by Sam Michaels
‘What happened?’ Charlotte asked, dazed.
‘You’re my girl now.’
‘Did… did we just do it?’
‘Yeah and next time it won’t hurt you.’
Next time? Thought Charlotte, still confused. Had she lost her virginity? She wanted to get up and leave but couldn’t bring herself to move. Tobias was smoking a cigarette. ‘I don’t feel well,’ she mumbled. Her eyes felt heavy and though she struggled to keep them open, she passed out, unaware of anything or what Tobias would do to her next.
3
Three-year-old Alfie stood on a stool next to Georgina as they brushed their teeth together over the kitchen sink.
‘Finissed,’ Alfie exclaimed and beamed at her, showing his neat, white teeth.
Georgina spat out the toothpaste in her mouth. ‘Oh no you’re not,’ she said, ‘brush more.’
Alfie huffed but did as he was told and after another minute, smiled at her again.
‘That’s better. Right, I’ll race you to my bedroom,’ she said and waited for him to clamber down off the stool. ‘Ready… steady…’ but before she could say ‘go’, Alfie had set off, giggling as he ran up the stairs.
‘I’m right behind you,’ Georgina called, and when they raced into the bedroom, they both threw themselves onto the bed.
‘I win,’ Alfie said, climbing to his feet and jumping up and own.
The old bed sounded rickety and the springs creaked. It had been her grandmother’s bed and Georgina thought it was probably about time they bought a new one, especially as the bed was used for more than just sleeping in. But she loathed ridding the house of her grandmother’s belongings though she knew she couldn’t hold on to them forever.
‘Yes, you win,’ she said and grabbed Alfie’s arm and pulled him to sit beside her. ‘I’ve got to go to work now, but if you’re a good boy today for Colleen, I’ll bring you home some sweeties.’
‘Aw, do you have to go?’ Alfie whined.
It wasn’t easy for her to leave her son with the next-door neighbour all day but she couldn’t take him with her. ‘Yes, darling. You know Mummy has a job and it’s very important work.’
‘Can I come?’
‘No, maybe when you’re older.’
‘But I sometimes go to work with Daddy.’
‘I know and you’re a very lucky boy. But you can’t come with Mummy,’ she said, knowing that his next question would be, ‘why?’
And just as expected, Alfie asked, ‘Why?’
‘Because you can’t,’ she said, searching for an answer that would satisfy his curious mind.
‘But why can’t I? Daddy said you’re the boss at work so you make the rules.’
Well, she couldn’t argue with that. ‘Daddy’s right, I am the boss at work and I do make the rules and the rules say that little boys who come to work have to be tickled until they laugh so much that they pee themselves,’ she said and tickled him under his ribcage.
Alfie giggled and squirmed. ‘Stop it, Mummy.’
‘Enough?’ she asked, still tickling him.
‘Yes,’ he cried, trying to push her hands off.
‘Right, go and get your bag,’ she told him.
Alfie toddled off to fetch his bag of toys that he always took next door with him and Georgina wiped a splash of red lipstick over her lips. She glanced in the mirror on the dressing table and her demon doubts crept in again. Was she a bad mother? Most women stayed at home to look after their children or some who were very poor would take cleaning jobs and the like. But she didn’t know of any mother who ran a company like she did. And since Alfie had been born, Lash had often shown his dislike of her going out to work, firmly believing that a woman’s place was in the home.
‘Weddy, Mummy,’ Alfie said.
She looked round to see him standing proudly in the doorway, his shoes on the wrong feet, a sack over his shoulder and a knitted hat almost covering his eyes. The sight melted her heart but she knew she had to be strong and pull herself away from him. One day, everything she’d worked so hard for would benefit Alfie and his children and their children’s children. They’d never know poverty, hunger or fear. They’d be raised wanting for nothing. She would have ensured them a legacy that would live on through the generations. But to do it, she had to put in the graft now.
‘Lots of sweeties for you later,’ she said, and smiled tenderly.
