In Darkest London

Chapter 7 ~ Stella {Wanted}

"Slow down!"

"Bleedin' keep up will yer." Stella barked back at Flo, as the pair rushed through the densely populated streets of Whitechapel.

City dwellers spilled out across 'the waste' where traders were in the thick of the day's business; grubby hands delved in wicker baskets full of little clockwork gadgets, stalls piled high with black market meat and newspaper boys stood on the corners shouting 'Get latest on Leather Apron - killer on the loose', the crowds lapping it all up. But the throng was no match for Stella. She marched briskly, fuelled by intense rage and flashing thoughts of how she was to deal with Dooley. He'd had his fun with Stella's girls for months now, ever since they sparked the deal but roughing them up was never going to go down well with her and he knew the score. There was only ever one person who'd ever to touch her girls like that and it certainly wouldn't be that Jollocks-bobby, she thought, fists clenched, jaw clamped tight.

She lost Flo in the crowds but she didn't really need her. She knew exactly where Dooley would be, she'd made sure of that. It would be no surprise to him to see her turn up after the state he'd left Ginnie in. 'What's he playing at?' she thought. She crossed the square and headed for the warrens of small, dark streets branching from it until she got to Dosset Street, the worst street in London. She knew he frequented the doss houses looking for petty criminals to nick when he weren't mucking about with her girls. They were easy prey. He'd watch them from afar, doing all they could trying to raise enough pennies needed to get a bed and then he'd swoop in, just as they thought they were safe for the night, even if all they had was to lean against a rope to sleep. Evil Mutton-shunter that he was. Stella didn't care too much before, not as long as he was leaving her and her girls to do their business. But he'd crossed a line now and was going to have to pay, no matter the consequences.

He'd be around here somewhere, she just knew it. She needed to get in, get her money off him, make him pay for Ginnie and get the hell out of there.

Stella was about to blow the latch off a little wooden gate with one kick when Flo came bursting round the corner with something in her hand.

"Stel!" She shouted in a whisper. "Stop!"

Stella turned around as Flo carried on hurtling towards her holding up in her hands what looked like a poster.

It read: 'Metropolitan Police: Wanted' with Stella's mug artistically drawn underneath and the words 'Handsome reward given for any information that shall lead to her arrest.'

Stella paused, then she grabbed the poster out of Flo's hands, screwed it up and tossed it on the floor.

"Gather the girls." She said, "We've got work to do this evenin'."

"But -."

"Now! She hissed."