by Kitty Neale
Lucy had taken Clive to school before going to her flat to wait for her furniture to be delivered. So far Nora was happy to be in the shop, and Pearl found herself thinking about her warning. She had said that a bad man was coming, yet if Kevin had been waiting for John outside his school, how could she have seen him? Maybe she hadn’t. Maybe it was another one of her strange foresights – though Derek always dismissed them, Pearl couldn’t do the same.
The shop was quiet and Pearl carefully wrapped the lovely dinner set that she’d seen on Derek’s stall. It would make a nice house-warming present for Lucy, along with a lovely pair of lace-edged sheets she’d found in the linen shop on the corner.
Nora was happily occupied too and when the telephone rang, Pearl went to answer it, her grip on the receiver tightening when she heard Dolly’s voice.
‘I’ve got a bit of bad news,’ she said. ‘You’ll need to tell John that his grandfather has … has passed away.’
‘What? Oh no! What happened?’
‘He had an accident.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Pearl said. Though she had no time for Dolly, she felt overcome by a flood of compassion. ‘Is there anything you need, anything I can do?’
‘No,’ Dolly said abruptly. ‘I’m hoping Kevin will turn up, but at the moment it seems he’s moved from his current address and I’m not sure where he is. I don’t suppose you’ve heard from him?’
Pearl hesitated, but then said, ‘I haven’t spoken to him, but he was outside John’s school yesterday. He told John that he’d come to say goodbye as he’s leaving the country.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ Dolly thundered. ‘Of course he isn’t!’
‘So you’re saying he lied to John?’
‘Kevin wouldn’t do that. The boy must have misunderstood.’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘I want to talk to John,’ Dolly demanded.
‘He’s in school.’
‘Tell him to ring me when he comes home,’ she ordered and then hung up without another word.
Pearl was annoyed, but she was also close to tears. Poor Bernie had died in an accident, and somehow she would have to tell John.
‘Have you heard the rumours, Derek?’ Harry asked as he walked over to Derek’s stall.
‘What rumours?’
‘There’s talk that Vincent Chase’s house was torched last night.’
‘Blimey,’ Derek whistled. ‘He must have upset the wrong person.’
‘Yeah,’ Harry agreed, ‘and gossip has it that Chase might have been inside.’
‘Did he survive?’
‘I dunno,’ Harry said, shrugging, ‘but no doubt we’ll hear more shortly. Sorry, mate, I’ve got a customer.’
Derek frowned in thought as Harry went back to his stall. It hadn’t been that long ago when Tommy had told him that Kevin had been nosing for information on Vince. Then, yesterday, Kevin had told John that he was leaving the country. Was Kevin mixed up in this? Had he torched Vince’s place or was it all just coincidence?
Before Derek could think it through any further, he saw Pearl hurrying towards him, her face strained and pale.
‘What is it, love?’ he asked urgently.
‘Dolly just rang me. Bernie … he … he died in an accident.’
‘No!’ said Derek, horrified. ‘I can’t believe it. How did it happen?’
‘I don’t know. Dolly didn’t say.’
‘The poor sod. I hope he didn’t suffer.’
‘I’ll have to tell John, but I don’t know what to do,’ Pearl said, trying to blink away tears. ‘Do you think I should fetch him home from school?’
‘It’s up to you, love, but I reckon it can wait for now. When you do tell him he’s going to be very upset and I doubt he’ll be fit for school again for a good few days.’
‘Yes, you’re probably right. Oh – and though Dolly insisted that Kevin isn’t leaving the country, she did say that she can’t get hold of him as he isn’t at his current address.’
‘Then how can she be so sure that he hasn’t gone abroad?’
‘I don’t know,’ Pearl said, still fighting tears. ‘I … I’d best get back to the shop. I’ll close up early when John comes home from school.’
‘Yeah, do that.’ Derek said, giving her a swift kiss on the cheek before she walked away. He hadn’t believed for one minute that Kevin was leaving the country, suspecting that the story was just a ploy to get John to talk to him. But now he wondered if Kevin had actually been telling the truth.
