At Home by the Sea

by Pam Weaver

  Izzie watched Linda’s frantic efforts for a while then tried a different tack. She opened the back bedroom window and worked out that with one big stride she could get herself onto the roof of the bathroom. There was a large water butt on the corner of the house by the down pipe from the guttering. If she stood on the lid, the jump to the ground was a lot less scary. Tucking her skirt into her knickers as she used to do in PE lessons at school, she eased herself out of the window. The whole exercise went to plan and a few minutes later, she came back into the house through the open back door. Linda was shocked to feel the bolt slide back and even more so when she saw Izzie standing in front of her.

  Anxious not to miss anything, the two girls dashed back up to change but it was only as they were almost ready that Izzie noticed that her sister had a suitcase in her hand.

  ‘We’ll come back for our cases later on,’ said Izzie. ‘Mrs Noyles isn’t expecting us until seven.’

  ‘I’m not going to Mrs Noyles’,’ said Linda.

  Izzie was taken aback. ‘But it’s all arranged,’ she said.

  ‘I’m leaving now!’ Linda cried. ‘I’m not staying in this house a moment longer with that mad man.’

  ‘You don’t have to,’ said Izzie, standing in front of her. ‘She’s offering us a nice room. It’s a bit small but we don’t have to stay there for ever. Just until I can find us a bigger place.’

  ‘Izzie I don’t want to be with you either,’ Linda cried.

  ‘But you can’t go on your own.’

  ‘I won’t be on my own,’ said Linda, her eyes sparkling. ‘I’m going to be with Ray.’

  Izzie was horrified. ‘What?’ she cried. ‘But you can’t.’

  ‘Yes I can,’ Linda insisted. ‘His uncle has a caravan I can live in and besides, I’m sure Ray is going to ask me to be his girl.’

  Izzie was appalled. ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Linda,’ she cried. ‘You can’t do that. Think of your reputation.’

  ‘For goodness sake, I don’t give a hoot about all that,’ Linda said as she headed for the door.

  For a second Izzie was too stunned to move, then, grabbing her coat and scarf, she called out, ‘Hang on. I’m coming too.’

  Thirty-Five

  Bill Baxter had stormed into The Buckingham, making such an entrance that every head turned in his direction when the door banged against the wall. Mavis, who was wiping glasses at the bar, looked up in surprise.

  ‘I need to talk to you,’ Bill said in a hoarse whisper.

  She looked about her, then jerked her head towards the door marked ‘private’.

  He went through and found himself in a small stockroom.

  ‘Whatever’s wrong?’ she said, coming up behind him.

  ‘I’ve found out who nicked the stuff from my shop.’ He paused for effect. ‘Our Linda was wearing the bloody earrings,’ he went on. ‘She tells me it was her boyfriend and Perryman.’

  ‘Perryman?’ said Mavis. She frowned. ‘But isn’t that the name of the lad you told me was with the boy died of food poisoning?’

  Bill struggled to control himself. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘so tell me what he’s doing with my Linda?’

  ‘Look, sugar,’ said Mavis. ‘This is between you and your girls. Anyway, why would he rob your warehouse?’

  Bill flared his nostrils. ‘To get back at me I suppose.’

  Mavis turned to go.

  ‘She was supposed to be going out with him tonight, but I’ve put a stop to that. I’ve locked her in.’

  ‘Maybe you should have let her go and followed her,’ said Mavis. ‘She’d have led you straight to him.’

  He calmed almost straight away and gave her a sheepish grin. ‘See what I mean, Mav?’ He came towards her and put his hands around her waist. ‘You think things out, don’t you, darlin’. You’re clever.’

  ‘Oh, get away with you,’ she scolded. ‘Look, get back home and say you’re sorry. Let her go, then follow her. When he sees you, that’ll put the fear of God in him and you’ll get the stuff back.’

  ‘Right,’ said Bill. ‘I’ll do it now.’ He hesitated by the door. ‘I’ve told the both of them they’ve got to be out by Sunday,’ he went on.

  ‘You’ve kicked your own daughters out?’ she said. ‘Oh Bill, you shouldn’t have done that.’

