1930's A&A AU.

Ariadne and her young daughter are destitute after the stock market collapse and her husbands desertion.

Arthur is a police detective trying to stop the illegal bootleggers and brothels in the city run by the nefarious Mr. Eames

When Arthur stumbles upon the the young mother so obviously close to this dangerous world, he has to step in.

~ No Reset for the Wicked ~

1.

~ Winter 1930 ~

~ New York City ~

~ Ariadne wanted to stay under the covers for a little longer. Sleep beckoned her back as she could feel the little body stir awake beside her.

She hoped Rose would sleep for a few hours more. That the child wouldn't wake until almost dinner time, and then that was one less meal she had to worry about.

But, Rose was an early riser. Always jumping out of bed ready to start her day. Ariadne rolled over and saw her look-a-like daughter.

Rose's large brown eyes were shinning back at her, and she was smiling with her lost baby teeth. Ariadne pulled the covers over them a little more. It felt like they were in a tent this way, and it kept the chill of winter out. She could still see her lovely little girl under the covers, and the child started to sing from her favorite radio program.
"I'll always love you, and make you happy." Rose sang in a soft, child like, refrain. "If you will only say the same, but if you leave me, and love another; you'll regret it all someday."

Ariadne smiled at her. Delighting in the fact she saw herself in miniature. She decided to sing along.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please, don't take my sunshine away."

Ariadne finished their song with a kiss on Rose's nose before settling back under the covers.

"I'm sorry I had to sell your bed, Rose." she said.
"It's okay, mamma." the girl said brightly. "I like sharing a bed with you."

"What time is it?" Ariadne asked as she smoothed out Rose's dark hair.

"Late, the sun is already up." she said happily.
"Are you hungry?" Ariadne asked.
"Yes!" Rose said eagerly.
"Well, get dressed and wash your face." her mother sighed. "I'll see what we have to eat."

Rose jumped out of bed and ran to the washroom.

Their new home had been difficult to get used to. It was nothing more than an attic apartment that let the heat out in winter, and the heat in during summer. But at $40 and month, it was a steal as far as housing went.

Ariadne let out a sigh as she heard Rose washing up in the little bathroom, and went to their tiny kitchen to turn on the gas range. The room was so small, all she needed to do was cook something to have their space grow warmer. She set water to boil and looked at the time. Eleven o'clock, she had another two hours to kill before she had to be at work. A sad little typing pool where they wrote eviction notices and threatening letters from creditors. Still, it was the only thing going these days. She just wished she had more hours.

Her job paid her $25 a week, and with food, electricity and rent, there was little else for them. Ariadne looked in the icebox for the the last of the milk. That would go to Rose this morning and then they would both drink water till tomorrow when she was paid again.

She looked over the suddenly woeful store in her cupboards and ice box.

'Milk, I'll have to buy milk, and a block of ice to. Oatmeal, I've enough for Rose's oatmeal until payday which is a blessing. I want to buy us some bananas, maybe some oranges and apples. Rose loves fruit like it was candy. I'll have to get a loaf of bread and some lunch meat, potatoes, carrots and eggs. Also cheese and something nice for dinner.'

She did up a mental inventory of her grocery needs in her head. Her quick math telling her the total would be about $5.

'Not so bad.' she thought and then remembered. 'Oh the laundry powder and toothpaste. I forgot about those. Also soap to.' She let out a sigh. All those extras would put her over budget. Instead of $5, it would be almost $6. Also, Alma would be wanting $0.50 for minding Rose for the evening while Ariadne worked.

The weary mother let out a sigh. Her pay would be $25 this week, if not less. $12 would be set aside for rent. $6 for food, another $4 for the electric and gas which was due. Which left her $2 to pay Alma, just so she could to do it all over again next week.

She wished for the 100th time Bill was still there. Not that she missed him exactly, but she liked the money he occasionally brought into the house.

Before he husband left her six months ago, before the market crashed and the whole world went insane, Ariadne didn't have to work. She didn't even look at the price tags when she bought food. Rose had new clothes and shoes. They ate meat at almost every meal and they lived in a nice little apartment in Philadelphia with quite neighbors. They saved a little money each week. Planed to buy themselves a car, and were hoping for another baby soon.

But then the stock market crash had happened. Black Tuesday had sounded so scary in the papers, but didn't register with them. They were working class and had no money invested in the stock market, they assumed it didn't effect them.

But the little money they had in savings vanished in the run on banks. Bill said not to worry, he still had his job in the factory, but the very next month, they closed their doors. Work for able bodied men could be found in America.

Ariadne tried to take in laundry and sewing, but wasn't able to find someone who would pay for a thing any woman could do.

Bill became increasingly depressed as he was reduced to fighting for work in mills and shipping yards. Waiting in line with a hundred other men for $5 in cash on the days he was picked.

Finally, they used what little money they had and took the train to New York City. A friend had promised Bill and Ariadne work. They happily made the move with their few possessions. They had sold almost everything else to pay for their move and the rent on this apartment.