Either way, Kevin had managed to worry the life out of Pearl when John didn’t come home from school, and now Derek’s hands balled into fists. He hoped Kevin really had gone abroad, because if he hadn’t and he came face to face with the twisted little shit, it would be hard to keep his hands off him.
Eddie White was trying to coax his sister, but so far without success. ‘Come on, I’m only asking you to look after my stall for a couple of hours.’
‘I’ve got better things to do.’
‘Like what? You’re not working and I’m not expecting you to do it for nothing. I’ll pay you.’
‘Yeah, yeah, all right then,’ she finally agreed.
‘Thanks, love,’ he said, grinning as he headed for Bullen Street. It had been a stroke of good luck that he’d known the van driver who had delivered Lucy’s furniture, a good omen, and he’d been tipped the wink that she’d moved into the top flat at number twelve.
‘I thought you could do with a hand,’ he said, noting the look of surprise on Lucy’s face when she opened the door.
‘Well, you thought wrong,’ she said.
‘So all your furniture has been put where you want it?’
‘Well … no. But I’m sure I can manage.’
‘Now why struggle when I’m offering to help?’
She hesitated, but then said, ‘I must admit I’m finding it a bit of a job to put our beds together.’
‘Lead me to them,’ he said, pleased when she moved aside to let him pass. He’d always had his eye on Lucy. Though he played the part of a cheeky chappy who loved the ladies, it had taken all his nerve to ask her out. So far she had only agreed to think about it, but Eddie was sure that he was at last breaking through her reserve.
Half an hour later, with the beds put together and a cup of tea put in his hand, Eddie sat on the edge of Lucy’s bed and asked, ‘Right, what next?’
‘I can’t expect you to do anything else.’
‘I don’t see why not. I’m here, I’ve offered, so why not make use of me?’ he said, but then to his chagrin there was a loud thump and his tea spilled as the bed tilted. ‘Sod it! I think one of the legs has fallen off.’
Lucy giggled, but then she began to laugh and laugh, until gasping, she said, ‘Oh, you should have seen your face.’
He put his cup on the floor to stand up, laughing too, and somehow they fell into each other’s arms. Instantly they sobered, and as Lucy looked up at him, Eddie was unable to resist lowering his head to kiss her.
From that moment on Eddie would never be able to recall how they ended up on the wonky bed. All he remembered afterwards was the miracle that Lucy had welcomed him, her body moulding to his, and for Eddie it was just perfect.
Things weren’t at all perfect for Rupert as he drunkenly lifted his head to look up at Kevin. He thought blearily that he should have had the locks changed, but it was too late for that now. All he could do was bluff, and somehow managed to slur, ‘Kevin, the police are looking for you.’
‘Is that so? Well, as you can see, they haven’t found me.’
‘So you don’t know?’
‘Know what?’
‘That … that your father died in an accident.’
There was only a slight hesitation before Kevin spat, ‘Good, it’ll save me a job.’
‘You can’t mean that!’
‘I can and I do, and as my father is out of the way that just leaves you,’ Kevin said, moving swiftly. When the punch landed, Rupert�
�s head thumped into the back of the chair, but his cry of pain didn’t drown out Kevin’s voice. ‘I want money, and if I don’t get it, that’s just a start.’
‘My wallet, there’s cash in my wallet,’ Rupert cried, cowering.
There was a snort of disgust. ‘I’m not here for peanuts.’
‘I … I could write you a cheque.’
‘Don’t insult me. You fooled me with an old and out of date account once, but you won’t be doing it a second time. We’re going to your bank and I’ll be right beside you when you draw out the money I want in cash.’
The doorbell rang, and though Rupert didn’t know who it was, self-preservation kicked in as he managed to croak a lie, ‘That’ll be the police looking for you again. If … if you don’t go, I’ll tell them that you tried to rob me.’
‘Do that and I’ll be back to kill you,’ Kevin hissed before he ran from the room, heading for the back door. It slammed just as the bell rang again, and rising unsteadily to his feet, Rupert went to open it.
