A Sister's Shame

by Carol Rivers

  Dr Tapper slid on his hat. ‘You know my views on this. But I’m prepared to wait until tomorrow when I’ll call to see Vesta. Meanwhile, I hope you will all decide to do the sensible thing.’

  ‘That’s the rub,’ muttered Bing after he’d left. ‘There ain’t no sensible thing where Teddy and the Scoresbys are concerned.’

  ‘The old boy has to say that, as a doctor could get in trouble for not reporting a crime,’ Elsie muttered. ‘You could have brought him back here to find a corpse.’

  ‘Vesta took a bullet meant for me,’ Bing agreed angrily. ‘I should’ve sorted Teddy out long ago and would have if I’d known this was going to happen.’

  ‘Let’s all calm down,’ Elsie said reasonably. ‘We’re angry and tired. Not to mention having been scared out of our wits in the middle of the night. I reckon we should try to get an hour or two’s kip and then think what to do in the morning.’

  ‘What if Teddy comes back?’ Marie asked.

  ‘He won’t. He thought he’d killed her, didn’t he? Then he ran off like the coward he is to get his story right with the Scoresbys.’

  ‘As I said, let’s all sleep on it,’ Elsie advised again. ‘You two can kip in my spare bedroom if you don’t want to go home.’

  Marie looked at Bing and he nodded. ‘Thanks, Elsie.’

  Just then Ada came into the front room. ‘She’s sleeping, but she’s got a nasty wound on her head. An inch or two over and she wouldn’t be here now.’

  ‘Will it heal up?’

  ‘Yes, given time.’

  ‘Are you all right, Mum?’

  ‘I can’t believe it happened.’ Ada shuddered. She looked very small and thin in her dressing gown.

  ‘Come and sit beside me, love.’ Hector patted the seat. She sank down, her shoulders slumped.

  ‘Where did we go wrong, Hector?’ Ada whispered. ‘Have we let our girl down?’

  ‘Not you, my dear.’ He took her hand. ‘I should have got a proper job years ago, after—’ He stopped as Ada stiffened. Then, looking at Marie, he said, ‘I’m to blame for all this.’

  ‘No, Hector, be quiet,’ Ada said sharply.

  ‘It’s time for them to know.’

  ‘To know what, Dad?’ Marie sat in the chair. She hoped that at last this secret that her parents had kept was going to be revealed.

  ‘Your mother was having a baby when we first came to the island and lost it because of me.’ He cleared his throat. ‘A man I owed money to came to the pub where we were staying with Elsie. I wasn’t there to face him and he demanded the money from your mother.’

  As Hector spoke, Marie saw the images of her dreams. The visions in her nightmare; a woman protecting her unborn child and the big man towering above her. ‘So it was Mum in my dream all along?’ she faltered. ‘It really happened?’

  After a few moments, Ada nodded. ‘You girls were with Elsie that night, in the room across the landing. The pub below was busy and no one saw him come up the stairs.’

  ‘The brute!’ Elsie grimaced. ‘A loan shark who had allowed your dad to borrow money, then added his interest, making the debt impossible to pay back.’

  ‘But why did we need money?’ Marie asked, bewildered.

  ‘I was living beyond my means and gambling,’ Hector admitted. ‘I thought I could pay the debt back on luck alone. What a fool I was!’

  ‘You were a fool indeed, love,’ nodded Elsie. ‘But many wiser men have gone the same way and lived to learn a hard lesson.’ She looked kindly at Marie. ‘By the time I heard your mother’s cries, it was too late. The animal had roughed her up, thinking she had money that might be hidden. She lost the baby that night in great distress. You must have followed me in and seen something before I managed to get you out of the room again.’

  ‘So you see, I understand the pain Vesta must be suffering,’ Ada murmured. ‘But I couldn’t tell her.’

  ‘Why, Mum?’ Marie asked. ‘It might have helped.’

  ‘Your mother didn’t want you girls to think badly of me,’ Hector said in a heavy voice. ‘I didn’t deserve her loyalty. Or her love.’

