Diamonds in the Dust

by Beryl Matthews

  Stan lifted his hands. ‘I apologise.’

  ‘You must give us time,’ Dora explained. ‘What we’ve found out has knocked us off balance. We’re feeling lost. The best thing you can do is leave us alone while we try to sort out our lives.’

  ‘All right.’ He couldn’t hide the regret he felt at their withdrawal from him. ‘But you’re not getting rid of me – ever! So while you’re sorting yourselves out, remember that. Also remember what I said to you at the party, Dora. I’ll step back for now, but only for a few days. The sooner you sort yourselves out the better it will be for all of us.’ Then he turned on his heel and walked out.

  ‘We’ve upset him,’ Lily whispered. ‘We shouldn’t do that, Dora.’

  ‘I know.’ She sighed deeply. ‘We’ll apologise when we’re feeling better.’

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The station was almost deserted when Stan arrived the next day. After being told by Dora to leave, he had stormed home, feeling as if he had deserted them. It was not in his nature to stand back and watch people suffer. He had dragged Alan back to the trenches even though he might have been dead. He didn’t consider himself especially brave; it was just the way he was, and his instinct was to stay and protect the three youngsters while they were suffering so badly. But he had to respect their wishes. He didn’t want to do it but he understood their reasons, because he had struggled with similar emotions when he had returned home injured. Just like them he had needed time to come to terms with the change it was going to make to his life; the last thing he had needed were well-meaning people around him. Although he could see what the Bentleys were going through, he didn’t think it was right for them to be alone at this time. He had seen shame in Dora’s eyes, fury in Tom’s, and heart-rending grief in Lily’s. He would stay away for a couple of days, and that was all.

  ‘Hello, Stan.’ The super looked him over, and after a moment gave a nod of approval. ‘I see you’re walking well now. How strong is the leg?’

  ‘Good.’ He did a turn around the room to show him. ‘Getting stronger every day.’

  The super looked him straight in the eyes. ‘When are you coming back to join us?’

  ‘Tomorrow? I’ve already put in my request to be reinstated. I can start work as soon as a decision is made.’

  ‘You’ll let the police doctor have a look at you?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘I’ll see it’s hurried along.’

  Stan was elated. ‘Thanks. I’d love to get back to the job.’

  ‘I know that, and we need good policemen.’ His gaze swept around the empty room. ‘As you can see, we’re short-handed.’

  ‘Where are they all?’

  ‘Reg has taken a team to bring in Roger Grant for questioning and do a quick search of his home. We need to find out if he had a close connection with the Duval woman. There’s nothing concrete to tie him to her at the moment. Do you think he killed her, Stan?’

  ‘Yes, I do, but I think we’ll need a confession, and that’s unlikely. If he’s got any sense he’ll keep his mouth shut.’

  The super nodded in agreement. ‘I hate to see a murderer go free.’

  ‘If he did do it I’d want to see him swing.’ Stan’s mouth set in a firm line. ‘There are three youngsters left to cope on their own.’

  ‘Everything will be done to find and convict her killer.’ The super slapped Stan on the shoulder. ‘Look forward to having you back with us.’

  He had only been gone a couple of minutes when Reg strode in.

  ‘Have you got him?’

  ‘Yes, he’s in one of the cells.’ Reg smiled grimly. ‘Thought we’d leave him there for a while in the hope it might loosen his tongue. We didn’t find a damned thing to suggest he knew her.’

  Stan’s fury surfaced. ‘I wish I could interview him!’

  ‘’Fraid not, Stan, you know we can’t let you near him.’

  ‘Not for much longer. I think my chances of getting back on the force are good.’ He told his brother-in-law about his talk with the super.

  ‘That’s wonderful!’ Reg was obviously delighted. ‘It’ll be like old times. I don’t think I’ll wait any longer. I’ll go and talk to Grant now.’

  ‘Good, I’ll wait.’

  ‘It might take some time, Stan.’

  ‘I’ll wait!’

  Left alone Stan glanced around the empty room. Not long ago he had believed that working as a policeman again had been an impossible dream, but it looked as if that dream was about to come true. He couldn’t wait. His life was really taking a turn for the better, but that wasn’t the case for the three bewildered Bentleys.

