The Little Runaways

by Cathy Sharp

  Alice thought the little girl was unhappy, missing her mother. Because she cried a lot some of the other kids wouldn’t bother with her. Mary Ellen tried to be kind and so did Marion, but Billy Baggins ignored her and most of the other kids made fun of her. Perhaps she ought to speak to Nan or Sister Beatrice about the child …

  ‘Alice – how are you?’

  ‘Bob!’ Alice jumped as he came up to her out of the gloom. ‘I was lost in thought and didn’t see you. Are you on leave or another course?’

  ‘I’ve got a week’s leave,’ Bob said and smiled at her. ‘I thought you might like to go out one night – to the flicks or for something to eat?’

  ‘Oh, Bob, it’s so kind of you,’ Alice said, regretful because she would love to be taken somewhere nice. ‘But I can’t let you spend your money on me.’

  ‘Why not? It’s mine and if that’s what I want …’

  ‘Bob, you don’t understand,’ Alice said, her throat catching. ‘It wouldn’t be fair to you …’

  ‘Because you’re havin’ that bastard’s kid?’ Bob asked, and his face was grim in the yellowish light of the street lamps. ‘No, Eric didn’t tell me, even though I knew somethin’ was wrong. I went round your house and your mother told me to clear off. Mavis ran after me and told me where you were living – and I got it out of her.’

  ‘She shouldn’t have told you. I don’t want you to feel responsible for me …’

  ‘I don’t feel responsible. We know who’s to blame, Alice – but I do care what happens to you. I care about you and I’d like to look after you, love. When I’m here I shall visit and take you out if you’ll let me – and I’ll find you a decent place to live after the baby’s born, and help with money if you need it.’

  ‘Why should you?’ Alice demanded. ‘None of this is your fault.’

  Bob caught her by the arms, forcing her to look at him. ‘Don’t be so bloody daft, girl! I care about you whatever you’ve done. I’m not going away, Alice, so you might as well get used to me coming round. I know you don’t love me – but I’m not askin’ you to. I just want to look after you. Is that so wrong?’

  ‘No …’ Alice felt the tears sting her eyes. ‘I’d like to go to the flicks tomorrow – if you’re sure?’

  ‘I wouldn’t say if I wasn’t, would I?’ He grinned at her. ‘I’ll walk you home. Eric says you want to keep the baby and I’m glad – but if I were you I should buy a wedding ring before the baby comes. Tell people you’re Mrs Robert Manning. I’ll back you up and we’ll get a place. I shall be away most of the time, as you know. Why not let people think I’m your husband? Lots of women have husbands away in the Army. It would make it easier for you.’

  ‘Oh, Bob.’ Alice sniffed hard. ‘I wish it had been you.’

  ‘So do I,’ he said, and smiled gently. ‘No use cryin’ over spilled milk, Alice. We’ll work something out for the future, you’ll see.’

  Alice swallowed hard but didn’t answer. Bob hadn’t asked her to marry him, and she was glad, because she would have had to turn him down, but he was willing to help her and she thought she might let him, at least until she could find a job that would allow her to look after herself and the child.

  Bob was whistling cheerfully as he walked away from Nan’s house, after waiting to see Alice safely inside. It looked as if she might let him help her find a home for herself and the unborn child. He was pleased that she wanted to keep the child, because it confirmed what he’d thought of her from the very beginning: she was a nice girl and cared about others.

  Bob had known about the child for a couple of weeks now. It had taken him that long to come to terms with the fact that the girl he thought he was halfway to being in love with was having that rotten bastard’s baby. He hadn’t been sure he could live with that and he’d taken time to think it through, the way he did everything. Some people thought Bob was slow, a bit colourless; he knew that Alice had thought that the first time they met, though he believed she liked him better now. Only when he was certain that he could accept the child, perhaps come to love it as though it were his own, did he decide to meet Alice.

