First of Summer - 4

Chapter Four: Cat’s Meow

The clocks in the Tennyson house showed a quarter-past five on their faces before Ben arrived. He found Gwen waiting for him in the living room, dressed in what he assumed was as daring as Gwen was capable. The sleeves were still present though shortened to end just a few inches above her elbows and he supposed the calf-length skirt was better than nothing. Her feet were clad in flat step-in shoes, obviously designed for comfort rather than style. It was then he noticed Gwen was absently cutting cards with one hand. She didn’t even seem to be concentrating much; the movement of her fingers was fluid, practiced, like she could do this blindfolded.

“What are you doing?” Ben blinked as he watched in surprise as his cousin suddenly fanned out the cards on the table to flip them all in one smooth sweep of her hand.

“Calming myself down.” She replied, her voice lacking all signs of anxiety.

“I think you’re confusing a good time with something else.” Ben laughed before removing his coat. “Lemme just get out of my uniform and I’ll show you the sights.”

“Oh about that,” Gwen raised her hand, “Do you mind if we leave a little later? Like two hours later? I, uh, have a more pressing engagement to attend to.”

Ben arched a brow, “And that is?”

Gathering the cards into one hand, Gwen bent them lengthwise just enough to give the deck enough tension to spring from one hand to the other. The young woman stated simply “A job interview.”

Ben was certainly taken by surprise, “I thought you were here on vacation?”

“I am, but it turns out big city living requires deep pockets. Pockets that I obviously don’t have. So, I’m going to need a part-time job.” She explained as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“You are absolutely screwy. What kind of dame goes on vacation and then gets a job?” Ben shook his head in disbelief.

“This kind of dame,” Gwen pointed to herself as she tucked away the deck of cards into her purse. “I have to go, it’s a long way to that shop and I have to get there by six.”

Even if Ben didn’t approve of Gwen taking a job on what was supposed to be her holiday it was her time to with as she pleased. And if that meant working instead of relaxing, well, Ben didn’t really have much of a say in the matter. However, he insisted that he at least ‘check the place out’ for Gwen’s sake.

This was not well met by the female Tennyson as she considered it an affront to her judgment. Before the argument could escalate between the two cousins, a compromise was reached. Ben would act as chauffer and moral support for Gwen and she would let him act like the tough, over-protective cop-and-cousin he was trying to be with minimal protest.

“I still say you’re making this a bigger deal than it is.” Gwen shrugged as she climbed into the rust bucket.

“And I still say you’re screwy for wanting to work when I could just as easily spot you the dough.” Ben retorted as he started up the vehicle.

“Right, because you’re simply overflowing with cash. Is that why the rust bucket’s in such mint condition?” She smirked, patting the poor excuse of upholstery that struggled to stretch out over the seats.

“Grandpa Max wants the rust bucket to keep her charm and character. And he goes through great lengths to keep her as is.” He sighed, recalling his many failed attempts at jazzing up the aforementioned vehicle. Being turned down by so many auto shops simply because no one wants to mess up with Max Tennyson’s jalopy was not a very fond memory for Ben.

“So tell me about the cards.” He quickly decided to change the subject.

“What about them?”

“Well, it’s just that it isn’t often you see people handling the cards the way you do. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a regular card shark.”

Gwen flashed her cousin a smirk before lifting her fingers and twiddling them in the air, “Why thank you, I like to think my dexterous little friends are good for more than just darning socks and mending clothes.”

“How’d you learn to do all those anyway?”

“Small towns don’t offer much excitement. You get your kicks when and where you can. It just so happens that the library is filled with wonderful things called books. Some of them just happen to be about sleight of hand performances and card tricks.”

“So you are a card shark!”

“I wouldn’t go that far, Ben. Knowing how the dealer shuffles the cards is just an advantage.” She grinned, “How else do you think I could have afforded coming here? Oh, there’s that shop!” she pointed.

Ben slammed on the brakes far harder than he would have liked. “You can’t be serious, Gwen. Do you know what that place is?”

“My potential place of employment.” She remarked before hopping out of the car.

“Wait! Gwen! You can’t go in there!” Ben called out as he struggled to exit the vehicle. It was obvious Gwen wasn’t interested in listening to him as she quickly slipped past the doors.

This is just dandy, Ben groaned to himself, Oh well, she’ll find out for herself and then she’ll come running right out. He nodded in confidence and a rather mischievous smile cracked across his lips. At least this time it’s my turn to say I told you so.

