Chapter Two
Lily closed the door after her and walked away from the car. She wrapped her arms around herself, holding her threadbare jacket close to her body. Trying to keep the heat in. The nights were still chill.
She didn't look back, over her shoulder, at the car where he sat.
She could still hear Joe's instructions, running through her head, his words settling on her skin. "All I want you to do is gather information, Lily" he'd told her, unlit cigar clamped between his teeth. "No heroics, no fire fights, no showdowns with the bad guys." He'd looked away from the road for an instant. "Anytime you think they've made you, you just walk away. You hear me Lily?"
Lily had nodded and agreed, promised him, told him everything that he'd wanted to hear. Did Darnell have to listen to this every time he went on a play? Did Heather?
She tried to pretend that she wasn't expecting him to gun the engine, pull the car up alongside her, tell her to get in. That he was cancelling the play.
Lily walked around the corner, out of sight of the car. Her whole demeanour changed, her shoulders seeming to fold in on her, making her small frame even slighter, her stride grew even shorter, more hesitant.
It started to rain, as she walked, soaking through her clothes. Lily shivered. For all the heat of the Los Angeles day, the night still held a chill. "It wont be hard to pretend to be cold, wet and hungry" she smiled to herself. She hadn't eaten since Joe had told her the scenario, just to help her get into the part.
She heard voices, men talking softly, laughing, at the front of the building she knew to be owned by the Church of the Hallowed Saints. She hesitated, glancing at herself in the wing mirror of a parked car, making sure that her hair was tussled and her face smudged in the right places. Then she walked around the corner.
There were three men standing on the stairs leading up to the small hall, talking quietly among themselves. They fell silent when they saw her. Sounds of music, of voices raised in song and prayer, drifted from the hall. When they saw her take the first step, they exchanged smiles and one of them stepped down to meet her. "Where are you going sweetheart?"
Lily tried to dodge around him, but he blocked her path with his arm. "I heard I could get some food here." She stared at him through her fringe. "Maybe a bed."
He still had that strange smile on his face. "What's your name?"
"Lily."
"Well Lily, maybe you heard wrong." He was still smiling, glancing back over his shoulder at his friends. "And maybe you heard right."
She shifted from foot to foot. Only part of her nervousness was feigned. "Maybe. So there might be a bed here."
"Could be, could be. Whadya think, Ryan?"
Another of the men walked from the door of the hall. He was taller than the rest, broader across the shoulders. "I think we could find a bed for her." He eyes flicked across her face, then up and down her slender body. He reached out and grabbed her chin with thick fingers. Lily flinched as his fingers bit into her flesh. "Maybe if she were to show us what else she can do with that pretty little mouth of hers."
There was no warmth or amusement in his eyes.
Lily swallowed, trying to think, to figure out what to say. This was defiantly not in the script.
The doors of the hall opened and the congregation spilled out into the Los Angeles night. Black, white, well dressed and not, nodding and smiling at the three men surrounding her on the steps. Exchanging greetings with them, giving Lily encouraging, welcoming smiles.
Welcoming her to the congregation.
Ryan hastily released her chin. She had to fight the urge to rub it, certain his fingers had left marks on her skin. He raised his voice. "Of course you can get a meal and a bed here, Lily." He pointed at the man who had accosted her on the steps. "Michael will show you where you can get something to eat."
Lily couldn't resist looking for Joe's car as she was hustled into the hall. She knew he wouldn't be there, that it would have been too dangerous for them both for him to linger. But she looked for him anyway.
She was in.
xxxXXXxxx
Joe waited as long as he could. Sitting in his battered unmarked car, the lights off. Watching Lily.
When the first man put his hand on her arm, he almost panicked. Almost kicked the car into motion. Almost went charging in then and there, almost went charging to her rescue. He forced himself to wait, and just watch while she was brought into the Church through the crowd.
He dialled Tim's number on his phone and waited until he answered. "She's in."
