Page 10 of Romancing the Rumrunner
It was a good setup. Primitive but utterly suitable for those looking for a clandestine drink. Besides, the medieval surroundings gave The Red Phoenix a certain nostalgic romance that people seemed to love. And the sultry tones coming from Jessie’s top-billed songstress lent the speakeasy a hearty helping of sex appeal. The makeshift tables were full of laughing patrons perched on overturned buckets and reinforced boxes, drinking her father’s best home gin, and since she never watered down what she served and she didn’t have a drink limit, her club was very popular.
She’d be able to stay open longer if she rationed out the gin, but the business’s longevity wasn’t her goal. She wanted to make as much money as fast as she could so she could get out of the racket before either the Feds or Willie the Weasel got wise to her game. Both wanted to shut her down, but for entirely different reasons. She wasn’t going to let either of them ruin what she’d worked so hard to build. Not until she could get out from under the ax hanging over her head.
Jessie’s father had been a good man and had worked hard every day of his life, but business hadn’t been going so great in the months before his death, and he’d had to take out a few loans from men he didn’t realize were part of Willie the Weasel’s crew. Willie wanted his money paid back in full, with interest, and the butcher shop just didn’t bring in enough. With the speakeasy, she was well on her way to paying off the debt.
She’d even been able to start a little nest egg, something she’d heavily debated doing. Paying off Willie as soon as possible was something she absolutely needed to do. But getting that debt squared away would do her no good if she didn’t have the funds necessary to keep the butcher shop up and running. In the end, she’d decided to bank on her future needs, even if it meant delaying getting Willie out of her life by a few months.
Besides, paying him off too quickly might make him more curious than he already was about The Red Phoenix and how well it was doing. He’d been somewhat lenient about her speakeasy rivaling his own joints because he was getting a nice cut of the action. Too much dough rolling in might hurt her more than help.
Things were going well. An end was finally in sight. She just needed a little more time.
Time she wasn’t sure she had, thanks to her sadistic ex. Yes, she’d owed Willie money before ever meeting Mario, but he was the one who’d brought The Red Phoenix, and her association with it, to Willie’s attention. And Willie had noticed that the club was supplied with liquor that didn’t come from him. His growing interest in the matter was a constant gnawing fear Jessie couldn’t shake.Thank you, Mario, she thought snidely.
“Hey, boss. Pour me one, will you?”
Jessie frowned at Maude, tonight’s entertainment and her best friend, but poured her a drink.
“Oh don’t be such a flat tire,” Maude said. “I need my giggle water. Singin’s hard work.”
“This stuff’ll ruin your voice if you keep downing it like that.”
“Naw. It’ll keep it nice and raspy, just the way the boys like it.” She winked at Jessie, who couldn’t help but smile at the vivacious blonde.
Maude had curves in all the right places and a voice that left men, and a few women, quivering in their seats. Jessie thanked her lucky stars for the day that Maude had walked into her joint looking for work. They’d known each other as children, but it had been years since she’d seen her. Jessie had been on the hunt for a good voice and had been ready to take the stage herself until Maude had sauntered in. Jessie had been thrilled to see her old friend again and even more thrilled to offer her a job. Maude had been solid gold dynamite, and between her singing and Jessie’s father’s booze, The Red Phoenix stayed packed. And profitable.
“So, you hear about The Corkscrew?” Maude rolled her eyes. “Supposedly under new management after their last raid. Been pretty busy since then. I hear the mook who runs the place now is a real looker.”
Jessie laughed. “Folks are probably going just to get a look at his pretty mug.”
“Maybe. Wouldn’t mind getting a gander at him myself. Hey Joe,” she said, leaning across the bar to flag him down. “Butt me, will ya?”
Joe chuckled and handed her a ciggy, pushing a candle in her direction so she could light it. She turned back to Jessie, blowing out a ring of smoke. “If I were you, I’d drop in on him and see what all the fuss is about. The crowd is looking a little thin tonight.”
Jessie looked back over the patrons. Maude was right. The place was still hopping, but normally at this time of night, it should be standing room only.
“Maybe I will. Wouldn’t hurt to see what the competition is offering.”
“And what we can do to make sure what we’re offering is better,” Maude said, stubbing out her cigarette and smoothing her hands over her voluptuous hips.
Jessie laughed. “No worries, Maudey, my dear, no one can offer what you’ve got going.”
“Well, of course not.”
Maude winked at Jessie and sauntered back to the stage.
…
Tony sat beside his mother’s bed, watching her as she slept. He frowned, trying to push back the worry that clutched at his heart like a vise. She seemed frailer than last week. Tiny against the pillows, the hand that lay on the blankets looked wrinkled and tinged with gray. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, and took her hand in his own. The hand that had so often soothed him when he’d needed it as a boy. Or more often had wielded a wooden spoon, threatening his hide. He hadn’t been the best behaved kid in the world.
The memories brought a small smile to his face. She was small, but she was fierce. She was all he had left in the world. His pa had died years ago and Tony was an only child. A surprise to his parents after twenty childless years. When she was gone, he’d be alone.
Her hand tightened on his and he looked up to find her watching him.
“Hi, Ma.”
She gave his hand another squeeze and he was encouraged by the strength he still felt in it.
“I’m not gone yet, my boy. I’ve still got a few good years left in me, so stop looking at me like that.”
