When She Was Bad... by Louise Bagshawe Read Free Book Online Page B

owner down and signed with him.
    ‘I can only give you six months,’ he said, reluctant to take the lease out of his pocket. She had jumped on it so quickly it probably meant he could have asked for an extra two hundred a month. ‘And there’s no rent control on this place.’ °
    ‘That’s fine. Sign the lease, please,’ Lita said.
    ‘Maybe I need to look it over first,’ he said, eyes narrowing. ‘And maybe I need to call the Housing Department. This place doesn’t even have a full kitchen, which means you’re trying to rent an illegal apartment. My brother works for them over in the Bronx. I could ask him to investigate this for me.’
    The man paled behind his moustache. ‘Sure, kid, whatever. Sign here.’
    Lita took his leaky ballpoint and signed will a flourish. What did she need a kitchen for? She was going to be eating out every night. She folded the lease neatly into her purse and held out herhand for the keys.
    ‘Wetback bitch,’ her landlord muttered just loud enough for her to hear as he stormed out of the apartment.
    Lira grinned. Music to her ears. She wouldn’t have any trouble from him. If he’d had any balls, he’d have said it to her face.
     
    9
     
    The phone was wired in. She wiped down the receiver and called her mother. Let Pappy be in charge of renting the place downstairs. Mama agreed placidly. They had been expecting Lita to move out for some time now. Their roles had been totally reversed - her parents were in awe of her, and did whatever she suggested.
    Lita was going to sleep here tonight. She thought about her clothes. Chico could bring them in the truck tomorrow. Within one week, she’d be totally settled in.
    She locked up and headed for Filene’s Basement.
     
    ‘Veree nice.’
    Chico lit a cigarette and stood in her living room, taking it all in. His sister - his stuck-up, arrogant sister - was living like a millionaire. He ignored the small size of her place, and the fact that most of her furnishings and drapes came from thrift stores in the East Village. He only took in the style. Lita had gone for an Indian effect, very P,.avi Shankar, with Paisley drapes and purple and gold cushions on her bare couch. There was a hardwood floor, already meticulously clean, covered with a threadbare, cool-looking oriental rug, and mismatched pieces thrown together. She had a lot of closets and they were all full of her
    clothes. There was a scent of sandalwood and spices.
    ‘Makin’ a lot of dinero, Lita.’
    It was a statement, rather than a question.
    ‘I do OK. I send half to Pappy.’
    ‘Sure you do.’ Chico burned with resen[ment. Miss Goody Two Shoes, now she was acting like a tramp, getting her picture took and living like a movie star. To get money, he had to work on a building site or jack up some chump. Why her? There were prettier chicks than her. ‘You got too much cash. You should give me some. At least get me a
    job. I can manage you.’
    ‘I got an agent.’
    ‘Who can look out for your needs better than family?’
    ‘I can’t do that.’ Lita burned with embarrassment. She felt so removed from her brother it wasn’t true. He had taken from their parents, bummed through his life, and now he wanted a free ride off her. ‘But Chico, I got an idea.’
    ‘I’m waiting,’ he said, annoying her even more.
    ‘My place downstairs. I was going yo rent it out, but who knows what damage a tenant would do. Tell you what. You can have it. Live there yourself or rent it out to somebody responsible. You could keep the rent.’
    He shrugged. ‘Yeah. You need me to do you a favour.’
    3°
     
    favour! She had only put it that way so he could save face. ‘If you don’t want it …’
    ‘I want it. I’ll tell Pappy. I got to go, Lita. See you some time,’ Chico said.
    He walked out, not bothering to shut her door.
    Lita flopped on a cushion and tried to calm herself. Forget her brother. He was a good-for-nothing and he’d always be that way. She knew she had to move