East End Angel

by Rivers, Carol

  Jim lowered the mug to the floor and put his head in his hands. What had he done?

  ‘Sorry, mate.’

  ‘Sorry I clobbered you.’

  ‘You should have finished the job.’

  Fitz jabbed his arm. ‘What kind of talk is that? Look, whatever your problem is, it can’t be as bad as you being blown up and your leg nearly torn off. Just look at you now, no crutch and you don’t need your stick half the time. You can get around most anywhere. You’ve come out of that blood bath, whilst millions of others have perished. Life should taste good to you.’

  Jim sighed heavily. ‘It would, if it was like it was before I joined up.’

  Just then Gwen came in. She stood in her paisley pinafore with her hands on her hips. He met her kind eyes. ‘Sorry about last night, Gwen.’

  ‘What happened, Jim?’

  ‘I had one too many at the Nelson.’

  ‘Your place is a bomb site.’

  ‘I’ll clear it up.’

  ‘Don’t know what Pearl’s going to say.’

  Jim was beginning to have flashes of memory, slowly, like pulling a tooth: his journey back from the pub, his hopes that Pearl would be home. Then he’d found that note saying she’d gone to Abingley. Her words of love had sent him crazy. If she loved him, she would be there.

  ‘You’d better nip the booze in the bud,’ said Fitz in a softer tone. ‘It’s doing you no favours. Nor Pearl.’

  Jim rose to his feet. The room swam, his head felt as though it was about to explode. ‘Got to go,’ he mumbled, falling against the couch and staggering into the passage. He burst through the back door and sprinted for the lav. As he retched, he could hear Sunday bells tolling. The war had ended, churches all over the land were allowed to ring their bells. But Jim knew that for him, another war had begun. Last night, as he’d looked into his empty home, he knew he had already lost it.

  ‘Don’t make a noise or Cynthia will hear. And if she wakes up, I will have to take certain measures.’ Ricky’s voice was a whisper as he sat on Pearl’s bed.

  ‘Wh-what do you mean?’ Pearl stammered, holding the sheet tight against her.

  ‘I know how much she means to you. Now, you have a choice to co-operate, or you might find yourself saying goodbye to your precious daughter.’

  Pearl could barely speak. ‘You . . . wouldn’t . . . couldn’t . . .’

  He leaned closer. ‘I most certainly would.’

  Was he in his right mind, she wondered, to threaten such a thing. Was he really prepared to take Cynthia from her if she didn’t do as he asked? In the dim light she could see he was wearing a white shirt, open at the neck, where his scars were visible. She felt like screaming as he touched her, but she knew she couldn’t for Cynthia’s sake.

  ‘Pearl, I want you.’ His hands were on her shoulders, sliding down her nightdress. ‘You’re so beautiful and I’ve wanted you for so long.’

  ‘No, no!’ She tried to wriggle out of his grasp.

  ‘Those other women meant nothing to me,’ he continued, catching hold of her again. ‘It was only you I ever cared for.’

  Pearl shrank back. ‘Please, Ricky, leave me alone.’

  ‘Kiss me, Pearl, kiss me like you used to.’ She let out a cry as he pulled away the bedclothes. ‘You haven’t changed, you were made for me. I must have been crazy to let you go.’

  Pearl smothered her sobs as he began to touch her. When would this nightmare end? Was he going to rape her?

  ‘You make me want you all the more,’ he gasped as she sobbed. ‘You haven’t forgotten how I need sex to be exciting.’ He fondled her breasts, his hands then moving down to her hips. ‘You always were a free spirit. I’m going to enjoy taming you all over again.’

  ‘Mummy?’

  Cynthia’s small voice came in the darkness. Ricky stiffened, his grip loosening and Pearl pushed away with all her strength. Once out of bed she stumbled across the room. ‘It’s all right, Cynth, Uncle Ricky’s just leaving.’ She hugged her daughter tightly.

  Ricky stood up slowly, a dark outline in the centre of the room. Pearl was terrified. Would he try to take Cynthia from her? All she could hear was the loud beat of her heart. If he took a step closer, what would she do?

  ‘Remember what I told you,’ he whispered, his voice low and menacing. ‘If you know what’s good for you and your daughter, you’ll do as I say.’

  Pearl stared up at him. What was this man capable of?

  Then suddenly he turned and Pearl heard the door close. Taking Cynthia in her arms she rocked back and forth. She was trembling from head to foot and trying not to show her tears.

