The sugar palace, p.27
The Sugar Palace, page 27
‘She’s as white as your snow, May.’
That made them both laugh. Alfie didn’t think it was funny – it wasn’t even a clever play on words – but then George was a thug and an idiot. There was nothing sophisticated about him, but he was rat cunning, that was for sure. Alfie had to match George. He had to make sure they at least got something out of it, if only reassurance of being left alone in future.
‘Once off?’ Alfie asked.
‘No, lad, get wise,’ May said. ‘There’ll be another shipment next month. You do know they’ve made it against the law for chemist shops to sell morphine, don’t you?’
Alfie nodded; that was why the barrow business had been so brisk and profitable.
‘So that’s just great for business for me,’ May explained, sounding buoyed. ‘I’ll charge ’em twice as much and the silly bastards will still pay whatever I ask.’
‘Or you could charge half and move twice as much,’ Alfie said. ‘It’s all about volume, May.’ He ducked before George’s fist connected with him. ‘If you don’t mind me saying,’ he said, straightening back up.
‘What do you mean?’ she demanded.
He shrugged. ‘I don’t mean to tell you how to run your business, but if your plan is to move as much cocaine as you can—’
‘It is,’ she stated, frowning to convey she thought him stupid. ‘I’ve taken on rather a lot of it.’
‘Well, putting up the price isn’t going to achieve that. They know what they used to get their stuff for.’
‘Yeah, but now they can’t,’ she argued.
He looked at George and back at May. ‘They’ll get it somewhere else.’ It seemed so obvious. ‘You’re not the only people selling it. There are dealers all through Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst . . . the whole east. There are influential people in Sydney’s underworld, shall we say, who are diversifying. Everyone knows how good the yield from cocaine is, especially if you cut it.’
Before Dooley could try to hit him again, May held up a hand. ‘Go on.’
‘Well, even the fellows who used to exclusively control the gee-gees and never bothered about much else – not even sly grog – are now moving into other areas that are’—Alfie rubbed his thumb and two fingers together—‘lucrative,’ he finished, proud to say a word Grace had taught him recently. He’d liked it when he learned what it meant. He wasn’t sure they knew it, but his gesture was more than sufficient. ‘I know a couple of the casino boys are already shifting cocaine. Increasing their loads is inevitable. And they’re a dangerous mob.’
‘I’m aware of the competition,’ May murmured.
‘It’s better for you to undercut their prices. You’re already known for solid supply, presumably, and you already have a customer base. The new people still have to set up their networks.’
‘And cutting it?’
Alfie shrugged. ‘That’s up to you. Cut it too much, and word will get around. But if you keep it as pure as you can, that too will get around and drive customers to you faster than you can imagine. Lean towards the highest quality you can afford, at the lowest price you can let it go at. You can play with the balance down the track when you’re confident you can shift enough of it.’
May was interested, he could tell. ‘I hear you’ve done some of this buying and selling yourself right under the noses of the police.’
‘That’s all behind me now, May,’ he said, risking using her name again and hoping it would help establish some sort of relationship. He was already so late to meet Grace. Was it only last night he’d proposed? She’d trusted him enough to say yes, and now he’d let her down within hours, already mixing with the wrong sort, now negotiating a bargain with them.
‘But you’ll store our stuff?’
‘Do I have a choice?’
She laughed but it was Dooley who answered. ‘Not if I have any say in it.’
Alfie kept his face neutral, though he wanted to scowl. ‘There has to be a time limit.’
George grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. ‘You don’t tell us—’
‘Or I’ll go to the police myself,’ Alfie finished, once again surprising himself. ‘I don’t want this in my life. I’ll do it as a gesture of goodwill towards you, and because I don’t want my business trashed.’ He didn’t even want to utter Grace’s name in this place. ‘But if we don’t sort out a deal, then I’ll take my chances. If the heat’s on you now, you can be sure it’s only going to get worse. The police will be watching you, shadowing you.’
