Lizzie Flowers and the Family Firm: The long-awaited third book in the gritty Lizzie Flowers East End saga series.

by Carol Rivers

  'Do you keep a man on watch outside?'

  'Yes, but how are they to know when Vella's about? It could be anyone coming in the pub to drink. If they're dressed ordinary, like a docker, my man would let 'em in. What's he to do? As for credentials? No, we don't stand a chance if a geezer has a pint, sizes up the pub, then goes out and gives the nod to someone.'

  'How many came today?' Lizzie enquired.

  'A couple of women with blokes at first. They drank quiet like, at the tables. Didn't even try for the snug.' Frank raised his hand to his injured eye. 'Before we knew what was happening the cows went out, then brought in more blokes. Could've been a dozen or more. All our usual punters vanished. Anyway, me, Fowler and Elmo was soon in the thick of it. They was all over us and I found meself on the floor looking up into the ugliest mug I'd ever seen. He was as big as Bert, with arms the size of houses.'

  'All right, Frank, I get the idea. Where were Murphy's men?'

  'Down in the cellar helping the brewery's navvies to unload. I managed to get away and went down the back to tell them. I'll give them their due. They were up in the bar in a blink and sorted out Vella's lot. But the draymen did a bunk, leaving us short on ale. A right mess it was by the time we got rid of the troublemakers. The cellar drop-doors were broke open and someone emptied our barrels. We was swimming in muck. We'll have to send Whippet over the brewery for replacements. What a bloody waste of good booze!'

  'It must be Vella,' Lizzie said thoughtfully.

  'If it was, we didn't see him.'

  'Who else would do this?'

  'Only him,' agreed Frank. 'But he's too much of a bloody coward to face me.'

  'I doubt that,' reasoned Lizzie. 'Murphy said he would come. And I believe he has. He's sending his men first to put the wind up us.'

  'He did that an' all.' Frank swiped a trickle of blood from his cheek.

  'Let's have new locks and chains fitted,' Lizzie decided. 'If he tries the cellar again, he'll be disappointed. We can't leave the front door unoccupied again, not even for a minute. It's the only way the women can get in.'

  'Do we turn them out? I mean what if a regular arrives with his wife, say?'

  'Then you'd recognize them, wouldn't you?'

  Frank nodded doubtfully. 'Could do.'

  'Let them in if you're sure they're legit.'

  Frank nodded. 'We'll have to take shifts.'

  'If that's what's needed, then yes.'

  Lizzie paused in the bar, where Lenny was cleaning the spilled ale from the floors. A gleaming mirror hung behind him and fortunately had not been damaged.

  'The usual punters have cleared off,' Frank said following her gaze. 'But don't worry, their thirst will drive them in soon.'

  Despite his assurance, Lizzie felt uneasy. Once more, Salvo Vella had left his calling card for all to witness.

  Chapter 33

  It was the Monday before Easter when Lizzie saw a navy blue uniformed man outside the shop window.

  'Rozzers!' Bert exclaimed and bolted to the storeroom where Maurice and Ron were working. 'Scram,' he yelled. 'The law's on the prowl.'

  'Mrs Elizabeth Flowers?' The policeman was addressing her as he made his entrance.

  'That's me.'

  'You are the owner of the Ripon Street bakery?'

  'Yes. Why?'

  'There's been a fire.'

  'What do you mean a fire?' Lizzie repeated. 'Where?'

  'At your premises at Ripon Road.' The bobby adjusted the strap under his helmet. 'My gaffer told me to inform you. Started early this morning by all accounts.'

  'But how did it start? Has it been put out? Are my staff safe?' Lizzie wanted to know.

  'You'd better get over there if you want to find out. Sorry missus, but I'm on my bike, so I'd better be off.'

  The policeman left as Bert walked from the storeroom. 'What was that all about?'

  'He said there's been a fire at the bakery. But he didn't know more. Just said I'd better get over there.'

  'It's probably nothing. Them bluebottles are always up for a bit of drama. Someone's just burned a few pies.'

  But Lizzie knew that couldn't be so. The law wouldn't have bothered to alert her if it was not serious.

