Riches of the Heart (30 page)

‘I only sing at the club. I don’t know anything.’

‘Don’t be so bloody naive. It’s a known fact you’re the mistress of The Maltese. You need to be very careful.’

‘I’d best be getting back to the club,’ she said, filled with concern. ‘To warn Vittorio.’

As soon as she entered the club, she knew she was too late. It was swarming with police. ‘What’s going on?’ she asked, her voice steady.

A man in plainclothes approached her. ‘Detective Inspector Chadwick,’ he said, producing his warrant card. ‘You’d be Miss Lily Pickford, no doubt.’

She gave a winning smile. ‘That’s right. What can I do for you?’

‘Were you here last night, Miss Pickford?’

‘Yes I was. All evening.’

‘Where were you?’

‘After an early meal, I was in my room getting changed for my performance. Then I sang for the guests. After that I went back to my room and went to bed.’

‘Yours and Mr Teglia’s room, I think you mean?’ There was a sneer in his voice.

‘Yes, that’s right, officer.’ She stood tall, looking at him with a certain arrogance. ‘It’s not a secret that I live with Mr Teglia.’

‘Did you hear anything unusual?’

She looked puzzled. ‘Like what?’

‘The signs of a fight – a struggle, perhaps.’

Shaking her head, she said, ‘No, sir. Nothing.’

Behind him she saw Vittorio coming down the stairs with two police officers. He looked calm enough, but knowing her man as well as she did, she could sense the tension in him.

He walked towards her and put his arm around her shoulders. ‘I see you’ve met Miss Pickford.’

The Detective Inspector nodded.

‘Was she able to assure you there had been no trouble?’

‘As far as it goes, sir.’ He looked at Vittorio with scarcely veiled hostility. ‘You’ve been very clever up to now, Mr Teglia, yet I can’t help but feel you’re living on borrowed time. I can still see you banged up in a nice cosy cell.’

The slow smile crossed Vittorio’s features. ‘Not really my style, I don’t think. Do you?’

The Detective Inspector gave a sly grin. ‘Well, we don’t have a brothel in the nick, if that’s what you mean.’

‘A brothel!’ Vittorio looked at him in surprise. ‘Are you suggesting these premises are used as a brothel?’

‘Do you deny it?’

‘I most certainly do. Businessmen come in here for a few drinks, a fine meal and a pretty hostess to sit with them and to dance if the client wishes to do so. That hardly constitutes a brothel, officer.’

‘But it’s what happens after the dancing, isn’t it, Mr Teglia?’

Vittorio looked indignant. ‘My hostesses are under strict instruction not to fraternise with the clients after hours. They would lose their jobs if they did. They know that.’

Lily was filled with admiration at Vittorio’s composure.

‘That’s not true, and you know it.’

With a steady gaze Vittorio asked, ‘Have you any proof to the contrary?’

The detective ignored him. Looking at the closed doors at the back of the dining room he asked, ‘What’s in there?’

Lily’s heart constricted, thinking of the roulette tables.

‘Take the gentleman to see the room, Lily.’

She looked at Vittorio in surprise, but he just smiled. ‘Come along, my dear, these men are busy.’

She led the way, her temples throbbing with tension and fear. The double doors opened to her touch, and she walked in. The room now resembled a tasteful salon, with comfortable easy chairs, tables and magazines.

She stood back and let the detective sniff around. Over her shoulder she looked into the smiling eyes of Vittorio. He closed one eyelid in a sly wink. She smiled broadly at him. Crafty sod. This must have all been done in the night. As usual, Vittorio had foreseen every move the police would make. She was filled with admiration.

Looking around, Detective Inspector Chadwick gave a rueful smile. ‘Very cosy, I must say.’

‘We have a fine dining room with excellent food, Inspector,’ said Lily. ‘You should consider holding some of your official meetings here.’

‘Don’t push your luck, love!’ he snapped. ‘You’re in this as deep as everyone else.’

Further searching by the police drew no evidence that would convict Vittorio in any way of breaking the law and the officers reluctantly withdrew.

When at last they were alone, Lily breathed a sigh of relief, and Vittorio looked at her with amusement. ‘Official police meetings? Bit cheeky, wasn’t it?’

She shrugged. ‘Anyway, why were the police here?’

Suddenly he looked angry. ‘Apparently, when the Chief Constable’s wife saw the state of her husband, she first called the doctor, then the police.’