‘They likely already are – it’s why we’re talking.’
‘So I’ll cover you for now,’ Alfie replied. ‘But the shipment next month that you mentioned? You can find another stooge for that. It’s not going to be me. Smash up the Sugar Palace. I’ll squeal and you’ll be the ones in gaol. I can repair the shop.’ It was a gamble, and he sounded infinitely more confident than he felt.
Alfie watched them share a glance and May couldn’t hide the nod she gave Dooley.
‘All right. Here’s the deal,’ May said. ‘George won’t smash your girlfriend’s storefront if you keep our stuff safe in your warehouse over the coming three weeks or so.’
‘Or so?’ Alfie shook his head. ‘No, we have to agree now – and before Mr Dooley clouts me again,’ he said, shifting himself off balance in case. ‘I want to warn you that it makes no difference. I can’t be bullied any further on this. You have ten days from today. Before I pay the next rent, the very last grain of that cocaine must be gone from my premises or I’ll dump it.’
George’s face turned purple. ‘You’ll do no such—’
‘Mr Dooley, I’m far more scared of letting down my fiancée, or what the police will do with me, than I am of you. Be absolutely sure, both of you, I’ll think nothing of tipping your snow into the harbour if you don’t stick to our bargain. I don’t want to see either of you again.’
May shrugged. ‘All right. But I’m not giving you anything for this.’
‘That’s all right. The time I’ll store it is now one week,’ Alfie said, not showing how much terror he felt about the agreement, which was unfair at best. He tried to cast a good spin on it: it was something he could live with – just – so long as everyone kept up their end of the bargain and it didn’t endanger him or Grace. But it meant ignoring the fact that storing their cocaine threatened to explode the life he had recently begun to dream he was making. They didn’t care. ‘Let’s say it’s a favour. One day I may need one in return. That’s how it used to work when I was a lad in London.’
May gave a nod. ‘You have a deal.’
‘I’ll need you to shake on that, May. I know you’ll be good for it, one week from today,’ he said, daring to extend a hand. He could feel the bristling anger of Dooley, who was no doubt experiencing pain at being cut out of the negotiation.
May stood from the chair where she’d been reclining, looking ridiculous in her fur coat within the scruffy Surry Hills house. She was smaller than she’d appeared, but standing didn’t improve her ugly looks. She gripped his hand and shook once.
Alfie pressed his luck. It felt important to be clear, especially in this moment. ‘Now, May, that means my shop and our staff are safe. My fiancée is safe. Our products are safe. Are we all agreed?’
‘Yes, yes,’ she said, waving her hand carelessly. She was already past any interest in him.
Alfie stayed firm. ‘I need to hear it from Mr Dooley, please.’
‘George, for heaven’s sake. Give your bloody word now!’
‘I promise,’ Dooley said in a singsong voice, sneering with his hand over his heart. ‘Your girlies and your shop are safe.’
‘Right,’ May said, bringing the strange meeting to a close. ‘Now, get on with you. Mr Dooley here will bring our stuff just after midnight.’
And that was that. Alfie was escorted out of the house by Dooley and shoved into the street.
‘Clear off, Sweeting. I’ll see you soon.’
‘Make it well after midnight, Mr Dooley. Then I can be sure that I’ll be alone.’
‘You’re really that scared of that girl of yours, aren’t you?’
‘And you should be too,’ Alfie said, over his shoulder. He began to hurry, eager to get away from this rat’s nest and to make his apologies to Grace.
24
It took all of Alfie’s powers of persuasion to convince Grace that he’d simply wanted the warehouse premises to be perfect for her, and that the workmen had held him up and he’d lost track of time. He hated lying to her, but it was the only way.
At first she didn’t believe him, but when he’d promised to take her first thing the next morning, she’d calmed down slightly. Her father had weighed in as well, reminding her that he’d had to wait a week just to get a broken window fixed last year.
