* * *
Maggie had just paid the hovering waiter and was wondering if the shilling she had left for a tip was enough. Shrugging her shoulders she was about to rise and go in search of Liz when the sounds of screams and the metallic ring of horses’ hooves filled the crowded shop. Everyone seemed frozen for a split second, then chairs were pushed back as people rushed to the window to see what had happened. Only Maggie remained where she was. Her mouth had turned dry and she could feel her heart hammering against her ribs. Don’t be stupid, she told herself calmly. Any minute now, Liz is going to walk through that door all agog and busting with information about the accident that had just happened.
‘Oh, my God, there’s a girl lying on the pavement, look at the blood. Somebody run for a doctor, she may be dying,’ a stout, aristocratic lady was shouting to nobody in particular, while Maggie stood rigid, afraid to move, afraid to go out into the street for fear of what she might see. Oh, Liz, where are you? Hurry up, please. I don’t care about you leaving me here on my own, even if I did feel angry at first. Just walk through that door, please.
‘Are you all right, Madam? Can I be of any assistance?’ the waiter stood by the table, his faced filled with concern.
Forcing a trembling smile to her stiff lips, she answered evenly, ‘No, thank you, I’m fine. It’s just my sister, you know the girl I was with. She hasn’t come back yet, and I’m a bit worried. I’m sure she’ll turn up any minute now.’
As the man made to leave her self-control broke, and grabbing his arm she said shakily, ‘Look, I know you’ll think I’m being silly, but would… would you go outside and see… see if…’
Patting her arm reassuringly the man said kindly, ‘Of course, Madam. Now you wait there. I’m sure as you say your sister will be returning any minute.’
She didn’t know how long she waited, and then he was back by her side. Fearfully she glanced up then felt her body jerk painfully at the look of compassion on his lined face. He stood awkwardly, not knowing how to break the news to this pretty young woman who only a short time ago had sat laughing with the other young girl who now lay in a broken heap on the cold ground.
‘Oh, no, no, no. Liz’, she whispered. Then as the truth hit her, her voice rose hysterically. ‘Liz, Lizzie,’ and then she was pushing her way through the crowd of curious onlookers, knocking aside two elderly women in her haste to get outside. On the other side of the road, a group of people were gathered, while a lone policeman tried to keep some order. Her footsteps faltering, she staggered into the road and joined the milling crowd. Through the legs of the men grouped at the edge of the pavement she saw the blue coat, the sight of which drove her into a frenzy. With a strength she didn’t know she possessed, she cut a path through the crowd, not caring who she hurt in the process. And there she was, her Liz, lying as still as death, the front of her coat covered in blood, her eyes gazing sightlessly into space.
Dropping to her knees she gently lifted the blonde head and placed it in her lap, murmuring, ‘It’s all right, love, I’m here. You’ll be all right now.’
The policeman moved forward, his face grave. ‘Do you know this woman, miss?’ he enquired, then cursed himself for asking such a stupid question. Still, it was his job and questions had to be asked. But Maggie was oblivious to all around her, as she continued talking to Liz, her hand tenderly stroking the ashen face.
‘Do you remember when you had pneumonia, Liz? We all thought you were going to die then, remember. But I got you through it, didn’t I? So it doesn’t make sense that you should die now, not after all my hard work.’
‘Miss, I’m sorry, but I have to ask you your relationship to this woman.’ The policeman was kneeling by her side wondering where the hell the ambulance van was. Maggie looked up at him, her eyes glazed over, her mind refusing to believe what had happened.
‘Of course I know her, she’s my sister. Could you help me to get her home, please. I can look after her once I get her home.’
The policeman dropped his head. He’d seen it so many times, people refusing to accept that their loved ones were dead, retreating into a shell-like state until reality hit them.
Gnawing on his bottom lip he took a deep breath before saying as gently as he could, ‘I’m sorry, miss, your sister’s dead. There’s nothing you can do for her any more. I’ve sent for an ambulance, it should be here soon. Is there anyone I can send for? Your mother perhaps, or a neighbour? What about your brother-in-law? He’ll have to be informed.’
