Gangsters Wives by Lee Martin

directions. Poppy wandered round the shop picking things up and putting them back.
    â€˜Poppy,’ Niki called from the back. ‘Come see.’
    Poppy did as she was bid, and followed the sound of Niki’s voice into a miniscule, curtained closet. The dress fitted Niki’s slim frame perfectly. Her tiny breasts stood out, the nipples visible through the thin fabric, and the skirt finished just above her bare knees. ‘Fabulous,’ said Poppy, experiencing a strange feeling as she stood close enough to Niki to feel her breath. ‘You’ve got to have it.’
    â€˜Thank you Poppy,’ said Niki, throwing her arms around her friend, and kissing her full on the mouth. Their lips parted and their tongues touched, and for the first time in her life Poppy gave another woman a kiss on the lips.
    â€˜Did you like that?’ asked Niki when they pulled apart.
    Poppy nodded, too breathless to answer.
    â€˜I thought you would.’
    â€˜Everything OK in there?’ called the assistant.
    â€˜Yes, coming,’ stuttered Poppy.
    â€˜Now let me get dressed and let’s get out of here,’ said Niki, mischievously.
    Poppy paid for the dress on her card and the two women stood outside the shop. Poppy had never felt such a rush of desire. Not with Joseph or anyone before. ‘What shall we do?’ she asked.
    â€˜There’s a hotel around the corner. We could go there,’ said Niki.
    And like a pair of teenage girls, they ran off laughing towards the Four Seasons hotel.

26

    They got a room easily. Poppy gave her card details, and no one turned a hair at their lack of luggage apart from the bag from the boutique. She took a suite on the top floor with a breathtaking view over central London to one side, and Greenwich and Blackheath on the other, with the iron-grey Thames snaking beneath them. ‘It’s fabulous,’ said Niki as she went out onto the balcony. ‘Look, you can see my house. It’s tiny. If Connie came out into the garden, and I had a sniper’s rifle, he wouldn’t know what hit him.’
    Poppy didn’t know what had hit her either. She suddenly panicked, and Niki, looking back through the window knew it. ‘Come out here Poppy,’ she said. ‘Have a smoke. Relax.’
    â€˜I don’t…’
    â€˜I know. But you will.’
    Poppy joined Niki on the balcony. The world seemed to swim beneath her from the great height, and she reached for her friend for support. They stood there holding each other as they shared a cigarette. ‘I’ve never done anything like this before,’ said Poppy.
    â€˜Nor had I until I did,’ said Niki. ‘At school.’
    â€˜Seems to me you had a pretty colourful school career,’ said Poppy. ‘Mind you, so did I. I got pregnant. That’s why I can’t…’
    â€˜I know. I know, my darling Poppy,’ said Niki.
    They finished the cigarette and Niki flipped it over the balcony rail, and they watched it fall, pulled by the breeze until it was out of sight, lost in the waters of the river.
    They went back inside and Niki found the mini bar. ‘Champagne?’ she said.
    â€˜Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb,’ said Poppy.
    â€˜A strange expression,’ said Niki. ‘Sheep, lambs. That’s us. You won’t get into trouble will you? For spending all this money, I mean.’
    â€˜No. Joe’s very careful not to stir things up too much these days. He doesn’t care anyway.’
    â€˜Then let’s enjoy it,’ said Niki. She went though into the bedroom and exclaimed. ‘Just look at the size of this bed. And the bathroom. It’s beautiful.’
    Poppy was pleased with her friend’s excitement and followed. Niki was just in her briefs again, her coat and dress slung over a chair. ‘You’re beautiful,’ said Poppy.
    â€˜So are you Poppy,’ said Niki. ‘You don’t know how