Alfie had spent the rest of the afternoon and evening in the warehouse, not only preparing for Grace but most importantly for George Dooley’s visit. Alfie had been worried that there might still be a long way to go in terms of sprucing up the premises to be presentable to Grace, but to their credit, all of the tradesmen had been prompt in turning up and fast in their work. The carpenter was still there when he’d walked in.
‘I was just off,’ the man said.
‘I’ll pay you a bonus if you can fit that bench tonight.’
‘Aw, mate, that’s another hour’s work. I’ve got to get home for my dinner.’
‘I know, but listen. The owner is coming in tomorrow first thing. It will impress her no end if this work is done. Besides, apart from the bonus I’ll give you . . .’ Alfie took out a single pound note that he’d kept from the barrow days, all he had left from the cocaine sales after buying Grace’s ring. He watched the man’s eyes widen; it might buy a pair of shoes for children at home or pay for groceries for a while. It was surely irresistible. He offered it. ‘Go on, mate. Just finish it.’
The man sighed. ‘Right.’ He took the pound note and pocketed it. ‘My wife will understand when she sees that.’
Alfie rolled up his sleeves. ‘I’m going to clean up. I want this place spotless for tomorrow.’
‘They’ve all worked hard, done a good job. It looks good.’
The carpenter was surely right, but Alfie wasn’t going to stand back and admire his efforts yet. He needed the warehouse and new kitchen area to impress. It was his first real job for the Sugar Palace and also his brainchild; Grace had not had anything to do with finding it or kitting it out. He wanted to show her that he had plenty to contribute to their operation.
He turned back to the man, now on his knees sanding back the bottom of a cupboard to fit. ‘Er . . . can I ask a favour?’
‘Another one?’ The fellow sighed.
‘Tom, isn’t it?’
‘That’s right,’ the man said, looking at him expectantly.
‘Can you cut me a hole in the floorboards beneath that cupboard?’ He pointed to one on the far side where all the storage was to be.
‘What on earth for?’
Alfie didn’t know what to say so he remained silent.
Tom twigged. ‘A hidey hole?’
‘Something like that?’
‘How big?’
Alfie measured it for him in the air, using his hands to plot out the square. ‘About yay big.’
‘Not that wide. And deep?’
Again Alfie used his hands to measure about a foot’s depth.
Tom rubbed his chin, then shook his head. ‘No, mate. Too deep, you’ll hit rock.’
Alfie sighed.
‘I could do a fake cupboard, though,’ Tom said.
Alfie frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
‘To all intents it just looks like another cupboard – and it is – but when you open it, it’s shallow – there’s a secret compartment behind it.’
Alfie’s interest lit. ‘Sounds perfect. I only need it for a week.’
‘I don’t want to hear any more,’ Tom said, putting his hands up defensively. ‘Use it as a safe. Only you’ll know about it.’
‘Okay, good. Can you do it in the office area you’ve set up instead, then?’
Tom nodded, glancing over to the partitioned area that Alfie had told him was for the store’s other owner to do her paperwork, plot new menus, take phone calls, make orders and generally have a quiet place to think. Alfie knew she’d never dreamed of that luxury and he wanted to give her this.
‘Easy enough,’ Tom said. ‘But if it’s to be a hidey hole, then the office is the first place anyone might look. I’d suggest over there.’ He pointed.
‘Below the rack?’
Tom shrugged. ‘You’ve already got storage space built in. It’s not going to be a busy place – I mean, it’s more your long-term stuff there. You wouldn’t have people coming and going in and out of those cupboards, so they’re unlikely to notice the fake one.’
‘Got you. Okay, there then. Right at the end. It will be hidden by uniforms hung on the rack.’
‘There you go. No one will bother too much with it.’
‘Thanks, mate.’
‘I s’pose you want that by tonight as well?’
Alfie grinned. ‘It’s almost as important as the bench.’
Tom finally grinned back. ‘Right, leave me to get on with it all.’
