by Carol Rivers
‘What do you think?’ He put his arms around her. ‘I took Tom over to Flo’s and Lizzie said you was here.’
‘Did Mum see you?’
‘No, course not.’
‘Thank goodness for that. I couldn’t stand more questions today. Not with this headache.’
‘Come closer and let me get rid of it for you.’
‘You’re a cheeky sod, do you know that?’ Ethel felt a shiver of delight as he rubbed her back.
‘You seem to like it.’
Ethel grinned. ‘You don’t have a care in the world, do you?’
‘I’ll show you how much I care.’ He put his lips down hard over hers. ‘Have I ever told you you’re a beautiful Sheila?’
‘Lots of times. Now stop this. You’d better come out the back.’ She took his hand and led him through to the storeroom. But she was in his arms again almost before she could breathe. ‘Cal, not here.’
‘Where then?’
‘I’ve got to go over to Mum’s. They’ll wonder what’s happened to me. And I still haven’t finished feeding the patient.’
Cal frowned at her. ‘Is he giving you trouble?’
Ethel shook her head in amusement. ‘Frank couldn’t pick a fight with a paper bag. I found him on the kitchen floor unable to get up.’
‘I’ll help you.’
Ethel pushed him away. ‘No you won’t. You’ll stay right here. And wait for me.’
‘Just one kiss to keep me sweet, eh?’ He drew her against him and Ethel’s resolve disappeared. Cal was the best kisser she’d ever known in her life. Not that she’d tasted many men’s kisses other than Richard’s. She’d had a few boyfriends when she’d left school, but it was always more of a grope and a hurried one at that. Lil had watched her like a hawk even then. And seeing as her two brothers had died young men, Ethel had accepted Lil’s reasoning. She had one child left from three. She knew the pain her mum had gone through.
‘I want you, Ethel, you know that, don’t you?’ Cal began to unbutton the top of her dress.
‘We can’t. Not here.’
‘Why not? It’s the perfect place.’
‘Someone might come in – and what about Frank?’
‘He can wait. He’ll have to.’ Cal slid the soft material from her shoulders. Ethel knew resisting was useless. Her insides were pulling together, as if they were calling out for him. Her breasts were on fire.
She fumbled for his belt and loosened it as he kissed her. Neither of them heard the shop bell tinkle until it was too late.
‘Christ, who’s that?’ Cal demanded as in the midst of their fumbling a louder noise followed.
‘They must be nicking something!’ Ethel hissed, quickly pulling down her skirt.‘Stay here, I’ll see to it.’ Cal struggled with his clothing and then took a silent step to the storeroom door.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Lizzie was talking to Flo, but her attention was on Walter Miller. He was talking to Syd and Clifford across the room. She couldn’t take her eyes off Walter’s arm as it went up and down, conveying the glass of ale to his mouth. Below the cuff of his jacket he wore a wristwatch.
She’d seen the same watch many times over the years, its unmistakably large face splattered by potato dust, or carrot tops. A family heirloom that had never left Bill Flowers’s possession. Not until he’d decided to give it to Frank.
‘Lizzie, are you listening to me?’ Flo shook her shoulder.
Lizzie nodded. ‘Yes, course.’ She knew Flo had been talking but her sister’s words weren’t registering.
‘You weren’t thinking about him, were you?’ It was an accusation. Lizzie saw the annoyance sparkle in Flo’s dark eyes. Flo had changed into a pretty pale blue dress that she was going to wear for her honeymoon, two nights up West, bed and breakfast.
‘If you mean Frank, then no.’
‘Well, what’s your answer?’
Lizzie tried to wrench her eyes back to Flo but they kept straying over to the men. ‘About what?’
‘There, you see, you ain’t been listening. I was asking what name you liked best. It’s a toss-up between Kate after Ma if it’s a girl. Or Lillian after the Missus.’
‘I didn’t know Lillian was the Missus’s name.’
‘Everyone will shorten it to Lil.’
‘What if it’s a boy?’
Flo smiled proudly. ‘Nelson Sydney after Syd’s grandad. I don’t fancy Walter or Clifford, the other names put forward.’
‘Flo, does Syd see much of Walter and Clifford these days?’
Flo looked puzzled as she stared at Lizzie. ‘That’s a funny question to ask now Syd works at the scrapyard.’
