TWENTY FIVE
Dolores lowered the cigarette from her bright red lips and tapped ash into an ashtray as she grinned down at Ella.
"Doin' well, aint ya honey?" she said in a voice cheery with conspiracy.
Ella blinked up at her, pausing in the middle of powdering her shoulders. "Excuse me?" she queried.
Dolores shifted her weight where she was perched on the edge of Jean's table and shrugged.
"I ain''t seen Flattop Jones gad around with any moll this long in... well, I'm not sure I've ever seen it."
Ella flushed a little, then resumed pressing the powder puff across her collar bones and chest.
Dolores watched her for a moment and then pressed: "Well, ain't you happy to hear something like that?"
Ella placed the puff back in its box and picked up her lipstick. "Yes, of course I am - but I wonder if it's just because he's too busy to be bothered picking up someone new."
It had been three nights since Ella had last seen the goon and, whilst she knew by now what to expect, she was a little miffed by it all. Disturbed to find she was missing his company rather badly and with no indication from him that he felt the same, it put her humour further out of sorts.
"Oh pft," Dolores waved her cigarette dismissively around. "That just comes with the territory - and Mr Jones would rather work than do anything else so any dame of his comes off a bit worse than the rest of us. He handles it by going through girls like tommy guns go through bullets. So, " Dolores pointed her cigarette at Ella and grinned again. "Either you've been smart enough not to complain, or he may be a little smitten."
Ella finished applying her lipstick and sighed. The thought of the impervious mobster having actual feelings for her was a wonderfully seductive one and even as she cautioned herself not to lose her head, Dolores' suggestion took seed in her heart. "Maybe..." she said, a little wistfully. She glanced up at Dolores with wide eyes. "Not that he gives anything away."
Dolores hopped off Jean's table and bent at the waist to glance at her reflection in the mirror, lifting a hand behind her ear to manipulate her ruby and diamond earrings so they caught the light and sparkled. "That's his style," Dolores said indifferently. "Don't take it personally. Jesus, have you ever seen him get carried away with anything? Well - " Dolores straightened up and snickered. " - apart from when you're carrying him away that is!" she nudged Ella and laughed.
Ella shook her head and stood up to unfasten her girdle, ready to change into her costume for the evening. "Even then he's cool as a cuke," she said a little dourly and Dolores stepped back and gazed at Ella in astonishment.
"Jeezum crow, kid - I can't believe you didn't blush!" she cried and Ella realised with a start that she hadn't - that she hadn't even been embarrssed by the remark. But that realisation did shame her a little and she turned away from Dolores quickly to retrieve the red and gold spangled leotard with the bustle that was the costume for the first number.
"There we go, that's the Ella I know," Dolores teased, then moved on: "Don't surprise me really - keeping it together is probably part of the thrill for him. At the very least you're keeping him satisfied or he'd definitely have moved on by now."
Ella remained silent as she twisted her arms behind her to fasten the snaps holding the costume together. Of course, that was it. Smitten - ha! Not likely.
Before the conversation could continue, the door flew open and Jean swept in, looking a great deal more healthy than she had for a while in white and periwinkle blue, her hair freshly done and shining around her face.
"I brought the cointreau, kids!" She sang, holding aloft the bottle and a smattering of applause went around the half-empty room, women in various state of undress as they prepared themselves for the evening's work.
"Sick of being back yet?" Dolores drawled, lighting herself another cigarrette.
Jean scoffed and dumped her purse and bottle onto her dressing table. "Never!" she declared, giving Ella a quick hug. "It's a damn relief to come in - and know everything's back to normal!"
ooo
Flattop was there that evening, at Big Boy's table. Everytime Ella caught sight of him from the stage, he was puffing languidly on a cigar, occasionally engaged in distracted conversation with the gangsters sitting next to him - and always staring at Ella.
It made her simultaneously nervous and confident. Looking back at him was a distraction that threatened to throw her steps out, but knowing his attention was riveted on her made her strive to perform better. She was long accustomed to the flirty moves and sassy flourishes she was expected to put on, but somehow she managed to make her hips swing that bit harder and her smile that bit cheekier. Knowing he was watching her injected new interest into routines she could do in her sleep. And as she performed, she found herself wondering briefly if he was thinking about her body beneath the costume - the body he was familiar with, that he could imagine vividly when no one else in the room could. Pondering those thoughts, she began to feel as though she were dancing only for him.