  Everyone was silent, until Ada spoke again. ‘I thought I could protect you girls from the badness in this world, although to you it must have seemed like nagging. I didn’t want to spoil all your hopes for the stage and at first I didn’t worry, as I thought they were just childish fancies. But when you got older I realized how talented and lovely you both were and that the dream could become real. I was torn. What was I to do? In my heart I believe everyone should be able to dream. Just like your dad, who is a good man and always thought the best of people.’

  ‘For my own selfish reasons,’ Hector admitted as he looked guiltily at Ada. ‘I didn’t want an ordinary job. No, that was beneath me! I was a performer. I wanted fame and fortune. And even after we lost our little boy, I couldn’t stop myself from encouraging you girls to want the same.’

  Marie went to kneel beside her mother. ‘You should have told us.’ She looked at Hector’s crumpled face. ‘We wouldn’t have blamed you, Dad. Vesta and me would have done what we did anyway.’

  Ada stroked her hand over Marie’s head. ‘Your father and I have had to learn that lesson the hard way.’

  Once again the room was silent. Elsie sighed and, going to kiss Ada on the cheek, she whispered, ‘Well, I’m too knackered to talk any more so I’m off to bed. I’ll turn back the covers in me spare room for you two.’ She went to the door. ‘Just remember, we’ve got our girl back. No matter what’s happened in the past, or today, we’re all still together and in with a fighting chance to put everything straight. If we stick together, somehow we’ll get through this.’

  Ada managed a weak smile after she’d gone. ‘Dr Tapper said Vesta only has a surface wound. I can change the dressing in the morning when she wakes up.’ She looked at all their faces. ‘But what are we going to do tomorrow?’

  Marie hugged her. ‘We’ll think about that in the morning.’

  ‘Let’s get some sleep now, Ada.’ Hector helped her to her feet.

  As she and Bing left, Marie saw a pale light glowing through the glass of the front door. It wouldn’t be many hours before morning. She watched Bing check the lock on the front door. She knew they wouldn’t have much sleep. Teddy and the evil he had done was still haunting them.

  Chapter 42

  ‘We’re safely in, Kaiser,’ Wippet whispered delightedly as he returned the lock pick to its pouch. This clever tool, once used for his underwater escapes, had served him loyally again. But it was not water that surrounded him tonight, Wippet reflected with irony. It was the alcohol-laden air of the Blue Flamingo!

  Sensing success, the monkey sprang lightly to the floor and curled his thin lips back in a smile. He chattered loudly and Wippet lifted a warning finger. ‘Quiet, little acrobat, be patient. The fools have made our task easy. But we must still be careful.’ With gentle hands, he returned the monkey back to his shoulder.

  Taking care to step lightly across the thick carpet, Wippet glanced cautiously around. He thought the foyer of the club looked more like a bordello in coarse colours of bright red and blue. Pictures of cheap-looking women, their printed names unknown to him, hung from the walls. A staircase leading to the club’s interior and edged by golden rope wound downwards.

  ‘Tempting, but too dangerous to follow,’ Wippet considered aloud. ‘If we were to be seen, we couldn’t outrun them.’

  Kaiser made noises of agreement and Wippet turned to his left. He entered a door marked ‘Management’. A long, gloomy passage stretched before him. In the cool darkness he smelled the scents of women, of powders and paints and performance. Even the damp and mould took on a mysterious appeal.

  A short way on, and he stood still again. From deep in the club came the sound of voices. When he reached the end of the passage, he climbed another set of steps that led to the rear of the stage. The voices were louder here, challenging and aggressive. But there was one, all too familiar. The voice of a coward,
begging for mercy. So, Teddy had returned to his masters – like a dog with his tail between his legs!

  Warm satisfaction glowed inside Wippet as he considered his unsuspecting quarry. They could quarrel all they liked amongst themselves. Little did they know this would be the last time!

  Wippet was about to reach for Kaiser when pain gripped him. Sweat beaded his brow and ran down his back. He waited for release, but instead the iron fingers tightened. He wiped his face with his sleeve and took the morphine from his pouch. How cruel it would be if he was to die here, in this dark passage, his task unaccomplished.

  Through the agony, he clung to the drapes close by. He looked upward, through the suspended brackets to the stage backcloths. Each was rolled as tightly as a parcel. Above these, crisscrossing the roof like tram lines, were timber dry beams. Wood that for years had weathered the changes of time and design, defied builders and craftsmen, and survived to support the superstructure of a vast, commercial building.

