Songbird

her, grabbed her by the neck and threw her out onto the back alley, tossing her handbag after her. Wiping his hands together as though ridding himself of something dirty, he warned her, ‘If you bother me again, I won’t hesitate to have you and the kid set in concrete. Do you hear what I’m saying?’ When she didn’t answer, he raised his foot and kicked her in the groin. ‘DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID!’

With her lip swelling, and her body bruised and battered, she could only nod, which thankfully was enough to appease him.

And then he was gone; only at the top of the stairs did he momentarily turn, to look down on the fallen woman with contempt.

Through tears of shame, Maddy watched him go, and for a moment she felt nothing, no hatred or desire for revenge; all the love she once felt for him was as though it had never been.

After a while, she levered herself up and felt her way along the wall, managing to stumble a short distance. Just when she was beginning to believe she might make it to safety, the wall caved into a doorway; she fell inside, and for a moment she feared as though she might never be able to get up. Faintly, she could hear the sound of a Latin beat coming through the wall, as the club carried on with its usual Saturday-night party mood. But for Madeleine Delaney, the party was well and truly over.

When she made an effort to stand, her legs crumpled beneath her. ‘Alice!’ Twice she sobbed out her friend’s name, before her senses began to fade.

Yet somewhere in the dark recesses of her mind, she drew strength from the knowledge that Alice was never far away.

CHAPTER SIX

THOUGH IT WAS only minutes, it seemed an age before she opened her eyes. She must have passed out, she thought. The cold was numbing; and even when she drew the fragments of her dress about her, she could not stop trembling.

With determination, she took stock of the damage Steve had done to her. She had taken a hard beating, yet she was relieved to find she could move her arms and legs, and thankfully, she still had her wits about her.

She slid the tips of her fingers over her face; it was bruised, and the cuts from yesterday had reopened, but as far as she could tell, nothing was broken.

Her fears were for the child inside her. Was it harmed in any way? Had he hurt the baby when he had kicked her in the groin? How could she tell? She needed help … she had to get away from here.

Thankfully, her legs took the weight when she uprighted herself. It was then that she heard a flurry of girlish giggling, and a voice asking, ‘Why are we out here? It’s so much cosier in your office, Stevie.’

Steve Drayton’s low, thick voice was unmistakable. ‘Too many interruptions,’ he said huskily, ‘but you needn’t worry about the cold.’ There was a sexy chuckle. ‘I’ll keep you warm enough, I can promise you that.’

There was a moment of silence, then another burst of giggling and the man’s voice urging her to, ‘Keep quiet, eh? We don’t want them coming out to see what’s going on, do we?’

‘Was it true, what you said earlier?’

‘You’d best remind me.’ His voice was soft and persuasive, and then there was the wet, smacking sound of a long kiss. ‘What was it I said?’

‘That you’d never seen anyone as beautiful as me, and that you would always look after me – even when I’m older and not so pretty.’

‘Hmh!’ His laughter echoed through the alley. ‘You really are a little worrier, aren’t you? Well, you can stop worrying, because I meant every word.’ Steve Drayton had enough experience to know that a little flattery and a few cleverly placed lies would melt any young fool like her.

‘And what about …’ the girl hesitated, ‘the singer before me – the one they called Songbird.’ She paused again. ‘Did you say all these things to her?’

‘Never!’ Maddy heard him light a cigarette, the soft glow from the lighter flickering through the darkness. ‘Why would I say those things to her? She meant nothing to me.’

‘I was told she was a wonderful singer.’

‘Were you now?’

‘Was she? A good singer, I mean?’

‘She may have had a passable voice, but she could never hold a candle to you. Besides, she was a slut – a cheap tramp who would go with anybody.’ Disgust trembled in his voice.

‘I’ve made you angry now, haven’t I?’

He laughed – an angry sound, and then his voice thickened as he said, ‘You’d best make it up to me then, hadn’t you?’ Tossing his cigarette butt to the cobbles, he ground it out with the toe of his shoe.

