Family Betrayal

by Kitty Neale

  Pet pulled the blankets around her, longing for the warmth of the fire. She couldn't go downstairs, her mother didn't want her around, and her brothers would be there. She burrowed further under the blankets, yearning for her father. She knew that Danny had arranged the funeral, but her mother didn't want her there. She'd be forced to stay at home, a home where she was no longer welcome. Oh, Dad, Dad, I won't even get the chance to say goodbye.

  Minutes passed, but then Pet heard voices and guessed that Maurice had arrived. She didn't want to see him and hoped he didn't venture up to her room. He'd been involved too; they had all been involved. Like Ivy, he had left without saying goodbye … Pet's thoughts came to a standstill, her eyes suddenly widening. She did have somewhere to go, but would they take her in?

  Pet looked around her tiny room. She knew that her mother would never forgive her, that unless she found the courage to leave Drapers Alley, this room would become her prison. Oh, but surely anything would be better than this. Finally, her mind made up, she began to stuff clothes into a bag.

  Danny watched his mother's face as Maurice walked to her side, but she hardly reacted.

  ‘Hello, Mum.’

  She said nothing, and to break the tension Danny said, ‘Blimey, Maurice, you look as thin as a rake.’

  ‘Yeah, you look terrible,’ Bob agreed.

  Still his mother didn't move and Danny regarded her worriedly. She looked so old now, no longer plump, her face lined with wrinkles.

  ‘You look frozen, Maurice. I'll make you a hot drink,’ said Yvonne.

  As his wife walked through to the kitchen, Danny said, ‘I'm glad you're here, Maurice. I've made all the arrangements but the funeral can't be held until after Christmas.’

  Maurice's voice was abrupt. ‘When and where is it?’

  ‘On the fourth of January at eleven in the morning, and we're using St Jude's.’

  Maurice nodded before sitting opposite his mother, his hands held out to the fire as he said, ‘Are you all right, Mum?’

  Slowly she turned to look at him, her eyes suddenly clear, but when she spoke her tone was bitter. ‘So, you've decided to show your face at last.’

  ‘I'd have come sooner, but I've been ill, Mum, in hospital.’

  ‘I'd still like to know why you went off without saying a word.’

  ‘I came to say goodbye, but you wouldn't let me in and I couldn't hang around. Norma's been nagging for years, and if I didn't go with her, she'd have gone without me.’

  ‘Yes, that's what Bob said, but I think there's more to it than that.’ Her eyes suddenly flicked around the room, briefly settling on Danny, Chris and Bob, before they returned to the fire.

  Danny found that he was holding his breath. There had been suspicion in his mother's eyes when she had looked at them, but thankfully the moment seemed to have passed. He knew he would have to tell her, but not now – he couldn't face it now.

  Yvonne came back into the room carrying a tray, and about to set it down when someone thumped loudly on the front door. Danny shot his brothers a look before opening it, but before he could react, two men pushed their way in, followed by several uniformed police.

  ‘What the hell … ?’

  The men flicked out identity cards, and though one spoke, both were smiling triumphantly. ‘We have a warrant for the arrest of Mr Daniel Edward Draper.’

  ‘What the fuck are you talking about?’ Danny yelled. ‘My father's dead.’

  The smile dropped, but the man's eyes narrowed shrewdly. ‘Dead, you say? Have you a copy of the death certificate?’

  ‘Danny, what's going on?’

  He turned to see his mother on her feet, her face white with shock. ‘It's all right, Mum. There's been some sort of mistake, but don't worry, I'll sort it out.’ He then grabbed the document from the mantel-piece, shoving it under the officer's nose. ‘Read it, and when you've finished – get out!’

  ‘Hold your horses,’ the officer said. ‘We'd still like you and your brothers to accompany us to the station.’

  ‘What for?’ Danny snapped.

  ‘Acting on information received, we obtained a search warrant for premises in Wimbledon where evidence of pornographic material was found.’

  ‘For fuck's sake, Danny, I thought you closed the place down,’ Chris yelled.

