Born to Dance (15 page)

As Bonny prepared for the evening performance, she was relieved to receive a message that young Barry Williams was safe. His brother had called the box office and asked them to tell her the good news. She told Mickey all about it when he called to take her home after the show.

‘You say his brother is Jackie Williams?’

She saw his frown. ‘Yes, that’s right. Why?’

‘Jackie Williams is part of Gerry Pike’s gang. They’re a load of villains; you don’t want any part of them, darlin’.’

‘But young Barry isn’t a member of any gang, for heaven’s sake! He’s just an innocent boy whose brain hasn’t fully developed.’

‘That may be, princess, but Jackie is and he
isn’t
innocent. Just be careful is all.’

Whilst Bonny was performing that night, Jackie Williams was giving his own performance, trying to ingratiate himself with his old schoolmate and boss, Gerry Pike. He started reminiscing about their days at school, how close they were as kids. ‘And here I am now, working for you, helping you to make a name for yourself.’

Gerry looked sceptically at him. ‘I made my name all by myself. I don’t remember
anyone
helping me.’

With a quick laugh, Jackie corrected himself. ‘Of course you did, you know what I mean. You really are something now. You’ll be bigger than your father ever was.’

Jackie had found Gerry’s Achilles heel.’ ‘Do you honestly think so?’

‘No doubt about it. Don’t get me wrong, your old man was as hard as they come and I respected him as did everyone, but you, Gerry, you’ve got class!’

The young thug thrust out his chest with pride. ‘Bloody right I have. Look at these threads.’ He smoothed the material of his tailor-made suit. ‘Bespoke! Dad bought his off the peg at Burtons. Fifty shilling tailors! No class, dressed like everybody else, but not me, I’ve got style.’

‘Once you’ve laundered the bank money, you’ll be able to go to London to Savile Row; you know, where the toffs go. After all, money will be no object then, will it? You could have your shoes handmade too.’

Gerry looked at him and smiled. ‘Now that – the shoes, I mean – I’d never thought of.’ He put his arm around Jackie. ‘You’re a good mate; I’ll have a suit made for you too.’

‘Blimey! Thanks Gerry. I hope the cash is in a safe place. It would be a pity if it was lifted, then neither of us would get any new threads.’

‘Don’t you worry about that; it’s as safe as the Bank of England.’ Gerry grinned broadly. ‘Mind you, that’s not so safe is it, otherwise how could I have robbed it?’ He doubled up with laughter.

Jackie joined in the laughter. ‘I expect you’ve got someone standing guard over it so it’ll be quite safe.

‘No need,’ boasted Gerry. ‘It’s placed in a clever position that no one would think of looking. You know what they say about the most obvious being the safest. I’ve got a key and so has Jimmy Knight. We don’t need an armed guard. This is enough.’ He showed Jackie a key on a chain attached to his trouser belt. ‘It never leaves me, and Jimmy’s never leaves him.’ He patted Jackie’s shoulder. ‘Don’t you worry; your new suit is safe.’

As Gerry walked away, Jackie wracked his brains as to where the money could be hidden. Obviously Gerry had been clever about it, and knowing him as he did, Jackie realized that his friend would have been inspired to choose a hiding place that was different, to fool everyone. He had a devious and clever brain, which had kept both of them out of trouble in their schooldays. He would have to try and get inside the mind of Gerry Pike to solve this problem. In the meantime, poor Barry would be fretting without him.

Barry was indeed getting restless, fidgeting in his chair until the man guarding him snapped at him. ‘For Christ’s sake, will you keep still!’

‘I want to go to the lavatory, now! Jackie gets cross if I pee my trousers.’ The boy held his crotch. ‘I want to go badly!’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake.’ The man grabbed him by the shoulder and led him out of the room along the corridor and, opening a door, pushed him into a room with a toilet. ‘There, and hurry up.’ Closing the door he muttered angrily to himself, ‘I’m a bloody nursemaid now!’

Barry looked around to see if there was any way of escape but there was only a skylight. He relieved himself, tucked himself in and opened the door slowly, but his keeper was ready for him and led him away by the scruff of the neck, but Barry had spied a door at the end of the passage way. If only he could run away. But he was then pushed back into the room he’d occupied since Jackie left him.