"That's fantastic, Joe. How long until she's back in contact?"
"I don't know Tim, I'll be in touch when I'm in touch." Joe broke the connection, took one look at the church hall and drove off.
xxxXXXxxx
She pressed the button on the intercom. "Mr Mulholland?"
"Yes Julie?"
"Joseph De Almino and Francis Barton are here for their meeting, Mr Mulholland." Heather pretended to ignore the way Barton's eyes lingered on her, even as she 'unconsciously' shifted to allow him a better view. She knew these two- Joe's file had mentioned them as Mulholland's major financial backers, driving forces behind his rising career.
She could make a few guesses why they had come to his office late at night, as well.
"Thank you, Julie." She could almost imagine Frank, making himself more respectable, more alert behind his desk. "Will you bring them through, please?"
"Certainly sir." She stood up, suddenly, noting Francis' leer as her skirt rode up a little more. "This way please, gentlemen." She led the way to Mulholland's office, knocking on the door and pushing it open for his visitors.
Frank shook hands with them both. "Francis, Joseph. Thank you both for coming. Can I offer you some refreshments?" He turned to Heather. "Can you make some coffee please?"
She walked over to the sideboard and started to make the coffee, straining her ears to hear what was said.
"Well, Frank." She could hear the oily smile in De Almino's voice. "Time marches on, and we are starting to run out of it. Have you made a decision yet?"
"I have."
"And?"
"I'm going to run." Frank Mulholland smiled at Heather as she passed coffee around him and his guests. "And with your support, gentlemen, I will win."
De Almino lifted his coffee cup to his lips. "Just make sure you remember who your friends are when you do."
xxxXXXxxx
They'd put her in a small room, dark and narrow with a rock hard mattress and one small high window. She'd heard the door lock after she'd been put in.
It looked like a prison cell.
Lily heard voices outside her room and she scampered to the door, putting her ear against it to listen.
"Do you want to speak to her now, Reverend?"
What was his name? Ryan? She heard him jangle keys and she jerked her head away from the door.
"You said she looked tired, Ryan, didn't you?"
The other voice was tired, sad, world weary.
"She's homeless, Reverend. This is probably the first bed she's seen in months."
"Let her sleep, then Ryan." For all it's weariness, the voice could be decisive. "Tomorrow is as good a time as any."
xxxXXXxxx
For all the rain of the previous evening, the next day dawned bright and hot. The sun beating down on the docks.
Darnell stretched, straining his back, lifted another heavy barrel from the barge and rolling it across the dock.
"Darnell?"
"What?"
"I just wanted to say sorry." The other man shifted nervously. "For yesterday. I fucked up really badly."
Darnell concentrated on shifting the barrel into position. "Yeah you did."
"Well I'm sorry."
"Okay."
"So, are we cool?"
"Look man, you've had the balls to apologise and I respect that. But you fucked up badly and nearly got the both of us in the shit. So stay the fuck away from me." He rolled the barrel across the docks, manhandling it into position. He started to go back for another and then stopped. "Sam. Who's that with Michael?"
"Same peered at the man, shading his eyes with a thick tattooed hand. "LA Customs."
"Ah fuck."
Sam grinned at him, showing stained and golden teeth. "Don't worry about it man. This is all just for show." He nodded at Michael. "Our boy there knows just how to play this guy."
They watched as Michael and the official talked for a while longer. Then they shook hands and the Customs official walked off. Michael looked around, saw Darnell and Sam staring at him. He smiled and gave them the thumbs up.
Sam nudged Darnell. "Told ya."
xxxXXXxxx
"Morning Julie. You're in early."
"Good morning Mr Mulholland. We've a lot of work to do, especially now you've made your decision. I thought I'd make a start on it."
"Very good Julie. You know, with an attitude like that, you could go far." He laughed, enjoying his own joke. "What did you think of Francis and Joseph?"
