CHAPTER 11

The solid rap on the door of room four of the Paradise Hotel broke Walter Jones’s concentration. Sitting on an easy chair his fingers held the curtains slightly back so he could observe the Bay View opposite. One more glance and the curtain gap closed as he stood and moved towards the door. Turned the key and said, “Come in,” to the man standing in the dim light of the hallway. Then he turned, walked back to the window, eased back the curtain and continued watching.

   With the curtains drawn the dim hall light continued into the equally dull room, “Can’t you open the curtains?” asked George Smith as he moved towards the window and stood next to Walter. They could have been twins. The same height, same age, mid-forties maybe, same drab dark blue suit with a shiny backside and the same deep red tie. The only thing that separated them: Walter was blond and George was dark. 

“What and let more than the light in.” said Walter, “Don’t be daft, that lady opposite’s so sharp she could pierce chainmail.” 

“Okay, you’re the boss… How’s it going?” 

“Boring.” 

“You never said how we got into this. So, what made you want to stew your brain sitting at a window for days on end?” 

“A tip off. Fella phoned the office quite a while ago and said we should be watching this place. So here I am.” 

“How much longer will this take?” 

“A few days then I’ll have enough.” 

“Best of luck with that then… This place, what’s it called?” 

“The Paradise.” 

“Yeah, The Paradise. You found out why yet?” 

“Not really. The food’s okay though. Probably way better than over there. And the service is good. I’ve got a real chirpy pair of long legs looking after me… Here’s the latest photos to be developed,” and he handed George a film roll. 

“Why all the snaps, boss? There’s hundreds. They’re really starting to pile up.” 

“If you ever want to see the face of someone who realises they’re sunk, take a look at them when they're shown an incriminating photo. Their face sags and their resilience crumbles.” 

“Can you imagine her opposite crumbling?” 

That made Walter think, “I’m not too sure about that,” he said. “But it might make her eyes flicker. That’ll be enough to know we’re on the right track and then we can turn the screws… Hey, look at him. Do you know who he is? He arrived yesterday.” 

“Nope. He doesn’t look familiar.” 

“That’s Jimmy Raynott. During the war he was into the black market, now he’s a fingers in the pies man. See those tins he’s unloading and all that other stuff? They’re sure to be as dodgy as you like. Now, maybe that’s something else we can dangle in the lady’s face. Hand me the camera will you. I'm going to smudge him for sure.” 

“And who’s that little darling?” said George as he watched Jimmy say something to Dee as she went into the Bay View. Saw Dee momentarily stop then slowly go through the door. 

“The daughter. Not too sure about her,” said Walter. 

“She’s a looker for sure… Seen any wrong looking ones go in?” 

“Not really. They’re mostly clackers. Two beezers yesterday but that’s not so unusual. One was late. About seven-thirty which was unusual. They normally all roll up around five in the afternoon. She does get all sorts staying though. Anyway, off you go. Get the film developed and I’ll fill you in at the end of the week. Then, you and I will pay Mrs Gloria Dubonnet a visit.”  

  

Dee felt like skipping as she returned to the Bay View. The reason: her thoughts concentrated on Dexter. The way he handled himself was… well, it was just brilliant. We’ve got the money and tomorrow I’ll be off. I just can’t wait. She could not wait to get back either, to see her mother's face. She had never seen her so furious. That was the consequence of being obsessed with money. Turning the corner she saw Jimmy unloading the car.  

He grabbed two big tins and ran them inside. In a moment he returned and saw Dee approaching. Stopped, leant on the van door and watched her until she was up close. She looked about to speak but instead, avoided him and made for the front door. Jimmy did not hesitate, stepped in front of her and said, “Your mother’s furious. Watch yourself, she’s on the warpath… She suspects.” 

Dee paused and glanced at Jimmy. Almost said something but instead thought, Suspects what? Then it twigged, There can only be one thing. But how did she find out? But what does that matter? I’ll need to be tough to get through this. Maybe she did not understand why Jimmy would warn her. Anyway, whatever the reason it did not mean she had to be nice to him so she just shrugged past into the hallway to see her mother look up from her desk and scowl that particular look. As Dee approached, Gloria stood up and started to move from behind the desk. Dee had seen that scowl many times and knew it meant big trouble. The way she slammed her hands on the desk as she stood. The way she stormed around to the hallway. Dee could see her mother shaking. She had already reached boiling point.  

“I want words with you.” Gloria snarled as she took off her glasses. Seeing the glasses thrown onto the desk Dee knew trouble was only one spit away but barged past and started running up the stairs. “Don't you run from me, you devious bitch,” Gloria screamed. “I know what you’ve been scheming.” And she set off thundering up the first flight with her shoes thumping.  

Reaching the first landing Dee looked back past her mother with her floral dress flying and hair swirling to see Jimmy coming through the door with two more tins which he put on the desk and watched them both disappear up the next flight. He heard Dee’s bedroom door crash. Then open and crash again, this time making the windows rattle. Then the shouting really escalated and even through the closed door it was deafening.  