‘I want my brother!’ he cried.

‘For goodness’ sake shut up or I’ll clout you one.’

Barry kicked out at him and caught the man in the shins.

With a cry of pain, the stranger turned on the boy and hit him round the head. ‘You behave yourself or I’ll beat the living daylights out of you.’

Barry curled up in a ball, holding his head, his ears ringing from the force of the blow. ‘I’ll tell Jackie about you!’ he said, then hid his head again, waiting for the next blow, but the man sat down, cursing to himself.

When Bonny woke the following morning, she found herself thinking about young Barry, wondering what had happened to him and how he’d got lost. The boy had endeared himself to her with his innocence and childlike behaviour, and having taken note of the address that his brother had left at the stage door, she decided to go and see for herself that young Barry was none the worse for his escapade.

Jackie Williams was shocked to see Bonny Burton on his doorstep. He looked dishevelled, having had little sleep trying to sort out where Gerry could have hidden the money, which would enable him to release his young brother.

‘Hello, Jackie! Are you all right?’ she asked anxiously.

‘Oh, yes, yes, Miss Burton. I didn’t sleep very well last night, that’s all.’

‘I thought I’d come and see Barry and make sure he was all right. Can I come in?’

Jackie couldn’t think of an excuse quickly enough to keep her out, so stepped back. ‘Yes, of course.’ He led her into the kitchen.

Bonny saw the remains of a meal on the table and quickly noted it was for one person only. The house was quiet and knowing that Barry was a noisy boy, Bonny wondered where he was. So she asked.

‘He’s gone to the shop for some food and a comic,’ Jackie said quickly.

But the young man didn’t look at her as he answered and he appeared nervous and uncomfortable. Bonny sensed that something was seriously wrong. ‘He’s still missing isn’t he?’

Jackie looked at her in surprise. ‘What makes you say that?’

‘You’re hiding something from me, I can tell. What is it, Jackie? Maybe I can help.’

Her kindness was the young man’s undoing. ‘You can’t, Miss Bonny. No one can help me. It’s something I have to sort out myself.’ He blinked away tears as he spoke.

‘Where is Barry?’

‘He’s staying with some folks I know but I’ll soon get him back.’

‘What do you mean,
get
him
back
? You make it sound as if he’s a prisoner!’

Jackie burst into tears.

Eventually the whole sorry story came out. It was such a relief for Jackie Williams to be able to share this enormous burden with someone. ‘I promised to take care of him and he’ll be scared on his own with strangers.’

‘You must go to the police and tell them what you told me.’

He went pale. ‘I can’t do that! Gerry will kill me. If he doesn’t, then Wally Cole’s men will get me and they would certainly kill my brother. Don’t you see?’

‘Oh, Jackie, what can we do?’

‘I have to discover Gerry’s hiding place. That’s the only way out.’

‘Have you any idea at all where to look?’

He shook his head. ‘He said it was the most obvious place that no one would imagine looking, that’s all I have to go on.’

‘Where is Barry being kept?’

He described the place to her. ‘But it’s well guarded. It’s not like anywhere that I could creep in and get to him without being discovered.’ He began to fidget. ‘Look, Miss Bonny, I have to get on with my search, so I’m sorry but I must ask you to leave.’

She reluctantly rose to her feet. ‘Please let me know what happens, won’t you?’

He nodded as he walked her to the door.

As Bonny walked away she racked her brains as to what she
could do. The only person who she could turn to was Mickey. Hailing a taxi, she made for Foxy Gordon’s gym.

Mickey O’Halleran was just climbing out of the ring after a workout with his sparring partner when he saw Bonny enter. He saw her anxious expression and, removing his headgear, he hurried over to her. ‘Whatever is the matter, darlin’?’

She quickly told him what had transpired.

His frown deepened with every sentence. ‘No way can you get involved with this!’ he declared. ‘These men are dangerous.’

‘How can I stand by and let Barry remain a prisoner? That poor boy will be demented!’

He firmly led her to a nearby bench and put his arm around her. ‘Now you listen to me, Bonny. This is out of your hands! For goodness’ sake, we are talking bank robbery, gang warfare and maybe murder! You try and interfere and your life could be in danger, and no way can I let that happen.’