  It was two hours before Reg returned. Stan knew immediately from his expression that he’d had no luck with Grant.

  ‘He’s not saying a bloody word!’ Reg exploded. ‘I’m damned sure he knows something, but we’ve had to let him go.’

  ‘I know it’s frustrating, but keep at him, Reg. I’ll see you later.’

  His brother-in-law nodded and then grinned. ‘If he still isn’t talking the next time we bring him in, I’ll let you have a go at him. That should shake him up a bit.’

  ‘I’ll keep you to that.’ Stan waved and left the station, heading for Wandsworth. He hadn’t promised not to call on John and the other men at the house. Lizzie was a good cook so he would have lunch there.

  Dobbs met him as soon as he got out of the car. ‘You’ve heard the sad news? Of course you have. We’re terribly worried about those lovely kids. They’re suffering bad, and they don’t deserve that. What happened to their mum?’

  Stan walked inside with him. ‘I don’t know the details yet. The police are still trying to piece it together.’

  ‘I hopes they find the bastard that did it!’

  ‘Me too, Dobbs. Who’s here?’

  ‘Most of the regulars, but they’re all rather quiet today. You go along and cheer ’em up. Dinner will be ready in half an hour.’

  ‘Look forward to that.’ Stan walked down the corridor and stood in the doorway watching the scene. The room was full, as many of the disabled now brought their families with them for a meal, and it was becoming a popular meeting place. John was idly tinkering on the piano in a distracted way; some were playing darts or cards. There was little talk. At one table, Pete was amusing Lily with card tricks.

  She looked up, and her wan little face tore at his heart. He smiled and held out his hand. ‘Hello, sweetheart.’

  After a slight hesitation she came over to him, taking his hand and gazing at him uncertainly. ‘Are you still my friend?’ she whispered.

  He swept her up in his arms. ‘I’ll always be your friend. Nothing will ever change that.’

  She rested her head on his shoulder, saying nothing.

  John stopped messing with the piano and joined them, deep sorrow in his eyes. ‘Any news?’ he asked softly.

  Stan shook his head and turned his attention back to Lily, lifting her chin so he could look at her face. ‘Are Dora and Tom here?’

  ‘Dora’s out, she’s got things to do, but Tom’s in the garden.’

  ‘Are they all right?’

  ‘Think so.’

  Stan knew that was all he was going to get out of the little girl, so he said, ‘Do you think Tom would mind if I have a look at his garden?’

  ‘Be all right, I ’spect.’

  John grimaced at Stan. ‘You might get hit over the head with a shovel. He’s not just angry, he’s boiling mad. I left him digging over the ground like a maniac. You want reinforcements with you?’

  ‘Might be a good idea.’ Stan put Lily down, still holding her hand. ‘You coming with us to see your brother?’

  ‘Better. He’s not happy.’

  The sweat was streaming off Tom as he slammed the spade into the ground time and time again. He was so lost in what he was doing that he hadn’t heard their approach.

  ‘Has that piece of ground offended you?’ John asked dryly.

  ‘What?’ Tom spun ro
und.

  John pointed to the beautifully dug-over soil. ‘That’s prepared enough, don’t you think?’

  ‘Oh.’ Tom pitched the spade into the ground, watched it quivering upright for a moment and then wiped his hands on his trousers. ‘I’m just working off my frustration. Hello, Stan, any news?’

  ‘They’ve got someone in for questioning, but there’s no proof he’s the one. I’d like to have a go at him myself, but as I’m not a policeman they won’t let me near him.’

  Tom nodded, pulled the spade out of the ground and tossed it to Stan, who caught it in one hand. ‘You want to have a go. It’s a great way to let off steam without hurting anyone.’

  They grinned at each other, knowing they both had short tempers at times. He tossed the spade back to Tom and watched him lean it carefully against a tree. The tension between them had completely disappeared, and Stan felt as if he had won a victory. Two of the Bentleys were now treating him like a friend again. That left only one to win over – the most important one.