  All of Danny's old nature rose to the surface as he yelled, ‘Shut up!’ He glared at his brother, but then saw Pet, hovering on the threshold of the room. She had her coat on, was holding a bag, obviously ready for flight. The copper's words sank in.Acting on information received. Spittle flew out of his mouth. ‘You! You did this. I'll fucking kill you …’

  Pet made a run for it, but as Danny reached out, his arms were grabbed, forced behind his back. ‘Get off me,’ he yelled, but it was too late, she was nearly out of the door. ‘Come back, you bitch,’ he screamed but, forcibly held, he could do nothing to stop her.

  Pet fled the house and kept on running, her chest heaving until finally she was forced to stop. She walked then, rapidly, heading for Clapham Junction train station. Her mind was in turmoil, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. Danny thought she had been to the police. He said he would kill her and the look on his face had been manic. Oh, but she hadn't told the police, even though at times she had been so haunted by the little girl in the film that she had wanted to do something, anything to bring about her rescue. Yet she had done nothing, a coward, afraid that if she reported Jack Garston he'd come after her again.

  The wind was bitter, stinging her cheeks, her fingers numb as she gripped the bag. A part of her wanted to go back, to run home again, but even as the thought crossed her mind, Pet knew it was impossible. Even if she could convince them that she hadn't been to the police, her mother's hate remained and it was no more than she deserved.

  Frozen to the core now, Pet went into the post office, taking out money from her savings account. From there, it wasn't far to the station, but with a change of trains she knew it would be a long time before she reached her destination.

  When a train arrived, Pet climbed aboard, barely thawing out before she had to get off again. On the second train she settled down for a longer journey, hardly noticing the passing scenery as her mind twisted and turned.

  Finally, as the train pulled into her station, Pet stood up, her mind at last still. She had left, doubted she'd go back, but with no idea of what the future held, it was with trepidation that she began the last leg of her journey.

  After asking directions, Pet started to walk, footsore and weary by the time she turned into a lane, thick with snow. It was lined with trees, their branches skeletal, the sky a blanket of grey, heavy with more snow. Pet trudged along, both mentally and physically exhausted as she finally approached the house. When she opened the little wooden gate, the path lay clear ahead, and reaching the front door, she knocked, standing back a little as the door opened.

  A face peered out at her, one that at first frowned, but then looked worried. ‘Pet, oh my God, what on earth are you doing here?’

  ‘Oh, Ivy, please, can I stay with you? I haven't got anywhere else to go.’

  Pet was drawn inside, the fire acting like a magnet as she staggered, frozen, towards it. When Ivy spoke, she turned, but instead of a welcome on her cousin's face, she saw what looked like apprehension.

  ‘Pet, how did you find me? Does anyone else know that you're here?’

  ‘I took the address from Linda, but I didn't give it to anyone else.’ Her voice cracked when she said, ‘Oh, Ivy, my dad's dead.’

  ‘What? When? Oh Gawd, I'm all of a dither. Look, sit down and I'll make us both a drink.’

  As Ivy left the room, Pet sat by the hearth, taking in her surroundings. It was a nice room, chintzy and cosy, with brass ornaments reflecting the glow from the fire. A Christmas tree stood in one corner, sparkling with tinsel and baubles. Paper chains festooned the ceiling, each corner holding a bunch of coloured balloons. She leaned her head back, closing her eyes until her cousin returned.


  ‘Right,’ Ivy said, handing Pet a cup and saucer before taking a seat on the opposite side of the hearth. ‘I think you had better start at the beginning.’

  And Pet did, spilling it all out, her voice quivering with emotion until at last she was spent, ending with, ‘I was ready to leave, but when the police turned up Danny must have thought I'd called them. He said he'd kill me. I had to run, Ivy, I had to get away.’

  ‘Oh, you poor kid,’ Ivy said. She was quiet for a moment, her head low, but then she looked up. ‘All right, love, you can stay here, but only if you promise not to tell anyone where you are. I don't want any of that lot turning up here.’

  ‘Oh, Ivy, I won't, I promise, and thank you … thank you so much for taking me in.’

  Ivy suddenly grimaced, doubling over to clutch her stomach.

  ‘What's wrong? Are you all right?’

  ‘Yeah, yeah, it's just a bit of cramp, that's all,’ she said through clenched teeth.

  ‘Can I get you anything?’

  Ivy sat up again, shaking her head. ‘No, I'm fine now. Come on, let's get you sorted out,’ and pushing herself to her feet, she beckoned Pet to follow her.