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The interior of the dress shop looked different at night. The skulls and bones that had seemed interesting in the morning sunshine now looked ominous and menacing, as if a warning for trespassers or a promise of things to come. The faint glow of the cloth-covered lamps barely illuminated the room, casting more shadows than banishing them. The scent of sandalwood incense clung to every surface, as if masking something within the dim room.

Gwen gulped audibly as she stepped in, the calm she had managed to find earlier quickly draining out of her. Drawing in a deep breath, she called out, “Hello, ma’am? It’s Gwendolyn, from earlier today? I’m here for the-”

“You’re here early. And call me Madame or Charmcaster. Never ma’am.” Charmcaster remarked as she emerged from the backroom. She seemed pleased by Gwen’s punctuality and reached out her hand to Gwen. “Alright, hun, you ready for the test?”

Gwen nodded and accepted the proffered limb, suddenly finding herself being pulled towards the full length mirror. With a practiced motion, Charmcaster shoved the mannequins away and drew the curtains around them, shrouding them in darkness.

“Your test is three parts,” Charmcaster explained, “The first is beauty. My girls need to meet a certain standard. So here,” the store owner unceremoniously tossed a dress at Gwen. “Put that on and let me see how you look in it.”

Charmcaster stepped out of the small cloth enclosure to let Gwen change, much to the young woman’s relief. Gwen fumbled in the dark as she removed her own clothes while beginning to wonder what it was she was getting into. Just as she finished pulling the dress over her head, the curtains parted.

“Well? Let me see you, hun.”

Gwen spun around, feeling uncomfortably exposed in the garment she had been instructed to wear. Her bare arms folded across her chest, unintentionally drawing attention to the plunging neckline that showed an alluring hint of her cleavage. The skirt hugged her slim hips like a second skin before ending just a hair’s breadth past fair-skinned knees.

“Isn’t this a little, um, flashy for me?” Gwen asked, her cheeks flushing when she saw her reflection in the mirror.

“Hun, you look down right keen in that little number. Alright, you’ve passed the first part with flying colors.” Charmcaster purred. “Part two is brains. My girls need to be able to think on their feet for any sort of situation. For example...” she trailed off before suddenly pressing herself completely against Gwen’s smaller frame.

“A client is getting a little too friendly with you. What’ll you do, hun?” She breathed into Gwen’s ear.

At first, Gwen was too stunned to react. Having never found herself in such a scenario before, her mind had gone blank. The only thing she was acutely aware of was how the scent of lavender clung to Charmcaster’s hair and how soft and warm her body was. But eventually Gwen regained her composure and promptly pushed Charmcaster off her.

“I’ll thank you to keep your hands to yourself.” Gwen declared sternly, eyes narrowing dangerously.

“But what if they’re quite insistent?” The older woman leered, suddenly sliding beside Gwen while her arms snake around the red-head’s body. Her amethyst eyes caught the sight of an elbow aiming for her face. Deftly she leaned backwards, releasing her hold on Gwen to avoid the collision. Slowly she righted herself and found Gwen had already moved back, smiling pleasantly in the darkness.

“That was just a warning.” Gwen declared sweetly. I didn’t ever think watching farm hands tussle all those summers would pay off.

“You just passed parts two and three, with that stunt, hun. And you’re the second girl to use anything other than a slap.” Charmcaster beamed in delight. “Finally I get another live wire. I was getting tired of all the wilting daisies we have here. You start tonight.”

Gwen had just gotten a hold of her purse when she blinked in disbelief. “Tonight? But I had plans for tonight with my cousin.”

“You’re just gonna have to tell him to take a rain check, hun.” Charmcaster shrugged.

“Let me get changed first so I can tell him.” She began and quickly gathered her things.

“You ain’t goin’no where and you’re keeping the dress on, hun.” Charmcaster stated. “Just tell me where the cat is at and I’ll tell him for you.”

“He’s just outside. And if I can just ask am I supposed to be modeling the dresses for the store?” Gwen canted her head.

Charmcaster just stared at Gwen before bursting out in laughter, “Oh my Lord, you have no idea what this joint is all about, do you hun?”

Before Gwen could answer, the platinum-haired woman slung her arms across the female Tennyson’s shoulders and ushered her through the curtains and into the backroom.

Gwen’s eyes widened at the sight of a large, well-lit parlor, easily ten times the size of the cramped shop front. Immediately she could understand the need for the sandalwood incense as the unmistakable smell of cigarette smoke permeated the room. Tables with chairs stacked atop clustered in one end, while cushioned booths stood a few feet away. A black piano waited patiently beside an unlit platform that served as a stage.