‘They seem to be getting on well,’ Lizzie said quickly. She couldn’t bring herself to ask outright where Walter had got the watch. Or could she? The fact Walter had Bill’s watch on his wrist could only mean one thing. He’d taken it from Frank. And Frank hadn’t given it away. It had been stolen in the attack. Lizzie’s stomach did a roll as she thought of the possibility that Walter and perhaps Clifford – even Syd, had been Frank’s attackers.
‘The Millers have been very good to us,’ Flo said defensively. ‘We haven’t gone short of a penny. But I can see on your face you disapprove of them.’
‘No, it’s not that.’
‘What is it then?’ Flo’s dark eyes narrowed.
Lizzie knew that it was pointless to voice her suspicions. Flo would get upset if she thought Syd was being criticized. And Walter and Clifford were now his best buddies. Flo wouldn’t hear a bad word about the Millers. They were her family now and had gone from sinners to saints in Flo’s mind. But nothing could change the fact that the leather-strapped watch on Walter’s wrist once belonged to Bill who had given it to Frank.
‘Come on, you two.’ Danny came to stand at Flo’s side. ‘Lil’s not got the patience of a saint as we all know.’
Flo looked across at Syd. ‘You’d better fetch me husband too.’
Lizzie wanted to tell Danny about the watch. But how could she with Flo listening?
Flo took Lizzie’s arm. ‘What was you going to say?’
‘Only that your honeymoon dress looks lovely.’
Flo grinned. ‘I can’t wait for our first night up West. It will be funny to do it legit as Mr and Mrs.’
Lizzie smiled. ‘No worrying about the neighbours now.’ She glanced back to Syd and his brothers. The only person she could confront about the watch was Syd. But after their last meeting, their relationship had been strained. He’d blow his top if he thought she was accusing his brother of stealing.
All Ethel could see as she stepped into the shop was two figures rolling about in the wooden crates. Fruit and vegetables were flying everywhere. The man who Cal was throwing punches at was dressed in a fawn overcoat. There were already stains over it where they had rolled in the spilled tomatoes and oranges.
Ethel jumped back as they fell towards her. The next thing she saw was a tangle of arms and legs bouncing against the glass cabinet. Lizzie’s neat rows of toffee apples fell from their shelves. A splintering noise came from the glass but neither of the men stopped fighting. Punching and struggling, they landed on the sacks of King Edwards that Bert stood by the shop door.
Ethel wanted to help Cal somehow; the other man, who towered above him, lifted a wooden box and brought it down on Cal’s shoulder.
‘Leave him alone!’ Ethel shrieked and ran forward, pounding the man with her fists. Without even glancing at her, he pushed her aside. The blow sent her reeling and she ended up on the floor.
Before she could get up, Cal landed a punch on the man’s nose, then another. The man fell to his knees, groaning loudly.
Wiping the blood from his mouth, Cal hurried over to her. He lifted her up gently. ‘Are you hurt, Ethel?’
‘No.’ She pushed her hair from her eyes. Her legs felt like buckling. ‘Who is he?’
‘I caught him with his fingers in the till.’
Ethel gave a little moan as she ru
bbed her sore head.
‘You sure he didn’t hurt you?’ Cal asked again as he took her shoulders.
‘N—’ ‘No,’ she had been about to say, but over his shoulder she saw a frightening sight. The man had recovered and was back on his feet. His fleshy round face was full of anger and pain.
‘What the—’ Cal began as he turned round.
‘Think you’re a big man, eh?’ demanded the thief as he levelled the gun at them. ‘Well, let’s see how big you are when I pull this trigger.’
Ethel screamed. She knew there was no escape.
Cal pulled her behind him as a shot rang out. And Ethel slid to the floor.
The mantel clock in Lil’s front room said it was a quarter to five and there was no sign of Ethel. Lizzie was worried. Had Frank caused trouble somehow? Had he fallen and Ethel been unable to pick him up? But Cal would have helped her. What if Ethel and Cal had decided to do some romancing on the way home? Where would they have gone? Back to the garage?
