by Joan Jonker
Ten minutes later they were sat round Molly’s table with a hot pot of tea in front of them. They knew what Corker was about to tell them would be of interest, for the big man never did anything by half. But they weren’t prepared for the drama as the tale unfolded. The room was silent except for an occasional gasp or sharp intake of breath from Ellen or Molly. It was like listening to a mystery play on the wireless. But not once did anyone interrupt to ask a question. They drank in every word the big man said, and imagined the scene in their minds.
‘So there yer have it, the whole story.’ Corker sat back and twirled the ends of his huge moustache. ‘If all goes to plan, then Flora should have her husband’s fob watch back tomorrow.’
Molly was shaking her head in disbelief. ‘I can’t get my head round it, it’s too good to be true. If it comes off, Corker, then ye’re a ruddy hero.’
‘I’d love to see Flora’s face if she does get it back,’ Ellen said. ‘It would be like a miracle.’
But Jack was looking below the surface, beyond the happy ending. ‘There’s a lot more to it, Corker, isn’t there? How do you explain to Flora how yer got the watch back? All the neighbours would find out, and then the police would have to be told. How are yer going to get round that?’
‘Oh, yeah, I never thought of that,’ Molly said. ‘Are yer going to tell the police, Corker?’
‘Not until I’ve got the watch in me hand, Molly. If Les Simpson and Sid Blakesley get a whiff of me bringing the police in, no one will ever see that watch again. They’re not stupid. They know if they are caught with it in their possession they’ll be charged and sent to prison. Both of them will lie through their teeth, and the pawnbroker. They’ll get rid of the watch, and without that the police have no evidence.’
‘What are yer going to do, then, Corker?’ Jack asked. ‘It’s not going to be easy, no matter how yer handle it.’
‘I’ve given it a lot of thought over the last week, Jack, and the first priority in my mind is to get Flora’s watch back to her. To make a lovely old lady happy. If she has the watch, she can hold on to the memories that go with it.’
Molly’s eyes filled with tears. ‘What a lovely thing to say, Corker, and I’m with you on that. Flora comes before anything. Even if it means the thieves get away scot-free.’
‘Oh, they’ll not get away scot-free, I can promise yer that. They’ve already had a scare that will put a stop to their capers. They got the fright of their life, tonight, and I’ll lay odds they never do business together again. But as for the police, I’ll give that some thought when I have the watch in me hand. They’ll have to be told Flora has it back, but how it came about needs a very plausible tale.’
‘You’ve done a good job so far, Corker,’ Jack said. ‘The police would never have got to the bottom of it.’
Corker laughed. ‘Ah, but they didn’t have the assistance of two of the best detectives in the business. Molly and Nellie found out more from a woman in a corner shop than I ever could have done. They did the brainwork, I did the footwork.’
‘I think yer can do some footwork now, love,’ Ellen said. ‘I’m tired and I want to go to bed.’
Corker jumped to his feet. ‘Your wish is my command, sweetheart. Stand up and I’ll carry you.’
‘I think I’m capable of walking next door, love, but yer can give me a kiss to put some life back in me feet.’
On the way out, Corker said, ‘I know I don’t have to tell yer, Molly, but mum’s the word. Don’t even tell Nellie until we see if all goes to plan.’
‘Will you give us a knock before yer go back to work tomorrow?’ Molly didn’t think she could stand the suspense for so long. ‘Just a quick call, an aye or a nay, that’s all I need.’
Corker swept his wife up in his arms. ‘Will do, Molly. Goodnight and God bless.’
At twelve o’clock the next day, three angry men faced each other in the pawnbroker’s shop. They were all speaking at once, each putting the blame on the other, in language that wouldn’t suit the faint-hearted. Les and young Sid weren’t satisfied with shouting at each other, they were at the pushing stage. The owner of the shop stayed behind the counter, where he was safe. He was adamant he wasn’t going to hand the fob watch over. ‘How can I give it to you when it’s been sold? Some bloke put a pound deposit down on it, and he’s calling for it on Saturday when he’s got his wages. Besides, I gave yer good money for it, so don’t come crying to me.’
Les turned nasty. ‘It won’t be me coming to yer, it’ll be the bleeding coppers. I’m not taking all the blame, you two are in it as deep as I am. In fact I was doing yer both a favour.’