  ‘Brought you in a nice cuppa, love.’ Syd looked down at his daughter and realized there was two heads in one bed. He smiled at the sight of his granddaughter’s blonde crown snuggled against her mum.

  Pearl sat up slowly.

  ‘She’s soundo, ain’t she?’

  ‘Yes, she woke up in the night.’

  ‘Probably upset about having to stay in that nurse’s cubbyhole while we were with Ruby. Kids don’t like hospitals; it’s the smell, ain’t it?’ He placed the cup and saucer on the bedside table. ‘Your mother’s cooking fried eggs and bacon from the farm. Bet you ain’t tasted good food since you was last down here. Pity Jim can’t be here to enjoy it too.’

  ‘How’s Mum?’

  ‘Not bad, considering.’

  He watched his daughter drink her tea. She hadn’t said much about Jim, but then, with all that had happened with Ruby it wasn’t surprising. ‘Anyway, I’ll give you a shout when breakfast’s ready. Ricky’s just gone for a paper. Think he wanted a bit of a breather. He was up and dressed this morning before I was.’

  ‘Are you all right, Dad?’

  ‘Better than yesterday.’ Syd didn’t miss the swift change in subject. He’d noticed that Ricky and Pearl seemed a bit distant. Not surprising really, as everyone’s nerves were on edge. ‘We’ve all got to pull together for Ruby.’

  ‘Yes, I know.’

  ‘See you in a minute.’

  When he left the room he came face to face with his son-in-law. ‘Blimey, lad, didn’t expect you back so soon—’ But Ricky pushed past him, almost bowling Syd over. No sooner had he found his bag in the glory hole, than he was off.’

  Syd stared after him. What was up with the lad? Where was the newspaper? And what did he want his travelling bag for at this time of the morning? Before he could ask, the front door knocker went.

  ‘Yes? Can I help you?’ Syd asked the two men who stood on the step.

  ‘Does a Richard Winters live here?’ asked the taller man.

  Syd didn’t much care for his tone of voice, or the look of the long belted raincoats and trilby hats. They were the Law or he was a monkey’s uncle. ‘Why, what’s it to do with you?’ he demanded gruffly.

  ‘I’m Detective Inspector Chalmers and this is Detective Constable Price from the local constabulary. We should like to talk to Mr Winters. It’s a matter of some urgency.’

  Syd felt his stomach drop. ‘Is it about the hospital?’

  ‘No. Is he here?’

  ‘Syd, what’s going on?’ Amy appeared in her crossover pinny, a lock of hair falling from her turban. She grabbed Syd’s arm and squeezed it. ‘Is it to do with Ruby?’

  ‘Don’t think so.’ His wife was pinching his arm so tight he was forced to draw it away. ‘They was asking about Ricky.’

  ‘He’s not here,’ said Amy quickly in a cold tone of voice he rarely heard her use. And what was she saying? Ricky had been under his nose only a minute ago.

  ‘But he does live here?’ said one of the men suspiciously.

  ‘He went out for a paper,’ said Amy defiantly.

  ‘How long ago?’

  She folded her arms across her chest. ‘What’s this, the third degree?’

  ‘They’re the Law, love,’ Syd explained. ‘Look,’ he said reasonably as he pushed Amy back gently, ‘you ain’t called at a good time as Ricky’s wife, our daughter
Ruby, is in hospital. She’s just lost her baby.’

  The two men glanced at one another. ‘I’m sorry to have disturbed you,’ said the first man. ‘We’ll wait in the car until he returns.’

  Amy leaped forward and called after them, ‘You might have a long wait. He could have gone for a walk or anything. It is Sunday, you know.’

  The policemen stopped and glanced back. Syd dragged Amy in and closed the door. ‘What the Dickens has got into you, love?’

  ‘Nothing.’ Amy stuck out her chin.

  ‘You told them he wasn’t here.’

  ‘Well, he’s not now.’

  Pearl came out of the bedroom. ‘What was that all about, Dad?’ she asked as she tied the belt of her dressing gown.

  ‘I don’t know, ducks,’ said Syd. He looked at his wife. ‘But you obviously do, Amy.’

  ‘Ricky’s gone out the back way.’ Amy looked guilty.

  ‘Gone?’ said Pearl. ‘Gone where?’

  ‘I don’t know, do I?’ Amy snapped. ‘He just grabbed his coat then went through the gardens at the back.’

