Litter flapped around her. She saw a woman, followed by two young children, all eating some kind of fast food from a paper tray, actually toss the tray on to the pavement. Mabel was shocked. What an example to give to children – especially when there was a rubbish bin only a few feet away.
What was the world coming to? What was Glasgow coming to? At least if you looked up, you could still see the lovely architecture of the place. Only, her sight was so poor now that she found it difficult to see anything very clearly. She was beginning to have a problem even deciphering the numbers on buses once she returned to the bus station.
Back at The Heights, she struggled into the foyer. She managed to smile at Monty, the concierge, who was sitting as usual with his door open so that he could see everyone coming and going. He liked to keep abreast of all the gossip too.
He did not usually speak to her, knowing no doubt that nothing interesting ever happened to her. Today, however, he was obviously bursting to talk to someone, anyone.
‘Afternoon, Miss Smith,’ he called.
She smiled at him again.
‘Have you heard about Cheryl? You know, the blonde lassie on the thirtieth floor?’
Mabel was confused for a moment. ‘Something’s happened to Cheryl?’
‘No, her boyfriend.’
‘Oh, yes. The fire. What a terrible thing.’
‘A drug dealer as well. What do you bet there’s going to be a gang war starts as a result of that fire?’
‘I do hope not,’ Mabel said nervously. She was thinking of the crowds of youths always hanging about outside The Heights. She’d heard somebody say that they were ‘into drugs’.
‘You mark my words,’ Monty said.
In a few minutes, she was in the lift and then the oppressive darkness of the house enveloped her. The silence now seemed ominous, threatening. She felt more alone and frightened than ever. She double-checked that she’d locked the door. Indeed, each time she passed to go to the bathroom or into the kitchen to make a cup of cocoa or to fill her hot water bottle, she felt compelled to check again. She looked in every room, too. She wished the three bedrooms each had a lock so that she could lock them from the outside. And the kitchen and the living room. She became obsessive about everything.
Before she went to bed, she checked the outside door and every room yet again. Then she checked that she had turned each tap off properly and that she had remembered to switch off all the lights. Then she felt afraid of the darkness in the bedroom. She switched on the bedside lamp but her eyes kept being fearfully drawn towards the bedroom door. She tried to reason with herself. She was being neurotic and ridiculous. She knew it. Who could possibly get into the house? Who would even want to?
24
Cheryl sat beside Tommy’s hospital bed, holding his hand.
‘Monty says there’s going to be a gang war.’
‘Och, what does Monty know? He’s a right old blether.’
‘Still, if there’s drugs involved – and according to all the papers, there is – I wouldn’t be a bit surprised. I’m just worried in case you get involved.’
‘Don’t be daft. All I did was go in to get the key.’
‘But you saved the guy.’
‘Well, so what?’
‘One of his rivals might think it was because you’re one of his lot!’
Cheryl was near to tears. It was distressing enough looking at Tommy’s burned face and bandaged chest, without worrying about what other terrible things might happen to him.
‘Now, why would anyone think that? It’s been in all the papers that I just called for the key of the flat next door. I’d never seen the man before in my life.’
The dressing had been removed from Tommy’s face but his skin still looked red, raw and painful. He seemed his usual cheerful self, though.
‘And don’t worry about losing the flat.’ Tommy squeezed her hand. ‘We’ll get another, better flat. I promise.’
She nodded and made an effort to control her urge to crumple forward and weep.
He grinned at her. ‘The worst that’s happened as far as I’m concerned is that my face is now as red as my hair and I’ve always hated my ginger nut.’
‘I love your hair.’
Tommy rolled his eyes. ‘You are daft. Give us a kiss. But be gentle with me.’
Cheryl couldn’t help smiling. Then, gently, lovingly, she kissed his lips.
‘Your face’ll heal OK. I asked the nurse. So don’t you worry. And you’ll soon be out of here. I’ll keep looking for flats. I’ll go straight after this visiting hour to view the couple I showed you in the paper.’
