‘Listen, Albert …’ Reider was doing his best to concentrate on what he was trying to say but his words were thick with sleep and booze.
Albie reached across the desk and took Reider’s lapels in his huge fists. ‘No, Doc, it’s you what’s gonna listen. Yer gonna do me a little favour.’
Reider attempted to nod but couldn’t because Albie had him trapped by the collar of his jacket. ‘Whatever you say, Albert,’ he gasped.
Albie smiled. ‘Good.’ He let Reider go and brushed his leather-gloved hands against one another. ‘Don’t want no nastiness, do we now?’
Reider rubbed his throat and tried to straighten himself into some semblance of dignity.
‘You owe me mum a lot of money, Reider.’
‘Yes, and I have every intention—’
‘What, just as soon as yer luck changes?’
Reider said nothing, he just bowed his head in self-pity.
Albie smirked at him. ‘Least yer’ve got the decency to blush. But don’t worry, I ain’t after no dough – not today anyhow. Like I said, it’s a bit of business I’ve come here to see yer about.’
Reider looked scared.
‘Yer see, it’s about this war. I don’t fancy going in no army or nothing, not when it means leaving me poor old helpless mum and dad to fend for ’emselves. And I got to thinking. I reckon you might be just the feller to help me.’
With an expression of sheer relief, Reider hurriedly took a sheet of writing paper from his drawer and began writing in a shaky scrawl.
Albie examined the completed letter under the lamp. ‘Rheumatic fever as a kid, eh? Give me a weak ticker, did it? Nice touch that, Doc. Make ’em feel sorry for me.’ Albie stood up and leant forward on the desk, looming over Reider. He tossed the letter at him. ‘Get that sent off, Doc, or whatever it is yer have to do with it, and remember, this is our little secret, all right? And make sure all yer records show what a poor little bleeder I was and how I suffered.’ Albie straightened up and turned to go. ‘Yer know,’ he said, as he stood in the doorway, his big, menacingly muscled body almost filling the door frame, ‘I reckon there’s a few other blokes might appreciate a letter like that. Matter o’ fact it could be a nice little sideline for us, Doc. Help yer pay me mum some of that money what you owe her.’ Albie winked at Reider. ‘Keep well, Doc.’
Under the pale light of the big wintry moon, Evie tottered gingerly across the snow-covered pavement and shivered as she climbed into the car next to Albie. She leaned across and kissed him hurriedly on the cheek. ‘Christ, it’s freezing out there,’ she said, shrugging down into her coat. ‘I hope we’re going somewhere warm tonight.’
Albie took a tartan travelling rug from the back seat and draped it over her legs. With a broad wink he said, ‘Yer’ll have to make do with that while I’m driving, darling, but I promise I’ll warm yer up later.’
Evie pulled the rug up to her chin and snuggled down into the seat. ‘I’ll look forward to that,’ she said, peering coquettishly over the soft woollen tartan. ‘But where we going first?’
‘We, my lovely, are gonna go out to celebrate.’
Evie opened her eyes wide and cooed at him, ‘What, on a Monday? And it ain’t even me birthday, is it?’ She lowered her chin and peered up at him through her lashes. ‘’Cos yer said it was me birthday last night when we, you know, in the back seat …’ She giggled. ‘Me feet still ain’t warmed up yet. So what else could there be to celebrate?’
‘Me and this joining up business.’
‘What?’ Evie sat bolt upright, letting the rug fall to the floor.
He laughed. ‘Or should I say, not joining up.’
Evie’s hands flew to her face. ‘Yer fixed it then?’
‘Told yer I would.’
Evie threw her arms round him and kissed him noisily on the lips. ‘Mmmmm! I’m so pleased yer won’t be going away and leaving me.’
‘Watch it,’ Albie said, playfully pushing her away. ‘Yer’ll have the hand brake off.’
Evie clapped her hands excitedly. ‘Blimey, Al, this really is something to celebrate. Come on, let’s get going. Let’s go and dance.’
Albie engaged the gears and moved the car forward, sending a spray of slush spurting over the pavement.
‘How about going out for something to eat?’
‘Lovely. Shall we go to the Corner House?’
Albie turned to her in the dark and grimaced. ‘Corner House? Do me a favour. Yer out with Albie Denham now, girl. Only the best for us.’
Evie was impressed. ‘Smashing.’
