Women and War Read Online Free Page B

choose. Oh no, I don’t need to rape anyone and if I did I assure you it would be in comfort.’
    â€˜Then what …?’
    â€˜I can afford to wait for what I want,’ he said and the note in his voice chilled her. ‘You’ll come to me in your own good time.’ He leaned over then tapping the glass that separated the rear of the car from the driver. ‘Open the door please, Aldo.’
    The door slid open. Tara gaped at it, too surprised to take advantage of her way of escape now that it was offered.
    â€˜Well, aren’t you going?’ he said. ‘Or have you decided to come home with me already?’
    She moved then with all the speed and agility that her tight-fitting dress would allow, tumbling out into the street and running on her spike-heeled shoes down the alley. But it was not until she reached the flight of uneven stone steps leading up to the front door that she heard the engine purr into life and glancing fearfully over her shoulder saw the Cadillac slide away.
    Maggie was asleep when Tara came bursting in, hennaed hair spread in violent disarray across the pillow. The room smelled stale and Tara guessed that Maggie had had at least one visitor that evening.
    â€˜Maggie …’
    â€˜Ugh?’
    â€˜Maggie, please wake up! There was a man … a man at the Club. He brought me home in his car …’
    Maggie rolled over. ‘Mm – all right for some …’
    â€˜It wasn’t what you think …’ Tara broke off realizing the futility of it.
    â€˜A car! Think yourself lucky,’ Maggie mumbled and was promptly asleep once more.
    Tara sighed. She straightened up, kicked off her shoes and stood for a moment hugging herself with her arms. Then she peeled off the skin tight dress, the wisp of suspender belt and stockings, turned back the sheets and climbed in beside Maggie.
    Maggie was wearing a nightgown, a creation in green art silk which had been given to her by one of her gentlemen friends. Her body heat burned through in waves but ignoring it Tara curled close to her back. Before long Maggie would probably lash out, tell her to ‘Give me some air, for Chrissakes!’ But for the moment Tara felt in need of comfort and Maggie, unwilling or not, was the closest she could come to that.
    The next evening when Tara arrived at the Canary Club she was summoned at once to Ed’s office. He sat behind his desk sweating slightly and dabbing at his face with a silk handkerchief.
    â€˜Tara, I’m sorry, I don’t know how to tell you this so I might as well come right out with it. I can’t have you working here any more.’
    Her jaw dropped. ‘Why not?’
    â€˜I’m under orders to get rid of you.’
    â€˜Whose orders?’
    He dabbed at his face again and replaced the handkerchief in the pocket of his tuxedo.
    â€˜You know who that was here last night, don’t you?’ Her face darkened. She did not answer. ‘It was Red Maloney,’ he continued. ‘Well, Red wants me to get rid of you.’
    Her chin came up.
    â€˜Red wants! Well, why the hell do you have to do what Red wants?’
    Out came the handkerchief again. Ed dabbed at his profusely sweating forehead.
    â€˜It seems you upset him last night.’
    â€˜So what?’
    â€˜I’ll tell you so what. Red wants you out of here. And in case you didn’t know it what Red says goes. I don’t want to lose you – you’re the best draw the Canary has ever had. But I don’t want the place done over either. I can’t afford that.’
    â€˜And Red will do it over if you don’t get rid of me?’
    â€˜That’s right. Oh look, Tara, you still don’t know who he is do you? He’s only the most powerful man round here, that’s all. He runs clubs, brothels, protection rackets, dial-a-bloody hit man, the lot. He has the sly grog shops sewn up, and the gambling dens. He’s trouble, for