The words echoed round Maggie’s head then seemed to bounce off again. It was all right, she told herself. Don’t listen to him and it’ll be all right. But she could do with some help. Not Jimmy, she didn’t want him here, and Mrs Casey had moved to somewhere down south over a year ago. Well, she’d have to manage on her own, and there was always Mrs Simms, she’d help.
She didn’t hear the ambulance arriving, it was only when two men dressed in short white coats tried to prise Liz from her grasp that she was galvanised into action.
Tightening her hold on the warm body she said gratefully, ‘Thank goodness you’re here. She’ll be all right, but maybe it’s best if you take her to the hospital. She’s going to have a baby and…’
The elder of the two men took hold of Liz’s upper body, while the other man held her feet.
‘Careful!’ Maggie cried out. ‘I told you she’s expecting…’
The younger man was tired. He’d been on duty for over 16 hours and the long work load had taken its toll.
Taking a firmer hold on the woman’s feet he said brusquely, ‘She ain’t gonna feel anything, she’s dead. If you wanna come with us to the hospital, you’d better get a move on, we ain’t got all day.’
The policeman started forward, his face a mask of anger at the cruelty of the man’s words. But before he could reprimand him, another man had moved forward from the crowd, a bundle of parcels held carefully under his arm.
Going straight to Maggie’s side he said kindly, ‘You left these in the restaurant, Madam.’ The stunned look on the girl’s face was too much for him, and with a muttered, ‘I’m so sorry,’ he walked unsteadily away from her anguished gaze. Still in a daze Maggie stared down at the parcels she and Liz had spent the morning buying. Then out of the corner of her eye she spotted the gaily wrapped parcel lying at her feet. Bending down she picked it up. So this was what Liz had gone in such a hurry for. The wrapping had split open revealing the fawn cashmere shawl. On the top lay a small card. Her eyes blurred with tears as she tried to make out the writing. Blinking furiously she held it nearer to her face and read the gold lettering. It said simply, ‘For Maggie, something new, Love Liz’.
‘Are you coming, or not?’ the ambulance attendant shouted. Startled, Maggie dropped the card. Stooping to pick it up she noticed for the first time the blood on her hands. Something seemed to burst inside her head, and then she was screaming, her wild anguished cries searing the minds of the people standing watching the spectacle. One by one they began to disperse, unable to witness the girl’s agony, but even when they’d left the street the screams seemed to follow them. They quickened their steps, eager to get away from the pain and anguish that might one day be theirs.
* * *
The last of the mourners had gone, leaving Maggie and Charlie alone. Ethel Simms had been the last to leave. Her eyes red from crying, she had begged Maggie to keep in touch, then, with Jimmy holding her arm, she had gone. That had been over three hours ago and Jimmy had yet to return. Maggie hoped he would spend the night with his mother, she didn’t want any company tonight, certainly not his. Their bags were packed, and they would be leaving first thing in the morning. They would have to stay in lodgings for the time being until she found somewhere permanent for her and Charlie. The sound of weeping brought her eyes round to where Charlie sat hunched over by the dying fire, his thin shoulders shaking with sobs. She envied him his tears, for she had been unable to show any emotion since the day after the accident.
Touchin
g him gently on the shoulder she whispered, ‘Best get to bed, love. We’ve a long day tomorrow and I want to make an early start.’
Getting to his feet Charlie walked over to the bed. Sitting down on the worn mattress he looked up at Maggie and his voice breaking, he asked, ‘Why don’t people ever know they loved someone ’til it’s too late?’ Maggie could only shake her head in pity.
‘I don’t know, love. But don’t torment yourself, Liz knew you loved her, you don’t always have to say it, sometimes people just know.’
‘But I should have told her and now I’ll never have the chance.’
‘Go to sleep, Charlie,’ Maggie said wearily. ‘There’s nothing you can do about it now.’
Maggie knew that she should try and comfort him, but the effort was too much. Leaving Charlie sitting on the mattress, she sat down by the fire, trying to get some warmth from the dying embers. Her head dropped onto her chest, the trauma of the last few days catching up on her as she slipped into a fitful sleep. She was awoken by a hand on her shoulder, and jumped nervously, then relaxed slightly when she saw who it was.