  He shrugged. ‘It’s done now.’

  ‘No,’ she said. ‘I can’t have you doing that.’

  He looked stricken. ‘But you said …’

  ‘Whatever I said, I never meant you to turf them out,’ she said. ‘They’re family, Bill, and I told you before, I don’t break up families.’

  ‘But you will come, won’t you Mav?’

  She regarded him for a minute then said, ‘Go and find Perryman and then we’ll talk about it.’

  They returned to the pub. ‘Pint of Guinness, Mav,’ said a customer standing by the bar. Bill headed for the door. As he left the pub he glanced back and Mavis blew him a kiss.

  *

  That afternoon when they took Linda to tea, Paul had never left the Café Bellissimo. Just before the bill came, he’d excused himself to go to the toilet. The plan had been for him to hide in the loo until everyone had gone, but they hadn’t reckoned it would be outside in a small courtyard. As soon as he got there, Paul realised that if he hid in the bog there was every likelihood that he’d be stuck outside the shop unable to get back in, especially if the owner bolted the kitchen door.

  He’d hung around for a bit until he was sure the kitchen was empty then dashed into the storage area to hide. There were some sacks of vegetables on the floor and being quite a small person, he was able to squeeze behind them and out of sight. His feet stuck out a bit and there was a breath-stopping moment when someone dropped a knife or something on the floor nearby, but he managed to stay hidden. It wasn’t very comfortable. The floor was cold and the wall felt damp. The potatoes and carrots in the hessian sacks dug in all over him but fortunately he didn’t have long to wait.

  As soon as it was quiet, he made himself a little more comfortable and waited to make sure everyone was gone. Ray had said it would be a couple of hours before the barrels came down the road on their way to the sea so as soon as it was dark enough, Paul crept towards the door of the shop to disable the bell.

  Ray and John hung around town after he’d said goodbye to Linda and then they split up. John went to fetch the car and park it in Bath Place. It had been easy enough to nick it. Ray had spotted it parked outside a house not far from the town centre a few days ago. The keys were still in the ignition and the engine was still running so it seemed easier to nick that one rather than risk Paul getting caught for stealing at the garage. The car was an Austin A40 Somerset Saloon which Paul said was capable of doing 70mph. He also knew there was an empty garage near where he lived so it seemed the obvious place to hide it until they needed it.

  As the crowds gathered, Ray came back to the Café Bellissimo and waited in the shop doorway until it was time. Nobody took any notice of a lad having a fag. Every now and then he couldn’t resist feeling the gun in his pocket. Its hardness had an amazing effect on him. Just wait until he told them back home what he’d done. His brother Lennie may have had a flick knife but he was only into small time stuff. This was a much bigger league. This was armed robbery.

  A few minutes later, John sauntered up to the shop. Ray offered him a cigarette while they waited for Paul to open the door from the inside. Ray glanced up at the windows above them but the flat was in darkness. The two boys entered the shop silently. The feeling of elation and excitement was almost overwhelming.

  Ray motioned them towards the back. The office door was closed but they were confident that no-one was there. Ray turned the door handle and they went in, closing the door behind them.

  ‘So where’s the safe?’ he whispered as he turned on the light.

  It was in plain sight in the corner.

  ‘Blimey,’ said Paul, ‘it’s pretty big.’

  ‘Yeah but think of all the
dosh inside,’ said John, grinning from ear to ear.

  ‘Find the key,’ Ray ordered.

  They searched the drawers and cupboards but to no avail. One drawer in the desk was locked so Ray forced it open. There was a loud crack as the wood splintered. They waited, holding their breath in case there was a vague possibility that someone was in the flat upstairs but everything was fine. Inside they found a set of keys but nothing fitted the door of the safe.

  *

  Upstairs in the flat, Giacomo was watching the gathering crowds from his sitting room window but he hadn’t put the light on. He had spent the past week visiting seaside towns along the south coast looking for the ideal spot for his new bistro. Now, at last, he was back home. All he could think about was Isobelle. In fact, she’d been on his mind all week.