Several young women loitered in scattered groups, applying make up or adjusting their glittering stockings and heavily sequined dresses. Feather-adorned hats and sparkling bandanas decorated sleek, bobbed hair as painted lips chattered and giggled. Compared to these women, Gwen never felt so drab in her entire life.

Lining a majority of the wall was a bar where liquors and spirits of all sort were kept in full view as a sort of defiant protest against the prohibition law. A young, well dressed man was bussing the long counter while another was polishing and wiping drinking glasses.

“Now do you understand what kind of joint I run, hun?” Charmcaster’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“It’s a Speak Easy?” Gwen blinked, having only heard of such places as she never quite found the desire to enter one.

“Now you’re on the trolley, hun. I have to be honest with you. You’re cute but you seem like one of them bluenose, high hat types so I don’t really expect you to stick around. But as you said earlier today I’m desperate and need all the help I can get. Especially for tonight.” The proprietor explained.

“But what about-”

“The pay? You’ll get your share after the evening’s over, hun. All’s I need for you to do is to greet the clients as they come in.”

“N-no, I mean what about my cousin Ben? He’s still outside waiting for me.”

“I’ll go tell him to come swing by for you in a couple of hours.” Charmcaster motioned for a tall, athletic woman with rust-hued locks to approach them. “Rojo, hun, this here’s Gwen. Show her the ropes while I go take care of other matters.”

And Gwen was left with the fierce-looking pale woman who showed far more flesh than necessary in Gwen's opinion. “Uh, nice to meet you, Rojo was it?” adjusting her things, she started to extend her hand when Rojo simply slapped it away.

“I ain’t interested in making friends. I just want to land me a man so's I’ll be set for life. So stay out of the way and try not to look too pretty, you got that, runt?”

Nursing her wrist, Gwen glared defiantly at the taller woman, “Don’t worry, I’ll only be here for tonight.”

“Heh, you probably wouldn’t last any longer than that anyway.” Rojo smirked, “You sure don’t look like a flapper girl. You’re more of a frump. And frumps here get eaten alive.” She flashed a tooth grin before chomping down in mimicry of a shark.

“Maybe I just don’t require the attention of men to make myself feel special.” Gwen smirked and suddenly found herself being lifted off the ground by the collar of her dress.

“You got a smart mouth. Maybe I should paint it with your blood?”

“Is there a problem, ladies?” A familiar, velvety smooth voice interrupted.

Gwen gasped in surprise to see the same, dark haired man she ran into earlier that day.

                                                                 ---------

Outside, Ben waited in the car, fingers drumming on the car’s dashboard.

“How long does a person take to realize this dress shop isn’t really a dress shop?” he muttered.

Hearing the sound of an opening door, Ben turned towards the shop’s entrance expecting to see his cousin. A figure emerged, but the long tresses were a clear indication that whoever it was, it wasn’t Gwen.

“Well, well, well. Never thought I’d see you in this part of the city, hun.” The sultry voice of Charmcaster chuckled.

“I’m only here for my cousin,” Ben replied deadpan as he got out of the car.

Charmcaster laughed, “I never would have guessed the little bearcat inside is related to Edwin’s lapdog.”

“You’ll find that my bite’s worse than my bark,” Ben returned darkly.

“A rabid lapdog can be quite deadly.” Was the mocking reply, “Now look, hun, your concern for your cousin is quite touching. But she’s a big girl and she’s got enough moxy to keep herself from getting into any scrapes in there.”

“She’s still my cousin and I have to keep her out of trouble. Now if you don’t mind sending her out, we’ll be on our way and out of your hair. Or am I going to have to storm the place?”

“And risk breaking the truce,” Charmcaster sneered before leaning in close to Ben’s ear, “Or your cover? I’m sure the boys in blue won’t look too kindly on knowing they have a dirty cop.”

“Who said I was going to Edwin’s? Uncle Phil, or should I say Lieutenant Phillips gave me strict orders to show Gwen a good time. And if you’re getting in the way of that, I can charge you with obstruction.”

“You think you’re the only one who’s got friends in high places?” She returned smugly, her hip jutting out defiantly at Ben. “Oh hun, we can keep at this all night but I’ve got a joint to take care of. And you being here is bad for business. Come back in a couple of hours, your cousin will have enough money to get herself as dolled up as she wants for the next season or two.”