  ‘Climb high, my friend, as high as you can,’ Wippet gasped. ‘Find the warm spaces, light your matches and perform your tricks.’ With an effort, he took the monkey in his arms and kissed his smooth, furry head. He gazed into the monkey’s alert eyes. ‘We have travelled a long and colourful road together. What more could we ask, than this? Our final adventure.’

  In reply, Kaiser slipped his bony fingers to Wippet’s trembling lips, tracing their outline as a lover might, in thrall to his mate. His enquiring touch was the last they would share and Wippet set his friend free for the final time.

  The monkey sprang to the drapes and then to the backcloths. He chattered loudly in delight and excitement, swinging athletically into the beams above. A flash of green felt waistcoat and a long, spindly tail . . .

  Wippet wiped his moist eyes. When he looked again, the animal had vanished.

  A peace came over him. It was done. The voices became louder; Teddy’s filled with fear, the others unforgiving. What use had the Scoresbys for him now? Wippet thought bitterly. He had aimed a gun and pulled the trigger, but not on his masters’ command.

  ‘It’s almost done,’ Wippet groaned as he groped for the wall and fell against it. He stood, waiting, expecting the last violent stab of pain and preparing himself for the onslaught.

  Digging his shaking fingers into the pouch, he brought out the second box of matches. Striking one, he threw it against the drapes. Then another and another. Soon all around him was shivering light. The tongues moved silently, greedily licking, absorbing the fabrics and the brittle, dry wood in every crook and cranny.

  Chapter 43

  Morning came with Sunday bells, but other sounds too. Marie jumped out of bed. They were in Elsie’s spare bedroom. Everything came back; Wippet’s knock at their door in the middle of the night and their hurried drive to Sphinx Street. Teddy trying to take Vesta and reaching in his pocket for the gun. Vesta stepping into the path of the bullet as he pulled the trigger . . .

  ‘What’s all the commotion?’ Bing asked sleepily as he threw back the covers.

  ‘I don’t know, but the noise woke me up.’ Hurriedly Marie put on her clothes and shoes.

  ‘Is it coming from your mum’s? It can’t be Teddy again!’ He grabbed his trousers from the chair. ‘Or can it?’

  When they were dressed, they rushed out and almost collided with Elsie.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Bing demanded. ‘It sounds like all hell’s been let loose.’

  ‘Don’t know. I was still in the land of Nod five minutes ago,’ Elsie muttered, tying the belt of her robe around her waist. The black silk and gold pattern caught the morning sun as she pulled the curtains and let in the light. ‘Something’s going on but I can’t see what.’

  ‘You stay there,’ Bing ordered. ‘I’ll go and find out.’

  But both Marie and Elsie spoke at the same time: ‘We’re coming with you!’

  They hurried into the hall and across to Ada’s. To everyone’s surprise Ada stood alone in the front room. Dressed in her skirt and blouse, she was looking out of the window with a puzzled expression on her face.

  ‘Are you all right, Mum?’ Marie asked, rushing over to join her. ‘We thought Teddy had come back.’

  ‘No, thank God. That’s the second fire engine this morning gone past at a rate of knots. Someone’s place must be on fire.’

  ‘Where’s Dad?’

  ‘He’s gone to see what all the fuss is about.’

  ‘Is Vesta all right?’ Marie asked, and Ada nodded, a smile on her face.

  ‘I’ve just taken her a cup of tea. She’s got a very sore head and when we talked about last night, neither of us could believe it happened.’

  ‘Neither can I. It was like a bad dream.’

  Another fire engine’s bell clanged in the distance. ‘They’re going up Manchester Road way, away from the docks,’ Bing pointed out, ‘towards Poplar.’

  Marie left the little group and made her way to the bedroom. She crept in, wondering what she would find. Vesta sat, propped by the pillows, a bandage round her head. With tears in her eyes, Vesta opened her arms. They hugged and held each other tightly, too overwhelmed to speak.

  ‘Oh, Marie, I’m still alive,’ Vesta mumbled, not letting Marie go as she wiped away a stray tear.

  ‘You might not have been if that bullet had gone over a bit.’

  ‘Where did it go?’