  Lily tugged his hand. When he bent down to her, she whispered knowingly, ‘He’s all right now. John’s been talking to him and helping him.’ She gave the other man a tremulous smile. ‘Haven’t you, John?’

  ‘I certainly have, little one.’ He looked pointedly at Tom. ‘We’re all here for you.’

  ‘We know that, and thanks, but you’ll have to forgive us, we’re so bloody furious.’ He grimaced. ‘At least I am. Dora’s devastated and so is Lily. I could tear the bugger who did this to pieces.’

  ‘Don’t swear, Tom,’ Lily reprimanded. ‘Dora will be cross if she hears you.’

  ‘She won’t know unless you tell her.’ A gleam of devilment came into his eyes and he dived for his sister, swinging her high in the air. ‘I’m bigger and stronger than the two of you put together.’

  ‘You’re all dirty!’ She pummelled him with her fists until she was safely on the ground again, then said smugly, ‘I’ll soon be too big for you to do that. I’m growing out of my clothes faster than Dora can alter them. So there!’

  Stan and John gave each other a slight smile of relief as they listened to the bickering. It was such a normal thing for brother and sister to do.

  Lily pushed between the two men for safety, her little face serious again. ‘Dora went and got the doctor last night ’cause I was crying so much. He was ever so nice. He said we don’t have to leave here, and he still wants Dora to work for him. I cried ever so much because I didn’t want to leave my angel.’

  Tom stepped in immediately to stop his little sister saying anything else. ‘Come on, urchin, I’m gasping for a cup of tea.’

  ‘All right. Lizzie will give you one.’ She started to follow her brother, then turned back to Stan. ‘Are you staying? Dora might be home soon.’

  ‘Yes, I’m having lunch here.’

  ‘Oh good.’ Then she tore off to catch her brother.

  John was frowning. ‘Why would Lily think the doc would turn them out? Is there more to this, Stan?’

  ‘It isn’t my place to say, but they’re going to need all the help and support we can give them.’

  ‘There’s no question about that. We’re all very fond of that family.’ John’s frown deepened. ‘Bad, is it?’

  ‘Couldn’t be worse.’

  Stan hung around until four o’clock that day, but if Dora had arrived home she had gone straight upstairs without speaking to anyone. He hesitated at the bottom of the stairs but forced himself to walk away. If she had wanted to see him then she would have come downstairs. Lily would have told her he was here. Patience was not a virtue he possessed in any great measure. But if he wasn’t very careful he could lose any chance he had with her, and he wasn’t going to risk that. He walked away, knowing he wouldn’t be able to keep on doing this. He loved Dora and the children, and couldn’t imagine his life without them. They weren’t going to get rid of him very easily!

  Reg came to see him just after six o’clock, looking tired and dispirited. He slumped into a chair. ‘You know, Stan, I’m absolutely sure Grant has something to do with this mystery. He’s far too nervous, but …’ He shrugged helplessly.

  Handing his brother-in-law a large whisky, Stan said, ‘I feel the same, but his Christian name doesn’t even appear in her book.’

  ‘Perhaps he wasn’t a customer.’ Reg tossed back his drink, shuddered, then handed the glass back to Stan for a refill. ‘He’s quite well connected, so perhaps his role was to find clients for her?’

  ‘That’s more than likely. But unless he talks there isn’t much you can do. Let him stew for a couple of days and then bring him in again.’

  ‘Already thought of that.’

  Two days later Stan was at the station waiting for the police to bring Grant back in. They had asked the neighbour, Mrs James, to come and see if she could identify him. He wasn’t allowed anywhere near Grant, of course, so he found a quiet corner out of the way, determined to stay there until the interview was over.

  It was nearly three hours before Reg appeared, and Stan was immediately on his feet. ‘Well?’

  ‘The neighbour said she thought he was the man who came when Mrs Duval moved into the flat, but she hadn’t seen him since. When faced with this, Grant at last admitted he’d known her. But he insisted that all he did was lend her money to set herself up in business. She repaid him six months later, with interest, and that was the last he saw of her. His alibi is that he was having dinner with his father on the night she disappeared. One of the constables went to check and the father said it was true. His son was with him till around midnight.’