‘Yes, the one in Anniesland sounds good. Anniesland’s a nice area. On the way to Bearsden as well. One day we might even make enough cash between us to live out in Bearsden.’
Cheryl made a face. ‘A right snobby place, I’ve heard. I don’t fancy it, do you?’
‘Not really. It’s a bit far out. Anniesland would do us fine. Nice red sandstone houses. But the Byres Road one would be great as well.’
‘Both are nice and near the shops.’
‘Let me know what you think as soon as you’ve seen them.’
‘I won’t even wait until tomorrow’s visiting time. I’ll phone in a message.’
‘I’ll keep my fingers crossed.’
She had to tear herself away because the nurse came to remind her that the visiting time was over.
She took the bus from town along Great Western Road and got off to see the Byres Road flat first. Anniesland was a good bit further along Great Western Road. Right away she liked the Byres Road area. She had read something about it, of course. As soon as she’d seen the advert, she’d rushed to buy one of the slim paperbacks about the different areas of Glasgow. So far, she hadn’t seen one about Anniesland and all the little publications were more about the past history of the areas than the present. But the Byres Road booklet had given her some idea of the place. It maybe was not as posh as Bearsden but Cheryl thought it was far more interesting.
Apparently it was when the University of Glasgow moved from the High Street to the West End that Byres Road had become one of the busiest and most popular streets. Like so many places in Glasgow, it was a hilly area. Originally, the houses in the aptly named Hillhead had been built for the city’s wealthy businessmen. Gradually, however, the big houses were split into flats. The nearness of the university and the BBC attracted lots of writers and artists, as well as students.
Cheryl still thought wistfully of how she would love to have been a student at the university. She’d never admitted this to anyone, not even to Tommy, in case she’d be laughed at. But oh, how often, in her secret dreams, she’d escaped from The Heights and from the Springburn shopping centre and become a student living in the university campus. Unlike most of her contemporaries, she had actually enjoyed school. If it had not been for her father continuously squandering all his wages on drink, she could easily have gone on to pass her exams and gain a place at the university. Instead, however, she had had to leave school and start slaving away, earning cash to help pay for the rent in The Heights. She hated the place and would be oh so glad to get out of it.
Byres Road would be further away from both The Heights and Springburn. She wouldn’t even miss Springburn Park because here, on Great Western Road, just across from the top end of Byres Road, was the Botanic Gardens with its fascinating Kibble Palace full of tropical trees, plants and elegant statues. Much of the material for classwork in the Botany Department of the university was supplied from the Kibble Palace.
Across from one side of the park was the building that housed the BBC. Cheryl thrilled at the thought of all the actors and actresses and other famous people who would work there. No doubt, if she got the flat in Byres Road, she’d see these people in the many restaurants, pubs and cafés in Byres Road.
The flat that was advertised to let was situated above some shops in a red sandstone building near the top end of the street. Cheryl could imagine her
self enjoying sitting at the window gazing down at everybody milling about. She and Tommy could pass their free time having coffee in one of the cafés or strolling in the Botanic Gardens in the summer. She prayed that she would get the flat.
The rent was a bit steep, very steep actually. She could never have afforded it on her own but with Tommy’s wages as well … And after all, it was fully furnished and it had a bathroom.
It was just as good as she had hoped – better even. It had a nice big hall, a huge kitchen with a dining area, a large sitting room, a double bedroom and all with high, ornate corniced ceilings. Not only was there a bath in the bathroom but a shower as well. Bliss!
She knew right away that it was the one. She had taken the day off to visit Tommy in the early afternoon and, because she had managed to arrive before anyone else (who no doubt would only be able to view the flat in the evening), she was successful. She felt like dancing all the way back down the stairs. The only drawback was that the entry date was not until the end of the month. That meant over three weeks yet to be stuck at home. Nevertheless, she could hardly wait to phone the hospital.