A long silence followed, during which Maddy eventually managed to manoeuvre herself into a position from where she could see them. And what she saw only deepened her shame, because hadn’t she been equally besotted with this vicious man, who had turned his back on her when she needed him most? She thanked her lucky stars that at long last, she could see the badness in him.

Out there, in the darker shadows of the alleyway, Steve Drayton had the girl pressed against the wall, his trousers round his ankles as he pushed into her. The girl was wrapped round him, her skirt above her waist and her shrill voice emitting little gasps of pleasure.

Maddy wanted to look away, yet somehow, finally seeing him for what he was, the sight of his fornicating had a mesmerising effect on her. She needed to keep the moment, so never again would she be deceived by him, or any other man. She stood, hurt and bleeding, agonising with herself as to whether she ought to tell the girl what she was letting herself in for, or whether to stay quiet, out of sight, and make a hasty retreat once they were gone.

In that moment, after a final surge, Drayton thrust the girl from him. ‘Get back inside before they miss you.’ He hastily pulled up his trousers. ‘If they ask where you’ve been, tell them you had to get out for a breath of air.’

‘I’d rather stay out here with you.’ Hopelessly infatuated, she clung to him. ‘I’ve never loved anyone like I love you.’

Impatient, though clever enough to keep her sweet, he replied teasingly, ‘You don’t know me enough to love me.’

While they dressed, they talked, she offering herself again and he trying to worm himself out of a difficult situation; though mindful of the fact that if he intended using her, he’d have to play it smart.

Maddy was sickened at how easily he manipulated the girl, and was torn two ways. She wanted to warn the girl as to the monster Steve Drayton really was. On the other hand, if she took another beating, it could well be her baby who paid the price this time.

So, she waited for her chance to escape, hoping that even now, the girl might see the wrong side of him; though from the way she continued to throw herself at him, it did not seem likely.

While Steve Drayton had been satisfying his lust outside in the alley, something more sinister was unfurling inside the club.

The four men were eager to find him. Having barged in through the front door, ignoring the ticket desk and cloakroom counter, they made straight for the bar, where Raymond was dumping a crate of bottles. ‘You! Drayton – where is he?’ Smartly dressed in an expensive dark suit and overcoat, the leader had an air of authority.

Raymond placed the crate on the bar and glanced around, searching for someone else who might deal with the situation. However, the older barman was pulling a pint at the far end of the bar, and there was no sign of Jack.

‘Look, sunshine,’ prodding his finger into Raymond’s chest, the man leaned forward. ‘You deaf or what? I’ll ask you again. Where can I find that thieving bastard Drayton?’ He had the look and manner of a man who always got what he wanted.

‘I’ve n-no idea where he is,’ Raymond answered nervously. ‘M-matter of fact, I don’t think he’s been about this p-past hour or m-more.’

‘Think again.’ This time, the man took Raymond by the throat and drew him close until their faces were almost touching. Raymond was more than capable of teaching this nasty piece of work a lesson, but he doubted he could take on the other three as well. Fearing he might be blamed if the club was trashed, Raymond thought twice.

‘Give me a minute,’ he said gruffly. ‘I’ll find out where he is. What name is it, please?’

With one of the men keeping a wary eye on him, he repeated the gang boss’s name, to make sure he’d got it correctly. ‘Den Carter. Right you are, mister.’ And he went away to the office, to find Steve.

Unaware of what was happening upstairs, Jack was down in the cellar, changing barrels.

He was surprised and pleased to see Alice. ‘Raymond said you were looking for me earlier,’ she told him.

‘That’s right.’ Straightening from his task, he conveyed his concern over Maddy. ‘What’s been going on?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Aw, come on, Alice. Don’t shut me out. If Maddy’s in trouble, I need to know.’

‘What makes you think she’s in trouble?’ Her calm expression gave nothing away.

Jack was incredulous. ‘You mean you don’t know?’

Alice tried to put his mind at rest. ‘If you’re talking about what happened last night, there was no real harm done.’