  They went upstairs where, throwing open a bedroom door, Ivy said, ‘I'll double the boys up and then you can have this room. We'll just have to move Harry's clothes and toys.’

  ‘Oh, Ivy, he won't like that.’

  ‘He won't mind. The boys used to share a room in Drapers Alley and, to be honest, I think they miss it. Nine times out of ten when I come to wake Harry up, I find him in Ernie's room, asleep on the bottom bunk …’ Ivy groaned, doubling over again as she sank onto the single bed.

  ‘Ivy!’ Pet cried.

  ‘It's all right, it's just cramp again. It's my time of the month.’

  Pet knew what it was like to suffer painful cramps, but she had never been as bad as this. ‘Look, if you show me what things to move, I can manage on my own.’

  ‘All right, love, I won't say no. You'll find clean sheets in the airing cupboard on the landing, but you look a bit bushed too, so just change the bed for now and we'll sort the rest tomorrow. While you're doing that, I'll get the spuds on the boil for dinner.’

  ‘Is Steve at work?’

  ‘He had to go in this morning, but now he's taken the boys into town to get some last-minute Christmas shopping.’

  ‘Where does he work?’

  ‘On a farm. I never thought he'd take to it, but he loves it.’

  ‘Ivy, I know you said I can stay, but what about Steve?’

  ‘He won't mind and the boys will be dead chuffed to see you. Right, I'm off and I'll see you downstairs.’

  As Ivy left, Pet looked around the room. It was nice, under the eaves with a sloping ceiling and a little leaded window. She was so relieved that Ivy was letting her stay, but it was so quiet, so strange here that for a moment she felt a wave of desolation. She had a little money left in her Post Office book, but she couldn't expect Ivy to keep her indefinitely. If she could find a job, anything to pay her way, she wouldn't be a burden.

  After changing the bed, Pet went downstairs to find Ivy sitting in front of the fire.

  ‘The spuds are cooking,’ she said, ‘and I've lit the oven to heat up the casserole.’

  ‘Is there anything I can do?’ Pet asked, but then the front door opened, and with a flurry of cold air Steve and the boys rushed in.

  Steve drew to a halt, his face registering his surprise. ‘Blimey, Pet. What are you doing here?’

  ‘She's come to stay for a while. I'll tell you about it later, but it can wait for now.’

  ‘Look, Ernie, it's Auntie Pet,’ Harry cried, the five-year-old hopping with excitement.

  Pet gave them a hug, but then Ivy said, ‘All right, boys, no doubt you're hungry, so go and wash your hands while I dish up dinner.’

  Ernie grinned widely, green eyes just like his father's, twinkling. Pet smiled back at him, feeling a little happier. They were pleased to see her, welcomed her, and at last she felt like she was part of a family again.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  In Drapers Alley, Yvonne was unable to sit still. She paced the floor, wringing her hands whilst her mother-in-law sat staring into the fire. It was eight in the evening when the door opened and Sue walked in.

  ‘The boys are asleep, but I can't leave them on their own for long. Is there any news?’

  ‘No, nothing,’ Yvonne told her. ‘I went down to the station, but they wouldn't let me see Danny. All I was told was that he was still being questioned.’

  Yvonne was startled when her mother-in-law suddenly rose to her feet. ‘I didn't want to believe Petula – I thought she'd lost her mind – but now I know that she was telling the truth. I've got to find her. Where do you think she's gone?’

  ‘I don't know, Mum, she could be anywhere. She was ready to go when the police came so she must have had something planned.’

  ‘As far as I'm concerned, she'd better stay away,’ Sue snapped. ‘I used to think a lot of Pet, but she's a grass and if I get my hands on her I'll bloody kill her.’

  ‘Oh no you won't,’ Joan snapped. ‘Since the boys were taken for questioning I've been sitting here, turning it all over in my mind, and I'm sickened by the lot of you. When Dan died, I went into a sort of stupor and like a fool I blamed Petula. My God, what I've put that poor girl through doesn't bear thinking about. Porn – my sons making porn! It's disgusting, and you two must have known about it. Get out of my house, go on, get out, and don't show your faces in here again.’