  ‘So what did he say?’ said Syd, thinking that, unusually, this conversation with Amy was like drawing blood.

  Amy pouted again. ‘He just told me that a bloke at the aerodrome had got into trouble. The police are making nuisances of themselves, going round people’s houses, trying to get them to say something against him. Ricky didn’t want to be bothered with all that whilst Ruby’s ill. So he asked me to tell them he hadn’t come back from buying the paper.’

  Syd stood trying to work it all out. ‘Has he gone to the hospital?’ he asked bewilderedly.

  Amy’s eyes filled with tears. ‘How should I know? I was frying the bloody bacon at the time. Stop having a go at me.’

  Pearl put her arms around her mother. ‘It’s all right, Mum. Don’t get upset.’

  ‘Look, love, I’m not having a go,’ said Syd gently. ‘I’m only trying to get at what happened. You was squeezing me arm so tight when those coppers came you nearly stopped me blood from circulating.’

  ‘I was afraid you’d say he was here,’ said Amy tearfully.

  ‘And why shouldn’t I?’ replied Syd defensively. ‘He shot past me not two minutes before they knocked on the door.’

  ‘It’s not fair of the police to pester him at a time like this,’ Amy sniffed. ‘And I cooked such a nice breakfast an’ all. You’ll have to eat it, Syd, as it can’t go to waste.’

  Syd could smell the fry-up and usually his mouth watered at the aroma. But today he’d lost his appetite. As his wife and daughter went into the front room, he tried to puzzle out what had gone on. Ricky had taken a bit of a liberty in persuading Amy to lie on his behalf. What was all the rush? Spending ten minutes with the local bobbies wasn’t going to eat much into his day. Syd scratched his head as he walked into the front room and sat down at the dining table.

  Pearl served him his breakfast; the plate was overflowing with crispy brown bacon, eggs and fried bread cooked just how he liked it. But it was a sight that seemed criminal during rationing. ‘Blimey, your mother’s gone a bit over the top, ain’t she?’

  ‘It’s better than giving it to the pigs.’

  He saw her hand was shaking. ‘You all right, Pearl?’

  ‘Yes. Why?’

  ‘You look a bit off colour this morning.’

  ‘I’d better go and wake Cynth.’

  When on his own, Syd pushed away his plate. What was going on with these women? His daughter couldn’t string two words together this morning and his wife had just told a whopper to the Law. As for Ricky, he’d disappeared in the space of two minutes and with no real explanation as to why. Syd got up and went to the bay window, looking across the green to the road.

  That flaming police car was still there!

  Jim was sitting in the Nelson, staring into his glass. One half of him wanted another drink, the other half wasn’t drunk enough to forget his bad behaviour. All Pearl’s china in pieces, the pots and pans scattered across the floor and he’d made mincemeat of the old Morrison in an effort to get his revenge. He’d even smashed the wind-up gramophone under the maple bookcase. In the bedroom, he’d stepped on tiny fragments of pink glass. The jars had been Pearl’s favourites. The only room he hadn’t touched was Cynth’s. The thought of his daughter seeing what he’d done was too much for him. He’d walked out again, but not before taking the few pennies on the kitchen shelf.

  The door of the pub opened and Percy appeared. Walking over to where Jim sat, he pulled out a chair.

  ‘I just spoke to the ’emsleys. They said you’d gone off like a dog with a boot up its arse. What you done to your old loaf of bread?’

  ‘Walked into a lamppost.’ Jim shrugged, trying not to slur his words. ‘You gonna have one with me?’

  ‘I took the oath years ago, son, after the first war. As I was lying on that ’ospital bed, I thought about the way I conducted meself and I didn’t much like what I came up with. Promised me maker I’d turn over a new leaf if I lived to see a better day. The rest is ’istory.’

  Jim looked down. ‘The sad truth is, Percy, I need what’s in this glass.’ He gulped back the ale. Why didn’t everyone just leave him alone?

  ‘Come on, lad, you’ve had enough. Sleep it off down the yard.’

  ‘I ain’t had me quota yet.’

  ‘You’ve had more than that.’

  ‘If I drank the Thames dry,’ Jim muttered as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, ‘it would never be enough.’

  The old man stared at him through narrowed eyes. ‘I’m sorry to see you chuckin’ your life away.’

  ‘Yeah, well, it’s a life of me own making.’