Foxy wandered over after seeing the worried expressions on the face’s of the two of them. ‘Something wrong, Mickey?’ His boxer was due to take part in a major bout and he didn’t want anything to upset his concentration.

Mickey’s frustration boiled over. ‘Will you talk to Bonny and make her realize she could be in danger!’ He then explained the whole situation to his trainer.

Foxy was intrigued by the tale. So the rumours were right. It
was
Gerry Pike who had pulled the bank jobs – and he was trying to take over Wally’s territory. It was a pleasing scenario, he thought. ‘So Jackie has no idea where to look for the money, you say.’

Bonny shook her head and repeated what Jackie had told her about the hiding place.

Foxy looked thoughtful. ‘Somewhere obvious, you say. Clever little bugger, that Gerry Pike. But Mickey’s right, Bonny my dear. No way can you be involved. It’s far too dangerous.’

‘But what about Barry? We can’t leave him there!’

‘No, you’re right. Jackie’s a cocky little bleeder, but he does look after his brother and neither of them have had it easy. You leave this with me, love. But you must promise me that you won’t try and get involved, because if you do, you’ll be putting your head in a noose. Then my champ here will want to come to your rescue, fight or no fight, and I can’t have that. Understand?’

‘Yes, I understand.’

‘Good.’ He turned to Mickey. ‘You get a shower and take this young lady away, buy her a coffee somewhere, calm her down.’ Then he walked to his office to mull over what he’d heard.

Giles Gilmore sat at his desk, reading the financial statement before him. The show was booked up for months in advance. The success of
Broadway
Melody
was more than he’d hoped for. He was secure and financially he would make a killing, but there was one more ambition of his to be filled. He wanted to put a show on Broadway in New York. That truly would be the pinnacle to his career … and he now had a production he felt he could take to America. It would take time to organize – and money. With the show promising a long run, he had the time, but there would be a lot of hurdles to cross first. His backers would have to be approached, of course. He frowned. That meant he would have to consult Foxy Gordon in particular. After all, the man owned forty per cent of the stock. It was not something he contemplated with any great pleasure.

His involvement in Giles Gilmore’s production was the furthest thing from Gordon’s mind at the moment. He was far more interested as to where Gerry Pike had stashed the money from the bank robberies. He sat quietly in his office in the gym, writing down every detail that he knew of the young hoodlum, trying to gauge his hiding place. A place that was different. One that no one would consider looking in. Young Pike must feel secure about it if there was no guard on the cash.

He made a list. His home? No, that would be unwise. Where did the young thug go to for fun? He liked clubs, but it wouldn’t be there. His office, maybe, where he ran a business under the guise of house clearance and the sale of second-hand furniture. His showroom beneath, perhaps? There would be all sorts of stuff displayed that could be suitable, but wouldn’t that be obvious to the police if they were to search? They surely would open every drawer, every chest? He scratched his head. What else was important to Gerry? The only other thing was his love of clothes. He went to a tailor in Whitechapel; Foxy knew that because Gerry used to boast about how good the cutter was. Perhaps he would go along and get measured up for a suit. He could do with a new
one and it would be a good opportunity to question the tailor. Maybe he could give Foxy a lead during their conversation. It was worth a try.

Jackie Williams was in a state. He still had not a clue as to where Gerry had hidden the money. He had searched everywhere. Even Gerry’s home, when he’d been asked to take some chairs that Gerry had bought to the house and put them in the sitting room.

Although he’d searched every room thoroughly, opening drawers, trunks and cupboards, he’d found nothing. He’d even stood in each room to look for something that was so normal, it could escape attention. But he had failed. He was getting frantic, knowing that Barry would be fretting and that when he did, he became difficult. That worried him the most. He knew how to handle the boy, but Wally or his men would just get angry and maybe hurt him. He decided to go back to Wally Cole and plead for Barry’s release. But when he got there, he discovered that Barry had managed to escape and was missing.

Wally Cole was furious! He’d sent out for some crayons and a colouring book to appease the lad, who was becoming restless and cantankerous. It had settled him, and in the ensuing peace, the man guarding him had fallen asleep. Barry had crept out of the room and was away before anyone realized.

Cole stormed at Jackie when he arrived, ‘My men will find that little bleeder, I promise you and he’ll pay for all the trouble he’s caused me!’