‘God, you gave me a fright, Jimmy. I thought we had burglars. I didn’t expect you back tonight, I thought you’d stay with your Mum – she was very upset.’
As she went to rise, Jimmy pushed her back into the chair, and it was with alarm she realised he’d been drinking, heavily too by the look of him.
Careful to keep her voice steady she said, ‘I was just going to make some cocoa, would you like some?’ She shrank back in fear as he leaned over her, his beer fumed breath fanning her face.
‘It isn’t cocoa I want, Maggie. It’s comforting I need, and plenty of it.’
‘Now come on, Jimmy, you’re drunk, why don’t you go to bed?’ she said, the break in her voice betraying her growing fear.
‘That’s a good idea, Maggie, a very good idea. We’ll go to bed and comfort each other. You know how to comfort a man, don’t you, Maggie? Course I can’t afford no three guineas, let alone £20, but seeing as I’m family you can do it for free.’
Maggie felt her mouth drop in surprise. He couldn’t know about that, not unless… Oh Liz, how could you, how could you tell him?
Yet even knowing the horrible truth she had to ask, ‘How did you find out? Nobody knew except me and Liz, and she wouldn’t tell you.’
Letting out a loud laugh he threw his head back gleefully, ‘’’Course she told me. Wives don’t ’ave no secrets from their ’usbands. Now don’t give me no trouble, I’ve waited a long time fer this, and we don’t want to wake Charlie up, do we?’
Jimmy leaned closer to her, his lips curved into a leer, a leer that changed to one of pain and surprise as Maggie’s knee jerked up catching him squarely in the groin. With a howl of rage he grabbed her from the chair throwing her roughly to the floor. The fall knocked the wind from her body for a few seconds, and then she was fighting him. Fighting him with every ounce of her strength. Not again, she vowed, I’ve been raped once, never again, if I have to die to prevent it. Despite her efforts she was no match for the burly man, and once again she felt her skirts being lifted over her head and a hand pulling at her underclothes. His thick wet lips were clamped to hers making it impossible for her to shout out. She felt tears of rage and despair spurt from her eyes as his other hand fastened on her exposed breast.
Shutting her eyes tight she waited for the inevitable to happen. At the crucial moment the body lying on hers went limp. At first she thought he had passed out from the drink, then looking over her shoulder she saw Charlie’s frightened face in the glow of the table lamp and the poker he held in his shaking hand.
Her mind suddenly clear Maggie said sharply, ‘Don’t just stand there, help me get him off,’
The poker fell from Charlie’s hand as he rushed to help his sister. The task wasn’t easy; Jimmy was a big man, and being unconscious made him a dead weight. After much pushing and pulling they finally managed to get him onto his back.
‘Is he dead, Maggie?’ Charlie whispered fearfully. Maggie stared down at the supine figure, her eyes filled with loathing.
‘I don’t know, and what’s more I don’t care.’
‘But, Maggie, if he’s dead, I’ll have to go to prison – they might even hang me!’ Charlie’s voice rose as he considered the consequences of what he had done.
Chewing her bottom lip, Maggie reflected on Charlie’s words. What if he had killed him? Even given the circumstances, the courts would take a dim view of murder no matter what the provocation. Steeling herself for the worst she bent over and placed a shaking hand on the wide chest, then heaved a sigh of relief when she felt the strong beating of his heart beneath her hand.
‘It’s all right, he isn’t dead,’ she told the frightened boy. Wiping the hand she’d touched Jimmy with down the side of her skirt she thought for a moment. He was all right now, but what if they left him unattended and he died as a result. Some one would have to see to him; but who?
Whirling round she grabbed Charlie by the arm and said urgently, ‘Quick, go and fetch Mrs Simms. She can sit with him until he comes round, just in case. As soon as she gets here, we’re off.’
‘But Maggie,’ Charlie cried bewilderedly, ‘She’s his Mum – what am I going to tell her?’
‘Don’t worry about that, love,’ she answered grimly. ‘Just tell her I need her. I’ll deal with the rest when she gets here. Now hurry, we haven’t much time.’
