Tim had the weekend off from work and had told Charlotte he was keen to spend it with her. She’d readily agreed, encouraged by Georgina and excited at the prospect. Georgina had said she had plans in place and Tim was a part of them. So now the pressure was on Charlotte to bring Tim onside. She felt terrible for deceiving him, until Georgina had reminded her that recruiting Tim had been the original plan. She could have kicked herself for allowing her heart to rule her head.
In Woolworths at Clapham Junction, Tim picked up a poorly constructed wooden train set, moaning, ‘Look at this, it’s shabby, especially for the price.’
‘Just like everything else, there’s shortages,’ Charlotte replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
‘I would have liked to buy Arthur a Meccano set for Christmas but they’re not making any. The factory is producing goods for the war effort instead.’
‘Why haven’t your sister’s kids been evacuated?’
‘She wouldn’t have it. I tried to talk her into it but she refused.’
‘Are you sure she doesn’t mind me coming for Christmas?’
‘Of course not. She’s really looking forward to meeting you but she hasn’t stopped complaining about the lack of turkeys. We might be having lamb instead.’
‘I don’t mind,’ Charlotte said, tentatively adding, ‘but I know where to get a turkey, if you want one.’
Tim quickly glanced around before grabbing her arm and pulling her to one side away from other customers. He leaned towards her, his voice a whisper. ‘Shush, Charlotte. You can’t talk about things like that in public.’
‘What? All I said is I know where to get a turkey.’
‘Yes, but it’ll be on the black market and you know a lot of folk don’t like it.’
‘What about you?’ she asked teasingly. ‘Wouldn’t you love to see your sister’s face light up when you hand her a fat, fresh turkey? I could get you some nylons for her too. And some sweets for the kids if you like?’
She wondered if he might be appalled at her suggestion but could see by his face that he was tempted by the idea.
‘I realise some of your friends are a bit on the dodgy side but you’re asking me if I’m willing to break the law, the very thing that my uniform stands for.’
‘No, I’m not, Tim. I’m asking you if you’d like to see your sister’s delighted face if you was to give her a turkey.’
‘Don’t split hairs. To do that would mean I’d have to break the law.’
‘It’s up to you but it’s not like you’re murdering someone.’
Tim sighed, ‘Come on,’ he said shortly.
Charlotte cringed. Her suggestion hadn’t gone down well and now she was dreading how he’d react to her request about helping Georgina evade capture.
Once outside, as they walked towards Arding & Hobbs department store, he took her hand in his. ‘It was a lovely idea, thank you,’ he said, giving it a gentle squeeze.
‘The offer is still there,’ she pushed cheekily.
‘I must admit, I’m sorely tempted. Her husband has been missing in action for over a year now and something like a turkey on the table would cheer her up a bit.’
Charlotte stayed quiet, giving Tim time to mull over the thought.
‘And nylons, you say?’ he asked, giving her a mischievous grin.
‘Yes, nylons, sugar, chocolate, fruit, pretty much whatever you want.’
‘I know she’d appreciate some extra sugar and fruit to make a Christmas pudding. She reckons the shop only has four puddings in stock and there’s a waiting list of over sixty women in front of her. She wants to make Christmas special for the kids, you know, on account of their father missing.’
‘Well, if it was my sister and her husband was missing, I’d do whatever it took to put a smile on her face. She deserves it and why shouldn’t she have a turkey on her table? If it ain’t on hers, it’ll be on someone else’s.’
‘Do you know what, Charlotte, you’re right! I’m going to make sure my sister has a smashing Christmas. Can you introduce me to your friend?’
‘Just give me a list of what you want,’ Charlotte suggested, ‘And I’ll get it for you.’
‘Thanks, but I can’t ask you to break the law on my behalf. I’d rather deal with it myself.’
Charlotte swallowed hard and asked hesitantly, ‘But… well… but… what if I introduce you and then you arrest him?’
Tim stopped in the street and held Charlotte squarely by the shoulders. Looking her straight in the eye, he said, ‘I would never do that to you. You can trust me.’
‘Really? Can I?’