‘Were you hell’s like,’ Sid said. He had grown up more in the last fourteen hours than he had done since the day he was born. His mother and father had played merry hell with him last night, especially his father who had looked sick at the mention of Corker’s name. ‘Give the man his six pound back, and get the watch off him. He can make up a cock and bull story when the man comes for it on Saturday. He can say he was burgled and the watch was one of the items stolen.’
Les raised his brows in surprise. The lad wasn’t as thick as he made out to be. ‘That’s the only way out for the three of us. Either that, or we all end up in Walton jail.’ He took a handful of money from his trouser pocket and plonked it down on the counter. ‘Pass the goods over and we’ll be on our way. And don’t argue, for time is running out for the three of us. Yer’ve got yer money back, so consider yerself lucky it’s me here, not the police.’
It was with bad grace the pawnbroker took a box from under the counter. If looks could kill, Sid Blakesley and the pub landlord would have died on the spot. But the lad had no intention of sticking around, and before the other two men knew what was happening, he’d whipped the box off the counter and pushed it into his pocket. ‘I’m off. You two can do what the hell yer want. But if I were you,’ he glared at Les, ‘I’d be back in yer pub by one o’clock, ’cos I don’t think that big feller is the kind to mess around. I’ll be there, but you suit yerself. It’ll be the last time we set eyes on each other if I have my way.’
The two older men watched the door being closed, then both looked down at the money on the counter. It was exactly six pounds, but the man behind the counter whipped it up without counting it. There is a saying that there is honour among thieves, but there was no honour, trust, or even liking between these two men. And Les Simpson walked out of the shop without saying a word.
Molly was on pins when the fingers on the clock told her it was a quarter past one. She was pacing the floor, muttering to herself, ‘He should be here any minute. Please God let him have a smile on his face when I open the door.’
There was another reason for Molly’s restlessness, and that involved her mate. For the first time, only because Corker had asked her to keep mum, she’d kept a secret from Nellie. And the guilt was weighing heavily on her mind. After all, it was Nellie who got all the information that enabled Corker to nab the crooks. Still, if things turned out as hoped, then Molly would make sure her mate was given the credit, and would heap praise on her.
When the ran-tan came on the door Molly nearly jumped out of her skin. After keeping her ears open for the last half hour, she’d let her mind wander thinking of her mate.
‘Come in, Corker.’ Molly could see by the expression on the big man’s face that his plan had been successful. ‘Just for a minute, ’cos I know yer’ve got to get back to work.’
‘Haven’t got time, Molly.’ Corker handed her a small box. ‘I’ll explain everything tonight, but here’s the watch. I don’t want yer to give it to Flora yet, not until I’ve worked out a feasible story of how it came into my possession. Give Nellie a knock, though, for she deserves to know her information has borne fruit. We’ll get together after our dinner tonight and talk things through. I’ll have to dash now, though. I don’t want to take advantage of my boss’s goodwill. See yer later. Ta-ra!’
Molly watched him stride down the street, then le
aving her door open she made a dash for Nellie’s.
‘What’s up, girl?’ There was surprise on the chubby face. ‘The baby’s all right, isn’t he?’
‘Nothing’s wrong, sunshine, so yer can relax. Come along to mine, I’ve got some really exciting news for yer. Just come as yer are, but bring yer door key.’
‘Ooh, er.’ The little woman’s face became alive with anticipation. There was nothing she enjoyed more than a bit of unexpected excitement to brighten her day. Her wide hips touching the wall on each side, she made haste to the glass bowl on the sideboard to pick up her key, then within seconds she was banging the door behind her, and bouncing her way to Molly’s.
As she walked through her mate’s front door, Nellie shouted, ‘I hope yer’ve got the kettle on, girl. Yer know I like a drink to wash down any news. If it’s world-shattering news, then I’ll need a tot of whisky in it.’
The kettle was already on the boil, for Molly knew her mate inside out. ‘Tea’s nearly ready, sunshine, but yer’ll have to pretend yer can taste the whisky. It’s amazing what yer can imagine if yer put yer mind to it.’