‘How can you be so sure? Raymond found broken glass, and things scattered everywhere … there was blood on the walls and over the floor.’ Coming to stand before her, he pleaded, ‘For God’s sake, Alice, what went down? Was it Maddy – did they have a row?’ His face darkened with rage. ‘If that twisted bastard has hurt her, I swear I’ll cut his hands off.’ Jack had been bullied by his stepfather as a child, and could not tolerate it. ‘Where is she now? I need to know she’s safe.’ Jack was beside himself. ‘Does she know he’s taken on a new singer?’

Alice gave him as straight an answer as she could, without betraying Maddy’s secret about the child. ‘You’re not to worry. Yes, they had a set-to, but Maddy is fine. I took her home with me, and as far as I know, she has no idea he has taken on a new singer. Even I didn’t know, until I saw her up there on the stage tonight. Look, Jack, with any luck it’ll make Maddy finally see the light where Drayton is concerned.’

‘What about the blood?’

Alice chose not to answer this, merely repeating, ‘I can assure you, Maddy is fine. She’s keeping her distance for a while – trying to teach him that he can’t just take her for granted.’ She had seen how her words were calming him. ‘Look, Jack, she intends coming in tomorrow. You can talk to her then.’

‘I’d rather come round to your place tomorrow morning before work and see her there, if that’s all right with you?’

‘Yes, I don’t see why not. You’ll be very welcome.’

‘I’ll tell her about this new girl, if you like. She’s bound to be upset,’ Jack said protectively.

Alice nodded; she too had concerns as to how Maddy might react to the news of another singer taking her place. It was a cruel thing to do.

But then Steve Drayton had always been a law unto himself.

In the alley, the girl was proving difficult to appease.

‘Move yourself, Ellen.’ Taking her by the arm, Steve Drayton drew her towards the back door. ‘They’ll be wondering where you’ve gone. Besides, I’m paying you good money to entertain the clients.’

She giggled. ‘I’d rather entertain you.’

He sighed, bored. ‘And you shall. But there’ll be time for all that later, when I get you home.’

An idea struck him as being profitable. He had seen the way his clients had drooled over his new singer. She was pliable enough; she was also besotted with him, so if he played his hand right, there was money to be made. No doubt his rough and ready counterparts would give a handsome sum for a few hours’ playtime with her.

The idea grew. I can’t see her refusing, the insatiable little slapper, he thought greedily, especially when she’s so keen to please me. Oh, yes! Putty in his hands, that’s what she was.

Her voice startled him. ‘Tell me you love me, Stevie, and I’ll go back inside.’

Irritated, he studied her for a minute, wanting to give her a slap and shut the bitch up, but controlling himself with an effort. He’d had as much woman trouble as he could take. ‘Of course I love you,’ he lied. ‘Why do you think I brought you out here?’

Her resolve melting, she looked up at him. ‘You’re not just making a fool of me … playing me along to get your own way?’

‘I would never do that!’ He cupped her small features and kissed her soundly on the mouth. When he released her, the smile on her face told him she was his for the taking.

‘So, we’re a couple then?’ She wanted so much to believe that.

‘Oh, absolutely.’ He had her right where he wanted her. ‘But we have to be discreet.’

‘Why’s that?’

While he fought to find an answer that would satisfy her without compromising himself, Maddy realised the girl was falling into his cleverly woven trap. She had seen how easily he had twisted her words. Morever, she could almost read his mind with his ideas of how he might eventually make money from this innocent.

With that in mind, she knew that even if it meant getting another beating, she could not keep quiet.

Taking a few deep breaths, she gathered her strength and began walking towards them, slowly at first, but then with purpose.

When Drayton glanced up and saw her, his face opened in astonishment. Pushing the girl aside, he turned, legs astride in that antagonistic stance she had come to know so well. ‘What the devil are you playing at? I thought I told you to sod off.’ His mean eyes boring into hers, he took a step forward. ‘Get the hell out of here before I lose my temper!’

‘That’s her, isn’t it – Songbird – the singer whose job I took?’ The girl’s cry pierced the tension. Curiosity turned to anger. ‘You said she’d left for foreign parts! You told me she would never come back – that she didn’t want the work. So, what’s going on? Look at the state of her – she needs an ambulance! Jesus, Steve, what have I got myself into here?’