Albie stopped at the end of Darnfield Street waiting for a gap in the traffic on Grove Road.
‘Come on, get a move on,’ he said, drumming the steering wheel impatiently as a bus crawled past in the snow.
In the few months she had been seeing him, Evie had grown to recognise the tone that had crept into Albie’s voice and knew the tempestuous fireworks it could lead to. ‘One thing yer can say about this weather,’ she said brightly in an effort to lighten his mood, ‘least yer can see something in the blackout, even if it ain’t very much.’
She was relieved when Albie turned to her and smiled and playfully brushed her chin with his fist. ‘Yer good for me. D’yer know that, Evie? Yer calm me down. Help me keep me feet on the ground.’
‘Glad to oblige, I’m only here to …’ She stopped speaking when she saw that Albie had lost interest in what she was saying and was looking over her shoulder instead, concentrating on something behind her. ‘What?’ she asked, turning round. ‘What yer looking at?’
‘I just saw your twin, I think,’ he said. ‘Going in the Drum with a couple of blokes and another girl.’
Evie was silently fuming; she didn’t like the interest he was showing in Babs. ‘It might have been her,’ she said carelessly.
‘Yeah, I’m sure it was. I ain’t seen her for a while. She’s looking good. Real smart.’
Evie paused, considering what to say next. ‘Yeah, yer right. It probably was her, thinking about it. She said she might be going in there tonight.’ She looked at Albie. His expression was intense, his dark eyes focused on the unlit exterior of the pub.
‘Even with the moonlight and the snow and everything, you must have bloody good eyesight being able to make out who it was out there.’ Her tone was cool.
‘I’ve always had an eye for a pretty girl.’
Evie frowned. He hadn’t been looking at her when he spoke.
‘Well, make sure it’s only yer eye, yer cheeky bugger.’ She said it lightly, knowing that she was chancing her arm by talking to him like that, but also knowing she couldn’t say what was really on her mind, that she hated the way he always looked at other girls all the time, and now her own twin. ‘So are we gonna get going or are we gonna sit watching buses go by all night?’
‘How about going in the Drum for a quick one before we go?’
‘All right,’ she said, doing her best to sound enthusiastic. ‘If yer like. But keep them big brown eyes of your’n to yerself, eh?’
Albie turned off the engine and got out of the car. He went round and opened Evie’s door for her. ‘She seeing anyone regular?’ he asked as he offered her his hand.
Evie barely touched his fingers with hers as she stepped out of the car and onto the pavement. Her heart was racing. ‘She is actually.’ She blurted the words out. ‘Well, not regular exactly. Loads of fellers, more like. Took it in her head lately to start enjoying herself again. Her and this girl, Lou, from where we work, they go about together. Probably who she’s with tonight. They see different blokes all the time. Out nearly as much as I am, she is. That what yer wanted to know? That a good enough answer for yer, is it?’
‘Blimey, I only asked,’ said Albie. He slipped his trilby onto his head and then lit a cigarette, while Evie straightened herself up, brushing quite unnecessarily at nonexistent fluff on the collar and sleeves of her coat.
‘Put that match out!’ a gruff elderly man shouted at him from some
where in the darkness back along the road.
Albie chuckled at the old man’s quavering voice. ‘Aw, please, don’t frighten me, I’m shaking in me boots,’ he sniggered and flicked the still burning match into the snow at his feet.
‘I told you …’ the voice came again.
Albie ignored him and concentrated instead on watching the match flame fizzle and die away in the snow, but he looked up sharply when Evie yelled at the top of her voice, ‘Piss off, Frankie, can’t yer? I’m sick of people bloody interfering.’
‘Charming,’ they both heard Frankie Morgan reply.
‘What’s got into you?’ Albie asked and went to take her arm but she pushed him roughly away. Wearing such high heels, that was a mistake, and she went skidding across the pavement, nearly crashing into the wall of the pub. It was only the row of soaking wet sandbags that saved her.
‘Now look what yer’ve bloody done. Look at the state of me legs.’ She was so angry she would have taken her life in her hands and thrown something at him if it hadn’t been too dark for her to find something to throw.
‘Me? What have I done?’ Albie wouldn’t be pushed away again. He took her firmly by the elbow and guided her towards the door of the Drum. ‘Come on, I thought it was you what was meant to calm me down. Let’s go in and have a drink.’