Downstairs, as Georgina pinned a pillbox hat in place, Alfie toddled towards the front door.
‘I’ll take him with me today,’ Lash said and scooped their child into his muscular arms.
Alfie squealed, clearly overjoyed at spending another day at work with his father.
‘All right, I’ll knock next door and let Colleen know. She’ll be glad of a day off with full pay. But what about that trouble you had a couple of weeks ago?’
‘No need to worry about that. Those fascist bastards won’t be back expecting me to print their propaganda, not after receiving a good hiding.’
Georgina had been pleased when Lash had set up a typesetting and printing company. It had started with him refurbishing a few old printing machines but now it had grown in both size and workforce. They’d both realised that he needed to step away from her business. Lash had strong views of a man’s role in a marriage and their opinions had often clashed, normally with Georgina winning her point. Now he had his own interest, their marriage was far more harmonious, though their ideas of how to raise their son still differed.
‘What’s a bas… bas… bastid, Daddy?’ Alfie asked.
Georgina could see Lash had a job not to laugh and he did well keeping a stern face as he placed his child on the floor. ‘It’s a bad word that you’re not to say.’
‘That’s right,’ Georgina said. ‘Now go and sit down in the front room and wait for Daddy.’
Once Alfie was gone, she turned to Lash, ‘I’ve told you before to watch your language around him. He’s at the age where he’s picking everything up.’
‘Oh, shush, woman. In a few years, there’ll be a lot worse than that coming out of his mouth.’
‘Not if I have anything to do with it, there won’t.’
‘Come off it, I started swearing from the moment I could talk,’ Lash said with a chortle.
‘That maybe so but your upbringing was different form Alfie’s. Just respect my wishes and curb your language round the child.’
Lash rolled his eyes but Georgina didn’t want an argument and pecked his cheek. ‘I must get going. Keep your eyes peeled for Charlotte. I’ve still not received word of any sightings of her. Molly will probably be calling me later for an update and I’d like to give her some good news.’
‘You’ll be hard pressed to find her if she doesn’t want to be found. But I’ll keep an eye out. I’ll take Alfie to the stables on my way home. Nelson’s got a horse he wants me to look at. He thinks it’s lame.’
‘Did you hear that, Alfie? Daddy’s taking you to see the gee-gees,’ Georgina cooed as he came running from the front room. She tapped the end of his nose. The child took after his father with dark, swarthy looks but had her iron will. She was grateful for him and adored the bones of him yet found it difficult to lavish affection. She’d seen Molly cuddle Edward and plant kisses on the child’s cheeks but being overtly maternal with Alfie didn’t come naturally to Georgina. She felt fiercely protective over him and knew she loved him but couldn’t understand why she held back from showing him. Maybe because her own mum had died during childbirth and she’d missed a mother’s love.
‘He loves the horses and a ride in the trap,’ Lash said and beamed with pride.
‘That’s because he’s got your gypsy blood. Have fun, boys. See you tonight.’
Georgina opened the door and, as regular as clockwork, Victor was waiting outside and was ready to open the back door of the car. She quickly told Colleen she wouldn’t be needed today and then set off for the office. Since taking over the Wilcox business from Mickey the Matchstick, Georgina had h
eld regular Monday morning meetings with the men who worked for her. At first, she’d battled to gain their respect but she’d soon won them over with brute force and charm.
‘Good morning, Miss Garrett,’ Benjamin greeted her as she walked in. He looked tired, with dark rings circling his eyes, but he was still turned out immaculately. She found his two personas amusing. There was the Benjamin who managed The Penthouse Club – camp, colourful and confident. Then this Benjamin, the accountant – quiet, shy and stuttering. Both of his characters endeared him to her.
‘Coffee?’ Dina asked coldly.
‘Yes, please,’ Georgina answered and as she sat at her desk, she watched Dina, tall and blonde, stride from the office. ‘She’s an oddball, that one,’ Georgina remarked.
‘She’s nothing like her sister.’