  Bob was hoping to show her that she could rely on him. Once the child was born Alice might wake up to the fact that Jack was a rotter and discover she liked him better. He chuckled to himself. It was a good thing he was a patient man, because he might have to wait for a while before she came to her senses and married him, but …

  Bob never finished that thought, because as he started to cross the road a car came speeding out of the darkness, no lights showing in the dimly lit street. It caught Bob sideways as he turned, belatedly aware of its menace, tossing him and throwing him across the road as it disappeared into the distance and turned a corner.

  FIFTY-THREE

  Angela picked up the record of medicines and her notebook. She’d spent two hours checking the cupboard the previous evening, and made accurate notes of what was actually there, comparing it with the records of what had been bought and when. Two boxes of dressings and one of syringes were missing, also some sterilised needles and a box of tablets used for sedative drinks for sick children.

  She and Sister had returned to their offices and made a thorough search. All the missing items had been found in Sister Beatrice’s desk, hidden behind a pile of papers. She had been so shocked that she’d just sat and stared at them, unable to take in that someone had wanted to hurt her.

  ‘I do not understand it,’ she’d said, shaking her head. ‘Why should she try to harm me … what have I done to her?’

  ‘Of course you have done nothing,’ Angela reassured her. ‘Perhaps she wants your job here?’

  ‘Ridiculous! She does not have the experience; the Board would never appoint her – they would look for a senior hospital matron.’

  ‘Unless she happened to be the wife of one of the Board, perhaps?’

  The colour left Sister’s face and she sat down abruptly. ‘No, really, I cannot believe it.’

  ‘Well, I’m going to ask her for the truth,’ Angela said. ‘It is definitely her handwriting where your figures have been erased. That seven is nothing like yours.’

  ‘You wish to speak to her yourself?’

  ‘She is going to deny it, of course,’ Angela said, ‘but I know another of Carole’s nasty secrets and I think I may just get her to make a little mistake of her own.’

  Carole was searching the nurses’ desk when Angela entered. The nurse looked harassed when she turned to see Angela watching her, and not a little annoyed. Fortunately, none of the beds were occupied by children this morning, which made it the perfect moment to confront her.

  ‘What do you want?’ Carole asked rudely. ‘Have you had the medicine records?’

  ‘Yes, I have the book here, Carole. I checked the cupboard last night – and discovered some surprising things.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Carole demanded. ‘I’m always careful about keeping it right …’

  ‘Yes, I’m certain you are,’ Angela said, sure now that she’d found her culprit. ‘I’ve seen your little alterations and additions.’

  ‘I’ve no idea what you mean. Those erasures are Sister Beatrice’s, not mine – and I’m always finding mistakes in her work. She ticks things as being there but they aren’t, as you must know if you checked the cupboard yourself.’

  ‘Yes, I noticed certain items were missing,’ Angela said. ‘However, they have been found, and if you cared to look you will see that the record book is now accurate.’

  ‘How dare you meddle with things that do not concern you? I shall tell Sister that you have been interfering. I dare say it was you that took the things. Now you’re just trying to get me into trouble.’

  ‘Oh, I think you can do that quite easily yourself,’ Angela said. ‘Sister knows all about it. She helped me check the cupboard and she and I found the missing items where you put them.’

  ‘I didn’t go near Sister’s desk,’ Carole exclaimed in fury. ‘It could have been you that put them there
…’

  ‘Yes, but I didn’t tell you where we found them,’ Angela said, hiding her elation. ‘You betrayed yourself, Carole. I knew it was you, but I might not have been able to prove my suspicions, but now I am certain, because you just told me.’

  ‘You bitch!’ Carole flew at her, trying to scratch her face, but Angela pushed her away and moved out of reach behind the desk. ‘It’s just because you’re jealous – because I’m having Mark’s baby and you can’t stand that, can you? You wanted him yourself.’

  ‘If I did want Mark I wouldn’t try to catch him out with a dirty little trick like that,’ Angela said. ‘He may have gone to bed with you, Carole – but you’re not pregnant. You have a period at the moment. I saw the evidence in your bag and you were in pain yesterday, and I’m afraid you were careless enough to leave a used towel in the bin in the nurses’ rest room.’