‘That must have put the fear of God in him,’ said Lily. ‘Mind you, I don’t suppose for one minute she has any idea of her husband’s little weakness. But that doesn’t explain you being raided.’

‘I have it on good authority that the powers that be are out to get the Chief. They knew he dined here. After all, it wasn’t a secret. He did many a time with other notable city officials, strictly above board luncheons. But you can’t keep secrets in the force and they thought they had him at last.’

‘By the short and curlies, if you’ll pardon the expression,’ said Lily with a grin. ‘Weren’t you the least bit worried?’ she asked.

He shook his head. ‘Why should I be? Once we cleared the gambling room and cleaned the room upstairs, there was nothing for them to find.’

‘Well, my bloody knees are knocking. Give me a drink, please,’ she asked the barman. ‘And make it a double.’

Vittorio chuckled as he watched her down the fiery liquid. ‘We’ll have to be careful. Shut the gaming room for a while. Keep the girls off their backs. It’ll soon settle down again.’

‘What about the old geezer that got done up?’

‘He won’t dare come back here. You’ll see – things will be back to normal soon enough.’

She grimaced. ‘I hope you’re right. This is no good for my nerves.’

He caught hold of her arm. ‘You did remarkably well, Lily. You kept calm, and you were utterly convincing.’

‘What else could I do?’ But she was now deeply concerned for Vittorio. She’d seen the determined look in the eyes of the detective. He was out to get The Maltese. Of that she was sure.

A few days later, there was an article in the local paper, reporting the early retirement of Chief Constable Bartlett for health reasons. As Sandy put it: ‘He’s been rumbled, dear – caught with his pants down – and the police wouldn’t want it all to become public knowledge.’

During the following three weeks, business in the club slackened off considerably, as was expected. But Vittorio said it would be only a five-minute hitch. And sure enough, things did begin to pick up a little eventually. Aware that the police were keeping his club under observation, The Maltese played it by the book. In the evenings the girls were allowed to sit with the clients and dance, but that was all. Being a shrewd businessman, he made sure they didn’t lose out financially. That way the girls were content, and they stayed loyal. For their part, the girls enjoyed themselves. As one said to Lily, ‘It’s like being on holiday.’

During this time, Vittorio arranged for Lily to be schooled in the intricacies of running a business. To her surprise, she loved the technicalities of it all. Such was her enthusiasm that even the head waiter took time to teach her his skills: the correct way to lay a table; uses for the different types of cutlery; the proper way of serving and how to choose wine. The chef explained his menus to her and the different ways of balancing the different courses. She was bright, and she learned quickly.

Vittorio watched with delight as she soaked in all the details like a sponge. One day she would be even more of an asset to him than she already was.

One Saturday evening, Lily, even more confident with her newfound knowledge, was talking to Vittorio and some of his clients when suddenly over his shoulder she saw a familiar figure enter the club. It was Tom McCann. She stiffened.

‘What is it?’ asked Vittorio.

‘Nothing,’ she said quickly. ‘Someone walked over my grave, that’s all. I’ll leave you with your friends.’

Walking casually over to the bar, greeting one or two clients on the way, she went and stood next to Tom. ‘What are you doing here?’ she asked abruptly.

He looked at her with an intensity that shook her. ‘I wanted to see you again. I can’t get you out of my mind. It’s driving me crazy knowing you’re here, with him.’

It was obvious to Lily that Tom had been drinking. His eyes were reddened, his face flushed and his speech slurred. He was spoiling for a fight. She was terrified that he would cause a scene.

‘For God’s sake, Tom. Don’t cause trouble for me, please. Not here.’

‘Why not here? Frightened I might upset your lover?’ He spat out the words.

‘Please don’t do this to me,’ she pleaded.

‘I must talk to you.’

‘We have nothing more to say to one another.’

‘I have plenty to say.’

The anger in his expression disturbed her. His mouth was set in a cruel line, and his voice was threatening. She was seeing a different side to the man she loved, and she didn’t like it. ‘But not now,’ she urged.

‘Then when? And where? I won’t leave until you arrange some place.’

Lily was becoming agitated. ‘Right then. Tomorrow afternoon at Fred’s house. Amy’s living in it now. I’ll be there at three o’clock. But only if you leave here – now.’

‘If you insist,’ he grumbled, and made his way out of the club.

Lily turned slowly and walked upstairs.

Vittorio had been discreetly observing the scene. Now he frowned, and his eyes narrowed. Who was this man – and what was he to Lily? This was no casual customer. He’d seen her agitation and how pale and upset she had been as she left the bar. He got up from his table determined to solve the mystery.