‘No, she isn’t. I do miss Varvara,’ she replied and thought about the woman who in her dying breaths had declared her love for Georgina. She still felt terrible about shooting her, even though she knew she had no choice in the matter.
‘You’ll be, erm, pleased to, erm, know there were no more incidents in the club last night.’
‘Good. The Barker twins are watching the place, just in case.’
‘Ivy was a bit jumpy all evening. It’s not like her to be unnerved by something relatively, erm, trivial.’
‘No, it’s not. She’s a feisty young lady. Perhaps all this war malarkey has got to her.’
‘Perhaps,’ Benjamin answered though his tone lacked conviction.
Dina returned with a tray of coffee. ‘Anything else?’ she asked, her voice deep and with an accent of her motherland.
‘No, thank you. You can send the blokes in now.’
Moments later, Georgina’s office filled with her loyal workers and she glanced around at the men she’d once loathed but had now become fond of. Roguish men, hard too, who would willingly follow her orders and take a life, though they looked out for each other like family.
‘Good morning. Right, first things first. Any sightings of Charlotte Mipple?’ she asked.
‘Not a dicky bird,’ Ned answered as the rest shook their heads.
‘Keep looking and let me know the second she’s spotted.’
‘’Ere, Miss Garrett, what do you reckon on Hitler landing on British soil?’ her father’s friend asked.
‘He won’t. And if he does, we’ll show him he can’t mess with us. Have any of you got it in your head that you want to run off and sign up to fight for the King?’
‘I thought about it but me missus begged me not to.’
‘Yeah, me and all, but my mum lost her husband and two brothers during the Great War. I couldn’t put her through no more grief.’
‘Fuck that. Our shitting government and royal family don’t give two hoots about the likes of us. I ain’t fighting for no-one… except you, Miss Garrett.’
‘Arse licker,’ from Ned.
Georgina smiled. ‘Well, I’m glad I won’t be losing any of you to the army. A few of you will be all right ’cos you’re too old but the rest of you will soon be called to register for National Service. If you want to be a draft dodger, give your name to Mr Harel. I’ll get you a medical exemption certificate.’
‘Thanks, Miss Garrett. Mr Harel will be all right, won’t he? They won’t let his sort join the army.’
‘Yes, that’s right. Of course, you can all claim to be homosexual if you’d prefer?’
A few of the men shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other and Georgina heard several mutterings as others shook their heads. Benjamin appeared embarrassed so Georgina quickly said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll organise doctors’ notes for you. Now, any word on the wages snatch at Hart’s factory?’
Johnny Dymond cleared his throat before talking. ‘It was the Vauxhall mob.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yeah. Sligo turned up for the poker last night. He knows Wayne but can’t stand the fat fucker. Apparently Wayne thought he could get away with doing a job in Battersea ’cos the Old Bill would assume you’d done it.’
‘Is he trying to stitch me up for it?’
‘No, but he thinks ’cos you’ve got the local coppers eating out of your hand, they won’t touch you.’
‘Well, I have, but that ain’t the point. He never got the go-ahead from me and we didn’t see a cut. Johnny, you can come with me when we’re done here. I think it’s about time I introduced myself to Wayne Warner.’
‘All right, but he’s a nasty piece of work. It might be better if a few of us went with you.’
‘No, that won’t be necessary. I don’t want it to look like we’ve come for trouble or that I’m in any way intimidated by him. You, me and Victor will do.’
Johnny raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. He clearly didn’t agree with her but wouldn’t question her decision, especially not in front of the rest of the men.
‘Now, about the incident at The Penthouse Club. I want to know who had the balls to try and set it alight. And be on your guard. Someone is out there to make trouble so watch your backs.’
‘Funnily enough, Miss Garrett, I chased off a young man this morning. He was up to something, tampering with some of the motors parked outside. He went as white as a sheet when I pulled up and had it away on his toes. Best you all check your cars before you get in them.’
‘Did you recognise him?’
‘Nah, but I would if I see him again.’