  ‘That’s a funny question. No one thought to look for it. Into the wood or wall, I expect. One day we’ll find it and think how lucky we are it went there and missed you.’

  Vesta nodded, smiling through her tears. ‘Mum said Teddy ran off and the doctor wanted to get in the police. I’m glad you didn’t. I would have had all those questions to answer. They’d have found out about the baby. And you might have been in trouble too.’

  ‘Yes, but Teddy will get away free.’

  Vesta’s face clouded. ‘He was going to shoot Bing. But he shot me instead. I saw the look of surprise on his face. Perhaps he still thought something of me.’

  ‘If he did, he wouldn’t have run away.’

  ‘What are we going to do now?’ Vesta whispered. ‘What if he comes looking for me again? I can’t stay here. I’ll have to go away. I’ll just be trouble for everyone.’

  ‘Did you tell Mum that?’

  ‘No.’ The noise drifted down the passage. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘There’s a fire somewhere. We heard the fire engine bells and came rushing in from Elsie’s. We all thought it was Teddy back again.’

  Tears filled Vesta’s eyes. ‘You see, you’ll never be free from him if I stay here. He told me I was bought and paid for; that I was his property and would soon be Bill’s.’ She put her hands over her face. ‘I can’t bear the thought of it.’

  ‘Come along, don’t upset yourself,’ Marie whispered. ‘You escaped death last night and are alive to tell the tale. We’ll think of something today, I promise.’

  Vesta hugged her again. ‘Help me outside.’

  ‘Are you sure you want to get up?’

  ‘I ain’t staying in bed. And I’m not keeping this thing on my head. It don’t look very nice.’

  Marie smiled. ‘At least you’re thinking about your looks again.’ She helped her on with her dressing gown.

  ‘I wonder what the noise is all about.’

  When they got to the front room, everyone crowded round Vesta. Marie knew that they were all still in a state of shock. No one could believe what had happened last night.

  Just then, the door flew open and Hector stood there. He had dressed hurriedly and the tail of his shirt was hanging out. Like Bing, he had a slight beard, and his moustache, usually so neat, was hanging down either side of his mouth. ‘I can’t believe it,’ he blustered. ‘I can’t bring myself to hope . . .’

  ‘What?’ everyone cried at once.

  ‘There’s been a fire,’ he spluttered.

  ‘We know that,’ said Elsie impatiently. ‘Where?’

  ‘It was so big,
they had to use the emergency engines from the island they usually use for the docks.’

  Everyone stared at him.

  ‘Well, where the heck was it?’ Elsie demanded again.

  Hector looked at Vesta and Marie, his eyes wide. ‘It’s the Blue Flamingo and the Duke’s. They burned to the ground in the early hours of this morning.’

  It was later in the morning when the news was confirmed that the two clubs, the Blue Flamingo and the Duke’s, and a number of warehouses had all gone up in flames. Marie and Vesta watched from the window as Hector went out to the street again to join the group of neighbours who were discussing the fire. Carts and horses stopped by and the drivers leaned down to give the latest news. But it was Bing who drove to Poplar at midday and returned in the afternoon with news that shocked everyone.

  ‘It’s true,’ Bing told them as they gathered in the front room. ‘There’s just a big black skeleton of a building, bits of charred wood soaked in water and piles of ash where the clubs used to be. The bobbies are keeping people away so they don’t traipse over the evidence.’

  ‘What evidence?’ Marie asked.

  ‘Of what caused it and how the bodies inside met their end there.’

  Vesta gave a little gasp. ‘You mean someone’s dead in there?’

  Bing nodded. ‘Maybe five or six, they reckon. And the rumour was, that one of them was small, very small, hardly bigger than a kid. And there was something else. A skull. And it wasn’t no human skull, either.’

  ‘An animal?’ Ada breathed.

  ‘Looks like it.’

  ‘A cat or a dog?’ Elsie asked, but it was Marie who said what they were thinking.

  ‘Or a monkey.’

  They all went quiet.

  ‘Doors were all locked, but there weren’t no keys in ’em,’ Bing said after a while. ‘Someone had it in for the Scoresbys and trapped them in there like rats. Has anyone been upstairs to Wippet’s or Nina’s?’