‘Charlotte, I’m not daft. I know all about your involvement with Georgina Garrett and her gang but that hasn’t stopped me falling in love with you.’
Her eyes stretched wide and her mouth gaped.
‘Yes, that’s right. I’m falling in love with you, Charlotte, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.’
‘But, Tim, you don’t know the ’alf of it.’
‘I know all I need to know and don’t think I haven’t wrestled with myself. My sarge had a stern word too and warned me to steer clear of you. They’ve got files you know, in the station, and he put yours in front of me. It made for some interesting reading.’
Charlotte gasped. ‘Why didn’t you tell me any of this?’
‘I’m telling you now.’
‘What’s in that file about me?’
‘Reports. Things about your background and investigations into your activities.’
‘You’ll know I was on the game then? I got nicked once for soliciting,’ she said defensively.
‘I know,’ Tim answered, releasing her shoulders and bowing his head.
‘See, you’re ashamed.’
His head snapped back up to meet her accusing eyes. ‘No, Charlotte, not ashamed. I’m not happy about it either but you did what you had to do and it couldn’t have been easy. But it’s in the past and that’s where it’s going to stay.’
Charlotte shook her head incredulously. ‘How can you claim to be falling in love with me when you know what I’ve done? I don’t believe you. Johnny was right all along… you’re setting me up… using me to try and get to Georgina.’
Tim rested his hands on her shoulders again. ‘No, no, Charlotte, I swear it’s not like that.’
She shook him off, spitting, ‘Yes it is! You don’t love me. You’re just looking for an arrest and snagging Georgina would be the arrest of your lifetime! Well, I hope breaking my heart was worth it.’
She whirled round and went to stomp off but Tim clutched at her arm.
‘Ger orf me,’ she growled, pulling from his grip.
‘Charlotte, please, you’re causing a scene. Let’s go someplace quiet and talk about it.’
‘I don’t give a monkey’s and there’s nothing to talk about.’
‘You’re so infuriating but this is one of the things I love about you! Hot-headed, independent and not afraid to say it as it is. But you’re wrong about me. Very wrong.’
‘Yeah? Prove it!’
‘How?’
Charlotte thought for a moment. She could have him right where she aimed to get him. But on the other hand, could she trust him? Risking everything, she quietly blurted, ‘I know where Georgina is.’
To her surprise, Tim didn’t appear shocked. ‘Did you hear what I said?’ she asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Well?’
‘Well, what? Are you expecting me to arrest you and take you in for questioning? Or am I supposed to ask where she is?’
‘Don’t you care?’
‘Not really. I probably should, but right now you’re all I care about and I don’t like seeing you upset.’
The ice that had formed around her heart began to melt. ‘I won’t lead you to her, if that’s what you’re hoping?’
He pulled her into his arms and held her there, saying quietly in her ear, ‘Stuff Georgina Garrett and stuff the police. This is about you and me, none of that matters.’
She stayed there, comfortable in his embrace. ‘Just the one turkey?’ she asked, lightening the mood.
Tim chuckled. ‘Yes, just the one.’
*
In Soho, Georgina followed Jacob Flowers as she strode through one of Temi Zammit’s clubs, Johnny close on her heels behind her. She’d expected better from the Zammits, something with more class, not a dimly lit seedy little club tucked away up a back street.
She held her head high, her chin jutting forward, and tried not to cough when she was shown into Temi’s office. Five men looked up from their seats when she entered the smoke-filled room. Two were playing cards on a coffee table, one was clipping a cigar and the other two were sat each side of Temi. The man himself was stood behind his desk with his back to her, seemingly looking at a fussy painting on the wall. She could feel an aura of power surrounding him which unnerved her, causing her heart to thud unnaturally fast.
Keeping his back to her, Temi spoke, his voice gravelly. ‘It’s always fascinated me, this picture. The bird is consuming that man like he would a worm. But there’s no emotion in his eyes. Look, come see how cold they are.’
One of the men rose from his seat and dragged the chair to one side for Georgina to pass. She stood alongside Temi and studied the strange painting.