Walking over the bar, Vittorio asked the barman, ‘That man who just left, do you know him?’

‘No, sir. He’s not a regular, but he has been here once before.’

‘When?’

‘He came early one morning to give Miss Lily a message about a sick friend.’

That night as Vittorio hung up his suit-jacket in the bedroom he shared with Lily, he casually remarked, ‘Your friend didn’t stay long.’ He observed closely the sudden watchful expression on Lily’s face as she sat before the dressing-table mirror.

‘Who do you mean?’

‘The man at the bar you spoke to. He left rather abruptly, didn’t he?’

‘He was in a hurry to get home to his wife.’

Walking over to Lily, he began to massage her neck and felt her tense beneath his touch. In low, even tones he asked, ‘What’s his name?’

‘Tom McCann.’

‘What’s he to you, Lily?’ He saw the anxious look in her eyes.

‘Nothing. He used to be a regular in one of the pubs I used to sing at.’

‘Was he ever your lover?’

Lily vehemently denied it. ‘No. Never!’

Vittorio stared at her expressionlessly. ‘I saw the way he looked at you. If he was a nobody, why were you so upset?’

With her heart pounding in her breast, Lily glared at Vittorio. ‘He was drunk – I was afraid he would cause trouble. When he’s got a few beers under his belt, he becomes a handful. He’s Irish, and you know what they’re like.’

He gripped her shoulders tightly. ‘What did he want?’

Lily winced with pain and looked at Vittorio in the mirror. Her gaze didn’t falter. ‘He wanted to know how Amy was.’

‘Is that all?’

‘What is this, the bloody third degree?’ Lily threw off his hold and stood up, turning to face him. ‘You’ve been mixing with too many coppers lately!’

He grabbed her by the arms and drew her roughly to him, his brown eyes shining with anger. ‘Now you listen to me. Things are very difficult at the moment and I’m having to be very careful. I don’t want something or someone to come along out of the blue and mess it up. I don’t want any surprises, Lily. And believe me, neither do you!’

Lily was fearful. What would happen to her – and to Tom – if Vittorio knew they were to meet again? It would have to be the only time, for both their sakes. ‘There are no surprises. Honestly.’

He studied her face. He wanted to believe her but deep inside, his sixth sense told him differently. ‘You belong to
me
, Lily. I don’t want anyone from your past cropping up, ever. I would only have to deal with them and I can assure you it wouldn’t be pleasant. Do I make myself clear?’

She felt the blood drain from her face. She had no doubt that Vittorio would carry out his threat, and she must make Tom see the danger he was putting her in. Yet her indomitable spirit surfaced. She would never show her fear.

‘For Christ’s sake, Vittorio, give it a rest, will you. The man came to ask about Amy. That’s all.’ Her tone softened. ‘I know you’ve had a tough time lately. But you’re seeing danger where it doesn’t exist. You look tired. I’ll run you a bath, that’ll relax you.’ She smiled at him, trying to coax him. ‘Come along. It’s been a hard day.’

He let out a sigh. Perhaps she was right. Maybe he was getting jumpy. But still he felt uneasy. As he lay in the warmth of the soothing water, he wondered what he would do if his suspicions about this Tom were confirmed. For the first time in his life he was jealous. Deep down he was seething with it. He couldn’t bear the thought that this stranger might have meant something to Lily. Might have laid with her, made love to her.

He was still trying to come to terms with these strange emotions as he climbed into bed beside her. Taking her into his arms, he kissed her with a vicious passion born of jealousy, trying to impose himself and his will upon her. There was no gentle foreplay. No loving words. No soft caresses. No consideration. He thrust himself into her as if driven by demons, until with a shuddering orgasm he spilled his seed over her.

He lay back against the pillows, his emotions drained.

He was suddenly aware of her silent weeping and was filled with remorse. Taking her gently into his arms, he whispered soothing words of comfort to her as he kissed her wet face. Tasted the salt of her tears.

Lily lay awake later that night, still clasped in Vittorio’s arms, wondering what had brought on this assault of her body. Never had he been like this before. Always he’d been a considerate lover. His attack had frightened and upset her. Yet, when it was over, he’d been as always, gentle. As if trying to make up for his treatment of her. Not that he made any verbal apology. She wondered if it was because he was under so much strain, what with the police causing him grief and business dropping off. It was bound to affect him.