Authors: Jacqui Rose
‘No I ain’t gay, I’m just saying that you can’t go around saying people are on the game when they ain’t.’
‘So you saying you ain’t?’
‘I’m saying I might not be.’
‘Well either you are or you ain’t.’
Chloe-Jane sighed, annoyed but somehow feeling like she needed to answer Jodie’s question. ‘Well … er … I …’
Jodie began to rummage in her bag for her asthma pump. ‘Well you’re either a whore or you ain’t, which one is it? You should know.’
Chloe-Jane was about to object again but instead she burst into laughter. There was a refreshing quality about Jodie. It’d been a long time since Chloe had had a friend. Jodie looked like she was someone who enjoyed having fun, and fun was something that’d been missing in her life recently.
Chloe gestured to Jodie’s empty glass. ‘You want me to get you another one?’
Jodie looked around the dark grim pub, seeing the punters, the old man in the corner sleeping with his brown hat pulled over his eyes. She shook her head. ‘Nah, how about we go somewhere else? This place is like being in a bleedin’ graveyard … come on!’
Chloe-Jane and Jodie hurried out of the pub, giggling as if they’d known each other for a long time.
As they walked down the street, Chloe-Jane was busy talking and didn’t notice Jodie give a thumbs-up to a man sitting in a darkened car on the other side of the street.
‘So tell me the truth, are you on the game?’ Jodie shouted above the sound system to Chloe.
The alcohol Chloe had been drinking had her talking more than she usually would, especially to someone she hadn’t known for more than a couple of hours. ‘It ain’t full time, I’m really only doing it because I can’t get a job and I have to find a way to pay for me keep, otherwise I’ll be out on the street.’
Jodie nodded her head, understanding what it was to have nowhere to go and no one to care for you. ‘And this bird you’re living with, would she throw you out if you didn’t have the money?’
‘Well she said she wouldn’t, but what’s to say she won’t change her mind? It’s easy to say that, ain’t it – and if me own mum can throw me out, a complete stranger certainly can.’
‘So how long you been doing it then?’
Chloe shrugged. ‘On and off since I was thirteen, but not full sex, not then. It was just hand jobs and maybe the odd blow job here and there, but then last year I started going all the way ’cos I needed more money to give to me mum. When I came back from temporary foster care, she was shacked up with this new boyfriend who was a boozer like her, and ’cos they were doing fuck all, they didn’t have the money to keep up with their drinking habits. So they relied on muggins here. But then I got fed up of it, and I came down to stay in Soho with me uncle. What about you?’
‘I’ve been on the game since I was eleven. It was really from the time I went into care. My mum OD’d on heroin. Anyway, I got into it through some mates, and as me dad had used me as his sex doll before I went into care, moving on to clients seemed easy really. Especially as I was being paid for it. Only thing is the money was shit and the risks were too big … Can’t tell you how many times I got beat up. Then I met this person and they introduced me to this geezer, the money’s brilliant and I don’t have to worry about some bastard trying to rob or rape me.’
Chloe sat forward, interested in what Jodie was saying. ‘What kind of good money?’
‘Really good money … look.’ Jodie opened her bag, showing Chloe a bulging envelope.
‘Bleedin’ hell! There must be …’
‘A grand there.’
Chloe looked impressed but also curious. ‘So how come you were in that grotty pub then if you’re earning money like that?’
Jodie shrugged. ‘Sometimes it’s nice to get away. Do me own thing for a while; you know what I mean?’
Chloe-Jane didn’t say anything, but she knew exactly what Jodie meant. She wished she could get away from everything. Soho was supposed to have given her a fresh start but instead she’d found herself going back to her old ways. And she hated herself for it.
A wave of sadness came across Chloe-Jane and suddenly she felt very lonely and very lost. The nearest thing she had to calling somewhere home was Franny’s. And to continue living there she needed money – but without a pimp to keep her safe, Chloe-Jane knew how difficult it’d be to sustain a life on the game. But perhaps Jodie was the key.
Slightly hesitantly, Chloe spoke. ‘Do you … do you think you could introduce me to this person?’
‘What person?’
‘Whoever you’re working for. Do you think they’d have something for me?’
‘Maybe. I guess I could ask. Why don’t you meet me tomorrow, then I’ll have had a chance to talk to them.’
Chloe’s face lit up. ‘Really?’
‘Yeah, really. Take my number and I’ll meet you here at two.’
Jodie Wright walked out into the street ten minutes after Chloe-Jane had gone. She waited for a few minutes before a car drew up beside her. The blacked-out window slowly lowered.