‘A copy of Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights,’ Temi told her. ‘Every time I look at it, I see something different.’
The strange painting was in three parts. To the left, a depiction of a peaceful world with animals and beauty and God standing between Adam and Eve. The middle part was filled with naked bodies and debauchery in fantastic detail. The painting to the right looked like hell. Georgina wished Lord Hamilton was with her. He’d be more informed about this sort of thing.
‘What do you see, Miss Garrett?’
Georgina looked closer. She was drawn to the dark world of hell, the black buildings at the top of the picture, surrounded by smoke. She pointed to it. ‘It reminds me of the Blitz,’ she said flatly.
‘Ah, like me, hell attracts you. Do you believe in God?’
Georgina glanced sideways, surprised at how youthful Temi appeared. His greased-back black hair receded at his temples but there were no lines around his eyes. His nose hooked slightly down and, with his protruding chin, he put her in mind of Punch from the puppet shows. She turned back to the painting before answering, ‘I might believe in God, though I don’t answer to him.’
‘I’m told you answer to no man.’
‘You were told correctly,’ she said.
Temi startled her when he did a sharp about-turn and addressed his office. ‘Leave,’ he said loudly, pointing to the door.
His men followed the instruction without question, leaving Johnny and Jacob Flowers looking perplexed and uncomfortable.
‘All of you,’ Temi ordered, looking from Johnny to Jacob.
‘So disrespectful. I shall be having words with your father,’ Jacob warned before leaving.
Johnny’s eyes met Georgina’s for approval and she discreetly nodded affirmation, swallowing hard as Johnny closed the door behind them.
‘Take a seat, Miss Garrett,’ Temi offered, indicating to one in front of his desk.
She sat down, her face stern, concealing her nerves.
‘I’m glad we’ve cleared up the misunderstanding between us and I’m sorry that it must have cost you dearly. Jacob Flowers overcharges and is overrated but he is my father’s friend and a good accountant. You could have come to me directly. I’ve always got time for a pretty face that wearing men’s clothes can’t disguise.’
Georgina squirmed in her seat. As beguiling as she found Temi with his olive skin and dark eyes, she was in no mood for a coquettish exchange. ‘What do you want, Mr Zammit?’ she asked directly.
He raised his eyebrows and smiled drily. ‘Please, call me Temi. If we’re to work together, I think we can drop the formalities.’
‘What do you mean?’ she asked, her brow creasing.
‘Let’s have a drink and discuss it. I don’t suppose you’re a sherry sort of lady?’
‘Champagne,’ she replied, though felt quite ridiculous requesting champagne when she was dressed in heavy boots and dungarees.
Temi poured their drinks and asked her to join him on a green sofa against the side of the office. Another elaborate piece of art hung over the sofa and Georgina wondered if Temi had heard about her heist of reproduction Old Masters.
She sat on the sofa, pushing herself up against the arm, as far away from Temi as possible.
‘I trust you’ve made arrangements to secure your freedom on the outside?’ he asked.
‘Yes, things are in place.’
‘Do you require any assistance from me?’
‘No, thank you,’ she answered emphatically, her mind racing as she wondered what Temi’s intentions were.
He edged closer towards her. ‘To freedom,’ he said, raising his glass in the air.
‘To freedom,’ she parroted and clinked his glass, noticing the large gold ring he wore on his little finger. She wished he would shift back up to the other end of the sofa.
‘How are you enjoying your freedom?’
‘As you’d expect.’
Temi sipped his drink, looking over the top of his glass at her. She felt he was scrutinising her but she couldn’t read him, though she knew he wanted something from her.
‘You’re a fine looking woman, Georgina. And this,’ he said, waving his hand up and down in front of her, ‘is your disguise to evade the police?’
‘Yes.’
‘It’s good. You carry it off well. I’d have liked to see you dressed as a lady should. I’m sure you turn heads wherever you go.’
She didn’t like where this conversation was heading and drank three large gulps of the champagne. After placing her half-empty glass on a table beside the sofa, she turned to look at Temi directly in the eyes. ‘I don’t want to be your friend. I don’t need your help. But I’m willing to do business with you,’ she told him straight.
