Through Time She Came

Ch.26 Home

Finding Anet a new place to kick around in was a more desirable job than what he knew was top priority.

He walked around the corner of the Daisy-Chain into the back alley. He pulled down the fire escape ladder, climbed four flights. Stopped at a hall door. Knocked 4 times. Once. Twice.

A slot in the door opened, a pair of eyes looked out. Recognizing the customer, the door opened. He entered a red hall, women peeking out their rooms to see who it was.

"Tommy!" A young woman squealed excitement. Followed by an echo of gasps and giggles around the hall.

"Now, now, girls." An older woman stepped out of the nearest door. "If you don't have a caller, I suggest y'all get some beauty rest." The girls pouted. Each going back into her room. The older woman turned her attention to Thomas. "Well, well, it's been a while, Tommy Boy."

"It has."

"You've never come by this early, it's hardly midday." She smiled coy, running a hand up and down his shoulder, "It must've been a dissatisfying evening."

"I'm not here for pleasure, Ida."

"Well if you're here for business, might I remind you that pleasure is my business." She laughed.

"I'm looking for Little Benny."

"Oh, that little livewire." chuckle. "He's with Viv at the moment." She swung out an open hand in the general direction, "I'm sure Viv could use a breather." she walked back into her office then called over her shoulder, "I expect cash up front if you decide to drop in on one of the girls, Tommy Boy. I'll know."

Tom made his way down the hall towards Viv's room. From the sound of it, he was getting his money's worth. Although, he couldn't tell who was the one making all the obnoxious noises.

He knocked rapidly on the door. Heard Benny swear. Opening the door, "Pull 'em up, Benny, it's urgent."

Viv was up fast as lightning closing her silk robe around her naked body. Benny swearing the whole time.

"Tommy!" Viv squealed when she saw who it was. She pranced up to him while Benny worked on his pants. "Tommy, oh! I feel like I haven't seen you in ages!" She threw her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug.

He gently set her aside. "I've been busy, Viv."

She pouted her bottom lip excessively. "All that work and not even a little time for pleasure?"

He let out a breath. It wasn't like he'd ever spent as much time here as all that. Brothels were his last resort when an evening with a dame didn't go as planned. And usually when he was at his lowest.... Well, except for that one weekend. He and Nicky had been "on the lam" —at least, that was the story he'd fed Ida. They'd heard she'd hired a slew of foreign girls and wanted to make sure their first impression of America was a good one. They brought Ida the gin and after they left, they sent her some record-breaking business.

"What's so important that ya gotta run in while I'm giving Viv the works?"

"Is that what was happening?" he replied. He looked at Viv, "make yourself scarce a minute. It won't be long."

"With Benny it never is." She giggled and stepped out into the hall before Benny's hand could swat her.

"What is it, Graft?"

"Those coppers last night. Who were they? Did'ya recognize them?"

"Yeah, one of them had light hair and was kinda tall, wears a blue felt fedora all the time. And the other guy was that short, Irish bug with the red hair. They didn't wear uniforms, but I know we've seen them before."