The next morning, Alfie followed Grace with held breath. She was silent as she walked around, touching surfaces and looking up the full height of the warehouse. He held her silence, not wishing to interrupt her, yet he was anxious that it meant she wasn’t sure how to let him down gently, that this really wasn’t what she had hoped for.
Grace suddenly turned on her heel, taking him by surprise. ‘Alfie,’ she began, her voice stretched. ‘This is beyond my wildest hopes and dreams.’
He blinked in shocked delight, opening his mouth to speak, and for once words failed him, he was so thrilled.
‘I love this. I can smell the paint, so I know you’ve had it painted all bright and white so it feels clean and fresh. I’ve been into these warehouses before with Dad and they’re usually dark and gloomy, but this!’ She turned a full circle, her expression one of awe. ‘All this light and these enormous ceilings, the cupboard space and, oh Alfie, the benches! They’re so huge and wonderful. I can really spread out and cook several products at once.’
He pointed to the marble slab waiting to be installed. ‘I . . . er, I thought you could use the marble for tempering and cooling your chocolate.’
‘It’s brilliant. And not just chocolate. For toffees, for our fudge, oh . . . so many uses. I love it!’ She launched at him and he could tell from the pressure of her hug and its length that he had more than fulfilled her brief.
‘We can add more hobs if you need them?’ he offered.
She smiled. ‘I couldn’t be more satisfied, Alfie, truly I couldn’t. And to be honest, I didn’t think I could be more excited than I was about the shop, but this . . .’ She sighed. ‘This is going to change everything. We can produce so much more and faster. There’s enough space that I can probably have some helpers to assist with making the confectionery.’
‘You must,’ he said, taking her hand, feeling reassured by the engagement ring on her finger and trying not to think about the stash of cocaine Dooley had delivered that morning, together with his sneering look and menacing scar that lifted whenever he attempted a smile.
If Grace only knew, Alfie’s life would be finished. His dreams shattered. He could try to explain that it wasn’t his fault, that he was threatened – blackmailed – and he was just trying to keep them safe, but she would cover her ears, close her eyes to him and tell him to get out of her life.
No. She must never know.
So it was with some trepidation he said, ‘One more surprise.’
‘What is it?’ she said, happily intrigued.
‘Come with me.’ Holding her hand, he guided her towards the partitioned area at what would be the quieter end of the warehouse.
When he walked her around the partition, she clasped her hands to her mouth and tears welled.
He swallowed. ‘Is it all right, Grace?’ His voice was tentative.
Grace sniffed. ‘It’s not just all right, Alfie. It’s nowhere near all right. It’s so very past all right . . . it’s amazing. My own space.’
He smiled widely. ‘All yours. You can sit quietly and dream up new products, but you can also take phone calls – I’ve had a phone put in. Oh, and I’ve been looking into one of those new calculating machines. Bit expensive right now, but I think maybe by the end of the year we could afford one, to make the accounting much faster and less laborious. So that tiny desk would be where it goes, because you can pull up a chair and sit in front of the machine, with room for till receipts or any pages from your files.’
She looked at him as though he were a walking miracle as he moved to the main desk.
‘Lots of drawer space and bigger compartments for your files. We’ll put a calendar here and a desk diary so you can make your appointments. And there’s enough room for you to interview new staff here, and space just outside if you want to conduct some training.’ He was on a roll now. ‘If you look over there, I’ve put in some rails so you can have uniforms in various sizes ready to go for new staff.’
She came up to him and leaned a head on his shoulder. It was a gesture of such affection, a sign of their togetherness, that the fear of Queen May’s stash not too far from where Grace was standing began to retreat. ‘Deliveries will come in through that door.’ He pointed. ‘And there’s oodles of storage for whatever you need.’
‘I can’t wait to show Holly.’ She grinned. ‘Thank you, Alfie. Thank you for understanding me and wanting to give me what I need.’
He smiled back at her. ‘Darlin’, I’d give you the moon on a silver platter if I could.’
‘I’ll settle for this warehouse, a fairy floss machine, and to become Mrs Alfie Sweeting.’
