by Rosie Clarke
It was as she was locking up for the night that a figure loomed up out of the gloom and Ellie jumped. For a moment she thought it was Knocker James come to grab her again, but as the man spoke she knew he was human not a ghost.
‘Finished for the night, Ellie?’
‘Yes, I’ve just locked the door…’ Ellie answered and looked up at her husband. Her heart raced madly and she felt sick inside. ‘I didn’t expect you yet… I thought your letter said you would be home the beginning of April? That’s not until next week…’
‘Sorry to spoil your plans…’ The sarcasm in his voice cut at her like a knife. ‘Planning on going somewhere were yer?’
‘Peter! Please don’t talk to me like that,’ Ellie protested. ‘I wasn’t planning anythin’. I was just surprised to see you…’
‘Yeah, I know.’ Peter’s face came close to hers. She could smell strong drink on his breath and knew he’d been to a pub somewhere. ‘You lyin’ little cheat! If you think I don’t know what you’ve been up to, think again. I know you’ve picked up with another bloke… he comes here often ter visit yer and the bloody kid.’ His hand closed on her arm. ‘I thought you were goin’ ter get rid of the brat?’
‘I couldn’t…’ Ellie smothered the cry of pain that rose to her lips. ‘Beth is so lovely. I wanted to keep her – and I’m goin’ to…’ Her head came up then and she looked at him defiantly. ‘You can’t make me give her away. I shan’t…’
The pressure of his fingers increased, hurting her so much that a little moan escaped her. ‘You’re my wife, Ellie, and you’ll bloody well do as I tell yer – or there will be trouble.’
Ellie felt herself being pushed up the little alleyway that led to the back of Mabel’s shop. Halfway along, Peter slammed her against the wall, banging her head and pressing his knee against her body to imprison her.
‘Stop it, you’re ’urtin’ me…’
‘I will bloody ’urt you…’ Peter snarled and slapped her across the face once. ‘This is just a warnin’ – it’s nothin’ to what you’ll get if you defy me again.’
Anger surged as Ellie looked up at him, uncaring for the moment that he was hurting her. ‘You can’t treat me as if I were dirt,’ she challenged him. ‘I don’t ’ave to take this, Peter. I’m not goin’ to let you hit me or bully me – and I want a divorce.’
Peter struck her so hard that her senses reeled. She was terrified as he put one hand round her throat, his face close to hers. ‘I’ll kill you and the brat before I let you make a fool of me,’ Peter hissed, his spittle spraying into her face. ‘And don’t think that bloody fool you’ve got runnin’ after yer will save yer. I’ve already arranged for him to be put out of action – and unless you do as you’re told, I’ll kill the brat and make you wish you’d never been born.’
Ellie shuddered, all the fight draining out of her as she heard the threats against both Sid and Beth. ‘Please, you mustn’t kill Sid…’ she gasped. ‘He hasn’t done anythin’ except help me take Beth to the doctor. We’re just friends…’
‘I know that or you’d already be dead,’ Peter said. ‘But he’s hopin’ – and I want him out of the way. He’ll get a sharp warnin’ and if he comes near yer again, he’ll get it… just like the other one…’
Ellie’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I don’t know what ’appened to you…’ she choked. ‘You used to be fun and lovin’…’
‘Oh yes, you liked all the gifts and the goin’ out – where did you think the money came from? Not from working down the docks like the other donkeys!’
‘You were in with criminals?’ She stared at him in shock.
‘You silly bitch,’ Peter snarled. ‘It’s time you grew up. I only have to snap my fingers and you and that brat will disappear for good.’
Ellie turned her face aside. She knew what her life was going to be like in future whenever Peter was around, and it seemed he had spies who told him everything she did. Her only chance was to appease him while he was home and then make a run for it – if only she could protect her child and herself from his brutality until he was recalled to the Army.
‘Stop snivellin’,’ Peter said. ‘I don’t want yer bloody landlady callin’ the police ’cos I’ve hit yer. And don’t think yer can whisper to her behind me back – if she steps out of line, I’ll give her a belt as well.’
