made a good argument. If The Top wanted to, there was nothing to stop him coming after the Zammits or her. The world would be a better and safer place without The Top in it.
Once outside the house, Georgina turned to Johnny. ‘Wait for me in the next street. If I’m not with you in an hour, drive off. Go, and never look back. Do you understand?’
‘Whoa, hang on a minute. What are
you up to?’
‘Don’t question me, Johnny, just do as I say.’
‘You’re going in there to try and knock him off, ain’t ya?’
‘He killed David Maynard.’
‘Yeah, I know, but, please, Miss Garrett, don’t do this. You’ll never get to him and… well…’
‘I know what I’m up against.’
‘I’m coming with you.’
‘No, you’re bloody well not! I told you to wait round the corner and you’ll do as I say.’
‘I can’t let you do this alone.’
‘Yes, you can, and you will. I’ll have a better chance alone. If we both go in, the pair of us could end up dead.’
‘Then let me do it.’
‘Don’t talk daft.’
‘I ain’t. My job is to look after you. If you want The Top taken out, then I’ll do it.’
Georgina looked into Johnny’s eyes and felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. He would sacrifice his life for her, yet she’d been nothing but annoyed and snappy with him lately. She reached out and touched his arm. ‘Thank you, Johnny. Thank you for everything. But I’m doing this and that’s an end to it. You know how stubborn I can be. You won’t change my mind.’
‘For fuck’s sake!’ he ground out, his jaw clenching.
‘I’ll see you in a while… I hope,’ she added, mumbling under her breath.
As she climbed out of the car, Johnny said softly, ‘I think the world of you, Miss Garrett.’
‘I know. And I do you an’ all. Now, clear off,’ she said firmly, but with a soft smile. She could see he didn’t want to leave her. ‘Go,’ she ordered firmly.
Georgina waited to see Johnny’s car reverse up the road and around the corner. Then she walked across to the large house and rapped on the heavy wooden doors. Her heart was pounding so hard that she thought it might burst out of her chest. ‘Stay calm,’ she told herself.
When the hatch opened, she said clearly, ‘Georgina Garrett. I’m here to buy.’
Ralph slammed the hatch shut then minutes later he opened one of the doors. She knew the routine and followed him through the grand but stark hallway and up the stairs. The familiar two bouncers were stood outside a door. She looked at the one who had frisked her before. He stepped forward but she didn’t see any recognition in his eyes. Now she worried that he wasn’t one of Temi’s men and would find her concealed weapon. She held her arms out at her sides as the bouncer’s hands roamed up her legs and over her body. Again, he was too friendly with her breasts but she ignored his sly grope. She held her breath as his hands felt around her waist and to her back. There it was. He must have felt the gun but he didn’t acknowledge it. She finally breathed again. He was indeed one of Temi’s men.
Once given the all clear, Georgina was shown into the room where Slugs met her with a wide grin.
‘It’s nice to see you again. Who ’ave you been shooting up?’ he asked.
‘No one, why?’
‘I was told you’re here to buy. I assume bullets?’
‘Ah, yes, that’s right. It’s been a while since I’ve used a gun so I was doing a bit of target practice.’
‘On anyone I know?’ Slugs asked with a chortle.
‘No, nothing like that. So, Slugs, aren’t you going to offer me a drink?’
‘Sorry, where are my manners? What would you like?’
‘Champagne. Always champagne.’
‘It’s a bit early for that, ain’t it?’
‘It’s never too early for champagne. Anyway, it’s past ten.’
Slugs pulled on a cord, which Georgina guessed rang a bell somewhere inside the house. The short man with red hair came into the room. She’d seen him the last time she was here when he’d brought her coffee.
‘Champagne for Miss Garrett,’ Slugs ordered.
The man tugged his forelock and dashed away through a door where two large, unfriendly looking men sat on each side.
‘No Johnny with you today?’ Slugs asked.
‘No, he’s running a few errands for me. I thought it would be nice just the two of us,’ Georgina answered and smiled teasingly at Slugs.
‘Oh, erm, right,’ he replied, appearing uncomfortable.
The short man came back in with champagne in a silver ice bucket and a glass.
‘Aren’t you joining me?’ Georgina asked Slugs.
‘Champagne ain’t my tipple.’
‘What’s your tipple, then? Brandy? Whisky?’
‘I’m happy with a bottle of stout.’
‘Bring a bottle of stout for Slugs,’ Georgina told the short man.
Again, he tugged his forelock and hurried off. She thought he seemed a funny little man, like a character from one of the silent films her dad used to enjoy.
Slugs poured a glass of champagne and handed it to Georgina. She deliberately met his eyes and lightly fluttered her dark lashes. Then, taking a seat on the sofa, she patted beside her. ‘Come and sit with me,’ she purred.
