Chicago Reverse

Disclaimer: Sadly, I own Chicago in no way shape or form unless I get high on sugar and go into an alternate universe.

Author's note: Thanks for the reviews guys. This chapter is where things start getting different ...

Act of Desperation

Velma irritably flicked a strand of dark hair out of her face and resumed ironing. She had always hated household chores, but at least was faring better than Roxie. Far from being Velma's idol, Roxie was now a lazy, incompetent bitch in Velma's eyes ? and she wasn't bothering keeping that opinion to herself. After burning two dresses in as many days, Roxie had coerced the Hunyak into doing her laundry for her, something that did not sit very well with Velma. Admittedly, she did wish she had gotten to the Hunyak first, but she managed to turn it into an opportunity to flaunt her extreme independence. God help anyone who offered to do something for Velma, but God also help anyone who asked her for a favour. You look after you, I'll look after me, had become Velma's mantra.

After finishing her laundry, Velma set off to grudgingly do her chores. Pushing a trolley full of fresh towels down the corridor she cursed someone, she wasn't sure who but someone for getting her into this situation. Her first thought was herself, but she brushed it away maybe Veronica and Charlie? No ? it was too painful to think about them. Velma grimaced as she continued blaming everyone she could think of for the fact that she was changing towels at the Cook County Jail, eventually settling on Roxie Hart. Only Velma understood the logic behind it, but that didn't matter ? at least, not to Velma.

She had just entered her first bathroom when she heard voices coming from the next room.

"... you know what Mama's gonna do for you? Mama is gonna put you back on the vaudeville circuit," said Mama's voice.

"Really?" replied Roxie

Velma decided this was a conversation worth listening to and pressed her ear against the wall in an attempt to hear better.

"But remember," Mama said. "All your calls are gonna go through me."

"How much is that going to cost me?" came Roxie's soft voice.

"Well, that depends but come one Rox, you know what I feel about you, you're like family to me!"

"Really?"

Velma rolled her eyes. If there was ever an award for sucking up, Roxie would win it hands down.

"I'll do 'em for fifty bucks ... each."

Velma sniggered as Roxie began whining. The kid could never make it in the real world, thought Velma, before realising that changing towels should have taken about half the time she had spent in the bathroom. She hurriedly switched them and rushed out of the room, just in time to see Roxie walking primly down the corridor. The sight was enough to start Velma off into another 'curse Roxie' session. Unknown to her, Mama was watching.

"You know, you're something, kid."

Roxie left Mama staring after her as she left and walked off back to join the others. She passed Velma, who for some mysterious reason, seemed to hate her. Wisely, Roxie had decided to leave that particular issue alone; she had seen too many crack under an icy glare Velma-style.

Seeing Mama again had brought Roxie both good and bad news. The good news was that (with a few well-placed phone calls) Mama was sure she could get Roxie a top lawyer and back on stage shortly after the trial. The bad news was that it was going to be expensive. But Roxie wasn't too worried about that. She would just suck up to Amos for a bit and he would fork out. He always did whenever she wanted something, and this was something she wanted more than ever. And if that failed, there was always her earnings from the vaudeville. She had already paid Mama one hundred dollars for a phone call on her last visit to see if this lawyer Mama had mentioned would represent her. Apparently he was the best criminal lawyer in all of Illinois - he had never lost a case. She checked the name on the slip of paper - Billy Flynn.

A few days later while overseeing the women back to their cells, Mama stopped Roxie. She had phoned Amos about the financial aspect, but he was out of town.

"Mr Flynn is coming here the day after tomorrow," Mama told Roxie. "So Amos has arranged to have the cash over by tomorrow afternoon."

Roxie nodded distractedly, congratulating herself for winning over Amos again before returning to her own cell and, for the first time since she arrived at Cook County Jail, fell asleep easily.

Early the next morning Roxie went to see Mama. Sure enough, Amos had been good as his word and Mama handed Roxie a thick envelope with'Mr. William Flynn' written on it. Walking away, Roxie looked inside it and gave a soft whistle. Five thousand dollars ... cash.

Velma looked half sarcastically and half curiously at Mama.

"Not many people got enough guts to stand up to the Roxie Harts of the world," Mama elaborated. "I'd like to help you, dearie."