  A few minutes later they were seated in the Wolseley and Bert had his hand on the horn. The traffic seemed thicker than ever, with hold-ups and detours along the dock road. Lizzie knew she must stay calm and prayed that Jenny, Madge and Elsie were safe. She didn't care how many pies were burned, or cakes ruined. Or even if they'd had to extinguish a fire in the kitchen and left a mess. She just wanted her staff to be there safe and sound when they arrived.

  When the Wolseley was parked at the end of Ripon Street, Lizzie's heart sank. Grey funnels of smoke twisted into the air and spread over the houses. There were snaps and crackles from burning timber. The fire engine and its crew were working frantically with their hoses. A crowd had gathered but there was no sign of Jenny, Madge or Elsie.

  'What happened?' Lizzie called out as she hurried towards one of the firemen. 'Where are my staff?' She wanted to go closer, but it was too hot.

  'Stay back! The fire is still burning,' he warned. 'If you want any information, see the constable over there.'

  Bert led her towards the policeman. 'What's going on?' He demanded.

  'Are you the owners?' Coughing, the constable took out his notebook.

  'I'm Mrs Flowers. What happened to my bakery? How did the fire start?'

  'Dunno. I only just got here myself.'

  'I'm worried about my staff.' She looked around. 'Have you seen them?'

  'How many worked here?'

  'Three,' Lizzie said hoping he would say they had all been rescued and taken somewhere close by.

  Instead he shook his head. 'The house to the right was empty, and the shop on the other side closed up. Only one was brought out from the bakery.'

  'One?' Lizzie cried in distress. 'Who?'

  'Don't know,' the policeman shrugged again. 'The ambulance took her off.'

  'You don't know much then, do you?' Bert said, beginning to lose his temper as the smoke grew thicker around them.

  'Listen, son,' the copper snarled, 'don't take that tone with me. I'm doing me best.' He coughed again.

  'I'm sorry but this is a shock,' Lizzie intervened. 'Which hospital was the person taken to?'

  'Poplar,' he croaked.

  'We'll go to the hospital if there's nothing we can do here,' Lizzie decided.

  'I need to take a statement,' objected the law. 'If this is your gaff, I've a long list of questions to ask.'

  'They'll have to wait.' Bert pointed a finger in the copper's face. 'We ain't hanging around here if you can't tell us nothing.' Bert propelled Lizzie through the smoke and back to the car.

  'Oh, Bert, who is in hospital and what's happened to the others?' Lizzie gasped as they climbed inside. 'And how did the fire start?'

  'Gawd knows,' Bert muttered as he drove them out of Ripon Street. 'Fat lot of good the copper was. Couldn't even say who went in the ambulance!'

  Lizzie wiped her eyes. The smoke had made them smart. She knew Bert was thinking of Jenny. But there was Madge - dear Madge to consider - and little Elsie who was no more than a child. Where were they if they hadn't been rescued?

  Surely they couldn't be caught in that inferno?

  Chapter 34

  Lizzie walked with Bert along the hospital corridor, thinking of the plans that she and Jenny had been making only last week. They had set aside a day to visit the women's hostel and offer a job to any soul in need. She and Jenny wanted to help those who, like Jenny and Madge, had had a hard deal in life. Jenny knew only too well what it was like to be battered and abused. She had escaped death by a whisker and found her calling at the bakery. She wanted to help others, as Lizzie did. But their dreams now lay in ruins. The shop was a burning wreck, but it was Jenny, Madge and Elsie who mattered.

  Lizzie told the casualty nurse who they were and asked which one of her staff had been rescue
d.

  'Her name is Jenny Maguire.'

  'Thank God,' Bert breathed, unable to contain himself. 'Is she alright?'

  'No, I'm afraid not.'

  'What's wrong?' Bert boomed.

  'A number of things. She is in no state to be visited.'

  'Can we see her for just a few minutes,' Lizzie begged. 'We are the only family Jenny has.'

  The nurse finally gave in. 'Just a short while, then.'

  They were shown to a side room and Lizzie tried to hide her shock. Jenny's head and hands were swathed in bandages. A cage was propped over her legs.

  'Jen?' Bert whispered as they stood beside the bed. 'It's us. Bert and Lizzie.'

  'Please don't touch her,' the nurse warned as he went to take her hand. 'Her skin is very sensitive. Remember, just a few minutes.'