  ‘You checked?’ Carole cried in disbelief, because she’d remembered too late that she’d disposed of the towel as they usually did, wrapped in toilet paper. ‘It could have belonged to Jean – she was here yesterday too. Michelle was on last night …’

  ‘Neither of them have their periods at the moment, because I asked,’ Angela said calmly. ‘You’re a liar and a cheat, Carole. You’re not pregnant and you tried to falsify the accounts to hurt Sister Beatrice and you’ve made malicious attempts to alter this book for the same reason.’

  ‘You can’t prove any of this …’

  ‘If I speak to Mark he will insist you see a doctor and I think at least one of my accusations will be proved – and you will no longer be working here. Sister Beatrice has requested that I give you a week’s notice …’

  ‘Damn you to hell!’ Carole screamed. ‘I don’t need her rotten job – and as for you, if you tell Mark I’m not pregnant I’ll …’

  ‘Just what will you do, Carole?’ Mark asked, walking into the ward at that moment. ‘I think we both know that I asked you to marry me because you told me we were having a child …’

  ‘I am – I was,’ Carole screamed in frustration. ‘It’s that bitch, she’s gone mad, accusing me of changing accounts and records …’

  ‘I’ve just spoken to Sister Beatrice and she has told me everything,’ Mark said. ‘I knew Angela intended to confront you and I wanted to hear the truth. I think we both know nothing happened that night, Carole. It puzzled me, because I couldn’t remember, and I thought it was unlikely that you would conceive the first time, even though you seemed so certain, but I do remember now. I was drunk and I kissed you but that was all. It was my guilt that clouded my judgement and made me believe you.’

  ‘Bloody marvellous lover you were,’ Carole yelled, losing her head as the realisation that it was all over came to her. ‘Well, you can have your darling Angela if you want her – and your ring.’ She tore it from her finger and threw it at him. ‘And Sister can keep her job. I’ve had enough of all of you.’ She snatched up her bag and stormed out of the room.

  ‘Angela, we have to talk,’ Mark said as she put the record book in the cupboard and locked it.

  ‘Yes, Mark. I’m going to be busy today – but perhaps you could ring me and we’ll have a drink somewhere − soon?’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry …’

  Angela put the keys to the cupboard back in the desk and then left the room. Sister Beatrice would want to know what had happened – and she might be a bit displeased that Carole had left without serving notice. She’d left the unmasking to Angela but instead of the dignified reprimand Sister might have given, it had turned into a blazing row.

  Angela could only hope that Sister would be more relieved than annoyed that her staff nurse had left in haste. As for Mark, things were not so straightforward. She wasn’t ready to talk to him about Carole just yet. She needed to think …

  FIFTY-FOUR

  Alice looked up as one of the kitchen girls came into the staff room. At first she thought the girl had come to fetch the dirty mugs but she looked over her shoulder furtively, as though afraid of being heard.

  ‘You’re wanted urgently outside. He’s waiting in the garden and says he has to speak to you – and he’s in a hurry because he has a train to catch.’

  ‘Who is?’ Alice said, a cold shiver at her nape.

  ‘He says he’s your cousin – Eric, I think he said.’

  ‘Why didn’t you say so?’ Alice ran out of the rest room. It must be something really urgent for Eric to come here. Was it her sister or one of her brothers? As she saw Eric standing uncomfortably near the side gate, she rushed up to him. ‘What’s wrong? Is it Mave?’

  ‘No, it’s Bob,’ Eric said. ‘He was knocked down by a speeding car after he left you last night …’ He shook his head as Alice gasped. ‘No, it’s all right, love. He was lucky – just has a few bruises, that’s all, but I thought you’d want to know he’s in the London.’

  ‘Oh no,’ Alice said, tears pricking. ‘He met me from work last night, Eric – I bet it’s that Lee gang …’

  ‘Why should they be interested in Bob?’ Eric asked. ‘I should think there could be others who might want to put a scare into him – he’s a tough customer and he don’t scare easily.’

  ‘I wish I could go to the hospital straight away, but we’re so short-staffed at the moment. It will have to wait until this evening.’