‘Shut your trap!’ Turning on her, he issued a warning. ‘Do what you’re paid to do – get back inside and entertain the clients. I’ll deal with this.’

Unsettled, the girl looked from Steve to Maddy and back again. ‘So, you and me, Steve – are we a couple, or not?’

The sight of Maddy had been a shock. Why was she here, and why was her dress torn like that? She looked like a tramp off the streets. Was she ill, or drunk maybe?

Either way, there was something going on here that made her deeply uneasy.

Maddy turned her gaze on the girl and for a moment their eyes met. Recognising herself when she was younger and more foolish, Maddy offered her a warning. ‘Don’t trust him,’ she urged quietly. ‘He’s a liar and a thug. He’ll hurt you, just like he hurt me.’ She patted her stomach. ‘I’m carrying his child, but that didn’t stop him from beating me. Listen to what I’m saying – I’ve no reason to lie. He’ll promise you the world, but he’ll use you in every way imaginable. If you have any self-worth at all, you must get away from him – now. While you still can.’

Suddenly, he was on her. With the back of his hand he lashed out, knocking Maddy hard against the wall.

What he didn’t expect was the girl’s reaction. ‘LEAVE HER BE!’ she shouted, and clawed at his face. Steve was like a wild animal. Spinning round, he took Ellen by the shoulders and threw her towards Maddy.

With murder in his heart, he hissed, ‘You’re welcome to each other,’ and took a step towards them; but then was made to stop when a man’s voice called out to him.

‘You can deal with your women later, Drayton. For now, you and I have more important business to attend to.’

Swinging round, Drayton found himself confronted by four thugs. The big one, Den Carter, addressed himself to Ellen. ‘Get away from here, slag. And keep your trap shut if you know what’s good for you!’

Recognising her former boss, the girl didn’t need another warning. With Maddy leaning on her, she led her away. ‘I worked for him before,’ she whispered as they stumbled down the alley. ‘He’s a bad lot. He’ll make that scum Steve pay for enticing me away.’

At the top of the alley, they paused, long enough to see two of the minders pounce on Drayton and twist his arms up behind his back. Then as the big man approached, Drayton began blustering and threatening all manner of retribution. Suddenly, he broke free.

There was a lot of shouting and scuffling, followed by the unmistakable sound of gunshot; the big man stumbled backwards while the others fought with Drayton to secure the gun.

Seconds later, the club doors were thrown open and the alley was alive with people; some keeping a sensible distance and others too curious to stand off. ‘He’s got a gun!’ Trying

to herd them away, Raymond yelled a warning. ‘Keep back, all of you!’ But it was like trying to hold back a burst dam, as with morbid curiosity and a lot of drink inside some of them, the people surged forward to get a better look at the drama that was taking place.

Jack was up at the front, with Alice not far behind, though he urged her to keep her distance. ‘I don’t want you getting hurt,’ he said. Concerned for her safety and increasingly worried that Maddy might somehow be caught up in this too, Jack was taking no chances.

The whole terrible event seemed to happen in slow motion, and yet it was over in seconds. Mortally wounded, the big man was lying groaning on the ground, with Steve Drayton locked in fierce combat with his henchmen. When Alice and Jack came running forwards, Drayton was like a madman as he struggled to free himself. In the mayhem, two more shots rang out. Jack was the first to go down. Then Alice.

With no thought for his own life, Raymond ran to Jack, who appeared lifeless. Desolate, he turned his attention on Alice, taking her in his arms and comforting her as best he could until the older barman, Ted, tried to drag him away. ‘You can’t help her now, mate,’ he said kindly, and glanced down at Alice; bathed in her own blood and lying so still, she seemed beyond earthly help.

At first Raymond resisted Ted’s attempts to take him from her. But then, in tears and deeply saddened, he let himself be led away.

From the first day he had spoken with Alice, something had taken hold of his lonely heart. He had loved her from afar, waiting for his chance, hoping that one day she might see him

in the same light. And now, because of a man who did not deserve to wipe her shoes, his dream of taking care of Alice, and hoping she might come to love him, were ended.