  Lizzie forced back her tears. 'Oh, Jenny, my dear. I am so sorry.'

  'What happened to me?' Jenny whispered so softly they could hardly hear her.

  'Can't you remember?'

  'No. Only the smoke and I started choking.'

  Lizzie wanted to ask about Madge and Elsie but she knew this was not the time. Jenny's face was red and blotched. Her eyes were red, peering out of their sockets as if through a haze. She began to cough.

  'I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave,' the nurse said, gently propping the pillows behind Jenny. 'Wait in the corridor and I'll speak to you.'

  Lizzie and Bert left the ward. They waited silently together until the nurse joined them.

  'Smoke inhalation has affected her lungs,' she explained. 'And for a while her burns will be very uncomfortable.'

  'Will they heal up?' Lizzie asked anxiously.

  'It's early days yet. We'll do all we can for her.'

  'We'll come tomorrow,' Lizzie said quietly.

  'Just one of you, please.' The nurse walked quickly away.

  Lizzie looked up at her big, brawny brother with whom she had shared so many misfortunes. She had seen him weep only once before, at their mother's grave.

  Now he stood and hung his head as his tears fell.

  Chapter 35

  They left the hospital with heavy hearts as Bert drove them back to Ripon Street. They found the fire was now under control but once again there was no sign of Madge and Elsie.

  'Has anyone turned up?' Lizzie asked the same policeman who was mopping the soot from his forehead. He had moved down the street to avoid the firemen and their long hoses.

  'No, I'm sorry to say no one has been found. Did you find the person who was taken to hospital?'

  'It's Jenny Maguire,' Lizzie explained. 'My manageress.'

  'Is she expected to live?'

  'I bloody hope so!' Bert interrupted.

  'She is very weak,' Lizzie said, trying to keep the peace. 'She only remembers the smoke.'

  'So, she don't know where the other two are?' the constable asked, keeping his distance from Bert.

  Lizzie shook her head.

  The policeman licked the tip of his pencil. 'Names and addresses of the missing and their relatives please.'

  'Madge Hobson, my cook, lives here - did live here - at the bakery,' Lizzie said sadly. 'She has a son called Ted but I don't know where he lives. Elsie Booth, our kitchen help, might know. She looks after her sick husband over at Lavender Court in Bow.'

  The copper took a long time writing his notes. Bert paraded around the blackened building, pestering the firemen and looking very annoyed.

  'You'll be notified of any developments,' the policeman said when Lizzie hd answered all his questions. Then he quickly stuck his notebook in his pocket and cycled away. She knew Bert must sound very intimidating as he tried to get information from the firemen.

  'What are the uniforms gonna do about Madge and Elsie, then?' Bert grumbled when he returned. 'Other than wasting time writing a lot of nonsense.'

  'He was only doing his duty, Bert. What did the firemen say?'

  'He asked what sort of insurance there was on the property. I said we're with the Prudential.'

  Lizzie stared at what was left of the bakery. 'Insurance? All I can think of is poor Jenny, Madge and Elsie.' Lizzie wiped a tear from her eye.

  Bert put his arm around her. 'Madge and Elsie might have got taken in somewhere round here.'

  'Perhaps,' Lizzie said doubtfully.

  'Come on, chin up.' Bert waved his hand to clear the smoke still in the air.

  'What if it was Vella that started the fire?' Lizzie said suddenly.

  'Don't think he would know you owned it,' Bert said but his face went white all the same. 'Tell you what, let's knock on some doors. Ask a few questions.'

  Lizzie nodded. At least it was an action to take. But after an exhausting hour going round the houses, they drew a blank. 'No one's talking,' said Bert wearily. 'They're only worried about the dirty marks on their curtains.'

  Lizzie stared at the unrecognisable building that only yesterday had been her prosperous bakery.

  'Come on, we're going home,' Bert said dismally. 'Nothing more we can do.'

  They made their way back to the car as the black smoke continued to curl over the street. When they arrived home, Maurice and Ron were busy serving. But Polly was upstairs, sitting in the front room.

  'I missed you, Auntie Lizzie.' Polly threw herself into Lizzie's arms.

  'Why are you sitting alone up here?'

  'I didn't want to talk to Maurice and Ron.'

  'Why not?'