He was at the bar with Itchy, Mumbles, B.B. Eyes and Ribs Mocco, the five of them seeming relaxed and jovial as they conversed over cigars and cocktails. B.B. Eyes had with him a girl Ella and Jean didn't know, but Mumbles and Ribs were alone.
Jean bounded over to Itchy with a beaming smile and he turned to give her a tight embrace, exclaiming "hey sweetheart, weren't you the thing!" in his nasal voice as he did so, their enthusiastic greeting disrupting the clustered group. Flattop shot the lovers a vaguely disdainful look, but half-smiled at Ella as she stepped up next to him.
"Hey kid," he greeted her, kissing her quickly on the cheek, but then turning back to the other men to continue his conversation. Ella was disappointed, having carefully chosen a revoltingly expensive peach silk lace and tulle evening dress, its skirt composed of a dozen cascading floaty layers, in the hopes it would catch his eye and please him. But he didn't seem to notice at all, much less seem particularly glad to see her after three days apart. She pouted a little then caught Mumbles' eye who gave her a secret thumbs-up and an approving nod, and brightened. A little show of appreciation was a welcome thing.
"Swell show tonight, ladies," B.B. said, introducing his girl, Cathy, to Jean and Ella.
"Top shelf," Ribs agreed.
"Bzknz," Mumbles concurred with the others.
"Best lookin' dames up there," Itchy nuzzled Jean's neck whilst scratching feverishly at his own.
Flattop said nothing, but his gloved hand pressed against the small of Ella's back and she was glad.
"Check - out - these - girls!" the bellow broke out over the band, Big Boy advancing on the clustered group, a sullen and silent Breathless in tow, his thunderous voice seeming a Napoleonic compensation for his small stature. Pruneface and Dolores were with him and Big Boy gestured expansively to Dolores, Jean and Ella, looking around the room at his fellow gangsters. "How about that show, huh? Won't see a show that damn flash anywhere in this city - " Big Boy pulled up short and stabbed the air with a finger, his voice lowering. " - best damn show, best damn girls, in the whole of this dump of a town." His voice rose again: "Best damn singer - " and here, without even looking at her, he soundly slapped Breathess' rump so that the chanteuse shut her eyes in the merest betrayal of humiliation. " - and best damn dancers!"
"Swell stuff, Big Boy," Ribs agreed, his baritone voice rolling around the mouthful of cigar smoke he exhaled. "Villa Venice gotta put bare titties on stage just to match up."
Ella was mortified by the language, but the men just chuckled and Big Boy leaned over to Ribs, customarily wide-eyed for emphasis, once again raising his finger. "In my joint, it's all class," he said in a voice close to a whisper. "This ain't no burlesque theater! The shmoe's can go to one of those after they been here to be put in the mood. And, as it happens, I own the deeds to the top two in town!"
The mobsters snickered and nudged each other and Ella stole a glance at Flattop. She was a little surprised to see he wasn't chuckling along with the rest of them, just standing there in his usual composed way with hands in his pockets, a tight, sardonic smile on his face, looking at Big Boy with what Ella thought was the vaguest contempt.
Big Boy's eyes roved the group and then fell on Ella, standing close to Flattop. She inwardly cringed as that wide, manic stare fixed on her for a moment before the mob boss began to speak:
"Well hello! And who might this pretty creature you have here be, Flattop?"
Ella was both relieved and mildly insulted to not be remembered after the public dressing-down he'd given her that first day she'd been here but there was hardly anything she could say. Flattop put his arm around her and gave her shoulder a squeeze.
"This is my girl, Big Boy. Ella Daniels."
"Miss Daniels!" Big Boy bellowed so that all eyes in the vicinity were now fixed on her and she felt herself starting to blush. "Well, let me tell you, young lady - " he leaned in close to her so that she could see each individual bristly hair of his pencil-thin moustache above his curved lips and gripped her other shoulder hard. "You are one very lucky girl. This!" and he let go her shoulder to reach up and clap Flattop's, who stood there typically expressionless. "is my best man. Alright? My best. Bar none!"