‘Well?’ The man spoke to Jodie.
‘She’s perfect. I think you’ll like her.’
‘Do you think she’ll be up for it, or rather, up to it?’
Jodie nodded. ‘Yeah, she’s desperate. She needs the money.’
‘You’ve done well, Jodie; you know how to spot them.’ The man passed Jodie an envelope. ‘If it works out with her, you’ll get the rest of it.’
Jodie grinned. ‘Thank you … thank you, Lin.’
‘Shhh! Be quiet!’ Franny warned Casey as they snuck along the back corridor of Whispers.
‘Are you sure about this, Fran?’
‘No, but I’ll be less sure if you keep going on about it.’
They edged forward, feeling their way in the darkness. As Franny went to open the door at the far end, she froze, hearing raised voices. Del. Vaughn. And yes, she could hear Alfie’s voice as well. Franny, anxious to get to Alfie as soon as she could, whispered to Casey.
‘Come on, let’s go.’ She was about to go through the door but felt herself being held back by her friend.
‘No, not through that way, Fran … We need to go up and through the back stairs, then we’ll come out near the stage.’
‘Okay, show me but let’s hurry.’
Franny followed Casey as they raced up the stairs and along yet another dark corridor full of Alfie’s stolen goods.
‘Are you sure this is the right way, Cass?’
‘Totally. Don’t forget I worked at the club for a while.’
Franny didn’t reply. She had forgotten that, but it gave her a renewed sense of purpose and security as she chased down the corridor.
A couple of metres in front of her, Casey stopped. ‘It’s through here, but we have to be really quiet because the stage is on the other side of the door.’
Franny held her gun in her hand. She took a deep breath, looking at Casey. ‘Stay here.’
‘No way! I’m coming with you. Vaughn wouldn’t do anything if I’m here.’
‘Wouldn’t he?’
Casey looked horrified. ‘No, he wouldn’t.’
‘Let’s see then, shall we? Come on. And remember what I said. Stay behind me.’
Casey nodded as Franny went towards the door. She took a deep breath, then opened it slowly, listening to the men talk.
‘
So how do you want it, Alfie? ’Cos you ain’t walking out of here, mate.’
‘If you’re going to do it just fucking well do it, but I ain’t admitting to anything. I ain’t done fuck all wrong.’
‘Oh turn it in will ya? Talk about tell a Jackanory. We know, Alf. Ain’t you got no pride? Do you want the last words that come out of your mouth to be a lie? Well, do you?’
‘How many times do I have to tell you, Vaughn, I ain’t lying … Del, you got to believe me; this is all conjured up by him. Can’t stand to see me doing well. Think about it. I’m the perfect fall guy. Who was it that told you, hey? It was Vaughn. Who did he say told him?… It was his men. So you can’t trust it. He just wants to get rid.’
‘Bullshit, your time’s up, Alf, it’s time to kiss goodnight …’
‘I don’t think so.’ Franny walked onto the dimly lit stage in the nightclub from behind the red velvet curtains.
‘What the fuck?’ Vaughn spoke as Del, Frankie and Alfie looked on, amazed.
‘Hello gentlemen.’
Del turned to Vaughn, his face turned up into a snarl. ‘Your fucking missus must have gone and opened her mouth.’
‘What the fuck did you want me to do? Stop Casey leaving the club?’
‘Yeah, well that would be better than this.’
Vaughn turned away from Del. ‘Oh do me a favour.’
‘You should have more control of your bird.’
‘Oh, you mean like you and your missus? Last time I heard she was selling her ass, and you were crying to anyone who’d listen.’
Del yelled, jumping at Vaughn. He grappled him in a head lock, eyes flashing with anger.
‘You’re a prick, you know that! A fucking prick!’
Vaughn managed to push Del off. Both men stood opposite each other in a stand-off, panting.
‘What’s this gentlemen, fighting within the ranks? Don’t you know that’s the number one mistake?’ Franny’s voice was cool and calm.
‘What the hell do you want, Franny? This is man’s business.’
Franny burst out into mocking laughter as she glared at Frankie Taylor. ‘Man’s business, Frank? You sound more like a bunch of fishwives squabbling between yourselves. It’s pathetic. How you lot ever became faces, I don’t know.’
‘If you know what’s good for you, Fran, you’ll get out of here.’
Franny smiled, her tone unwavering in its defiance. ‘You of all people should know I’ve never known what was good for me, Vaughn. My father always said the same thing.’