 

After Dee slammed the door in Gloria’s face, Gloria wrenched it open, stormed through and slammed it shut with a crash that reverberated around the house making the stud wall shake, popping plaster discs off vibrating nail heads. She yelled, “What have you been scheming with that Dexter Carmichael? You’ve been very close with him and don’t you deny it. Jimmy saw you. And you’ve been sneaking out. Staying out all night, you slut.” Took several steps towards Dee who backed up to her dressing table. 

“Leaving,” she yelled back. Shaking her head and screaming the words, “That’s what. Escaping your stifling regime and, you know what? you’re funding it with all that money you’ve been squirrelling away. All that precious cash that’s just sat in your stupid safe. The way you squeeze. The way you abuse me. I hate it. Some of that’s mine and Derek’s for that matter. You abuse him just as much. You underpay us both. Keep us almost locked up. We’re nothing but your pet slaves.” She spat those words making Gloria’s face turn savage. 

“That’s my money,” she screamed with tears in her eyes, “Mine, mine, all of it’s mine and I want it back. Every single bloody penny of it I want back. Or so help me…” 

“Well, you can’t have it,” shouted Dee, “Dexter’s got it.” 

Gloria swept towards Dee with her hand raised, “You get it back,” she snarled, “I’ll beat you until you bleed. You’ll get it back or you’ll definitely regret it.” 

But instead of cowering as she had always done in the past Dee stood tall and took a step towards her mother making her stop. Gloria's look changed to surprise as Dee said with a depth to her voice that her mother had not heard before, “I told you the last time you beat me that you’d never do it again. Try and hit me this time and it'll be you with all the regrets.” She threw her head back with her fist raised, her eyes narrow and sparking, “Just you try it and see what you get. I’m no longer the little girl you can control with your temper.” She took another step with her fist drawn back beside her head, “Go on try it. I’d just love for you to try it.” 

Gloria raised her hand but hesitated. She looked at the defiance that burned in Dee’s eyes and instinctively knew, even if she bettered Dee in a fight, overall she would lose. The days when she could dominate her daughter had ended. Her shoulders slumped but she was not beaten yet. Thinking fast she growled, “I want my money back then you can leave and good riddance.” 

“Well, you can’t have it and I’m leaving tomorrow and you can’t stop me,” replied Dee lowering her voice but maintaining her defiance. 

“If you leave now without giving me my money I’ll make Derek’s life so miserable it’ll be like living in hell.” 

“You wouldn’t. You promised to be nice.” 

Gloria slowly smiled. Took a step back. Breathed in deep to control herself and said through fitted teeth, “That was before you stabbed me in the back. You know, I actually admire that you had the guts. I know how you did it. That mirror. Very clever and Dexter. Getting him to sweet talk me. I can tell you, you’ve picked a good one there. But be nice to Derek? Only if I get my money back and see the back of you.” 

“He’ll leave,” snapped Dee, but she knew that was a hollow statement. 

Gloria laughed knowing she was getting the upper hand, “You know he won’t do that, don’t you. He’s got bolts loose, so loose they fall out his ears and you know it. That’s why he was only good to peel potatoes in the army, wasn't it. No, he won’t leave, he's got no one else. Nowhere to go.” Gloria lowered her voice. Spoke slower, deliberately, “I could be very nice to him, you know. I’ll pay him more. Make him more comfortable. But only if I get my money back. Then if you want you can go.” 

Dee sat on her dressing table chair still staring at her mother. “You really are a very nasty, vicious person, aren’t you?” 

“And you’ve only just discovered that? You know, you're just like your father. He was spineless. Always melted away from my threats. Do you know how I kept him so quiet all those years?” Gloria paused, allowing her words to soak in. Then she sneered, “Just like Derek. I threatened to make your life a misery unless he did what I said.”  

But instead of enjoying a moment of victory, Gloria suddenly realised she had taken one step too far. Dee slowly rose up and with a long powerful swipe with the back of her hand slapped her mother as hard as she could across her face. Gloria felt the full force of a young, fit, strong girl’s wrath and tasted the first blood on her lips for a very long time. The last time was just before she walked out of her house after the final beating her mother gave her. 

Dee grabbed her mother’s chin, raised her face to look hard into her eyes, “That’s for Dad,” she snarled. “Don’t make me do more for me or even more for Derek. I’ll get your damn money tomorrow when I see Dexter. Then I’ll be gone but you take note, I’ll be checking and if you ever abuse Derek I’ll be back and you definitely will not like what I'll do.” 

Gloria slowly stood up straight, brushed down her dress, wiped her hand across her mouth, looked at the blood and, almost calmly, said, “Right, now we’ve got all that sorted things go on as usual. There will be guests arriving and for tonight you act normally. After tomorrow I’ll be replacing you.” Then swept from the room and closed the door. But stopped, leant back and realised she was shaking violently. Waited a couple of moments. Composed herself as best she could and stomped down the stairs where Jimmy was standing by her desk. “That’s all sorted, Jimmy. She’s giving my money back and then she’s leaving. Come on, I need the biggest gin you’ve ever poured me.”