  ‘Ah, but where did he go after midnight?’ Stan asked. ‘Does he have a witness for the rest of the night?’

  ‘No, he was home to bed, alone, he insists, and we can’t prove otherwise. We’ve had to let him go.’

  ‘Bad luck, Reg.’ Stan was torn between two points of view. He hated to see a murderer escape justice, and yet, if there was no trial then the truth about the Bentleys’ mother might never come to light. They could be saved from a public humiliation, and he wished that with his whole heart.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  But that was not to be. Two days later Tom rushed home with a newspaper in his hand. ‘Look at this!’ He opened it to the second page for Dora to see. ‘How the hell did they get hold of all that? And how dare they call her that when there’s no proof!’

  Dora read the headline with mounting horror. PROSTITUTE MURDERED. It was all there. The connection between Bentley and Duval was clearly stated, and even their own names had been printed. Now she was just as furious as her brother. ‘They must have got this from someone who knows us. And there aren’t many people who know our mother used the name Duval.’

  ‘Well, that narrows it down! It’s only the police, Stan, and the doctor of course.’

  Dora was very frightened, and her fear was showing itself in anger. For the first time in her life she was consumed with fury. ‘The doctor wouldn’t have spoken to reporters. I trust him completely.’

  Her brother’s fists were clenched as if he wanted to hit someone. ‘That leaves someone from the station, or Reg or Stan. I’d never have believed either of them would have done this to us!’

  Dora surged to her feet. ‘Get Lily, Tom. She’s downstairs. We’re going to find out who’s responsible for this. Right now!’

  Stan wasn’t at home so they went straight to the station. Tom stormed up to the front desk and slapped the newspaper down. ‘We want to see Reg Tanner.’

  ‘And why do you want him, young man?’

  ‘Just tell him the Bentleys are here!’

  Before the constable had time to leave his desk, Reg and Stan appeared, drawn by the raised voices.

  ‘Have you seen this?’ Tom waved the paper at them.

  ‘Yes we have,’ admitted Reg. ‘And we’re very sorry—’

  ‘Sorry?’ Tom was absolutely furious. ‘Do you know what this will do to us? Do you?’

  Knowing that they we
ren’t going to get any answers by shouting, Dora laid her hand on her brother’s arm to quieten him. ‘Let them explain.’

  The boy clamped his mouth shut and glowered at the men in front of him.

  ‘As I was saying,’ Reg continued, ‘we’re trying to find out how the reporter got hold of this information.’

  Tom couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. ‘Someone close to us talked, and there aren’t many who know all these details.’

  ‘Now just a damned minute!’ Stan spoke for the first time, rounding angrily on them. ‘Are you accusing us of selling this story to the press?’

  ‘Well, someone did! And we want to know who it was.’

  When Stan spoke his voice was like ice. ‘We’d never do anything to hurt you. And you’re wrong about us being the only ones to know the details. Everyone at the station here and at Bloomsbury knows. It’s a matter of record.’

  Dora felt awful. She had been in such a blind rage that she hadn’t even considered that.

  Tom was looking uncomfortable now. ‘We never thought of that.’

  ‘That’s obvious,’ Stan growled in disappointment at their accusations. He could understand their fear, for this could have distressing consequences for them, but it hurt that they should even consider him responsible. ‘Try thinking before you go accusing people of betraying you. And calm down, Tom. You’re frightening Lily.’

  The little girl had been very quiet, and Dora had forgotten that her sister was with them. She bent down, knowing just how upsetting Lily found arguments. She was such a gentle child. ‘I’m sorry, sweetie.’

  Her bottom lip trembled. ‘I don’t like it when Tom shouts. And he shouldn’t say things like that to Stan and Uncle Reg. They love us.’

  ‘I know, and we’re sorry, aren’t we, Tom?’ When she looked up, Stan was nowhere to be seen. ‘I’m sorry, Reg. We were very wrong to storm in here like this. Please, will you forgive us?’

  The door opened with a crash, and Stan marched in holding a small man firmly by the collar. ‘Look what I found lurking outside, trying to listen to our conversation. Johnson, he said his name is.’