Vaughn walked closer to the stage where Franny stood. ‘Get out Fran, don’t make me do something I’ll regret.’
‘What’s that then, hey? What are you going to do? Come on Vaughn, follow through with that threat of yours.’
‘Do as he says, Fran.’ Alfie’s voice cut through the air.
‘Listen to your old man, Fran.’ Del encouraged Franny to go, with a gesture of his head to match his words.
‘Oh, I’m not going anywhere, not without Alfie anyway.’
Del shook his head. ‘No can do, babe. You know the score. Don’t make it harder for everyone.’
Franny raised her eyebrows. ‘Me, Del?
I’m
making it harder? I don’t think so.’
Vaughn interrupted. ‘Enough Fran! You know what he’s done. Lola’s, the Turks in Greek Street, Frankie’s club to name but a few. He’s fucked too many people over, too many times. And now we know the truth about the casino, it’s over.’
Franny’s voice was stony. ‘You don’t know the truth, Vaughn. You wouldn’t know the truth if it hit you between the eyes.’
‘Stop being naïve, Fran.’
‘I trust Alfie. He wouldn’t lie to me.’
It was Vaughn’s turn to burst out into bitter laughter. ‘For an intelligent woman you’re very stupid.’
‘Oi! That’s my missus you’re speaking to,’ Alfie growled at Vaughn.
‘Then tell her the truth, Alf. Tell her what you’ve been doing. If you love her the way you say you do, show her some respect so she don’t look a fool and lose our respect as well.’
Alfie gritted his teeth as he listened to Vaughn. As much as he hated the geezer, he had to concede
to what he was saying. If he could put it right not for himself but for Franny, he would want to be able to tell her the truth but for now, all he could do was continue telling her a lie. And yes, he was Alfie Jennings and somehow, someway he’d sort it out, but he wished things could be different.
So Alfie being Alfie, like he had done all his life, put on his best front, looking Vaughn directly in his eyes as he did so.
‘Piss off, Vaughn. You know I was with Chloe-Jane when this so-called casino night happened. Problem is even though I’ve got a fucking sound alibi, you won’t have it, but I ain’t dancing to your tune, mate. No fucking way, sunshine. Me niece has told her the truth
. I
told her the truth. I told you
all
the truth and if you want to shoot an innocent man; go on. Go ahead and do your worst.’
Del, highly irritated at this point, shouted, ‘Well I don’t believe a frigging word of it. And I ain’t got all day. Do you want to or shall I?’ He looked over at Frankie and Vaughn but as he was doing so, they heard the unmistakable sound of a safety latch being pulled back.
‘I don’t think so. Now move away from Alfie. Put your hands in front of you … right out … Del, drop the gun … Now!… Vaughn, don’t move. I said,
don’t move!
Hands in front. In front.’ Franny pointed the gun at the men, experience and survival instinct in her whole being.
‘Don’t be stupid, darlin’.’ Vaughn spoke up.
For a moment, Franny ignored Vaughn, turning her attention to Alfie, who was stunned to see Franny pointing a Colt .380 at three of the biggest faces in London. She was truly a bird in a million. And then some.
Franny interrupted Alfie’s thoughts as she talked to the men. ‘Now as you said, I’m going to make this easy. Alfie is going to pick up the gun, and then he’s going to leave with me. I’m going to lock the doors so you can’t follow us, and sadly for you, gentlemen, you won’t be going anywhere till I send one of Vaughn’s men to let you out tomorrow morning. And as I can’t trust any of you to just let this lie; it’ll be the last you see of us, and don’t bother trying to come after us, because you’ll just be wasting your time. So it’s goodbye from me, and it’s goodbye from him … Alfie.’
Franny nodded to Alfie to go and retrieve the gun lying on the floor. As he went towards it, Vaughn pushed forward, barging Alfie out of the way. Franny fired a warning shot in the air, but the two men fought on, Alfie scrabbled along the floor, reaching out for the gun which spun like a roulette wheel. Just as he touched it, he felt a kick to the side of his face as Vaughn’s boot smashed into him.
The kick stunned him, giving Vaughn the opportunity to grab the gun himself.
‘Alfie, run! Alfie!’ Franny screamed out his name. She couldn’t shoot, not now there was a possibility she might hit Alfie; he needed to separate himself from Vaughn.
‘Stay back Del, and you Frankie.’
Amidst the chaos Alfie heard Franny shouting, giving him the renewed energy to haul himself back up from the floor, rushing towards Franny on the stage.