Heather started, caught off guard. "I'm sorry sir, that's hardly my position to comment on…"
He waved his hand impatiently. "Come on Julie, you're an intelligent woman, and you've already proved that you are perceptive. So. What did you think of them?"
She swallowed hard. "I think that they're men that it would be better to stay on the right side of."
He tapped the desk. "I agree with you. But unfortunately, they are men I need, Julie. Powerful men."
"Rich men."
"Rich men, indeed." He nodded in agreement. "But rich and powerful men bring votes with them." He stood up and started to walk towards his office. "Votes I need if I am going to win this election. Money I'm going to need if I am going to rebuild LA." He stopped, staring at her until she met his eyes. "An attractive woman at your side helps as well."
Heather flushed with practiced ease. Looking away from him, throwing furtive looks at him through her eyelashes. Smiling shyly. She managed to hold her smile until he disappeared into his office.
xxxXXXxxx
Despite her wariness, Lily had fallen asleep in the uncomfortable bed.
She sat upright when she heard a key in the lock. A man walked into the room. Not Ryan. Smaller, black skinned, slighter. He looked around the room, still standing in the door way.
Lily risked her voice. "Hello?"
He turned towards her as soon as she spoke, moving with calm assurance. "You must be Lily." His eyes were clouded, milky white against his dark skin.
Lily nodded, realising it was a wasted gesture. "Yes." She made her voice as fragile and weak as possible.
He reached out, found and patted her hand. "Don't be afraid, child. You are safe now. I'm Moses McNeill, I run this place. I'm so glad you found us."
"I felt like I was in prison, Reverend."
His mouth twisted. "I'm sorry about that Lily. Some that come to us, they're violent or they try to score drugs or sell them. We do it as a matter of protection, both for them and for others that depend on us. I'll tell Ryan to leave your door unlocked from now on."
She remembered the expression on Ryan's face and shivered.
Jackson Alexander felt her movement. "Bad memories?"
"Something like that."
"How long were you homeless?"
"Too long."
"We do good work here Lily, but we need help. Ryan thinks you can help us here. Obviously, you're free to leave anytime you wish, if you want. Nobody will stop you. But I'm asking you, will you help us here?"
She cast about for a story, a line to dangle in front of a blind man. "I don't know if I'm the right person to help you Reverend." Even though she knew he couldn't see her, she dropped her gaze, letting her hair cover her eyes. "I haven't always been the best Christian."
"But you've made the first step, Lily. You've come to us. But you don't have to decide straight away. You're welcome to stay as long as you like, as long as you need to get yourself back on your feet." Sermon over, the Reverend jerked his head away, seeming to sniff the air. "I believe that breakfast is ready. Would you like to accompany me?"
"Me? I'd love to." Lily climbed out of bed and hastily pulled on her trousers and the battered jacket she had worn yesterday. Again, she smiled uselessly at the blind man. "Reverend? Just put your hand on my arm."
"Thank you, Lily." Despite his blindness, despite her pretence at guiding him, the Reverend set the pace, guiding her towards the mess hall. They walked past Ryan on their way, and he exchanged greetings with the Reverend.
Lily did her best to ignore him. Did her best to ignore his smile, and the way his gaze roamed across her body.
xxxXXXxxx
"You still here Julie?" Frank Mulholland pulled on his coat and stopped next to her desk, his eyes still coldly appraising her.
She couldn't meet his gaze. "Yes sir. I'm still finding my way around the filing system."
"So there's no way I could tempt you into a drink?"
Heather forced a smile from somewhere. "No sir, I'm just going to work on for a little bit longer."
"Well, don't work too late. I'll see you in the morning. Night Julie."
"Night Mr Mulholland." She waited until he had left, before opening up his financial records again. "So he gets a cheque for $500,000 once a month from Barton and another one from De Almino." She paged through the records. "And there are withdrawls of $50,000 once twice three four times a month, all to a registered account."
She picked up a pen and wrote down the account numbers. Joe would definitely want to see those.
End of Chapter Two.