Lakefront and Mrs. Grey

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Chapter Twelve

Morning Dew

“Aimee” Pat whispered the next morning as she looked down at the cash in her hands. Cash Kathleen had given her but a moment before. It was still early, the business hadn’t opened yet and all the employees were moving about outside the closed door. Preparing for what they hoped would be a better day. Even Mr. MacGregor hadn’t shown up yet, though that wouldn’t last.

“Has paid her debts” Kathleen answered. “After her training she will be sent to a Western state. A rather rich man has had a very long standing order for one exactly like her.”

Pat sat the money down, brushing her hands as though to get filth off of them. “A womans life” she whispered. “A woman I once thought I loved. I’ve reduced myself to this.”

“No” Kathleen corrected. “I have reduced myself to this. You fired her Pat. I took her. I sold her.”

“But I knew” the Scottish woman countered. “I could have kept her on. She would be here today.”

Kathleen bit her tongue lightly, holding back the words she wanted to say. She had seen this before, the sudden regret. Wanting to buy back what had already been sold. Be it a woman, a chair or anything else. Instead of snapping at her employer she changed tactics. “If you had kept her Pat, what would she be doing in two months. Tell me that.”

“With good luck she would be a maid, or a laundress” Pat answered. “But knowing Aimee’s luck, she would be selling herself on the street. But how is that different that where she is now?”

Kathleen stood slowly in the small room, moving behind the Scottish woman to place her arms about her waist. “On the streets she would be beaten, cut, exposed to things that would kill her in her youth” she explained softly. “This life will be harsh yes, but she will be taken care of. One does not put that kind of money into anything just to abuse it. If he wanted that, any streetwalker would have done. One who will not be missed. Aimee will have a better life. Much less freedom yes, but she will live a lot longer.” She licked Pats ear, causing her employer to gasp. “You, I. We going tah have ah lon life tagether” she continued, bringing her accent back into play. “Ah deal issa deal, ahn ah cannoa wait tah taste yah.”

Patricia tried to break away, only to find herself at the disadvantage in the barely closet on a room. Instead she turned around in those arms, looking into eyes that could change from soft desire to deadly intent with nothing more than a thought. “Ahn iffn ah say no?”

“Then ah move ohn. Yah can handle all tha bad boys tha want this place. Whan you. Whan yer girls. Pat, fifty oh mor depen upon this place. You say noh, this plac falls. Tha have nothin.”

“Ahn York Kat. Wha bout York.”

Kathleen released her hold, stepping back as far as the tiny office would allow. “Tonight” she answered. “New York is here. I leave work, I meet New York.” She waved at the thousand dollars. “Not enough to save your ship Pat, but enough to keep the sharks away a few months. Maybe you can think of something by then.”

“Sure ah ah can sell more lasses to yer little yellow skinned frien” Pat agreed. “Eventually someone will notice” she continued, tossing aside her accent. “With luck I’ll follow them, won’t I.”

“As I will, if we did such too often. But New York calls. If I do not answer, they will burn this place in spite.” She slumped a bit. “Like you, I hoped. Face reality Pat. Odds are, today is the last day you will ever see me, miracles aside.” She swallowed, running her hands down her tight fitting dress. “I could do my self, but suicide is against the Lords teaching. And I’m too scared to even try. Besides, I’ve my reputation to uphold. The Iron Bitch doesn’t take the easy way out.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Here, in this office” Pat countered. “I believe in miracles Kat. God knows you’ve been enough of one already. Take that money, make the best payments you can to our creditors. A few months with the sharks circling is better than they start feeding now.” She looked at her watch. “Girls are going to think we have a thing on, I’m late. I’ll see you at lunch.” Pat turned around, opening the tiny door and leaving. Leaving the door open behind her.

With nothing better to do Kathleen carefully put the money in one of her desk drawers, then started going through the books. Who was screaming the loudest, and how thinly could she spread what she had the Irish woman wondered.