Ellie raised her head, wiping her face with the back of her hand. ‘Mabel has been good to me. Just leave her alone, Peter, or I’ll be the one goin’ to the police. You can threaten me all yer like, but I’m not a doormat and I won’t let you hurt Beth or Mabel…’
‘Well, maybe I’ll just make you suffer, bitch,’ Peter said with a cruel leer. ‘Just do as I tell yer and we’ll see… I’ll be back later, and if you tell that interferin’ bitch that I slapped yer, she’s for it.’
He pushed her ahead of him and she heard him walking away. Ellie hastily wiped her tears from her cheeks. Mabel would see the bruise and it was no good lying to her – but Ellie had to make her see that they couldn’t do anything about it until Peter returned to his unit or he might kill them all.
*
Sid parked the car into the generous space, locked it and left the garage, making certain the door locked behind him. His general was important and he’d been warned not to leave the car where anyone could damage it or even put a bomb under it, because, as unbelievable as it seemed, there were those in the country who would risk a lot to get rid of men like Sid’s boss – men who were making a difference to the war.
He left the garage and started to walk down the road, feeling pleased with life. Ellie would be expecting him later, because he’d told her he would call in and he had a present for Beth – and something for Ellie too. Sid wanted to give her a ring and all the nice things that were missing from her life, to take care of both her and the child. He’d seen enough to know that she didn’t have much money to spare and he was pretty flush these days. Ever since he’d started work, Sid had been savin’ for the day when he got a home of his own and then a wife and kid. He wanted things nice when he got wed, because his own parents had struggled to bring up half a dozen youngsters. Sid was determined that Ellie and Beth would want for nothing – though it would cost a pretty penny to get that divorce. They needed proof of Peter’s mistreatment of his wife.
Sid wasn’t sure when he became aware that he was being followed. He sensed rather than heard the footsteps behind him but knew that while he was in the busy street he was safe enough. If he was going to be attacked, the assassin would wait until he was in a dark lane. A little smile touched his lips, because Sid knew something the man tracking him didn’t.
He was quite capable of tackling any normal assailant with his bare hands, but the pistol in his pocket would come in handy if there was more than one. He’d been issued with it as an official bodyguard and any attempt on his life would be linked with an attempt to get to the general… so if he shot to kill, no one would kick up much of a fuss over it. Not that he would intentionally kill, but he had no qualms about defending himself or his general.
As he turned into the dark lane, Sid tensed, his alert hearing picking up the sudden rush of steps and he turned to meet the attack as the knife came at him. He was struck in the fleshy part of his arm but still managed to pull out the gun and fire… his bullet hit the mark and he saw the man fall.
*
‘Oh, Ellie, what are we goin’ ter do?’ Mabel looked at her in dismay. She’d seen the swelling on her cheek as soon as she walked in and Ellie had told her what Peter had said and done to her in the lane. ‘I should’ve believed you when you told me what he did before… He’s a bully and a brute and you have to get away, love. You have to leave now, before he comes back…’
‘He would take it out on you,’ Ellie said and bit her lip. ‘I’m goin’ to leave him, Mabel – but not until he’s gone back to his unit. He would just come after me…’
‘Not if he doesn’t know where you’ve gone. I’ve got a bit of money saved. If
I give it to yer, it will take yer a long way off…’
Tears filled Ellie’s eyes. ‘I want you to answer the door if Sid comes tonight – you must tell him to stay away, because Peter will have him killed. I know he will…’
‘Oh, Ellie, I can’t believe…’ Mabel wiped her own tears. ‘If he hits me, I don’t care – but I don’t want him to beat you like this… and Beth. What will he do to Beth?’
‘I don’t know…’ Ellie looked at her and the tears trickled down her cheeks. ‘I don’t know what to do…’ She broke off as they heard someone at the back door and then it opened and a man entered. Ellie’s cry died as she saw it was Sid. He was wearing his uniform but the blouson was stained with a brownish patch that looked like blood. ‘Oh, Sid – what happened? Was it Peter?’ she asked.
‘Someone attacked me on my way here,’ Sid told her. ‘It’s been taken care of, Ellie – but I wanted to see if you were all right. I can’t stop and I haven’t brought your present, because I have to report what happened…’
‘You were attacked?’ Ellie was horrified as she saw the rent in the sleeve of his uniform and the dark stain of blood. ‘Are you badly hurt?’