At that moment, all hell was let loose as the shrill scream of sirens heralded the arrival of speeding police cars. People were running all over the place – it was chaos. And Steve still had the gun.

From a doorway at the top of the alley, the two women had seen it all. ‘My God!’ Shocked to the core, Maddy could think only of Jack and Alice. ‘They’ve been shot! I’ve got to go to them!’

Holding onto her, the girl kept her safe. ‘There’s nothing you can do now. Come away, there’s bad stuff going down. The police are everywhere. We’ll be interrogated. They won’t give us a minute’s peace.’ Desperate to put a distance between themselves and the authorities, she kept a tight hold on her new friend. ‘We need to get away before they see us. If we go now, they’ll never know we were here!’

But Maddy wasn’t listening to reason. All she could think of was her injured friends. ‘Let me go!’ Frantic, she tore herself away. ‘I need to go to them.’ And no matter how hard she tried, the girl could no longer restrain her.

As Maddy rushed down the alley, total confusion was unfolding all about her. Police were everywhere; some grappling with the thugs, others handcuffing Drayton, and people were being ordered to get inside, where they should remain for questioning.

The first ambulance drove in and attendants tumbled out, armed with all manner of equipment. Maddy saw how one of them went straight to the big man, now lying silent in a pool of blood, looking up and shaking her head to indicate there was nothing to be done for him. And then they moved on to Jack, who was crumpled against the far wall.

Maddy got to Alice first. ‘Alice … it’s me, Maddy.’ Tenderly holding her hand, she looked down on that dear, still face and her heart broke. ‘You’ll be all right,’ she promised brokenly. ‘They’re here to help you.’

Turning, she shouted over the chaos, ‘OVER HERE – please hurry!’ But her cries fell away in the wake of all the confusion. Through the hordes of people being herded back to the club, she could see ambulancemen tending to Jack, and others bringing out more equipment and stretchers.

Terrified that assistance might come too late, Maddy sobbed, ‘Alice, please don’t leave me,’ devastated when it seemed that the injured woman was beyond hearing her. ‘We need you,’ she pleaded. ‘Me and the baby.’ Giving the limp hand a little shake, she said, ‘Alice, wake up. Please! You can’t leave us now. What will we do without you?’

When Alice grabbed her hand in reply, Maddy thought her heart would stop. For a moment she couldn’t speak. Then she quietly thanked the Almighty for sparing her friend, and carried on gently patting her hand, like a mother soothes her child; and now she was telling her softly, ‘You’ll be allright … you’ll see. Help is on its way… you’ll be allright my darling.’ Turning her head she gave another frantic shout, ‘OVER HERE … SHE’S HURT … HURRY … PLEASE HURRY!!’

‘Go from here.’ Alice’s voice was almost inaudible, gasping. ‘No more contact with him …’ Slipping fast away, she could hardly make herself heard. ‘Promise me.’ When she now took a breath, it was a rasping, frightening thing for Maddy to hear.

‘Be still,’ the younger woman pleaded. ‘Be still, be still.’

But Alice would not be still. With a huge surge of strength, she had slightly raised her head and was looking the girl straight in the eye.

‘Promise,’ she said, then fell back again.

Desperate, Maddy shouted again, this time her voice charged with anger. ‘Hurry! For God’s sake, hurry!’

In that moment, one of the ambulancemen looked up from treating Jack and spoke to his colleague before making his way over to them.

With Alice’s flickering gaze trained on her, Maddy gave her her word. ‘I promise,’ she whispered, holding her close. ‘I’ll never come back … I swear it. Just hold on, please, Alice. Help is on its way. Don’t die, please don’t leave me all on my own. I can’t bear it.’

As the medics took over, Maddy clambered up on shaky legs, and looked straight into the face of the devil himself.

Two policemen had arrested Drayton. Handcuffed, he was being marched towards the waiting squad car. Before they managed to get him inside, however, he turned and spat a message at Maddy, the words of which would haunt her for the rest of her days. ‘Your card is marked, you bitch. Keep looking

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