She wasn’t going to visit Tommy in the evening because his mum and dad were going to be there. They had insisted, or at least Mrs McKechnie had insisted, that they wanted to be on their own with Tommy when they visited him. They wanted to have Tommy all to themselves. The real reason they went in the evening was of course because they knew she worked every day except Sunday and normally wouldn’t be able to see Tommy during the day. Mrs McKechnie would think it was a good way to separate her from Tommy. Certainly she couldn’t take every afternoon off. The next time she’d manage would be Sunday. Meantime, there was the joyous phone call to tell Tommy that they’d got a flat – a beautiful, wonderful flat. They couldn’t move in immediately but it was well worth waiting for.
Her mother was obviously trying to feel happy for her.
‘I’m so glad for your sake, hen.’ She nodded as if trying to convince herself. ‘If you’re happy, that’s enough for me.’
‘Thanks, Mammy.’ Cheryl hugged her. ‘I’ll come back regularly for visits and you’ll visit me and it’ll be great.’
Her mother nodded several times again and Cheryl added, ‘It’s not as if Byres Road is away at the other end of the world. The West End is less than half an hour from here in the bus.’
Nod, nod.
Cheryl felt sorry for her mother but there was nothing more she could do. She’d done all she could for as long as she could. Time to move on and out. Time for her father to get a grip of himself and go to AA or do something, anything, to stop himself ruining his own life, as well as everyone else’s.
Soon she would have the key. The key of her own flat. The key of the flat that will be our home, she thought joyously.
She couldn’t wait to tell everyone. Even the ancient old thing she often saw in the lift. Miss Smith, Monty said her name was.
‘You’ll never guess, Miss Smith,’ she cried out on the way down to tell Alice and Rita and everyone else, including Monty, ‘I’ve got a lovely flat in the West End. Byres Road. I’m so happy. I’ll be leaving here in about three weeks’ time.’
‘That’s nice, dear,’ Miss Smith said. She had an unusual lilting voice, surprisingly young sounding. Not like a Glasgow voice at all. ‘I’m so happy for you.’
‘I don’t think you’ve met my Tommy. He’s a lovely man, kind and generous. A man in a million. I feel so lucky.’
‘I think I have seen him. A red-haired young man?’
‘That’s him.’
‘Treasure him, my dear.’
‘Oh I will. I will. He’s in hospital just now but he’ll be getting out soon. Did you hear about the fire in Kay Street?’
‘Yes, it was on the news on television. What a dreadful thing to happen and I believe they suspect arson.’
‘Yes, it was. Fancy! It was just as well we didn’t get that flat in Kay Street. The guy next door was a drug dealer.’
Miss Smith tutted. Then she said, ‘So you’ll be leaving here in a few weeks’ time?’
‘I’d like to go right now, this minute, but of course I’ve lots to do first. For one thing, I’m going to try and find a job over in the Byres Road area. I saw a few adverts in shop windows. I don’t think I’ll have any bother.’
Miss Smith sighed. ‘I’ll miss you.’
Cheryl nearly laughed. It was so odd. She’d never even spoken to the old woman before in her life. Perhaps a nod of recognition, maybe the occasional ‘good morning’. That was all.
Now she felt guilty at not having spoken to her before. Maybe the old thing was lonely. She left Miss Smith at the twenty-third floor so that she could visit her friends in the refuge flats. She was feeling quite sorry for Miss Smith. She looked so ancient, so pathetic, with her shaking, bent figure, thick pebble glasses and gnarled hands gripping a metal hospital stick.
Once out of the lift, however, and with the lift doors closed behind her, Cheryl’s joy swooped her spirits heavenwards again.
She rattled on the letterbox of the safe house door.
Safe house! That’s what the Byres Road house will be for Tommy and me, she thought. Safe house!
25
There was a meeting at the Women’s Help head office and also a meeting between the women at both flats in The Heights refuge. At the meeting, Betty and Dorothy listened to all the complaints while Chrissie Cumberland sat smiling with apparent happy contentment. All of the women – wee Mary, Janet, Sandra, Alice, Rita and even Kate Smythe-Bellingham – found this totally infuriating. All had complaints of intrusions of privacy and inappropriate touching but nothing seemed to touch Chrissie Cumberland.