‘I’m not sure whether it was an attempt at murder or just a warning – but I came off best, Ellie…’ Sid looked grim, his mouth hard and his eyes glinting in the lamplight.
‘Peter said he’d arranged to have you sorted…’ Ellie whispered. ‘He was here earlier…’
‘Whoever it was that attacked me is now fighting for his life in hospital,’ Sid said. ‘He knifed me and I shot him in the shoulder, but then I called an ambulance and they took him away – and so I came straight here, because you’re not safe with that madman on the loose.’
‘You shot the man that attacked you?’ Ellie’s eyes opened wide. ‘Will you get into trouble if he dies?’
‘I’m reporting it as a plot to kill me in order to get to my general,’ Sid said. ‘If you hear anything, just keep quiet – and I’ll deal with it. Remember, I’m not afraid of your husband and if he hurts you…’ He looked at the red mark on her cheek, suddenly realising. ‘He already has! Where is the devil? I’ll thrash him to within an inch of his life…’
‘Sid, you mustn’t,’ Ellie said. ‘Just be careful because Peter is violent and he’s determined to harm you…’
‘I told you, I can take care of myself,’ Sid said and frowned. ‘It’s you I’m worried about – let me take you away. You and Beth. I’ll put you on a train this evenin’ and you can stay with my sister… he won’t find you there, Ellie.’
‘Go with him, Ellie,’ Mabel urged. ‘Please, go with Sid now, tonight. If you and Beth are safe, nothin’ else matters…’
Ellie hesitated, because she didn’t like leaving Mabel alone, but then she realised that if she’d gone, Peter would be too busy looking for her to bother with her friend.
‘Just be careful, Mabel, because he threatened to harm you,’ she said and then looked at Sid. ‘I’ll fetch Beth down…’ Ellie looked fearfully at the back door, because if Peter returned there would be a fight and someone would be hurt. She had to be quick.
Upstairs, she thrust as many of Beth’s things into a suitcase as she could and some undies and a dress for herself, snatching up her sleeping child and hurrying back down to the kitchen, where Mabel had the pushchair ready. Beth stirred and whimpered but didn’t wake.
‘Write to me when you’re settled and I’ll let you know when it’s safe to come home,’ Mabel said and thrust some notes into Ellie’s hand. ‘Take care of her, Sid. Don’t let that devil hurt her…’
‘If he tries to touch her, I’ll kill him,’ Sid said and Mabel nodded her satisfaction.
‘Sid will look after you, love,’ she said and kissed Ellie’s cheek and then Beth. ‘I shall miss you, but don’t think of me – just look after yourself and Beth…’
‘Don’t open the door to him,’ Sid advised. ‘He’s a nasty so-and-so – and you need to take care.’
‘I love you…’ Ellie hugged Mabel and then allowed Sid to usher her out of the door.
They walked swiftly down the lane, Ellie looking over her shoulder constantly, fearing that Peter would come after them, worrying about her friend. Surely Peter wouldn’t take it out on Mabel just because she’d run away? She hesitated, half inclined to go back, but Sid took her arm and urged her on. When they saw a taxi standing at the side of the road, Sid spoke to the driver. He was reluctant to take them at first because he was finished for the night, but then agreed, and in a few seconds they were speeding towards the railway station.
Ellie drew a deep breath. Peter wouldn’t come after her immediately. He might look for her at her aunt’s house, but she would be far away in the country with Sid’s family.
Sid wrote an address on a piece of paper from the notebook he carried in his pocket and gave it to her. ‘I’ll come down when I can and if he’s gone back to his unit I’ll take you home, Ellie.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, looking at him anxiously. ‘I don’t know exactly what happened tonight, but please take care of yourself – I’m afraid of what he might do to you, Sid, especially if he can’t find me…’
‘You just take care of yourself,’ Sid said and smiled at her. ‘I’ll come for you when it’s safe and not before…’
Ellie nodded. The taxi had arrived at Liverpool Street Station. Sid got out and saw to the pushchair and her case. He paid the driver and then accompanied her into the busy station, where he paid for her ticket and gave her ten pounds. Ellie tried to refuse, but he forced it into her purse.