‘Please, Mr Cole, leave him alone. You don’t need him. I promise I’ll find the money; you don’t need to hold my brother. I give you my word.’

Cole looked at Jackie with disdain. ‘That’s supposed to make me feel secure, is it? Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll make
you
a promise. You find the money and I won’t top your brother when we find him.’

Jackie was horrified. ‘You can’t kill him, he’s innocent. He’s never done anyone any harm in his life!’

‘Well, son, it’s up to you. You’d better be on your way, you’re wasting time here.’

Jackie fled the building.

Bonny walked wearily to her dressing room after the final curtain that night. She hadn’t slept well worrying about Barry Williams. Had Foxy Gordon done anything about his release, she wondered. It bothered her that he was in the hands of some criminal gang. She decided to send out for some fish and chips, which she could eat in her dressing room, then she could go home and go straight to bed. Picking up the phone in her room, she rang the doorman and asked him to send someone to the fish and chip shop for her as she’d sent her dresser home. She was suffering with a cold, and Bonny had assured her she could manage once she was dressed for the final number.

As she slipped out of her costume and reached for a coat hanger, she let out a scream as the dress rail moved on its wheels.

A head peered out from between the gowns. ‘It’s only me, Miss Bonny.’

‘Barry! What on earth are you doing here?’

The young lad climbed his way out from behind. ‘I ran away! The man went to sleep, so I crept out of the room as quiet as a mouse. Then I went to the door and it opened and I was on the street. I ran all the way. You’ll look after me, won’t you?’ He looked worried. ‘I don’t like those men. They shouted at me and one of them hit me, just like the old bugger used to.’

She gathered him to her. ‘Oh dear, Barry, I am sorry, and of course I’ll take care of you. Are you hungry?’

‘Starving. Got any sweets or biscuits?’

She shook her head. ‘No, but I have some fish and chips coming soon.’

He beamed at her. ‘Do they have salt and vinegar on them?’

‘No, I’m afraid not.’

His face fell just for a moment, then he smiled. ‘Never mind, we can pretend they do.’

There was a knock on the door and Bonny looked at Barry. Putting her finger to her lips, she pulled him out of sight, grabbed a handful of change off the dressing table and opened the door, which she carefully locked after the messenger delivered his goods.

Taking a little of the food herself, she gave the rest to Barry, still in the newspaper it was wrapped in. ‘We’ll have to eat with our fingers,’ she said.

The boy tucked into the food and said, ‘They always taste better eaten with your fingers anyway.’

As she watched him, Bonny’s mind was in turmoil. What was she to do with the boy? She could take him back to her flat for the night and let him sleep there, but what about tomorrow when she was working? If he’d escaped from the villains and she let his brother know he was safe, would they follow him to find the boy?

She rang Mickey O’Halleran and told him what had happened.

‘Jaysus Christ, Bonny!’ he exclaimed over the phone. ‘You stay put; I’m coming to the theatre. Don’t tell anyone he’s there.’

But before he arrived there was a knock on the door.

Bonny froze. ‘Who is it?’

‘It’s me, Shirley, are you ready to go home?’

Bonny let her in, then quickly locked the door.

Shirley looked puzzled. ‘What the hell are you doing that for?’ Then she saw Barry. ‘Hello, who are you?’

Bonny quickly filled her friend in with all the details. ‘We will have to hide him for tonight,’ she told her. ‘After that, I don’t know. Mickey is on his way over.’

‘Bloody hell, girl, you do get yourself mixed up with some strange people.’ She nodded over towards Barry and in a near whisper asked, ‘Would they really knock him off?’

‘I’m afraid so. I just don’t know what to do for the best.’

At that moment Mickey knocked on the door and called her name. Once inside he questioned Barry as to what had happened to him from the time he was picked up.

Barry had overheard enough conversation between the men to pass on, which made the situation clear to the boxer. ‘So it’s all about money, as always! People will do anything for greed.’

‘I want my brother,’ Barry said.

Sitting beside the lad, Mickey tried to make him understand that Jackie might be in danger if he came to see him at the moment. That tonight he’d stay with Bonny, and tomorrow Mickey would take him to safety.

‘Where?’ asked Bonny.