Nellie was about to call back that it would take more than imagination to taste whisky where there was no whisky, but the words remained unspoken when she saw two custard creams on each of the saucers. ‘Ay, girl, we’re coming up in the world, aren’t we? Biscuits twice in one day, that’s a record.’
‘Don’t choke on them when I tell yer the news, sunshine, ’cos yer know I’m no good in an emergency.’
‘Blimey days, girl, it would take more than two fiddling biscuits to make me choke. Anyway, what about this exciting news yer’ve got for me? It’s taking yer long enough to tell me.’
Molly half turned in her chair and reached out to the sideboard for the small cardboard box. Then she swivelled back and put the box in front of Nellie. ‘Open it up, sunshine.’
Nellie looked at the box with suspicion. ‘If this is a joke, girl, I’ll break yer flaming neck.’
‘What d’yer mean? How can it be a joke?’
‘You know what I mean, girl, don’t be acting all innocent. It’s one of those Jack-in-the-box jokes, I bet. I’ll open it up and a ruddy doll will pop up and hit me in the eye.’
Molly made a cross over her heart. ‘Honest, Nellie, it isn’t a joke. It’s a wonderful surprise, and yer’ll be delighted. That’s when yer recover from the shock, like.’
Now Nellie was filled with curiosity, but still not sure. ‘You take the lid off, girl.’
‘Nellie Mac, you should have been called Doubting Thomas.’ Molly took the lid off the box, and, along with her mate, stared down at the gold watch, which had a thick gold chain at the side of it. Both women were struck dumb, Nellie more so because it was so unexpected. Molly knew there was a watch inside the box, but had no idea what it would look like. For it didn’t need an expert to know that it was a special, very expensive watch and chain.
‘Oh, my God,’ Molly said, ‘no wonder Flora was so distraught. It’s beautiful.’
It was very seldom that Nellie was lost for words, but now she sat with her mouth partly open, as she tried to understand what was happening. Then she licked her lips before asking, ‘Is that the watch that was stolen?’
Molly nodded. ‘Corker got it back, sunshine, but don’t ask me how. He handed it in at the door, just before I knocked for you, and said he would tell us the whole story tonight, after we’ve all had our dinner. He did ask me to tell you, because he said it was your information that made it possible. But he was very definite that we shouldn’t tell Flora yet, or breathe a word to anyone. He didn’t say why, but I think it’s because he’s worried about the police. If they find out Flora’s got her watch back, they’re bound to want to know how it came about. And I think that’s why Corker wants to see us tonight. You, me, Jack and himself. We’ll have to put our heads together and get the story right, otherwise Corker will be in trouble with the police.’
‘Oh, we’ll come up with a good story, girl, don’t worry.’ Nellie looked down at the watch and sighed. ‘To think, all those years ago, Flora’s husband wore that watch. Makes yer feel sad, doesn’t it?’
‘There’s a long story to that watch, remember, sunshine. Before Flora was married, her boyfriend, as he was then, had it bought for him by his mam and dad. And they’d had to save up hard for it ’cos they were only working class folk. And they had a photograph taken of him, to put inside the watch. I mean, there’s a history to it, and as Flora is the last living Parker, it should stay with her.’
‘Is the photograph still in it, girl? Or d’yer think the robber will have taken it out in case he got caught with it?’
‘I couldn’t tell yer, sunshine. And I’m not going to look. We’ll see what Corker has to say tonight and we’ll be guided by him. But I hope the photograph is still in it, for Flora’s sake.’
‘D’yer know what I think, girl? I think if we had a proper office, like, with our names on the window, we could ask Corker to join the staff, ’cos he’d make a really good private detective. Just imagine how it would look with our names in gold on the window. McDonough, Bennett and Corkhill, Private Detective Agency. Wouldn’t that look great?’
Molly kept a smile at bay. ‘I think it would look much more businesslike, and sound more posh, if the gold sign on the window said Bennett, McDonough and Corkhill. Seeing as I was founder of the agency, it’s only right and proper that I am the senior partner.’
And what did Nellie think of that idea? ‘Sod off, Molly Bennett, we’ll be equal partners or nothing at all. And that’s me last word on the subject. Yer can like it or lump it, or pour me out another cup of tea. Please yerself.’
Chapter Twenty One
‘I won’t put the kettle on yet,’ Molly said as she pulled a chair out from under the table. ‘I’ve only just finished washing the dishes after dinner, and I’m not ready for a drink yet.’