‘You may need it until I can look after you,’ he told her. ‘I love you, Ellie, and I wish I could come with you, but there are things I have to take care of…’
Ellie took his arm and saw him wince. ‘You’re hurt badly,’ she said. ‘You should go to the doctor, Sid – please take care of yourself… for me.’
‘It’s all right, I tied a bandage round, but I will see the doctor,’ he said and bent his head to kiss her. ‘I love you, Ellie. Listen, that’s the train you need pulling into platform three. Stay with Christine until I come… she will understand if you tell her I sent you…’
Ellie nodded and went past the barrier. It was all noise and confusion but Ellie had sometimes travelled on the underground when she lived with Peter’s mother and trains held no fear for her. A young soldier saw her struggling with her case and lifted it onto the train for her while another lifted the pushchair in.
‘That your old man over there?’ he asked and Ellie nodded, allowing him to think it as she thanked him for his help. ‘We help each other out, missus.’ He saluted Sid, who nodded to him.
Sid waited beyond the ticket barrier until she was on the train, waving as she looked back. Ellie blinked hard. It felt as if she were running away and deserting both Sid and Mabel – and yet they both feared for her and Beth. Looking down at her sleeping child, Ellie’s expression hardened. She found a seat and took Beth in her arms as the obliging soldier put the pushchair up on the luggage rack. She couldn’t stay and let Peter take out his anger on her child. She had no choice but to get away until it was safe to return… but she was so anxious for both Sid and Mabel. Peter was ruthless and if he guessed what they’d done, he would be violent and vindictive.
*
Peter was running scared. He’d been watching as the paid assassin had attacked the bugger who had dared to go after Ellie and it had shocked him to see how easily the soldier had dealt with a man who had killed many times – but a knife was never any match for a gun.
Who would have thought Sid Coleman carried a gun? As soon as he saw the knifeman go down, a man known by the scar on his face, a man who had killed for him before, Peter had taken to his heels and run. He felt confused, but anger was burning deep down inside him. The man who had been shot that night was a long-time friend; he’d helped Peter out more than once in the past and he’d counted on him being there when he got back after the war. Many of Peter’s plans for the futu
re revolved around being able to inflict fear into others – and now he’d have to look for a new hard man to back him.
Peter’s life of extortion and power over others had come to an abrupt end when he was sent to war. He’d been well on the way to making a name for himself in the East End and had seen himself as rich and powerful once he got a grip on the empire he was set on building. Outwardly good-looking, with a smile that charmed most people, Peter had learned early in life that he could get most of what he wanted with a lift of his finger. He’d left most of the rough stuff to his friends, particularly Scarface. Peter was the brains and they were queuing up to work for him until bloody Hitler got in the way. However, the Army had taught him how to kill and he wasn’t squeamish, but neither was he a fool. He wasn’t risking his life against a damned gun when he was unarmed. There were other ways to get his revenge.
That bloody Sid Coleman was going to get it! Peter had his army-issue weapons and he’d give the man who’d pinched his wife and killed his friend a taste of his own medicine – but first of all he was going to teach that bitch a lesson.
The anger was seething inside him the whole time he was walking. It was dusk and most shops and businesses were closing. Peter liked the night, because it made it easier to hide and he had no intention of being caught. This mess was all of Ellie’s making – her and that bloody interfering landlady of hers. They would be sorry they’d got on his wrong side when he’d finished with them! Peter could be generous when he chose and he’d loved Ellie when he married her, never letting her see what was underneath the pleasant face he showed to the world, but she’d seen the other side of him now. She’d be kneeling at his feet and begging him by the time he finished with her – but he wouldn’t kill her, because he still wanted her. She was his, but that bloody brat wasn’t…
He walked up the narrow alley between the two shops, trying the back door handle of Mabel Tandy’s kitchen. It was locked and that made him angrier than ever. The bitches had locked him out. He banged on the door loudly, calling out to be admitted, thumping again and again until it was suddenly opened and Mabel Tandy stood there looking at him. She was wearing her pink wool dressing gown and a hairnet and something about her stance made him blow his top.