  ‘Bob won’t expect you to visit immediately, but I thought you should know.’ He smiled at her. ‘I’m sorry I have to leave in a hurry, but I have to get back to camp or they’ll think I’ve gone AWOL.’

  ‘You don’t want to miss your train,’ Alice said, and forced a smile. ‘Thanks for coming to tell me.’

  ‘It’s the least I could do.’ Eric hesitated, then, ‘I think a lot of you, our Alice – and I know Bob cares about you. You could do a lot worse than him, you know.’

  ‘Yes, I know,’ Alice said, and sighed. ‘I’ve been a fool, Eric. I’ve been lucky to have friends to help me – and I’ll try to do better in future.’

  Alice was thoughtful as she went back to work. If Bob really wanted to stand by her she would be daft to reject his offer – she only hoped Eric hadn’t tried to soften the blow, because if Bob was really hurt she’d never forgive herself. Bob had once told one of Butcher Lee’s men to leave her alone, and she was convinced that was the reason he’d been attacked. The Lee gang had once employed Jack and it was while escaping from them that he’d dumped Alice and sped off into the night in his car. If it hadn’t been for them, he might have stayed out of trouble and still be alive. They were dangerous men and didn’t like to be crossed.

  Alice knew it was going to be a long day at work. Usually she enjoyed caring for the children and didn’t mind if she stayed late, but today she would be watching the clock, because she would worry about Bob until she’d been to see him in the hospital …

  Alice could hardly believe it when she saw Bob waiting for her as she left St Saviour’s that evening. She ran towards him, relieved that he hadn’t been badly hurt.

  ‘Oh, Bob,’ she cried. ‘I was going to visit you in the hospital; I thought you might be badly injured?’

  ‘Just a few bruises. The doctor told me that I ought to have a broken leg at least, but I was lucky.’

  ‘Eric said you were knocked down by a car? How can you be all right?’

  ‘It’s my martial arts training; I know how to fall,’ Bob quipped, laughed and then winced as she grabbed at his arm. ‘Just a bit sore still …’

  ‘I’m so sorry, Bob. It’s my fault for involving you in this mess.’

  ‘How do you make that out?’ Bob asked, and shook his head as she tried to explain. ‘It had nothing to do with you, Alice. I told the military cops where to find that deserter who attacked you last year and they arrested him – he was badly beaten up for trying to resist arrest and I imagine he’ll go down for a long time. I reckon it was one of his cronies that tried to do me down.’

  ‘Bob … you must have known the Lee gang would come after you for
causing them trouble. If that deserter informs on them …’

  ‘He might get his sentence reduced if he does that,’ Bob told her. ‘I don’t want to talk about them or him, Alice. I’m going to find a place for you to live and …’

  ‘Bob, I can’t let you after what happened,’ Alice said brokenly. ‘If you hang around me they will come after you again. They think I know something about Jack and they want him – but I don’t know anything. Everyone says he’s dead so why do they bother with me?’

  ‘If they’re following you, they must have a good reason; perhaps they don’t believe what the papers said about his body being found in the fire, or they think you could tell them something they want to know – and that means you need looking after even more. I’m not goin’ to desert you, Alice. I wasn’t aware of the car coming up behind me with no lights until it was too late, but I’ll keep a sharper eye out in future. It was a cowardly attack because they know I can take care of myself. Anyway, I care about you, Alice, and if you think I’m going to desert you, you can think again.’

  ‘It’s not right,’ Alice said as he took her arm. ‘I can manage, Nan and Michelle will help me.’

  Bob looked at her hard. ‘You’re crying …’

  ‘No, I’m not. It’s just that you’re so good and I don’t deserve it …’

  ‘You’ve got a soft heart, love,’ Bob said, and tucked his arm in hers. ‘I’ve got something nice to show you before we go to the flicks – but perhaps you’d rather wait for another day?’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘It’s your new home,’ Bob told her, and grinned. ‘It’s one of the flats the council put up a few years back. The block escaped most of the bomb damage, which was a miracle, and there’s a ground-floor flat empty. It needs a coat of paint in all the rooms but I can soon do that … and there’s a bit of a yard and a shed where you can put things out the back.’