‘All right, you all heard Sprouts. Check your cars when you leave.’
‘I ain’t got a car,’ from another.
‘That’s ’cos you can’t drive,’ Ned said.
‘He does a good job of driving me up the wall,’ one of the Barker twins chirped.
‘Fuck me, Sprouts, have you let one go again?’
‘Yeah, sorry, you know I can’t help it. I’ve got dodgy guts,’ Sprouts answered sheepishly.
‘It stinks. Smells like a fucking rat has crawled up your arse and died. And you wondered why we call you Sprouts. You need to tell your mother to stop feeding you them.’
The men tittered and Georgina asked, ‘Anything else?’
‘Your dad pulled a blinder last week, Miss Garrett. I don’t suppose there’s a barrel going spare?’
‘You don’t suppose correctly. When he intercepted the brewery’s beer truck, he drove it straight to Southampton to unload. There’s not even half a pint left and even if there was, we couldn’t distribute anywhere in South London.’
‘Is he gonna do that job again? I’m in if he is.’
‘No, it was a one-off special order. But if you’re on the look-out for some alcohol, Mr Maynard has eighty crates of gin.’
‘I’ll, erm, take five for The Penthouse,’ Benjamin said quietly and pushed his round-rimmed spectacles up his nose, adding, ‘If it’s of a good quality.’
‘That’s right, Mr Harel, you poofters in that club like the posh stuff, don’t you?’
‘Oi,’ Georgina barked. ‘Don’t ever call Mr Harel a name like that again.’
Georgina accepted the apology offered but it worried her that Benjamin could be thrown into prison for his choice of lover. She’d do all she could to protect him and she wouldn’t allow his sexuality to be brandished about freely by her men. But at least it would keep him from having to join up for the war efforts.
After a while, the meeting came to an end and Georgina told Benjamin to make an appointment with the doctor who rented rooms in her Clapham house. She knew he was dodgy and, for the right price, would be easily persuaded to write false medical exemption certificates. But for now, she had something else on her mind and checked the bullets in her gun. She had five remaining and one of them had Wayne Warner’s name on it.
*
The pub door flew open and Wayne looked up from his hand of cards to see his lookout, Oscar Sparrow, almost falling through the door. The man was as skinny as a rasher of bacon but had a protruding pigeon chest so the name ‘Sparrow’ seemed appropriate. With his mop
of dark hair and large eyes, he put Wayne in mind of a ventriloquist’s doll.
‘That Garrett woman is pulling up outside,’ Sparrow blurted out, sounding alarmed.
Wayne glanced sideways to his best mate, Dan. ‘Told you she’d turn up,’ he said, and threw his cards onto the table. ‘If it’s a fight she wants, let’s make sure we give her one.’
Apart from Wayne’s gang of a dozen men including Sparrow, the pub was almost empty. The two customers at the bar left their unfinished drinks and fled through the door. Few people drank in the Lamb; most preferred to avoid a run-in with the notorious Vauxhall mob.
Moments later, Wayne sucked on his roll-up and watched as Georgina Garrett strode towards him, her heels clicking on the unvarnished floorboards. As she approached, he eyed her up and down, secretly admiring her impressive stature and fine clothes. The woman was a beauty, no doubt, and bold, but he believed if Billy Wilcox had still been alive, Georgina Garrett would be dead. Wayne was still surprised that a woman had taken over the Wilcox business though he didn’t think she would have stood a chance against Billy. He’d have got rid of her and if Georgina tried to push her luck, Wayne would do what Billy had tried but failed to do – kill her.
‘Georgina Garrett, I’ve been expecting you,’ he said and knocked back the last of his stout. ‘I don’t suppose you’re here for a drink?’
‘No. You know the reason I’m here.’
‘Are you on about the wages lift? I didn’t think you’d mind, Georgina. It’s not a problem, is it?’ Wayne said, scraping his chair back and moving around the table to stand in front of her.
‘It’s Miss Garrett and yes, it is a problem.’