As soon as the door had banged behind him, Maggie went straight to the scullery and removing the loose brick took her savings from the wall. Next she pulled up the rug and prised up the floorboard where they kept the takings from the stall. Lifting the tin box from its hiding place she opened it, her face falling at the sight of the empty box.
Damn it, she should have known he’d take the money the first opportunity he had. Sitting back on her heels she wondered if she had the courage to go through his trouser pockets, he couldn’t have spent it all, not in such a short space of time. She didn’t need the money, but she’d be damned if he was going to keep it. Taking a deep breath and praying he wouldn’t come round yet, she gingerly felt in his pockets. Nothing. Her heart sinking, she was about to give up when out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of his jacket hanging over the arm of the chair. Getting to her feet, she felt around in the inside pocket, her mouth curving into a smile of triumph as her hand closed round a wad of notes. Hearing the arrival of Charlie and Mrs Simms, she hastily put the money with her own, stuffing it down the front of her blouse.
‘What’s up, Maggie? What’s happened now?’ Ethel Simms was the first to enter the room, her chest heaving with exertion, her face filled with worry. Then she stopped in her tracks as her eyes focused on the still figure on the floor.
‘My God, Maggie, what happened to ’im. Is ’e drunk? Charlie said it was urgent, I thought for a minute…’
There was no easy way to say what she had to say. As much as she didn’t want to hurt this kindly woman who had been her friend for many years, the words had to be spoken.
‘He tried to rape me, and Charlie knocked him out with a poker,’ she answered as evenly as she could, then averted her eyes as she saw the look of pain and sorrow contort the woman’s face. Sinking heavily into the armchair she looked first to Maggie and then to the still figure of her son, all the while shaking her head.
‘I’m sorry, Mrs Simms. I would have given anything not to let you know, but me and Charlie are leaving. We’re not going to wait until the morning, not now, and I didn’t want to leave him on his own, just in case. You were the only one I could think of to stay with him.’
‘You get orf, Maggie, love,’ the grief-stricken women said, her breath coming in short, painful gasps. ‘I’ll see ter ’im. Oh, don’t yer worry abaht that. I’ll see ter ’im all right.’
The bags were by the door and Maggie and Charlie were dressed in their outdoor coats. Telling Charlie to take the bags outside Maggie walked slowly back to where her friend was
sitting.
Putting her arms around the fat neck she whispered brokenly, ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Simms. I wouldn’t have seen you hurt for the world. You’ve been so good to us, I don’t know how we would have managed without you at times.’
Patting the trembling arms, the bemused woman said abstractedly, ‘Don’t yer worry abaht me, love, nor ’im. ’E won’t bovver yer again. I can promise yer that. But where yer going ter sleep tonight. It’s gorn eleven, yer’ll ’ave a ’ard time finding somewhere decent round ’ere. Look, ’ere’s me key. I know me place ain’t much, but it’ll do for the night. At least yer’ll both be safe there until mornin’.’
Maggie hesitated, she wanted to get as far away from Jimmy Simms as possible, but what her friend said made sense. She’d be hard put to find anywhere else at this time of night.
Taking the key she kissed the wrinkled cheek, ‘Thanks, Mrs Simms, I’m grateful. We both are.’
Standing by the door, Maggie took one last look around her old home, then with a determined look on her face she left the room for the last time.
Left alone with her son, Ethel Simms put her hands over her face and cried. He’d been such a lovely boy, always helping out whenever he could, skipping off school to do odd jobs and then proudly handing over his meagre earnings to her. He’d been good with his brothers and sisters too. Playing with them for hours, and looking after them when she had a job to go to. How could such a lovely, good-natured child have turned into the brute of a man that now lay flat-out, stinking of beer on the floor. And when she thought of those two lovely girls… Oh dear lord, how could he? It had been bad enough that he had let his wife support him, but to try and rape his own sister-in-law when his wife was barely cold! What sort of a monster had she bred?
‘Ooh, Christ, me ’ead.’ Jimmy had come round, his moans filling the
room as he tried to sit up, his head held in his hands.
‘Where’s that little bleeder, I’ll do fer ’im…’ He stopped suddenly. Shaking his head he looked to where the large bulk of his mother sat staring at him from the armchair.
A Handful of Sovereigns Page 19