Corker was lighting one of his Capstan full strength cigarettes. ‘I’m full, Molly me darlin’, and I’ll be going for a pint when we’ve finished our discussion.’
‘I’ll come with yer, Corker,’ Jack said, mentally counting how much money he had in his pocket. ‘Just a pint to wet me whistle.’
Nellie looked disappointed. ‘It’s not worth yer making a pot of tea just for me, girl.’ And with the look of a martyr on her face, she added, ‘I can hang on for half an hour.’
‘Where’s Ruthie?’ Corker asked. ‘Upstairs?’
‘No, she’s gone over to Bella’s, as usual.’
‘Then we may as well start. I’ll tell you what happened last night and today. Yer’ll find it unbelievable, but I can assure you every word is true.’ Corker threw the stump of his cigarette in the fire and lit up another one. ‘I think better with a fag in me hand.’
After that there was silence as he talked them through the events that started at nine o’clock the previous night, and finished at one o’clock that day. There were questions on everyone’s lips, but they held back until Corker had finished.
It was Jack who said, ‘Yer warned us we’d find it unbelievable, Corker, and if it hadn’t been you telling it, I would have found it very hard to believe. Did yer really manage to get the watch back?’
Molly butted in quickly. ‘The watch is in the drawer, love. I couldn’t tell yer, or show it to yer, while Ruthie was here. Me and Nellie have only seen it in the box, we haven’t touched it.’
‘What a wonderful surprise Flora is in for,’ Jack said. ‘She’s the one that matters in my eyes. I couldn’t care less what happens to the three criminals.’
‘They are the ones we need to think hard about. I believe we all agree that they need to be punished.’ Corker poked a stiffened finger into his chest. ‘I personally would like to take each one down a dark entry and give them a good hiding. But what I would like, and what we need to do, are two different things.’
‘They’ll go to jail, won’t they?’ Jack asked. ‘That’s where they belong, so they can’t rob a
ny more poor souls.’
‘I couldn’t agree more, Jack,’ Corker said. ‘But I don’t think the police would be too pleased that they weren’t brought into it when we first found out who it was that broke into Flora’s. But then the old dear would have had to go through it all again with police calling to her house. And they’d probably have wanted to keep the watch as evidence, which would have upset her.’
‘What do you feel would be best, Corker?’ Molly asked. ‘You’re the one who knows more than we do. None of us have laid eyes on the three blokes involved.’
‘The main problem over them, Molly, is that we can’t prove a thing. They can blame each other, ’cos we’ve no proof. Les Simpson, although he helped in getting the watch back, is not going to admit to anything, and neither is the bloke in the pawnshop. And judging from the few words exchanged today when I was picking the watch up, the trio of con men have split up. I honestly think they’ve learned their lesson, ’cos the pub landlord and the pawnbroker have too much to lose. As for young Blakesley, I wouldn’t like to say. He hasn’t got decent parents who will help him keep on the straight and narrow.’ Another cigarette was discarded before Corker admitted, ‘I’d be inclined to say they’ve learned their lesson, we’ve got Flora’s watch back, so let’s leave them now. The only problem with that idea is how to get the watch back to Flora without her asking questions and wanting to tell the police.’
Nellie, who had been unusually quiet as she listened intently, now said, ‘I know an easy way.’
Molly didn’t believe what her mate said was possible, but wasn’t going to discourage her. ‘What have yer got in mind, sunshine?’
Nellie loved being the centre of attention, and tried to look important by sitting up straight and lacing her fingers together. ‘Me and Molly can call on Flora one afternoon, and while we’re there, having a cup of tea with her, there’s a knock at the door.’ She lifted a finger and said, ‘There’s two ways of doing this, so see which one yer think is best.’ Coughing gently behind her hand, she continued. ‘I could answer the knock on the door, and there would be a young lad standing there with the box in his hand. He’s only about four years of age, too young to be asked a lot of questions. He shoves the box at me and says, “Here yer are, missus, the man said to give yer this.” And he runs away to play with his mates.’ Nellie could see her words were sinking in, and felt she should be promoted to having her name first on the window of the detective agency. They didn’t have an office yet, like, but they would do, one day.