When Big Boy took the floor, with his gradiating voice and expansive mannerisms, it was impossible to focus on anything else. The others hung back quietly and Ella wondered a little how the other men might be feeling to hear this - if there were such a thing as professional pride amongst crooks. She dared a glance up at Flattop, who seemed merely amused by Big Boy's show, his cupid's lips curved in the tiniest of smiles, his eyes hooded and contemptuous, though Big Boy was oblivious.
"No one can do what your boyfriend can do," Big Boy continued, his voice continuing in its customary rise before the inevitable drop: "No one. That's why I had him brought in and he does me proud every. Single. Day! So," Big Boy raised his finger and waggled it at her in a paternal fashion. "You just make sure you show him plenty of appreciation."
At this Flattop blinked and glanced away as though resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Ella clasped her hands together in front of her and strove to overcome her embarrassment.
"I try to, Sir," she said quietly and behind Big Boy, the group of gangsters and molls fought back smiles and snickers.
Big Boy pet her roughly on the head. "Good girl," he muttered distractedly, then whirled on his heel, grasping Breathless by the hand and tugging her away with him. Pruneface and Dolores stayed behind with the group. As he left, Big Boy half twisted back, pointing a finger backwards to the group
"I need somebody to go over to the East Side Liquor runs and chase up some outstanding invoices. Decide amongst yourselves but get it done tonight!"
A round of groans went around the mobsters as they shifted irritably in their tuxedos and exchanged scowls, Flattop excepted. He had fixed his hazel eyes on the top of Ella's head, full lips slighly pursed.
"I ain't had a full night off in over a week," Itchy grumbled. "I got an itch I wanted to scratch off on the dancefloor of the Purple Crackle."
Ribs Mocca snorted, the nostrils of his long pointed nose flaring. "Youse mugs got any ideas how many businesses I manage that pay up to Big Boy as it is? I ain't goin'."
Flattop reached out with his gloved fingers and carefully smoothed the hair that Big Boy's marauding hand had dishevelled atop Ella's head. His expression didn't change but there was a sour glint in his eye.
B.B. Eyes put a hand around Cathy's waist and tugged her in against him. "I ain't dumpin' my new girl first damn time I promised to take her to the Rialto," a remark that made Ella turn wide and impressed eyes upon him, unable to help comparing his attitude to that of Flattop's. "Mumbles ain't got no girl, he can go."
Mumbles' hangdog expression livened up - although he seemed accepting of his fate, he was willing to put up a little bit of a fight: "Nwthtantfar,BB. ."
"Shut your goddamn pieholes," Flattop sneered suddenly in so brusque a fashion the other men did immediately quieten and look askance at him. He glared at them all belligerently, unperturbed, then announced: "I'll go."
Ella stared up at him, dismayed, as he took his cigarettes from his pocket and lit one nonchalantly before drawling: "Anything to shut you bawling sissies up."
B.B. hawwed and adjusted his tie. "Come on now, Flattop," he grumbled. "Ain't no need to get like that."
Flattop took another drag on his cigarette and exhaled, gazing calmly at B.B.
"Anyone would think you crumbs ain't got no pride at all," he said coolly, then shot a narrow-eyed glance at Itchy who sidled his eyes away, scratching nervously behind one ear.
Ella caught Jean's sympathetic eye and lowered her head, struggling with the disappointment she felt. She wanted badly to complain, to say it wasn't fair and why couldn't he just put her first for once, like B.B. Eyes was doing with Cathy, but she knew better, plain and simple.
Ribs Mocca stared at her and snorted suddenly, thrusting his hands into his trouser pockets and leaning back so his rotund belly protruded yet further.
"You're a boob, Flattop," he sneered and Flattop moved his meaty neck slowly to stare levelly at him. "You got this sweet cherry here all ripe and juicy for ya, got the whole night off and all the dough to live it up and you wanna go back to work? The Brow had you pegged - you are right screwloose."
The entire group was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Itchy stared warily at his oft-companion, anxiously scratching his chest. Mumbles seemed to shrink back as if hoping to disappear into the bar. B.B. Eyes looked coolly wary but Ella saw him shift a hand to his pocket and wondered if he kept brass knuckles in there, as she knew Flattop did. Pruneface glowered impatiently as though his time was too valuable for this macho posturing. And Ribs, half a head shorter than Flattop, held the flat-headed mobster's eye and lit a cigarette of his own. But the flame on the match flickered just a touch as his hand shook and Flattop marked it and smirked.