Mama beckoned Velma towards an office. Velma entered and sat down in a chair in front of a desk. Mama casually lit a cigarette and leaned against the desk.

"So, kiddo, whatcha figure on usin' for grounds?"

Velma was taken aback by the question, but thought quickly.

"Well, this is the deal," she said. "I can't remember anything ... except that I didn't do it."

Velma raised an eyebrow at Mama, waiting for either approval or disapproval. Mama raised an eyebrow in return.

"Well, you're a good deal smarter than the rest of 'em," Mama snorted. "Tell the jury the truth, I'll say. They'd all've swung if I hadn't put 'em in line."

"And how does one get 'put in line' by Mama Morton?" Velma asked, wondering where this was going.

"One gets put in line by hiring Billy Flynn."

The name rang a bell in the back of Velma's mind somewhere, but she couldn't put her finger on why.

"Billy Flynn?"

"Only the best criminal lawyer in all of Illinois."

Comprehension dawned on Velma. Liz had told her how much she wanted to hire Billy Flynn, before setting off on a rant about how expensive he was. Most of the others wanted him as well, but she suspected only Roxie could afford him.

"And how do I get this Billy Flynn?"

Mama smiled deviously.

"OK, first you give me a hundred dollars. Then I make a phone call -"

"A hundred bucks for a phone call?!" Velma half-shouted.

"He's worth every cent. Ain't never lost a case for a female client yet."

Velma narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Never?"

"Never."

Reluctantly Velma grabbed a pen and piece of paper from the desk and wrote 'IOU $100'. Mama seized it, before looking at Velma amusedly.

"You get the phone call when I get the cash."

Velma rolled her eyes, got up and made for the door. Her head was spinning. She was pretty sure one phone call would lead to another, and another, and then there was the cost of Mr. Flynn himself. Velma cursed, knowing she didn't have that kind of money, and nobody to borrow from. Her savings wouldn't last long if Mama had anything to do with it.

A few days later, changing towels again, Velma saw Roxie leaving Mama's office, clutching a thick envelope. Still watching, Velma saw Roxie counting through a wad of bills ... a very large wad of bills. A thought came into Velma's head. At first she pushed it away. But later it came back, nagging and persistent. And finally, she decided to act on it.

That evening, she saw Roxie making her way back to her cell with the envelope hanging out of her back pocket. Velma shook her head in disbelief. The stupid moron, she thought. Casually, she bumped into Roxie, causing the envelope to fall from her pocket. Before Roxie noticed, Velma switched it with one she had labelled and stuffed with paper earlier. Smiling shiftily, Velma helf out the fake envelope and held it out to Roxie.

"Here. You dropped it."

Roxie looked at her in acknowledgement before accepting the envelope and entering her cell. Velma's heart was beating wildly with adrenaline. She tried to make her way back to her cell as casually as usual, but she couldn't help looking around quickly to make sure nobody was watching. Satisfied, she turned into her cell and fell asleep, assured everything would be alright. What she didn't know was that someone had seen it ... someone had seen everything.

The next day, Roxie awoke, knowing it would be a good day. She picked up the envelope and felt the thick wad inside. She went down to breakfast, hoping that Billy Flynn wouldn't be late.

She waited at the entrance to the jail, waiting for the famed lawyer to show up. Anxiously, she sat there for at least an hour, simply waiting. Finally, a well-dressed man entered the prison. She watched Mama greet him before eagerly trying to catch his attention.

"Mr. Flynn!"

The man turned around and looked at her. An expression of recognition dawned on his face.

"Roxie Hart, right? The cute one."

Roxie nodded in consent, pulling the envelope out of her back pocket.

"Have you got the money?" asked Billy.

Roxie nodded and handed him the envelope. Billy accepted it and tore it open. Roxie watched in confusion as anger appeared over Billy's face.

"This your idea of a joke?" he asked irritably.

Roxie gasped as he held up a fistful of folded sheets of plain paper. Shit, thought Roxie. In her mind there was no doubt what had happened. Her mind flew back to the night before ... Velma bumping into her, giving her an envelope ... She set her mouth in a firm line You're gonna pay for this, Velma Kelly, she thought. You're gonna pay for this real bad.