  'I wanted to be by meself.' Polly was rarely unhappy when she came home from school, but Lizzie could see the tears were close. 'I had a horrible day.'

  'Did you get in a fight?' Lizzie asked as she sat beside Polly.

  'It was worse than that.'Polly sniffed.

  'You'd better tell me, monkey.'

  'Bad things sometimes happen to kids, they get taken away,' Polly whispered as though she didn't want to be overheard.

  'Oh, Pol, who told you that? One of the children?'

  Polly looked away. 'A man and a lady came to the school. He grabbed my arm through the railings. It hurt. Mrs Price had to shoo them away.'

  'Who were these people?' Lizzie asked in alarm.

  Polly's cheeks went red. 'I saw them before, at Christmas. They was in our street when I went out to play with my friends. This boy said they was from the Sally Army cos of the funny clothes they wore. They had masks on their faces like the buskers outside the Queen's.' Polly wiped a tear from her cheek. 'They were giving the kids sweets and told us they were from Jesus. I never told you because I thought you'd be cross.'

  'But Polly, how did they come to find you at school?'

  'I told them I went to Ebondale Street. They said I should say hello if they passed by.' Polly suddenly burst into tears.

  Lizzie drew her close. 'Now, now, Pol, you've had a nasty shock.'

  'He hurt my arm.'

  A cold shiver went through Lizzie. 'These people weren't from the Salvation Army.'

  'I know. I'll never talk to them again.'

  'Don't trust strangers, monkey. Even if they offer you sweets. You must tell Mrs Price straight away if you see them again. And you must tell me too. I'll never be cross.'

  Polly nodded. 'Will the cops catch them?'

  Lizzie kissed the top of Polly's head. 'I'm sure they will.'

  Lizzie was relieved that Polly was unharmed. But she was very afraid. Her thoughts were in a whirl. Could this man Polly had described be Salvo Vella?

  Tomorrow she would have a heart-to-heart with Mrs Price.

  Chapter 36

  'Sit down, breakfast's ready,' Lizzie told Bert the next morning when he appeared, all bleary-eyed.

  'After yesterday's goings-on,' he grumbled as he slumped at the table, 'I've got no appetite.'

  However, Lizzie cooked him two eggs, sunny-side up with rashers of well-done bacon. All of which he devoured in minutes.

  'Now your stomach's full,' she said joining him, 'Polly told me last night that some strangers turned up at school. They spoke to the c
hildren through the railings. I believe it was Salvo Vella and one of his women.'

  Her brother's head came up with a start. 'You what?'

  'He grabbed her arm through the railings and told her bad things could happen to children.'

  'Turn it up, Lizzie, are you kidding?' Bert roared, dropping his knife and fork with a clatter.

  Lizzie told him all that she had learned from Polly.

  Bert looked furious. 'I'm putting a stop to his nonsense once and for all.' He crunched his big knuckles together. 'I'll go down the school and wait for him. He'll wish he never set foot near the place!'

  But Lizzie shook her head calmly. 'He won't go there again. Why would he? Mrs Price saw him and sent him off. He just wanted to frighten Polly enough so she would tell me.'

  'You mean …? ' Bert hesitated as the truth dawned on him. 'He planned this deliberate like?'

  'He wants the Mill Wall.'

  'I'd like to know where he is!' Bert fumed. 'The East End is full of crooks now! How are we expected to fight them? We're costermongers, not thugs or criminals. We don't tote shooters around like the Murphy crew does. Why can't we be left in peace?'

  'I walked into a trap when I bought the lease from the brewery.'

  'They sold us a pup!' Bert agreed 'So, what do we do now? This bloke is no nutter. He's one step ahead of us every time.'

  'He's not the first ruffian we've fought,' Lizzie said resolutely. 'We've been though bad times and survived.' She looked at her downcast brother; he had a dark growth of beard and was wearing an old shirt with a threadbare collar. She knew he was heartbroken over Jenny and wanted to vent his anger.

  'Go and shave, Bert. Better smarten yourself up before you visit Jenny.'

  'Someone has to pay for what's been done to her.'

  'I know how you feel. But Jenny needs you to comfort her now.'

  Her brother stood up and lumbered to the door. His huge form dwarfed the kitchen.

  'Tell her that when she's well enough, we'll bring her home.'