The Necklace - The Dusky Club, June 1962

Chapter 19

Mel dropped Susan off in front of the club shortly before 3:00. She looped her purse around her neck, so the strap hung across her chest then she took the plate of cookies from him.

"Thanks," she yelled over her shoulder as she headed down the side alley to the practice room door. "See you later for dinner! And don't forget I'm helping you, okay?"

"Sure thing," Mel replied out the car window as he slowly pulled away.

Halfway down the alley, leaning up against the wall, she spotted two girls. As she got closer, one of them pushed away from the wall, moved directly into her path, and stopped, arms crossed over her chest.

"Well, look here, Sara," said Hilary, "If it ain't the little American bird Jimmie's been messing around with..."

Sara pushed off the wall to stand beside Hilary, totally blocking Susan's path.

"Pretty little thing," said Sara sarcastically.

"Yeah, maybe I could mess up that pretty little face a bit," said Hilary, revealing a razor knife gripped in her right hand.

Sara drew back. "Hilary! You didn't say anything about cutting her up. I thought we were just going to mess with her head a bit, scare her, ya know."

"I think I'm gonna enjoy messing her up a whole lot more with this," Hilary said, waving the blade in the air and circling to the other side of Susan, so she was on one side and Sara on the other. "See if Jimmie wants her then with her face all messed up..."

Susan dropped the plate of cookies and backed against the wall of the club. The plate shattered, and cookies rolled in every direction.

"Why, how sweet...bringing cookies to the boys...too bad they're all ruined now."

Hilary advanced toward Susan.

Susan screamed and dodged to the right just as Hilary slashed forward towards her face with the blade.

Sara grabbed Hilary's arm. "Stop it, Hil!" she yelled. "This is going too far! I don't want no part of this!"

"You gonna be a traitor, then?" Hilary screamed, turning to wave the blade at Sara. "Ain't you my friend or what?"

"Not if you're gonna be stupid and do something like this!"

Sara grabbed Hilary's arm that was holding the blade.

"Let go my arm!"

"No! I'm not gonna let you do this! I just felt sorry for you, getting your heart broken and all."

Hilary wrenched her arm free from Sara's grasp and went to slash her blade at Sara but missed as Sara ducked out of the way, surprised outrage on her face.

"You've gone daft!" she yelled at Hilary.

"Think so, do ya?" Hilary screamed, rushing at Sara again.

Susan pushed away from the wall, grabbing Hilary's arm, thinking to knock the blade out of her hand. She spun her around. Hilary tripped and fell to the ground. This time Sara screamed. The door to the practice room burst open, and James came running out, followed by Ian and Blue.

Hilary was on her knees, pushing herself up, the razor knife still clutched in her fist. "I'll mess up you both!" she yelled.

James and Ian ran forward, James grabbing one of Hilary's arms and Ian the other. The razor knife clattered to the ground as James twisted her wrist.

"I hate you, you bastard!" she screamed, spitting at him.

"Go tell Derek to call the bobbies," Ian yelled to Blue.