Lizzie tried to think. But the noise was deafening, what with the singing, dancing and merrymaking, something the Millers were expert at. Flo’s friends from work had already left, politely making their excuses. It was clear the Miller clan had every intention of celebrating late into the night. The empty plates were piled up in the kitchen. Meanwhile the Missus had sent Clifford to the pub off-sales for more beer. Lil and Doug had driven to the East India Dock Road to buy fish and chips for an army.
Just as Lizzie was wondering if she should slip out to look for Ethel, there was a tap on her shoulder.
‘Where’s Ethel and Cal got to?’ Danny asked, raising his voice above the racket.
‘Perhaps they’ve gone to the garage.’
‘No. Don’t reckon they would.’
Lizzie shrugged. ‘Then they must be at the shop.’
Danny’s face darkened. ‘It’s got to be Frank. What else could it be?’
Lizzie knew that she had to find Ethel. ‘I’d better go over there.’
‘I’ll drive you,’ Danny said abruptly. ‘Where are the kids?’
‘They were making a racket and Lil sent them up the park. I was going to fetch them before Flo and Syd left.’
Danny nodded. ‘We’ll tell Timothy and Rosie to do that.’
‘But what will Lil think when she finds us gone?’
Danny shrugged. ‘Bert can tell her we’ve gone to get Ethel.’
‘Won’t that sound suspicious?’
Danny just raised his eyebrows. ‘Lil will be suspicious anyway.’
Chapter Thirty-Five
Lizzie knew something was wrong the minute Danny drove up to the shop. The blinds were all down. She’d left them up, with the notice on the door clearly stating they were closed for the Saturday. She’d given Ethel the key to get in, which she must have used, as the blinds were down. But why were they?
‘Danny, something’s wrong.’
Danny brought the car to a halt. ‘Why’s that?’
‘I was in a rush this morning and left the blinds up.’
‘Ethel must have pulled them.’
‘Yes, but why?’ They sat in silence as Danny switched off the engine. He’d put the hood over them as the evening was closing in. The wedding car smelled of polish and oil. Some of the confetti had stuck to the dashboard. Lizzie looked at the shop again. At this time on a Saturday she and Bert would be just beginning to bring in the boxes from outside.
‘Well, we can’t sit here all night.’ Danny pushed open his door.
Lizzie did the same. As she stood on the pavement, there were a few people around, a cyclist or two and some noisy kids screaming along the street. The afternoon din had subsided. The sound of the river tugs’ hooters drifted over the roofs of the houses.
Lizzie followed Danny up to the shop door. He tried the handle. ‘It’s locked.’
‘Ethel must have done that in case any customers tried to get in. Here, I’ve got a spare key in my bag.’
Danny tried again. ‘No joy.’
‘Perhaps Ethel’s left the key in the lock.’
‘Or the bolt has been pulled.’ Danny banged on the door. ‘Ethel, Cal, are you there?’
There was no response and Lizzie’s stomach churned over.
This time Danny used his fists. Lizzie looked round to see if anyone had heard the racket. But the street was now deserted.
Just as Danny was about to bang the door again, the blind moved. Lizzie saw Cal’s dark face and heard the bolt slide back.
‘What’s up?’ Danny asked as they stepped in and Cal closed the door quickly.
The shop was in semi-darkness.
‘We’ve got trouble. Big trouble.’
‘Where’s Ethel?’ Lizzie’s eyes fell on the glass cabinet. Or what remained of it. ‘Oh no!’ She put her hand to her mouth as she saw the glass, cakes, toffee apples and vegetables littering the floor. It reminded of her of that fateful day the year before when the bomb had gone off.
‘Sorry about the mess, Lizzie,’ Cal said gruffly.
‘Cal, what’s wrong with your arm?’ Danny said in a startled voice, pointing to the rag. A red stain was showing through.
‘I was lucky. It’s just a scratch.’
‘Did Frank do it?’ Danny demanded.
‘No, mate, no. Look, we can’t talk here. Ethel’s waiting upstairs. She’s been hoping you’d come over.’
Lizzie didn’t ask any more questions. She wanted to see Ethel. They all hurried upstairs, past Frank’s room where the door was shut.
‘Ethel? Oh Gawd, are you all right?’ Lizzie stopped when she saw Ethel sitting bolt upright on the couch, visibly shaking. Her face was white as a sheet. Her make-up had vanished and her hair had fallen messily around her shoulders.