  ‘Don't come the high and mighty with us,’ Sue yelled. ‘From what Yvonne told me, the police had an arrest warrant for Dan.’

  ‘That was a mistake. My Dan would never be mixed up in porn.’

  ‘Don't kid yourself,’ Sue snapped. ‘He was up to his eyeballs in it from the beginning and don't tell me that you haven't worked that out for yourself, and let me tell you—’

  ‘Come on, Sue, leave it. Can't you see she's had enough?’ Yvonne urged, taking Sue's arm.

  Joan looked awful, her skin the colour of putty.

  ‘I've hardly started, but don't worry, I'm going. I can't risk leaving the kids for much longer.’ Sue's eyes snapped to Joan again. ‘Oh, yes, and talking about my boys, they're your grandsons but you hardly know they exist.’

  ‘Get out!’

  Sue threw Joan a look of disgust before leaving, but Yvonne remained, only for Joan to say, ‘And you can get out too.’

  ‘Oh, Mum, don't say that. I can't leave you like this. Look, I'll make us both a cup of tea.’

  Yvonne hurried through to the kitchen, stiff with tension as she made a brew. She moved slowly, hoping that by the time it was made, her mother-in-law would have calmed down. When it was ready she tentatively carried it through to the living room, only to find that Joan still glared at her angrily.

  ‘You knew, didn't you – knew that the boys were mixed up in porn, and worse, from what Petula said, they use kids?’

  ‘No, Mum, no, they would never do that. Pet got it wrong and she knows that now.’

  ‘Huh, and I'm supposed to believe you?’ Joan snapped. ‘Well, I don't. You lied to me about Petula. You said she hadn't been raped, or are you going to say she got that wrong too? No, of course you can't. When the doctor examined her, I saw the state of her with my own eyes.’

  ‘I was just trying to protect you – to protect Dan.’

  ‘Sue said that Dan was mixed up in making mucky films too. Is that true?’

  Yvonne was saved from answering when the front door opened again, Danny and Chris walking in. With a gasp Yvonne ran into her husband's arms. ‘Oh, Danny, Danny.’

  ‘It's all right, we're in the clear. The premises are in Dad's name so they don't have any proof that we were involved.’

  ‘But Chris said that you hadn't closed down.’

  With a rueful smile Chris said, ‘Yeah, me and my big mouth, but at the end of the day it didn't matter. All they found was the equipment
and a few reels of films that hadn't been distributed. As Danny said, the place is in Dad's name so there was nothing to tie it directly to us.’

  Danny frowned as he looked at his mother. ‘You look awful, Mum, but don't worry. It's all over now.’

  ‘All over?’ she snapped. ‘How can it be over when my daughter has run off and I don't know where she is? Sue tells me that your father was wrapped up in porn too. I want the truth, Danny, and from the beginning.’

  Danny ran both hands over his face. ‘Mum, it's been a long day and we're bushed. Can't this wait until tomorrow?’

  ‘No, it can't. I want the truth – and now!’

  ‘All right, calm down. I'll tell you, but sit down first.’

  She glared at him, but nevertheless sat down. ‘Right, let's hear it.’

  ‘Danny, no …’ Chris warned.

  Danny ignored him. ‘Dad was past cracking safes, Mum, and it was my idea to make porn films. He wasn't interested at first, but I talked him round.’ Danny paused to take a breath, then went on to tell his mother everything, finally saying, ‘So you see, Pet was snatched because we went into Jack Garston's territory.’

  Joan looked stunned. Then she suddenly reared to her feet, screeching, ‘Get out! Get out of my house!’

  ‘What?’

  ‘You heard me!’ And turning to Chris she shrieked, ‘And that goes for you too.’

  ‘Mum, calm down.’

  ‘Calm down? You expect me to calm down? Your father was sick, you're sick, the lot of you. Now go, get out of my house!’

  Yvonne could see that her mother-in-law was near breaking point, her chest heaving as she glared at them. ‘Come on, Danny,’ she urged. ‘Your mother's had enough for one day.’

  For a moment she thought he was going to argue, but then he nodded. ‘Yeah, come on, Chris. Yvonne's right.’

  Yvonne shivered as they walked outside, pulling her cardigan around her chest.

  ‘You should have kept your mouth shut, Danny,’ Chris spat.