Eventually, encouraged by Betty to speak up, Chrissie announced that she had bumped into an old neighbour during one of her many excursions into town.
‘You’ll never guess.’ Chrissie smiled around at everyone. ‘She told me my Joey has had a stroke and is in hospital. So of course I’m going to go back and look after the dear man. I’ve arranged for him to be brought home from hospital. He’s quite helpless, poor darling.’
The sympathy for poor Joey about to be at the mercy of Chrissie was a horror evident on every face. The horror was so strong, it was palpable in the very air of the room.
Eventually Betty managed, ‘Oh, right. When exactly do you plan to leave then, Chrissie?’
Chrissie favoured them all with yet another smile. Then her kindly stare rested on Betty.
‘I’m all packed and ready. So could you phone for a taxi for me, darling?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Betty assured her. ‘I’ll do it right away.’
And so it was that Chrissie Cumberland left the refuge. But not before each woman had to grit her teeth and suffer being pressed against Chrissie’s sweating flesh in a slow bear hug.
Betty made a cup of tea for everyone after Chrissie had gone.
‘Thank God!’ Sandra made an ungainly flop back in her chair, legs outstretched. ‘If my husband was alive, she was enough to have made me go back to him.’
‘Don’t be stupid,’ Rita said. ‘Your man was a murdering bastard.’
‘Sandra’s no’ stupid,’ wee Mary piped up defensively. ‘I know what she meant. You hadn’t to put up wi’ Chrissie as much as we had. Ah don’t know what I’d have done without Sandra. An’ Janet as well. I’ll no’ have you or anybody else sayin’ wan word against either o’ them.’
‘All right, all right.’ Rita raised her hands in mock submission. ‘No need to get your knickers in a twist.’
Dorothy poured the tea and Betty strode around the room, handing out steaming mugs. Then she offered everyone a chocolate biscuit.
‘Relax everybody. Problem solved.’
Sandra gazed tragically up from under her fringe. ‘But think of poor Joey.’
‘We’ve enough to worry about in our own lives, Sandra,’ Janet said. ‘We can’t take on the world’s problems.’
‘All I hope,’ wee Mary said, ‘is t
hat he’ll get better and give her another black eye.’
It took them the rest of the day to relax properly. Or at least to relax as much as was possible in the circumstances. They felt relatively safe in the refuge. But overshadowing their lives was always the fear that their husbands or partners would one day discover where they were and come after them – as Sandra’s husband had done. Or if they ventured out, they would be seen and forced back into a life of violence and abuse.
Alice was still terrified to put a foot outside the building. However, there had been a few occasions recently when either Rita or Sandra, or Janet or wee Mary, had persuaded her to come with them, firstly down to Springburn and then right into the centre of the city. Alice had walked between them all the time, hanging tightly on to them. She believed that her husband, knowing that she would be in the Springburn Park area, would still be somewhere around. It was the beginning of November now and there was Christmas shopping to start thinking about and Christmas cards to be bought. Although no one could afford very much or had much heart for the festive season.
Nevertheless Betty and Dorothy insisted on hanging up Christmas decorations.
‘For the children’s sake,’ Dorothy said. And for the children’s sake they tried very hard not to be frightened.
Janet hadn’t the heart to tell Mary to return to her own bedroom after Chrissie left and so Mary’s few belongings were moved into Janet’s room.
*****
Although it was only mid-afternoon, it was dark. Not only that, a ghostly mist spread across the whole city, completely blotting it out. The Heights, with every window lit, seemed to float like a tall ship in a sea of cold blackness.
Mabel shivered. She fervently wished she had never ventured out. But she had no milk or bread or margarine left in the house. Her porridge oats were finished as well. How could she face another day without her porridge and milk for breakfast? It wasn’t far to the small local supermarket. This was what she was reduced to. She could not afford, nor was she able, to go into town and trail about the busy city streets. Carefully she shuffled along, using her stick to feel her way forward. She couldn’t see more than a couple of yards at most in front of her. Even the air inside the store was grey and damp.
A Deadly Deception Page 14