The engineer frowned as he looked at him, and said, ‘I’m here to repair your telephone, sir, but are you all right?’
‘Yes. I walked into a cupboard door, but I’m fine now. Come in,’ he invited.
Despite the throbbing pain in his head, Rupert was rather pleased with himself. He’d told Kevin it was the police again, and though he knew it unlikely, Rupert was pleased that his bluff had worked. Maybe he wasn’t such an old fool after all. Of course there was still the risk that Kevin might return, so it might be prudent to disappear for a while. He knew of a lovely hotel in the West Country, and he would spend the rest of the summer there. Rupert left the engineer to it and went upstairs to pack, hurriedly stuffing clothes into a suitcase.
When he returned downstairs, the engineer said, ‘I’ve managed to find the fault, a disconnected wire. Your telephone is in working order now.’
‘Thank you,’ Rupert said, and showed him out. He wondered if he dared risk taking the time to ring a local locksmith. He didn’t care what it would cost to get the main lock changed; he just wanted them to send someone immediately. If Kevin came back he’d find that his key didn’t work, and even if he still managed to get in, the house would be empty.
Rupert then had a stupendous idea to put Kevin off the scent and he smiled at his own cleverness. Once away he’d find an estate agent who would be happy to accept a nice payment to put a false ‘House Sold’ sign on display.
Chapter Thirty-One
After speaking with his grandmother, John replaced the receiver and turned to Pearl, his eyes brimming with tears again. ‘Gran can’t get hold of Kevin, and she’s in a terrible state. She … she’s all on her own and it doesn’t seem right. Do you think Dad would run me down to see her?’ he asked anxiously.
‘Yes, on Sunday,’ Pearl nodded. ‘Though she may have got hold of Kevin by then.’
‘He might have been telling the truth about going abroad and I don’t want to wait until Sunday. If Dad will take me I’d like to go to Gran’s now. If not, I could go by train. She needs me and perhaps I could stay with her for a while.’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that, darling.’
‘Please, Mum. School breaks up in about ten days so it’s not as if I’ll miss much.’
‘I … I’m not sure.’ Pearl stammered as she desperately sought the right words. ‘Your gran can be a little unstable and I’m not sure you’d cope.’
‘I know she takes pills, but Gran has always been nice and kind to me when I’m there. It’s never worried you before when I went to see her.’
Pearl floundered, still unsure, and said, ‘Darling, you’d be alone with her.’
‘What difference does that make?’ John cried, and then tears began to flow in earnest, ‘Please, Mum, I haven’t seen Gran for ages and I feel rotten about it. The last time Gr … Granddad was here he wanted me to go back with him, but … but I wouldn’t.’
Pearl could see how guilty John felt, and was torn in two. ‘Let me talk to Derek,’ she said. ‘I’ll ask him to run you down to your gran’s and if he thinks she’s stable, that you’ll be fine with her, you can stay for a couple of nights, but no more.’
‘Thanks, Mum.’
‘If you stay, I want you to promise that you’ll ring me immediately if … if your gran becomes difficult.’
‘I’m sure she won’t, but yes, I promise.’
Pearl went to have a word with Derek, and when he said he’d make sure that Dolly was stable, she felt reassured.
To begin with, Kevin had his foot down on the accelerator, but then, realising that he might be pulled for speeding, he slowed down. He didn’t think Rupert would dob him in – sure his parting threat had been enough to ensure his silence – but he’d had to run off empty-handed and Kevin was beginning to panic.
If he went back to Adrianna without any money, she’d bugger off, and he didn’t want that. He’d played the gent, kept his hands off her, and it had been a bit of a shock to his system to realise that the feelings he’d had in the past, the need to dominate, to punish women, hadn’t arisen with Adrianna. It was different this time – he wanted her willing, and when he finally took her it would be with triumph. He’d have taken Vincent Chase’s property, without forcing her, and though the bastard might not be around to see it, he would still savour that sweet taste of revenge.