Lunch found Kathleen walking out of the City Water Board, having settled a six month old bill that the previous bookkeeper had shown was paid in full. It wasn’t a huge amount of money, considering, but the water would have been turned off by the end of the week. Between the city utilities, a back sales tax bill and State taxes the money the Aimee’s purchase had given them was almost gone. That left the newspaper, who had refused their last advertisement buy due to past due accounts. They really needed that advertisement space, as Pat had a big sale ready. It would eat much of the money she still had with her.

It wasn’t all the thousand of course, as Pat had allowed Kathleen an extra hundred and fifty from cash on hand. The rest they had hidden on the fifth floor. Pat was certain that old man MacGregor was going to be wanting more cash this week, and what was left barely covered the salaries. When she entered the newspaper eyes turned towards her. Kath wasn’t a bad looking woman, and she had chosen her ivory dress to wear today. The ivory dress that barely allowed her any movement.

New York would love cutting that off her she knew. And using it against her.

“Accounts Receivable” she asked the man standing under an information sign.

“Second floor” he answered, not bothering to hide his leer. “Turn left from tha stairs, room two oh one.”

Not bothering to thank the man Kathleen made her way up the wide stairs, well aware that eyes were watching her as she moved. Just as she would some pretty thing, were the chance hers. It was the way of life, and even now she liked the idea that her body still attracted eyes.

Dealing with the debt proved easy enough, as was paying in advance for the next advertisement. Kathleen gritted her teeth though as she ran the gauntlet of those staring eyes as she came back down the stairs. With the newspaper bill settled their weekend one-page would be run. It was too bad she wouldn’t be alive to see it, the galleys had proven interesting. Contrary to Mr. MacGregor's desires his wife had signed off on a big sale. Mainly all the things that had been sitting around the last four or five years unsold. Items just too expensive for the neighborhood that her store now found itself serving. It was either sell the stock at a small loss, or give it away. Mrs. MacGregor had agreed that a small loss was better than a large one, and that storing the materials was simply a waste of effort. It seemed an interesting choice, but business wasn’t Kathleen’s strong point. In fact she barely understood it at all.

Returning to the store she walked into an argument between Mr. MacGregor and Patricia. Standing out of the way she listened, finally realizing that the man had wanted to make a ‘withdrawal’ from the safe, only to find it nearly empty.

“And where is the money you say? You gave it to a new hire?” he yelled. Thankfully there were no customers in at this hour, which was bad Pat had explained. But is saved the two embarrassment this time.

Clearing her throat Kathleen walked into the battle, fully aware that the tubby old man was going to turn his anger upon her next. Not that it mattered, she had been looking for a job when she came here. “Pat, the receipts” she said, announcing her prescience. It caused both to turn to her.

“Thank you Kathleen” Pat answered sweetly. “And the extra money?”

“Seven dollars, eleven cents Mam” Kat answered, handing over the money.

“Thank you. Please return to our office and correct the books” Pat started, when MacGregor jumped in.

“Just where were you, and why wasn’t I informed” he demanded.

Kathleen looked into the mans eyes, not flinching a bit. It bothered him she noted quickly. “Mr. MacGregor” she said softly, though her voice carried ice within it. “Pat ordered me to go over the books. Your last Accountant was bleeding you dry. Among things not paid were utilities, the newspaper and telephone. I have just spent the entire morning paying all outstanding debts SIR.” She liked the little flinch his face showed when she said Sir. “Had they not been paid today, water, electricity and telephone would have been shut off tomorrow. A Friday. They could not have been turned on again until Monday. The Newspaper had refused to run this weekends advertisement SIR. These receipts are for payment in full, though I was forced to pay the Newspaper in advance this week. May I return to my work. Sir?” She finished in a polite voice, though its sound was still glacier cold.

She was still staring into his eyes as she finished, noting that finally he turned his eyes away. “Thank you Miss Grey” he almost mumbled, then headed for his own office and the bottled blond waiting for him.

“You are scary” Pat whispered as she returned the receipts. “Were really good for the month?”

“For the month” Kat agreed. “Though your ship is still headed for the reef. I did all I could.” She accepted the receipts, then returned to her office. Best to straighten up things for the next accountant. New York was waiting.