Once again sorry for the long delay in posting. Blooming work just gets in the way. Please continue to R&R

Chapter 10

Roly Cavendish paid the taxi driver his fare and proceeded to make his way down the street towards the Glitter Club. He hummed quietly to himself thumbing the wad of notes in his pocket, his stake and services money for the evening. As he rounded the corner into the small alleyway by the club, he was roughly grabbed and pulled into a doorway "Roly!" The voice sounded urgent but hushed.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? You nearly gave me a heart attack." hissed Roly taken off guard.

"Sorry, I need to talk to you." replied the younger blonde man.

Roly sighed heavily "I thought we discussed this last week." He turned to leave.

The man clutched him by the elbow to stop him. "You said it would be a bit of fun. A way to pay my debts off." He said accusingly

"I didn't mean for you to create more debts... especially with Daly. What were you thinking Simon?"

Simon looked down at his hands guiltily. Cavendish had introduced Simon to the Glitter club not long after he had moved to London. Roly had suggested that Simon join him for the evening to relax from the stress of his new job and maybe he could win a little money to pay off some of his debts. He had enjoyed a little success in the beginning and he had become a regular customer, choosing to go to the club after a day's work rather than go home to his wife. After one alcohol fuelled night Daly approached him asking if he wanted to join a high stake poker game. Simon at the time was enjoying a run of luck so agreed without hesitation, against Roly's advice. Subsequently, his run of luck came to a spectacular end with him owing Daly thousands. Now he was up to his neck in trouble.

"Roly you've got to help me." Simon pleaded

"Dear chap, I have helped you as much as I can and pointed you in the right direction. I can do no more. You have dug yourself this crater sized hole, it is now up to you to get yourself out of it." Roly was unmoving.

"Please Roly"

"No," Cavendish started walking down the alley again. "I'll see you later. You owe me a drink. Oh and it's my turn with Scarlet tonight."

"Thanks a bunch...mate."

Simon slumped against the brickwork. He watched forlornly as Roly disappeared down the alleyway, humming as he went.

As Gene and Alex got into the Quattro there was something wrong...there was something very wrong. Alex looked at Gene's squashed frame questioningly. His knees were wedged up under the steering wheel, his hands poised in the position where the steering wheel should be. He looked equally puzzled then realisation hit him. He reached down for the handle under his seat and moved the seat back to its original position. "Bloody Shaz messing with my car." mumbled Gene

"What?" asked Alex

"Nuthin'" he grumbled

Alex checked her watch it was 7.30. She watched as the team piled into a transit van making ready for the night's operation. They had been fully briefed. Dempsey was very putout that he was only going to be another pair of eyes and ears, but Makepeace had reassured him that he would see some action soon. On the other hand Makepeace was quite relieved that she was not playing the escort that night. She had helped Alex with SI10's sophisticated wire apparatus, far superior to any of CIDs equipment. She had also given Gene and Alex the low down on all the characters she had come into contact with in the club. Now all they had to do was take up their positions. The team were to be parked up in the street across from the entrance of the club. Gene would park the Quattro in a backstreet just in case they needed to make a fast get away.

"Right, let's get on with it." Gene spoke into the radio.

Gene pulled out of the car park and headed down the road. He glanced at Alex who was staring straight ahead. "You're quiet for once."

"I'm just running through the plan in my head." She replied simply

Gene glanced over again with a look of slight concern "Are you nervous Bolls?"

Alex gave a small smile of reassurance "I'll be fine Gene, I'm sure you won't let Daly within five paces of me."

"Too right. Can't have scumbags like that touching you up can we. That's my job for the evening." Gene gave her a smirk.

Alex feigned a dirty look "Why do I get the feeling you're going to enjoy tonight?"

"I always said you had tarty tendencies. With you dressed like that, for one night, you're my tart and nobody else's. Got to keep in character Bolly."

"Hmmm. Well just remember I'm wearing a wire, Ray and Chris have vivid imaginations and god alone knows what Dempsey's is like."

Gene frowned "I think our Yank friend has been imagining all sorts when it comes to you."

"Don't be silly, I'm sure Makepeace is the one that fills his dreams."

Gene was about relay the thought that just popped into his head, but decided it was better off staying there. Instead he just chuckled.

Gene and Alex made quite an attractive sight as they entered the club arm in arm. Gene was donned in his dinner jacket complete with bow tie (tied by Dempsey as Gene couldn't do it) and Alex dressed in a stunning green satin outfit which reached just above the knee, showing off her curves, topped with a fur jacket. To Gene it felt like they were going to a film premier not the local posh knocking shop. Although they were working and only pretending to be a couple, Gene didn't care, he was content to have Alex by his side turning heads. He could feel the jealous glares from the customers as they sidled up to the bar to order their drinks.

The first thing that they noticed was Daly. He was sat on his usual perch at the end of the bar watching. He nodded good evening to Gene and Alex as they placed their order. Gene nodded back, Alex smiled. She gave Gene a look of recognition as he indicated that they stay at the bar. She slipped onto the bar stool, Gene likewise with his back to the metallic counter. Neither said anything as they simply observed their surroundings.

Alex was alerted to the voice of Madame Yvonne coming from the small back office attached to the bar "well don't bother coming back and don't think you're getting this week's pay either." They heard furious muttering as the phone was slammed back onto its cradle. Yvonne then marched into the bar right up to Daly. She was dressend in a leopard print dress. Her tightly permed hair held back with diamonte clips, cheek bones highly rouged in contrast to her pale skin, lips blood red. "That's another one." She barked "and that Scarlet has cried off sick tonight."

Both Gene and Alex were listening.

Daly shrugged as if he didn't care, the action winding the Madame up even more.

"We can't keep loosing the classy ones like this. They're the ones that bring the money in."

"There are others." Daly replied nonchantly taking a sip of his scotch.

Yvonne scowled at him "No Liam, there is not a never ending supply of class coming through the door. What did you do to Scarlet last night?"

"You told me she needed loosening up so that's what I did." He said with indifference

Daly's attitude was not only annoying Madame Yvonne it was also grating on Gene and Alex as they recalled the state of Makepeace. Gene wanted to punch Daly's lights out there and then.

Daly noted the anger on Yvonne's face and sighed "Well just offer her more money then or drink, whatever floats her boat."

"We can't afford to pay them more every time you piss them off." She hissed as she pointed a finger at him "Just remember why we're doing this." With that she strode off clicking her fingers at two of the girls as she passed.

Daly just grinned after her.

"Mr Daly phone call for you." announced the barman.

"Thanks Mike."

Daly swung himself off his stool and walked into the back office.

"There is more to this than meets the eye Bolly." Whispered Gene

"Mmm, you're right there. Seems they're desperate for money."

Gene nodded "Wonder why. Look at this place it's heaving with twats throwing money away. He should be raking it in."

"But no bank account." Stated Alex remembering.

As Gene and Alex pondered Simon rushed up to the bar. "Mike is Roly in yet?"

"He's sulking in the snug area, his bird he booked for tonight is off sick. Drink?"

Simon nodded still looking rattled from his previous conversation with Roly Cavendish.

"Sounds like Harry had a lucky escape." Alex whispered to Gene.

"I'll take one for Roly." Simon took out his wallet to pay Mike for the scotch.

"Just a word of warning," Mike leant over bar as he took Simon's money "Daly wants a word."

Simon gulped nervously. After handing the notes over he grabbed the glasses and scurried off in the direction of the snug area.

Gene looked at Alex as if to say 'well'

Alex leaned into Gene "I think it's time we started play acting."