Ethel burst into tears. ‘Oh Lizzie!’
Lizzie hurried to sit beside her. She took Ethel’s cold hands and rubbed them. ‘I . . . I’m so glad you’re here,’ Ethel spluttered.
‘Here, use my hanky.’
‘Thanks.’
‘I said to Cal you’d look for me when I didn’t get back. I was just worried Mum would want to come with you.’
‘No, she’s busy with the food. We slipped out on the quiet.’
‘Thank God you did,’ Ethel sobbed, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. She pushed her hair from her wet face. ‘It was awful. I can’t believe what happened.’
‘What did happen?’ Danny turned to Cal.
‘Let’s all sit down,’ Cal said, touching Ethel’s shoulder gently. ‘Take it easy, Ethel. Everything’s gonna be all right now.’
She nodded, looking up at him. Lizzie had never seen her friend so upset before.
‘This’ll take a bit of explaining,’ Cal said as he and Danny sat on the wooden dining chairs.
‘Take your time,’ Danny said as he looked in concern at his friend. ‘But first, should I get you a doctor?’
‘No, as I said it’s just a surface wound.’ Cal frowned at Lizzie. ‘Someone came in the shop. Me and Ethel – well, we were in the storeroom. We heard this noise and I went to see what it was. I saw this big sod pinching from the till.’
‘Stealing from my till?’ Lizzie repeated on a gasp.
‘They had a fight,’ Ethel interrupted breathlessly. ‘And that’s when your cabinet got broken.’
‘Don’t worry about that.’
‘Then suddenly he was pointing a gun.’
‘What!’ Lizzie exclaimed. ‘A gun? Was it the same man as before?’
‘Could be. But as I wasn’t here that day, I ain’t sure.
‘Lizzie, I never understood how it really felt when you told me about those men,’ Ethel continued, ‘the ones who came in your shop to threaten you. Not until today. I thought we was going to die.’ A tear rolled down her cheek. ‘But Cal pulled me behind him and I heard the gun go off. I’m ashamed to say I passed out.’
‘The bullet only grazed the skin of my arm,’ Cal said, glancing at Ethel. ‘But when I heard the next shot, I thought, I wo
n’t be so lucky this time. Then, to my surprise I realized I wasn’t looking down the barrel of the gun. Instead I was still in one piece and our visitor was stretched out on the floor.’
Ethel nodded, sniffing away her tears. ‘When I came round there was the man on the floor just a few feet away. His eyes were wide open. He was dead. There was blood all over the boards and bits of – she put her hands up to her face – ‘his chest.’
‘He was dead?’ Lizzie asked and Cal nodded.
‘As a doornail.’
‘But who shot him?’ Danny asked.
There was silence then Ethel and Cal said together, ‘Frank.’
‘Frank?’ Lizzie repeated. ‘But how could he?’
‘Somehow he got himself down the stairs,’ Cal explained. ‘When I turned to look where the noise was coming from, there was Frank, holding a shooter as old as the hills.’
‘My brother had a gun?’ Danny asked in a shocked whisper.
Cal nodded uneasily. ‘It was your dad’s old service revolver.’
‘How did he get hold of that?’
‘He said Bill gave it to him. Just in case he met with any trouble.’
‘I can’t believe Dad would do such a daft thing.’ Danny shook his head in disbelief.
‘Frank heard me scream and managed to drag himself along the landing and down the stairs. He saved us,’ Ethel declared. ‘He really did.’
‘So where did Frank keep this gun?’ Lizzie demanded as her relief that Ethel and Cal had not been injured soon turned to anger. ‘He knows I wouldn’t entertain the idea of having one here.’
‘Dunno. But he didn’t even know it worked,’ Ethel replied. ‘He said he was just going to scare them off.’
‘Instead he killed someone,’ Danny said in a bitter voice.
‘Like Ethel said, it was him or us,’ Cal said with a shrug.
‘So where is he, the dead man?’ Lizzie asked.
‘In the storeroom. I hid him and his gun under the crates and cleared up the mess in the shop.’
At this Ethel gave another choked sob. ‘I – I left Cal to do it all. I – I couldn’t bring meself to help.’
Cal lifted his shoulders again. ‘I had to get him out of the way, before someone saw. I lowered the blinds after.’