Slugs glanced over at the two men on the door before sitting awkwardly on the edge of the seat next to her.
The short man appeared again and handed Slugs a bottle of beer.
‘Cheers,’ Georgina said and held her glass aloft to clink with his bottle.
‘Yeah, cheers,’ Slugs parroted and took several glugs.
Georgina crossed one leg over the other, deliberately allowing her skirt hem to slip above her knee. ‘You’re rather a man of mystery to me,’ she said.
‘Am I? Nah, there ain’t nothing mysterious about me.’
‘Well, I don’t know much about you. Are you married?’
‘No one would have me,’ he answered with a nervous titter.
‘I would,’ Georgina husked and looked over the top of her glass as she sipped the champagne.
‘Get out of it, you’re mucking about with me, ain’t ya?’
‘No, Slugs, not at all. I’ve always had a sweet eye for you. You know, I was in prison for a long time… and since I’ve been free, well, let’s just say, a girl gets lonely.’
Slugs swigged down the rest of his stout while Georgina sidled closer to him and whispered in his ear, ‘Get rid of those two lumps and we can have a bit of fun, eh, what do you say?’
Slugs licked his lips and she saw a spark of passion in his eyes. Good, this was going exactly how she’d planned it.
He jumped to his feet and turned towards the men on the door. ‘Go and check the back door. And while you’re in the kitchen, have a tea break. I’m all right up here,’ he said and winked at them.
Slugs waited for the men to leave and then turned back to Georgina. ‘I’ve always fancied you,’ he said and pulled his braces from his shoulders before unbuttoning his trousers.
Georgina rose to her feet and ambled towards him. She planted soft kisses on his neck as she undid his shirt buttons.
‘No,’ Slugs said, grabbing both her hands. ‘I’ll leave me shirt on. Me belly’s pretty messed up, I wouldn’t want you to see it.’
‘That’s fine, Slugs,’ she said softly and reached her hand down to his engorged manhood.
‘Oh, yeah, Georgina. That’s good,’ he said, and closed his eyes as she pulled back and forward on his foreskin. ‘Take your clothes off. I wanna fuck you.’
Georgina stepped back and slid her jacket off, letting it fall to the floor. ‘Sit down,’ she purred. ‘And watch me undress.’
Slugs was quick to sit on the sofa with his manhood standing proud.
‘Cor, Georgina, you’re right bleedin’ dirty, ain’t ya?’
‘I can be,’ she answered and kicked off her shoes. Then she peeled off one stocking and placed it on the sofa next to Slugs. Then, ever so slowly, she did the same with her other stocking.
‘You’re a tease,’ Slugs smiled. ‘But I like it.’
‘Do you like this?’ Georgina asked and grabbed her gun from her belt.
‘What the fuck?’
‘Shush, Slugs, don’t make a fuss, there’s a good man. It’s
just a bit of fun.’
‘What’s your fucking game?’
‘Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.’
‘What are you, the black widow or something? I ain’t into no weird stuff.’
‘It’s only weird the first time you try it,’ she said with a wicked smile. ‘Now, you’re going to swallow these pills.’ Georgina pulled two small tablets from the pocket in her skirt. ‘Don’t panic, they’re only sleeping pills. You’ll nod off and once you’re asleep, I’m going to tie you up with my stockings and wrap my belt around your mouth. I’ll drag you to behind the desk, and hopefully no one will find you for a while and you’ll have a peaceful kip. That doesn’t sound too bad, does it?’
‘You’re fucking mad if you think I’m going to take those pills.’
‘Slugs, please don’t make this difficult. You see this,’ she said, running her finger along the silencer, ‘it muffles noise. I’ll shoot you if I have to and no one will hear a thing. But honestly, you seem like a nice man. I’d really rather not have to kill you.’
‘If you want The Top, you’ll have to kill me to get to him.’
‘Really? Wouldn’t you rather just have a restful sleep?’
‘I ain’t taking no pills,’ Slugs growled.
‘Is there any way I can persuade you to change your mind? You know what the alternative will be.’
Slugs leapt from the sofa towards her. Georgina had thought he might try to disarm her and reluctantly pulled the trigger, aiming directly at his head.
Slugs fell backwards, landing on the sofa. He didn’t scream in pain or even whimper. His death had been instant.
‘I’m sorry, Slugs, but you left me no choice,’ she said and reached out to close his eyelids before slipping her shoes back on. She hadn’t wanted Slugs to die. She’d given him an option and clearly explained the details. But, due to his misplaced loyalty to The Top, Slugs was dead.
Georgina marched towards the door that she’d seen Slugs go through before. She was sure she’d find The Top behind it. Her heart hammered as she pulled the handle down and pushed the door open.