‘I can manage,’ she hissed through her teeth.
As soon as they were inside the door Albie said, ‘Get some seats by yer sister,’ and left Evie standing there while he went over to the bar.
She strode angrily over to the table in the corner where Babs was sitting with Lou, Percy Bennett and his mate Chalkie. She shoved past Chalkie – who looked her appreciatively up and down rather than complaining about her rudeness – and angrily plonked herself down between him and Babs on the red leather bench seat that ran along the wall.
Babs looked at her twin with a surprised smile. ‘Hello, Eve. Didn’t expect to see you in here tonight.’
‘I’m out slumming,’ she snapped as she rummaged in her bag for her handkerchief. ‘What’s your excuse for being in this dump?’
‘We’re having a drink to see the fellers off. They’re leaving for their camp the day after tomorrow.’
‘You know how to have a good time, don’t yer?’ Evie sneered sarcastically.
Lou, who was sitting on the opposite side of the table across from Chalkie, glared at her then rolled her eyes at Chalkie to show her disapproval of Evie’s rudeness. He didn’t even notice her do it. Lou was seething. It was she who was meant to be with Chalkie, after all. It had been him who had asked her out for the evening, and she’d been enjoying herself up until now. Up until Evie had come in and started flaunting herself and her blonde hair.
‘What’s the matter with you, Eve?’ Babs asked. ‘Can’t yer behave yerself?’
Evie spat on her hankie and started wiping her shins. ‘I nearly slipped over out there, that’s what’s the matter with me. I could have broke me neck for all anyone cares.’
Babs looked over to where Albie was standing at the bar waiting for Jim to serve him. Albie pointed discreetly at Evie and mouthed to Babs, ‘What’s up with her?’
Babs blushed and looked away.
Albie smiled.
Evie didn’t notice the exchange between Babs and Albie, she was too busy checking her stockings for splashes.
From where Lou was sitting, however, it was all too obvious that Chalkie had definitely noticed Evie. His eyes were practically bulging out of his head as he watched her rubbing her legs. ‘If I’d have been out there when yer stumbled,’ he said, with a stupid grin, ‘yer’d have been all right. I’d have caught yer in me arms like yer was a little feather.’
Lou grimaced as she muttered to herself, ‘Here we go, Lou. Evie’s about, yer’ve turned invisible again.’
Evie glanced up at the young, fair-haired boy in his ill-fitting khaki uniform, then turned to her sister. ‘Who’s this then?’ she asked, jerking her head at Chalkie.
‘You know Chalkie, Eve,’ Percy said amiably. ‘From along by me in Haverfield Road.’
Evie looked blank. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and sighed wearily. ‘No.’
Percy nodded at her. ‘He went to school with us. He’s Johnno White’s brother.’
‘Aw him,’ said Eve flatly. ‘Didn’t recognise him in his little soldier suit.’
‘Like soldiers, do yer?’ Chalkie asked, puffing out his narrow chest and sliding his arm along the back of the bench chair so that it was behind her head.
‘Not much,’ said Evie, putting her hankie back in her bag. She looked towards the bar. ‘Where’s that Albie got to with my drink?’
‘Albie?’
‘Yes,’ said Lou with a derisive smirk. ‘Albie. Up at the bar. The great big bloke. The handsome one in the posh-looking camel overcoat.’
Chalkie followed Evie’s gaze. ‘You with Albie Denham?’ he asked. He was no longer quite so full of himself.
Lou brightened up. ‘Been seeing Albie quite a while now, ain’t yer, Eve?’ she said, sounding very pleased with herself. Her red curls bounced round her face as she nodded towards the approaching bulk of Albie Denham. ‘And here he is, the man himself.’
Chalkie whipped his arm from behind Evie and placed his hands firmly on the table in front of him, making sure they were in full view of everyone. ‘Wanna sit here?’ he asked Albie, scrambling to his feet and going off to find a chair.
Albie took Chalkie’s seat next to Evie without a word of thanks or acknowledgement. He slid a gin and orange in front of Evie and took a long swallow from his own glass which was three-quarters full of Scotch.
Chalkie returned to the table with a chair which he put down between Percy and Lou, opposite Babs.