‘It’s best you don’t know. Foxy and I will keep him safe, don’t you worry. But we have to sneak him out of here and there may be a couple of photographers outside.’

‘They won’t be interested in me,’ Shirley ventured. Then with a grin she turned to Barry. ‘How would you like to dress up as one of the lady dancers? We could play a game. What do you say? We could put a dress on you and a wig.’

The boy’s face lit up. ‘I’d like that. Will you give me a lady’s name too?’

‘Why not, what would you like to be called?’

‘Queenie, after my auntie.’

‘Right then, you come with me. I’ll see you both back at the flat.’ Unlocking the door, she peered out to see if the coast was clear, and grabbing Barry by the hand, she left the dressing room.

‘I am so sorry, Mickey, to get you involved but I didn’t know what to do.’ Bonny was distraught. ‘I can’t let anything happen to that boy, whoever his brother might be.’

Pulling her into his arms, Mickey tried to reassure her. ‘Your problems are mine, darlin’, and it’s my place to look after you, like Jackie does for his brother. Now come along, let’s get going.’

Outside a couple of photographers waited. They raised their cameras, took a couple of pictures and then left.

Bonny shook her head. ‘Don’t they ever get fed up taking our pictures?’

‘I told you, princess, it goes with the job. They have to earn a living too.’ He hailed a taxi and they made their way home.

Shirley had already made a cup of tea and a sandwich for Barry and herself when Bonny and Mickey arrived.

‘This boy has a bottomless pit for a stomach!’ Shirley laughed. ‘He told me he’d already had fish and chips.’

‘He’s a growing lad,’ Mickey told her. ‘But now I must go and see Foxy. I’ll be back early tomorrow morning.’ Leaning forward he kissed Bonny. ‘Get a good night’s sleep, sweetheart.’

Foxy, who lived above the gym, was surprised to hear the front doorbell so late at night. Picking up a crowbar, he went to the door. ‘Who’s there?’

‘It’s me, Mickey. Let me in.’

Over a glass of beer, Mickey explained why he’d called. ‘The lad escaped, so now we need to hide him. I can’t have Bonny mixed up in this after tonight.’

‘I’ll put him up here. Wally Cole would never suspect that I have anything to do with this. He’ll be as safe as houses.’

‘But what happens if Jackie can’t find the money?’

‘I have no idea, but I’m off to Gerry’s tailor tomorrow. Maybe he can throw some light on the subject. At least I’ll find out a bit
more about him. You know men chat away whilst they are being measured. I might strike lucky.’

The shop was typical of all tailors’ shops. Pattern books lay about; rolls of cloth were sorted into colours. A table was being used by the cutter, who followed the chalk marks on the material he was cutting, and sitting cross-legged on a bench was a man sewing on buttons by hand, whilst two others were working at treadle machines. Working at speed, as they fed the pieces of garment through, to be stitched.

Foxy looked through the materials on offer, choosing a black and white dogstooth check, to the agreement of the tailor.

‘Good choice, sir. It will suit you very well.’ Then he questioned Foxy as to how he liked his suits styled.

‘Well, I’ll leave it to you,’ he said. ‘I have always admired the suits you have made for Gerry Pike.’

‘Ah, young Mr Pike. A very stylish young man, if I may say so. Exquisite taste. Let me show you a couple of patterns that he particularly likes.’

As he was being measured, Foxy looked around the room. There were a few tailors’ dummies with garments draped on them that were in the process of being made. Foxy noticed that the dummies had names marked on pieces of paper.

‘Are those for each of your customers?’ he enquired.

‘Just for a selected few of our regulars.’ He pointed to a bare one in the corner. ‘That’s Mr Pikes’. He had it made to his measurements. I have to say it is far superior to the others, but the measurements are very accurate … as long as he doesn’t gain or lose weight!’ The man chuckled.

When the tailor had finished taking his measurements, Foxy walked over to the dummy and studied it closely. ‘What do you mean, he had it made?’ he asked.

The tailor smiled. ‘Mr Pike took the measurements and had it made up himself. He said he didn’t want us to use it for anyone else. He does like to be exclusive, does our Mr Pike. It’s much more solid than the others. Beautifully made, I must say. Probably cost a pretty penny.’

A slow smile spread across Foxy’s face. ‘Clever little bleeder!’ he muttered softly.