Again, Temi’s eyebrows raised and he smiled. ‘I’m hurt, Georgina, genuinely hurt,’ he said in jest and, smiling, placed his hands on his chest. ‘You’ve broken my heart.’
His humour relaxed Georgina and she finally offered a small smirk.
‘If I’ve misled you, I apologise. My intentions are strictly business. I’m a happily married man with two children and my wife is the only person I fear. She’s a remarkable woman. In fact, you’d probably get on well with her!’
‘Thank you,’ she answered, relieved that he didn’t have an ulterior motive to be alone with her. ‘What business would you like to discuss. I’m assuming it’s about the artwork I have at my disposal?’
‘Artwork? No, it wasn’t, but I’d be interested to know more. But first, something of a more serious matter… The Top.’
Her blood ran cold at the mention of his name.
‘I’m a powerful man, Georgina, equally, so is The Top. You seem to appreciate straight talking so I won’t beat about the bush… I want him dead.’
Georgina rubbed her finger where her mother’s wedding ring had once been and checked herself that she wasn’t showing a reaction to Temi’s statement. She didn’t know the man. It could be a trap. He could be working with The Top to try and flush out her intentions.
As if reading her mind, Temi continued, ‘I know you’ve visited him and while there, you were told he was the man who murdered David Maynard. I also know how you felt about Mr Maynard. This leads me to believe that you’d want some sort of revenge. Am I correct?’
Georgina reached round for her glass and knocked back the remaining champagne.
‘I’ll get you another,’ Temi offered, reaching for her glass.
‘No, thank you,’ she said, wanting to keep a clear head.
‘I worked with Mr Maynard on several occasions. I was nothing back then, just the son of a Maltese man. My father was trying to make a name for our family. He respected Mr Maynard and was saddened to hear of his untimely death.’
‘That’s not enough for you to want The Top dead.’
‘No, it’s not. But The Top is more powerful than David Maynard was. We don’t know enough about him. It concerns me that he simply walked in and destroyed Maynard. The Top could do the same to any of us. I want him toppled before he tries to crush what my father has built.’
‘Why do you want me involved? Why not just do it yourself?’
‘As I explained, The Top is equally as powerful as my family. And I don’t want to start a war with him.’
‘I see. You want me to take the risk to keep your name out of it. Any comeback will be on me.’
‘When you put it like that, yes, I suppose so. But you want him dead and I can help you. With my help, you’re more likely to succeed than if you attempted it alone.’
‘I’ll have that glass refilled now,’ she said, holding it out.
Temi took it from her and went to the drinks cabinet on the other side of his office, which gave her time to think. Acutely aware that this could still be a set-up, she pushed for more information. ‘How do you propose to help me?’
Temi handed her a full champagne flute. ‘I’ve a man on the inside. He can get you in with your gun.’
Georgina thought back to the man who’d frisked her and had deliberately touched her breasts. Thinking about it now, he had the same black hair as Temi and the swarthy skin tone. It hadn’t occurred to her until now that he could be Maltese.
‘It was my man who informed me of your visit to see The Top. He works on the door.’
‘I think I know who he is.’
‘He can give you free passageway inside. Then it’s up to you. But it makes it easier for you to get to The Top, doesn’t it?’
She drew in a long breath. Yes, it certainly did. But could she trust Temi?
‘You’ve nothing to lose,’ he said, ‘you’re going to do it anyway, so you may as well do it with a helping hand from me.’
Georgina sipped the champagne, her mind turning. ‘All right,’ she finally said. ‘Give your man the nod. I’ll be going in after Christmas.’
‘Good decision,’ Temi said, offering his hand out to shake. ‘Now, about this artwork…’
Half an hour later, Georgina left with Johnny, having arranged for Lord Hamilton to visit Temi the next day. He had been keen to discover what paintings he could purchase and Georgina was happy that the sale would be more than enough to pay the balance due to Jacob Flowers. All in all, it had been a meeting of surprises. Temi had been more approachable than she’d expected and best of all, she could look forward to putting a bullet in The Top.