  He had just stepped out of the bath where he had spent the past half an hour soaking away the aches and pains of another exhausting day. He’d read three chapters of a thriller, struggling not to get the pages too wet as he raced through the exciting bits. Now all he wanted was a quiet evening to relax. Fat chance of that now. The crowds beneath his window were already several hundred strong and it was clear from the buzz and chatter that everyone was in a party mood. Parents stood with their little ones, the girls looking as pretty as a picture as the boys swung football rattles or banged two saucepan lids together to make a cacophony of sound. His heart constricted as he saw a man swing his son up onto his shoulders. The little boy held on tight, his small arms hardly reaching round his father’s head. That should have been him with Gianni. He cleared his throat noisily to fight the tears which threatened. Umberto was right. He had to let go. He had to make a new life now and since he’d been away from her, he was very sure of what he wanted.

  Swallowing hard, he turned his attention to a man with a drum making his way down the centre of the street as stewards made their last attempt to make sure people were standing well back before the lighted barrels came down. There was just enough time to pour himself a brandy before everything kicked off.

  For the first time in years, Giacomo felt happy. Perhaps he had put the bitterness of internment behind him at last. He’d been stupid to hold a grudge for so long anyway. That first evening he’d talked to Isobelle had made that clear enough. He’d pointed out that she was angry and in pain because of her past but he might as well have been talking to himself. By the time he’d finished saying his piece, he’d felt ashamed of his own attitude. He would never forget his Maria, nor his baby boy, but perhaps he really was ready to start a new life. Every now and then the memories would creep up on him like just now but the pain was less raw these days. How he wished Isobelle was up here with him. He had been a fool. He had been too slow, too timid, too afraid to admit to the passion that beat in his breast. He loved her. He should have told her by now. Even forming the words inside his head triggered a deep, aching longing to be with her. Oh Isobelle, Isobelle my love …

  *

  Unbeknown to Giacomo, downstairs in the shop, the three lads tip-toed silently around but they couldn’t find the keys to the safe. They helped themselves to some cake under the domes, cutting huge slices and agreeing that the chocolate was the best. Paul spotted Giacomo’s lucky toy and stuffed it into his top pocket.

  ‘What d’you want that for?’ said Ray.

  ‘My kid brother.’

  Ray picked up the cushion on the office chair. If they were going to open the safe, there was nothing for it but to use the gun. Outside, the noise from the crowd was getting louder as the other two hid behind the big leather chair.

  ‘I’ll wait until there’s plenty of noise outside,’ said Ray. He braced himself and holding the gun with the muzzle in front of the lock, he held his breath.

  *

  The streets were packed with people, mostly locals. As Linda dodged the men with flaming torches, she looked around wildly to find John. She bumped her suitcase into people’s legs causing a great many irritated curses and words of abuse. She shouldn’t have put so much in it. It weighed a flippin’ ton.

  ‘Linda.’ She could hear Izzie’s shout from somewhere behind her. Linda didn’t look back. ‘Wait for me.’

  But she didn’t want to wait. This was her one chance for a bit of adventure, and she didn’t want her big sister tagging along. She was tired of people telling her what she could and could not do. She was almost seventeen for goodness sake! She’d show them. She’d show them all. She was perfectly capable of looking after herself. She didn’t need Dad and she certainly didn’t need Izzie. Linda began to weave in and out of the swirling crowd in an attempt to lose her.

  ‘Linda … Linda …’ Izzie’s voice was getting further and further away.

  All at once, she realised she’d not only lost Izzie but that the first part of the procession was well under way. She stopped running and stood on tip toe, craning her neck for a sight of John. Oh, where was he?

  Someone grabbed her arm. ‘Steady on little Missy.’ A dishevelled looking man pushed his bristly chin towards her and breathed his beery breath over her face. She could see bits of pie or meat or something in between his row of yellow teeth. Linda turned her head away in revulsion. ‘Leave me alone,’ she said sharply.

  ‘Where are you off to in such a hurry?’ he said. ‘Your dad told me to stop you if I saw you.’

  Now that she looked more closely she could see it was Mick Osborne. So that’s why her father had been talking to him at the end of the street.