  ‘You’re a good man, with an honest heart and you’ve a good wife too.’

  ‘You reckon?’

  ‘What’s that suppose to mean?’

  ‘Nothing.’ Jim grabbed his glass. ‘Well, if you won’t drink with me, I’ll just have to drink on me own.’

  ‘Jim, I’ll ask one last time. Come back to the yard with me.’

  ‘I don’t work Sundays, remember?’ Jim stood up and felt the room sway. Percy gave him one last look as he went to the bar and threw down his coppers. He wanted to be left on his own with his throbbing head and bitter heart.

  ‘Look at this!’ Gwen gasped.

  Fitz put down his broom and swiped his forehead with his handkerchief. He was puffing and blowing after all the clearing-up. ‘What is it?’

  ‘A china ashtray.’ Gwen turned over the broken pieces. ‘It says “Margate” on this side. Do you think you could glue it back together?’

  ‘I’ll have a go.’

  ‘It was from their honeymoon.’

  Gwen sat down with a sigh on Pearl’s couch. Fitz joined her, hoping that soon they could go home for some elevenses. They had cleared Pearl’s kitchen and bedroom, and left the front room till last. It was going to be a long day, as they still had to have the shop ready for tomorrow. But after Jim had done a bunk, they couldn’t just leave the place as it was. It would break Pearl’s heart if she saw it.

  Fitz examined the two pieces, turning them over and frowning. ‘It ain’t been used for fags and it’s a clean break luckily.’

  ‘It was only a souvenir,’ Gwen nodded. ‘Pearl don’t smoke and Jim didn’t before the war.’

  ‘All her glass bits in the bedroom went the same way. He must have been on a bender to do what he did.’

  ‘Where’s he gone, do you think?’

  Fitz scratched his head. ‘Beats me. Wasn’t going to clear this up, was he?’

  ‘What did Percy Flint have to say?’

  ‘Nothing much. Just that he’d nip in the Nelson to see if he was there.’

  ‘I only hope Jim don’t keel over after that bash on his head.’

  Fitz groaned. ‘Don’t make me feel worse.’

  ‘It was his fault, not yours.’ Gwen stood the two small pieces of china on the arm of the couch. ‘Just think, when they bought that, they was
madly in love. Here, Fitzy, you don’t think there’s any truth in what Jim said? That she’s left him for another bloke.’

  Fitz shook his head firmly. ‘He was three sheets to the wind and talking rubbish.’

  ‘Yes, but when he’d sobered up he said he didn’t know if she was coming back. So what’s that supposed to mean?’

  ‘Could mean he didn’t know. Like she didn’t know herself, till she found out how her sister is.’

  ‘Or it could mean a lot different. What do you think?’

  Fitz felt uncomfortable talking about his friends like this. He pushed himself up from the couch. ‘Blimey, Gwen, I’m not the oracle.’

  ‘You know what I think?’ Gwen said as she also rose to her feet. ‘I think this is to do with ’is nibs.’

  ‘Who, that Ricky?’

  ‘Who else? We know there was a bit of a ruckus at the wedding. Jim and him never got on. Pearl’s never breathed a word, but I don’t reckon Jim gave the nod for him to be here.’

  ‘She never said as much,’ Fitz protested. ‘Nor did he.’

  ‘No, but he was all eyes for Pearl. Creepy, I call it.’

  ‘That’s guesswork,’ said Fitz quickly picking up his broom. He didn’t like this. It was murky waters, women’s stuff.

  ‘The old green eye is the devil’s tool,’ replied his wife. ‘Because I’d stake me life Pearl has never looked at another bloke. In fact, I’d say she went out of her way to avoid Ruby’s old man.’

  ‘And you would know, would you?’

  ‘They live right under our noses, duck. I can’t help seeing all their comings and goings.’

  Fitz began to whistle his way into the kitchen again. He had the most disturbing feeling that Gwen had taken enough interest in the little family upstairs to know what she was talking about. He’d always discouraged gossip in the shop. Turning a deaf ear to some of the women when they came in was second nature. But the Nesbitts were a different kettle of fish. Nice people, part of the family. Especially little Cynth. And he supposed that was what worried him most. Would the kid be dragged into all this? He hadn’t hesitated when Gwen suggested they go up and clear the mess. If it was just the two of them, the adults, he would have let them sort it out. But if Cynth was to see her home in that state, it didn’t bear thinking about.