Kevin made a swift decision. He would have to take a chance, go back to Rupert’s, and he swung the wheel to change his direction. It didn’t take long to get there and he pulled into a quiet road, deciding to give it an hour to make sure the coast was clear.
With the engine off, Kevin’s thoughts turned to his father. So he was dead. It was just a shame that it hadn’t happened earlier, before the old git had been to see Rupert. His father had ruined everything, putting doubts in Rupert’s mind and scuppering all his carefully laid plans. Kevin’s only regret was that his father had died before he could punish him.
He found his head beginning to ache again, so he slumped low in the seat and closed his eyes, deciding to pass the time by having a little nap, but the nap turned into a long one and it was nearly two hours later before he woke up again. Kevin rubbed his eyes, his mouth dry, but then saw the time. He had to get Rupert to the bank before it closed, so gunning the engine to life, he put his foot down hard on the accelerator and sped off.
When Kevin arrived at Rupert’s, he found he couldn’t get in. He rang the bell, thumped on the door with his fist, and then looked through the letterbox. There was no sign of Rupert and startled by a voice, Kevin turned.
‘Rupert isn’t there. He’s gone away.’
It was the elderly lady who lived next door, her equally elderly poodle on a pink, leather lead studded with diamantes. ‘How do you know?’
‘’Because, young man, I saw him leaving with a suitcase and he told me.’
‘Where has he gone?’
‘I have no idea and I’m not one to pry. Now if you’ll excuse me, Fifi has had her walk and now she’ll be expecting her dinner.’
Kevin’s jaws locked in anger as he watched her walk away. Rupert had done a runner, and with no idea where he’d gone it would be impossible to find him. He’d failed, and seething, Kevin got into his car and drove off, his mind desperately trying to think of an alternative way to get his hands on some money.
He drove aimlessly, but then his hands tightened on the steering wheel. His mother! With the old man out of the way she’d have control of their money – but how long would it take before she could get her hands on it?
For now, Kevin knew he had to get back to Dover before dark. If he didn’t Adrianna would leave. He drove steadily, and as he reached the hotel, it at last hit him. He’d get some money out of his mother, but that wasn’t all. His father had said he’d make him his heir, and that meant he’d inherit the house.
Kevin was smiling as he got out of his car. He’d flog the house of course, and though it might take a little time, he’d find somewhere secluded to
lie low with Adrianna, a place well out of the way, where he’d at last be able to explore the delights of her body.
Derek drove to Dolly’s place, and though he didn’t have any time for the woman, he’d promised Pearl that he’d stay long enough to make sure it was safe to leave John with her. There were times when Derek felt Pearl should loosen the apron strings on John, but recent events had made her tighten them. He understood and didn’t blame her. When it came to Kevin and his mother, he too was wary.
John had rung Dolly to say they were coming and when they arrived Derek pulled John’s suitcase from the boot, and then stood behind him as he knocked on the door. When Dolly opened it, she not only greeted John warmly, she welcomed Derek in too. When they stepped inside Derek saw a middle-aged man sitting at her table.
‘Here they are, doctor,’ she said to him. ‘I told you my family were coming. This is Derek, and this young man is my grandson.’
The man eyed the suitcase in Derek’s hand and then rose to his feet, smiling. ‘It’s nice to meet you.’
‘Nice to meet you too, doc,’ Derek returned.
‘I’m sure you’re busy, and as you can see, I won’t be alone now,’ Dolly said, ushering the man to the door.
‘Yes, I had an unusually packed surgery and then several house calls to make, hence the lateness of the hour,’ he said, stepping outside.
‘Good night, doctor,’ Dolly said and swiftly closed the door.
Derek’s eyebrows rose, but she turned to him to say, ‘Derek, it was good of you to drive John here. You must have something to drink before you leave. What can I get you?’
‘A coffee would be nice if you’ve got any. I’m uh … really sorry for your loss,’ Derek said awkwardly.
‘Thank you for your condolences,’ Dolly said, then headed for the kitchen.
‘Your gran doesn’t seem to be in a state,’ he said quietly to John. ‘She seems calm enough now.’