“I don’t think so.”

With a sigh, Charmcaster entered her shop with Ben closely following her. Moments later, the young man was being roughly tossed out by two large men.

“You heard the lady, come back in a few hours. We’ll keep an eye on Len for ya.” The larger one of the pair laughed.

“Gwen.” The other corrected gruffly.

“Whatever.”

Ben winced from the pavement’s solid greeting before dusting himself off. Grimacing, he got into the rust bucket and drove off. This little altercation between them was far from over.

                                                                 ---------

Kevin was in the dimly lit stock room checking on their inventory after they had finished loading everything in. He had taken it upon himself to personally oversee the re-stocking, having lost two shipments these past few months to some unknown group. His sources had no idea who was behind the thefts as all leads seemed to either grow cold or arrive at a dead end.

Emphasis on dead.

How many guys had he lost? Kevin could probably count them all on one hand, but it was the principle of the thing that irked him. Someone actually had the guts to take him on but not enough to actually make himself known?

“Blasted coward.” He snarled to himself as he carefully closed the lid on the crate of liquor. He knew it couldn’t have been Edwin, given how he had heard the other man’s gang had been losing numbers themselves.

There was no word on any new group forming, no talk of a dark horse trying to make it big on the scene. Whoever it was, they weren’t trying to give themselves a name and that struck Kevin as odd. The point of stealing liquor from someone else was to drive the other party out of business while helping your own to grow. No one had heard of any new speak easy suddenly emerging, so where was all the booze going? Even the cops on Kevin’s payroll were clueless about the whereabouts of the smuggled spirits.

Still puzzled, Kevin exited the stock room, deciding to unwind over a drink before the night’s crowd started to arrive. Normally he would make an appearance, just to remind the customers that they were paying for more than just the drinks. His notoriety was one of the many reasons why his speak easy was so popular.

One could never be certain of what would happen with Kevin Levin around. A cheap thrill, but it was one Kevin was willing to provide from time to time.

Just not tonight. Not when that smug, prissy Morningstar was around.

It was no secret that Kevin disliked a fair amount of people. Edwin was certainly one of them, but that was out of principle. After all, it just wouldn’t do to be on good terms with the boss of your gang’s rival, would it? Benjamin Tennyson however, he disliked for other reasons. The young officer was good friends with Edwin for one. And more often than not when raids were made or when deals went sour, Ben would have had a hand in setting it up. But Kevin knew it was all business, even if it looked like Tennyson was personally gunning for him.

Morningstar, on the other hand, Kevin disliked out of personal reasons. Entering the parlor, an argument between two women provided him with a much appreciated distraction from the subject of Mike Morningstar.

“Maybe I just don’t require the attention of men to make myself feel special.” There was something vaguely familiar about the self-assured tones of that voice. Turning towards the source, Kevin was pleasantly surprised to see it was the girl who had given him the brush off earlier that day.

A predatory grin spread across his face as he watched Rojo lift the slender girl off the ground. Already he started to close the gap between him and the two women.

“You got a smart mouth. Maybe I should paint it with your blood?” The larger woman growled.

“Is there a problem, ladies?” He asked.

Rojo glanced over her shoulder and smirked at him. “Nah, boss, just showing the new girl the ropes.”

Kevin had to keep himself from cracking up in laughter at the look of recognition on the other girl’s face. Oh yes, she definitely remembered him.

“W-we’re just peachy.” Gwen stammered, seemingly more distressed by his presence than the threat of Rojo giving her a bloodied lip.

“I ain’t gonna bother you two then.” He waved and started to walk away. Any second now he expected the red-head to call for help, which he would be more than happy to give. Naturally in exchange for some favors.

“Any last words, pipsqueak?” Rojo grinned, drawing her arm back as she clenched her hand into a fist.

“How long have you been working here?” Gwen asked; mind racing as she tried to come up with a way to get herself out of this mess.

“What?” Rojo blinked.

Even Kevin had paused mid-stride in curiosity.

“Tell me, how long have you been working here?” She pressed.

“What’s it to ya?”

“Well, if you’ve been here for a while already and you haven’t “landed yourself a man” as you put it, maybe it’s because the type of men here aren’t really interested in landing a girl?”

“What are you saying?” Rojo glowered.
I wish I knew myself. Gwen mentally gulped before continuing “I’m just saying that you might be wasting your time here. I mean, you can’t catch what’s not there, can you?”

Rojo considered this very carefully, “Maybe you’re right.”