Things got a little better as Bill brought in money each week. For a while, things looked like they could turn around. Ariadne was bringing money to pay for food, and they could easily afford the rent and even save again. All their cash went into a glass mason jar that was hidden in the closet. The family now having a great distrust of banks.

Then one day, in the middle of summer, the factory was shut down and Bill was out of work again.

He took to going to a local speakeasy and fighting with Ariadne. There were times when she hoped he would stay out all night and not come home. Maybe then, he wouldn't hit her or make Rose cry.

Sadly enough, her wish came true after a month of being out of work.

Bill was shouting at her while packing his bag. Telling her how she was no good and the city was no good. Hoover was a thief and crook and she was a bad mother.

She was screaming at him as he took the cash they had carefully saved and left them. Ariadne was crying on the street as he walked out of their lives.

There was nothing to do then but go back inside and try to figure out how to live.

Thank God she still had her job at the typing pool. It may not pay much, they may be barely getting by, but they got by. Today she would ask Mr. Williams if there was a chance she could get more work. He was a nice enough man. A heavy set bachelor who was balding and ate his lunch and dinner at a coffee shop and would laugh about the woes of being without a wife.

When he found out Ariadne's husband had left, he made little comments about being lonely and not having a woman to cook and clean for him.

She knew Mr. Williams liked her, but the thought of marrying that man repulsed her. As long as she had her job, she would be alright.

"Oatmeal again?" Rose whined as Ariadne kissed her cheek.

"You like oatmeal." Ariadne told her daughter.
"We eat it all the time!" Rose complained as she begrudgingly ate her meager breakfast. Ariadne with her own small share and wished she had butter and apples to eat with it.

She watched as Rose drank her milk and eat the last apple before payday tomorrow. She smiled as her daughter grinned happily at her with her missing teeth.

"Tomorrow we get something nice to eat. Right Mamma?" she asked.

"Right you are, Rose." Ariadne said feeling the tenseness in her body ease. Every payday, Ariadne got them a special meal of chicken or beef. They ate well on payday with fresh milk for the both of them. New cereal and vegetables in the cupboard and ice box. Not a hint of beans, rice and potatoes for a few more days.

"We have to wash dishes and clean up before I have to go to work." Ariadne said as she still felt hungry after eating her breakfast.

Rose nodded and brought her own bowl and glass to the sink. Ariadne washed as Rose dried and together they put their two bowls next to their two glasses and two plates.

Rose dressed in the coat she was getting too big for and Ariadne hoped no one would notice the run in her own stocking that was beyond mending.

~ Alma was a fat housewife who took in kids to watch day and night for $0.50 a day. She greeted Ariadne at the door.
"Alma." Ariadne breathed as Rose held her hand tightly. "Can I pay you on tomorrow evening? I get paid then." Ariadne said hopefully.
"I'm not a charity." Alma said as Ariadne noticed the woman didn't have the decency to wear a bra around the house. Just a dirty dress slip that was too small for her.
"Please?" Ariadne asked.

"Alright, but it's a now $0.60 to mind the girl. Course if you don't pay, what's the difference?" Alma said as she allowed Rose inside with the other kids. Ariadne counted seven in all. All of them playing quietly, mostly likely afraid of the great, fat woman and her shouting.

"Rose, I'll pick you up after seven." Ariadne said and kissed the little girl on the forehead.

Rose tired to be brave as Ariadne saw herself in her daughter and hurried outside in the snow.

No money. No money for a better coat for Rose, better food for Rose and certainly no money for the bus to take to work. Ariadne trudged in the snow for over two miles until she reached the little typing pool office. She wondered why Betty and Lilly were standing outside the office shivering when they should be inside already.
"Ari!" Betty said rushing to her and almost slipping on the ice. "They closed up the office!"

"What?" Ariadne asked as she saw Mr. Williams step out of his car with an envelope.
"They didn't pay the rent and now the owner of the building closed up the office. Mr. Williams is handing out our last pay!" Betty cried. Her seventeen year old world crumbling.

Ariadne watched in horror as Mr. Williams handed her an envelope, thick with cash and coins.
"I'm sorry, Miss. Shannon." her boss said. His face looking grim. "I had no idea my bosses were so behind on the rent. I had to fight to get the pay you have coming to you."

"Mr Williams." Ariadne wanted to cry. Since Bill left, Ariadne had been searching for another job to help make ends meet and could find nothing for a woman. Women were paid far less then men for the same work, because, as one store owner put it, they had men to provide for them and didn't need more money.

Ariadne no longer had a man to provide for her. She had to provide for herself and Rose.

"You can find another job, I'll write you a letter of reference." Mr. Williams said.
"Their are no jobs you fat old bastard!" Lilly cried. She was a middle aged woman who had her three children and an out of work husband to take care of. Like Ariadne, this job was all she had.

Ariadne turned away and walked back the two miles home; ignoring Mr. Williams offer to take her to lunch at the coffee shop. Not hearing how he was a lonely bachelor who just wanted her to have lunch with him.