"She'll keep," he said finally, shrugging easily and the tension was broken as the gangsters marked the subtle joke tying to Ribs' remark about her supposed 'ripeness', and chuckled. But Ella was stung, the public rejection making her feel small and worthless, as disposable as a tissue.
Ribs sucked on his cigarette and eyed Ella with eyes set deep into fleshy hollows. There was interest there but also, strangely, a fatherly compassion.
"Now see, you broked the muffin's heart. No reason she shouldn't have a fun night out on the town, Flattop - let me take her out for you, I'll make sure she's treated right and get her home safe and sound."
He smiled kindly at Ella and she found herself smiling back. There was nothing sleazy or predatory in his manner or voice and Ella rather thought he genuinely wanted to be kind. But Flattop felt differently.
He stepped through the group right in front of Ribs and tapped a thick finger hard on Ribs' chest.
"You ain't takin' nothin' of mine out, Mocca, so back off," he said through clenched teeth, though his voice remained level. "And I ain't gonna say that again. Keep your stinkin' mitts to yourself or I'll be takin' you out. Got it?"
Itchy put an arm around Jean and Pruneface snapped a finger and with a jerk of his head indicated Dolores should step over to the other girls. The three uninvolved men hovered back, watching the proceedings between Flattop and Ribs alertly but not willing to break it up just yet. Ella's chest was tight with breathless anxiety and yet she was enthralled, staring at Flattop's discontented expression with hungry eyes.
Ribs' eyes narrowed and his thin mouth fixed into a straight line. "Take it easy, Jones," he grumbled. "Just seemed like a rough deal to serve a sweet kid. Let the skirt stay at home then - ain't no skin off my nose. Don't go getting your knickers in a twist, ain't nothin' was meant by it. We're pals, you and me, remember."
Flattop stared down at Ribs for a long moment, hazel eyes hard as flint. Then suddenly he stepped back, relaxed and smiling.
"Yeah sure, Ribs. We're pals."
The men all relaxed around him and shook his hand as they said thanks to his offer to take care of the business that had threatened to delay their evening out. Dolores and Jean exchanged long-suffering looks and Cathy fished around in her purse for her lipstick, clearly having long ago gotten used to such altercations, establishing herself as a professional moll just like her heavy makeup and flashy rings had first suggested.
As the group finished up their drinks and began making a shift towards the door, Flattop returned to Ella's side, looming over her with a flinty expression.
"You," he said holding up a gloved finger. "You go straight home tonight, you got that?"
It wasn't fair, but she knew it didn't matter.
"Yes, I get it, Mr. Jones," she said sullenly and he grasped her by the arm and turned her roughly to the door.
"Keep your lip to yourself, babe, and go get a cab. You know the score."
Flattop gave her a little push and then turned away from the group, heading to the back of the club. Smarting all the more he could not suffer himself to be gentleman enough to walk her to a cab, she pushed her lips out in a pout, glared at his retreating back and then called out across the club:
"Mr Mocca! Mr Mocca!"
The gangster in question looked over his shoulder to her, brows furrowed queryingly and without looking behind her, Ella darted through the club to his side, smiling at him brightly and slipping her arm through his.
"Won't you walk me to a cab? I do so hate going out on the streets alone at this hour," she cooed and his round face broke into a flattered and paternal grin.
"Of course, honey!"
ooo
Holleeeeee guacamole! Has it really been so long since updates? I'm sure it seems like I'd abandoned this story (for those few who care!) and I was worried for a bit it might even come to pass, seeing as how this last year really hasn't been one of my best... but I held onto the determination to see it through to the end.
Honestly? This chapter, and a couple of others I haven't uploaded yet, were already written before the last time I updated six or so months ago. But recently I got the opportunity and space to sit down and bang out a couple more chapters and I have high hopes that this story will eventually be complete and maybe even push me over the 1,000,000 word goal I'm aiming to get archived on this site! Yippee!
I hope a few people will continue to give it a chance, despite how long the updates have been delayed, and if you read please do review... concrit welcome.
Thanks for hanging in there!