“So there’s no need for you to rough me up, right?” Gwen reasoned hopefully.

“Wrong, hitting you will make me feel a lot better.”

Kevin blinked in surprise when the smaller girl suddenly slammed her knee right into Rojo’s stomach. The pale woman released her hold as she doubled over in pain.

“N-now I only had to do that out of necessity, I’m a firm believer that violence solves nothing.” The red-head stated; clutching her things tightly to her chest as she quickly backed away.

“Oh you are so dead!” Rojo snarled as she lunged for Gwen.

Letting out a yelp, Gwen braced herself for impact but was surprised to find broad shoulders blocking her view of the larger woman.

“We can’t have you killing the new girl on her first night on the job.” Kevin gently scolded. He had caught Rojo by the wrists and wrenched them viciously behind her back. “I don’t mind a good catfight, but do it after the night’s over. Our customers ain’t the kind who likes to see girls all black and blue.”

“But she’s only here for one night.” Rojo winced, doing her best not to struggle.

“That ain’t my problem.” Kevin whispered darkly before giving her wrist another twist, “Now, you’re gonna forget this all happened, am I clear?”

“C-clear!” She gasped in pain.

“Good.” With a benign smile, Kevin let her go. The flapper quickly stumbled away, trying to put as much distance between herself and Kevin.

“Um, th-thank you.” Gwen’s voice stammered from behind.

He cocked his head at her, a wide grin across his features. “For what?”

She looked at him in disbelief, wasn’t it obvious what she was thanking him for? “You stopped that woman from attacking me.”

“Is that what I did? Funny, I was just making sure the customers don’t get greeted by a messed up face.” He sneered. It was obvious he took great pleasure in how Gwen squirmed as she fought to control her temper. Her response, however, took him by surprise.

“You know what? I deserved that for talking to you so rudely earlier today.” She smiled before averting her gaze to the floor. “I’m really sorry about that. And it’s not just because you’re the boss but because you really didn’t deserve to be spoken to in the way I did.”

“Was that you?” Kevin smirked, “I didn’t recognize you, what with all the skin showing.” It took a great amount of effort on his part not to burst out laughing as he watched her turn beet red.

Before Gwen could come up with a response, Charmcaster called out for Fingers and Rocky. Immediately the same two men that had accompanied Kevin in the park the other night appeared to respond. Wordlessly, they disappeared through the curtain into the shop front.

“What’s going on?” Gwen blinked as the platinum-haired Madame entered.

“Nothing to worry yourself over, hun. Just some annoying little lapdog who escaped his leash.” Charmcaster smiled at Gwen before noticing her state of distress. Amethyst eyes narrowed irritably at the dark-haired man standing across the red-head. “Am I to assume Rojo never got the chance to show Gwen the ropes?”

“That would be about right.” Kevin grinned, not in the least perturbed by the glare Charmcaster shot at him.

The Madame swore under her breath, “Lemme give you the quick run-down, hun. You smile, you say good evening to the folks, you take their coats and hats if they got them and hand them over to any of the boys hanging around you. No flirting, no making eyes, no accepting drinks, and no accepting dances.”

Charmcaster looked thoughtful for a moment, “Unless I personally say so. Got it, hun?”

“Basically I’m a living welcome mat.” Gwen nodded.

“Nonsense, welcome mats don’t need to be as pretty as you, hun.” Charmcaster winked as she pinched Gwen’s cheek.

“Um, th-thanks?” the red-head crimsoned, unsure if she had just received a backhanded compliment or insult.

“Good, as for your things, just toss them into the coat room. But knock first. Never know who’s inside doing what.” The platinum-haired woman warned. As Gwen went off to put away her things, Charmcaster glowered at Kevin. “I have enough on my plate as it is and I don’t need you making things worse.”

“I just made sure your new welcome mat wasn’t missing any teeth. The least you could do is let me have some fun with her.” He rolled his eyes.

“She’s Tennyson’s cousin!” The Madame hissed.

Kevin quirked a brow, so that’s what Charmcaster meant by lapdog. His eyes wandered towards the retreating figure of the red-head and he could hardly keep the wolfish smile from forming. He had already been interested in her, the way she had spoken to him so brashly earlier that day and the unexpected reason for her apology.

“I know that look on your face, Kevin. A blood grudge is the last thing we need.” Charmcaster warned before adding “Besides, she doesn’t look like the type you normally go for.”

“Don’t I always do what’s not expected of me?” he chuckled before heading to his private room.