  ‘I don’t wish to be rude, Mr Osborne,’ said Linda, desperately trying to shake off his grip on her arm, ‘but I’m looking for my friend.’

  ‘I think you’d better come with me,’ said Mick, swaying slightly. ‘Your dad’s this way.’

  Linda tried to resist him but he was holding her arm far too tightly to get away and besides, her suitcase impeded her escape. She began to panic as she realised he was pulling her back towards home. ‘No! Let go of me!’

  In an instant, Izzie was by her side. ‘Let go of her!’

  Giving Mick a kick on his shin, Linda aimed the suitcase at his private parts. As Mick cried out in pain and sank to his knees, Linda wrenched her arm free.

  ‘Blimey!’ Izzie cried. ‘It’s Mick.’

  ‘He attacked me,’ said Linda. ‘You saw him.’

  Izzie wasn’t convinced but when she’d caught up with Linda, it certainly looked as if Mick was trying to take her somewhere against her will. Dad wouldn’t be too happy that they’d laid into his employee but she hadn’t realised who it was.

  ‘Stick close by me,’ said Izzie. ‘I’ll protect you.’

  ‘Go away Izzie!’ Linda snapped defiantly. ‘You’re not my mother and I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself.’

  A great shout went up and Linda turned to see that the Bonfire Boys, fresh out of the Castle public house by the Broadwater Bridge had arrived. Dressed all in black with black woollen hats and a white skull and crossbones on the front of their jerseys, their flaming tar barrels rolled down the middle of the street in front of them. It was a fantastic spectacle. Linda was mesmerised.

  It took a great deal of skill to keep the barrel on course. Each man pushed his dangerous cargo on its side using a gloved hand and a thick stick to keep it steady. The flames leapt from inside of the barrel in great red hungry tongues of fire and the thick black smoke which belched out almost engulfed the others following behind. As the first one went by, even from several feet away, Linda could feel the intense heat.

  *

  Above the Café Bellissimo, Giacomo had enjoyed watching the barrels come past the shops. The crowds had cheered and he’d marvelled at the skill of the Bonfire Boys. Then, to his delight, he saw Isobelle in the crowd. She was right outside Kinch and Lack, not more than two hundred yards away. He’d go down and ask her to join him, or if she preferred, he’d accompany her to the great bonfire on the beach. His heart lifted at the thought. Umberto and Benito were already down there. They had headed towards Splash Point where s
ome of their friends from church had a beach chalet. There would be food and wine. He’d enjoy being there if Isobelle was with him.

  Giacomo was just about to grab his coat when he thought he heard a muffled thud. What was that? It didn’t sound as if it had come from outside. It sounded more like it had come from underneath where he was standing. Was someone in the shop? Giacomo looked around for something with which to arm himself but all he could find was an umbrella. His heart thumping, he opened the door to his flat and crept outside onto the landing.

  Thirty-Six

  They’d made a mess of the safe but it was open. Laughing and horsing about, the three lads stuffed anything of value into their holdalls, all caution gone. Disappointingly, most of it was paperwork but there were a couple of watches and a small box which contained a ladies engagement ring. Making their way back into the shop, Ray picked up the jar of coins at the other end of the counter. It contained mostly threepenny bits and pennies but the odd note was visible from the side and it weighed a ton. Tipping the jar into his holdall, they froze as they heard a creaking sound on the stairs.

  ‘Shh,’ Paul cautioned. ‘Somebody’s coming.’

  From the doorway, they saw a shadowy shape on the wall. Ray stepped back into the hallway and the two of them saw each other.

  ‘What the hell are you doing in my shop?’ Giacomo boomed.

  At the sound of his voice, Paul and John made a dash for the shop door.

  Giacomo brandished his umbrella. ‘You won’t get away with this,’ he shouted. ‘Help. Somebody help. I am being robbed.’

  Ray gave Giacomo a slow smile, levelled the gun and fired.

  Outside on South Street, a man turned to his neighbour. ‘Did you hear that noise? It sounded like a gun going off.’

  ‘Don’t be daft,’ said his companion. ‘It was only the drum.’