For a long moment nobody said anything. Then Albie leaned forward on the bench and spoke right across Evie to Babs. ‘How yer doing, girl? All right? I ain’t seen much of yer lately.’
‘I’m all right,’ Babs said. ‘Thanks for asking.’
‘Don’t mind me, will yer?’ Evie gulped down her gin and orange and pushed her empty glass in front of Albie. ‘Can I have another one?’ she snapped.
‘Course.’ Albie reached under his overcoat and into his jacket pocket. He took out a thick wad of notes and raised his eyebrow at Babs. ‘How about you, darling? Drink?’
Babs held up her glass to him. ‘Got one, thanks.’
‘Yer’ve nearly finished it.’ To Evie’s increasing annoyance, Albie was looking directly into her eyes.
‘I ain’t greedy,’ she said and turned away from him. She looked across the table and smiled deliberately brightly at Percy. ‘This’ll do me.’
‘Suit yerself.’ Albie stood up and held out his hands. ‘Now, how about the rest of yers?’
He took their orders and went to the bar to buy the drinks. While he was gone, Evie studied her face in her powder compact, Percy chattered away to Babs about his mum and dad’s reaction to him joining up, and Lou stared at Chalkie. Chalkie didn’t respond, he just concentrated on the table top, running his finger round and round in a sticky pool of beer that had been spilt on its chipped surface.
When Albie returned from the bar with double what everyone had ordered but with nothing for Babs, Evie cheered up a bit.
‘Yer a spoilsport, you, Babs,’ she said, sipping at her drink. ‘You always was.’
Babs ignored her teasing and carried on talking to Percy.
‘She wasn’t a spoilsport when she got up and sung with yer that time,’ Albie said, looking at Babs over the edge of his glass. ‘Tell yer what, why don’t yer both get up and sing us a song now? Come on, Babs, how about it?’
Babs said, ‘Excuse me a minute, Perce,’ and looked round at Albie. ‘Albie,’ she said slowly, ‘yer can see I’m talking to Percy so why don’t yer get on with talking to Evie or whatever yer doing and leave me alone?’
Chalkie’s mouth dropped open at her courage, Lou stifled a frightened gasp and Percy shook his head. ‘You alway
s was a bold pair, you Bell sisters,’ he said admiringly.
‘Yeah. I’ve always liked that in a girl,’ said Albie surprisingly affably, winking at Babs.
Evie looked fit to burst. She stood up and pulled her coat tightly round her. ‘Are we going or what, Albie Denham?’ she demanded. ‘I ain’t sitting in this dump all night. I’m used to better.’
Chalkie, emboldened by Babs’s display of daring and the double Scotch he had just swallowed, folded his arms and rocked his chair onto its back legs. ‘Where yer off to then, Albie? Somewhere nice that us soldiers what are gonna fight for our king and country couldn’t afford?’
Albie stood up and began carefully fastening the buttons on his overcoat. He looked at Babs and winked at her again. ‘Sorry, mate, can’t tell yer.’ He tapped the side of his nose with his finger and leaned down towards the now scarlet-faced Chalkie. ‘Secret war work, yer see. Can’t go talking to no private about it, now can I?’
With a tense smile, Evie linked her arm though Albie’s and said through barely parted, red-painted lips, ‘We’ll be off then. Night, night, all.’ She looked down at Babs. ‘I’ll see you later.’ She practically spat the words at her sister.
‘Yeah. See yer,’ Babs answered with a frown.
Evie slammed the pub door shut behind her.
‘Take care yer don’t slip over in the snow and ruin yer stockings, Eve,’ Lou called after the departing pair.
Babs tutted. ‘Why’s everyone being so bloody childish tonight?’
Almost immediately the door opened again.
‘Now yer for it, Lou,’ said Percy, laughing at Lou’s horrified expression. ‘Evie must have heard yer.’
But whoever it was outside, they couldn’t get in. They were obviously having trouble getting past the triple layer of blackout curtain that hung in the doorway.
‘Shut that bleed’n door, can’t yer?’ Everyone in the pub could hear Frankie Morgan’s gruff hollering from out in the street and then the slurred voice of Georgie Bell answering him. ‘I’m having a bit o’ trouble with this curtain thing, Frankie boy. Ain’t no one gonna help me?’
Babs covered her face with her hands. ‘Aw, no,’ she groaned. ‘It can’t be.’
The Bells of Bow Page 13
