The Boy With the Latchkey

by Cathy Sharp

  ‘Give him my regards when you do see him and tell him we want him at the wedding.’

  ‘Yeah, I hope he’ll be better in time, but I’m not puttin’ it off even for Ikey.’

  ‘He wouldn’t want you to,’ Mary Ellen said and hugged him, feeling emotional. ‘I wish all this horrid business was over.’

  ‘Well it is, all bar the trials and the stuff in the papers, but now they’ve got Connolly in a cell there will be plenty of people willing to testify. Besides, Ikey traced him to a flat in Wapping that no one knew he had – apparently, they found all kinds of incriminating stuff there: a list of police officers, MPs and business people, who were either on his payroll or in debt to him, and details of blackmail as well. Enough to put him away for a few years, so Sergeant Sallis told me. Once it gets out that Connolly’s finished, a lot more victims will come forward. They were afraid of him, but his power has gone now and they’ll all come crawling out of the woodwork like worms …’

  ‘Billy, that’s horrid.’

  ‘I know but it’s true. Stevie Baker is the one that knew most of his dirty little secrets – and Sergeant Sallis said that Ikey’s been working for the police secretly, gathering evidence, and it’s not only the criminals that will be going down – half a dozen coppers are in for it too.’

  ‘Police officers?’ Mary Ellen stared at him. ‘I thought they were supposed to be on the public’s side?’

  ‘Most of them are, but some are corrupt. Money is behind it, Ellie. A man like Connolly infects all those he comes in contact with. I’m only glad Sam told me the truth in time …’ He hesitated, then, ‘I know Marion isn’t living with you now – but she’s the one who told the police where to find Stevie last night. He hit her again because she wouldn’t do what he wanted – so she went to the police and told Sergeant Sallis loads of stuff about him, including that he’d been talking on the phone to his boss and he’d been ordered to murder someone. She thought it might be me … but it was Ikey that Connolly wanted dead.’

  ‘That wicked, evil man!’ A shiver went through her. ‘If you’d kept working for him, you might have been arrested too.’

  ‘I should’ve been,’ Billy said and shuddered at the thought. ‘It could’ve ruined everything, love.’

  ‘I’m glad you left in time …’ she said and caught back a sob. ‘Poor Ikey – and Sandra Miller. You said she’s sweet on him, didn’t you?’

  ‘Well, she seems to like him and they’ve let her sit with him so he must have asked for her, don’t you think?’

  ‘Yes, I do,’ she said and hugged him, feeling so grateful that he was here and alive. ‘Oh, Billy, please don’t fight any more. I don’t want to lose you …’

  ‘You won’t,’ he said confidently. ‘I’m going to wed you and then I’m going to look after you while you study to be a teacher – and I’ll be with you when you’re old and grey.’

  Mary Ellen looked at him and then went into a peal of laughter. ‘I can just see you with your walking stick, bringing me tea in bed …’

  ‘I’ll give you walking stick,’ Billy said and made a threatening lunge at her. ‘You little devil …’

  ‘Now then, Billy,’ Sam said, entering the workshop. ‘No molesting my employees. Let the girl get on with her work, there’s a good lad.’

  ‘We were just talkin’ about Ikey …’ Billy said.

  ‘Yeah, that was rotten luck. It’s a good thing you were there – and Sergeant Sallis and his colleagues. Otherwise you might have been laid up as well, and I need you here. I’ve got a big order needs to go to the West End and I want you on your way in five minutes.’

  ‘Right you are, Sam,’ Billy said and winked at Mary Ellen as he left.

  ‘Well, that’s got him on his way,’ Sam said. ‘Get on now, Mary Ellen, there’s a good girl. We need to catch up on our orders, because after losing all that stuff when they raided the place we’re a bit short of stock …’

  ‘Poor Sandra, she’s that upset, sitting by his bed for as long as they would let her, but now she’s had to come away, because they say he’s got to rest …’

  ‘It is very sad for her,’ Mary Ellen said, a little sur-prised by her sister’s concern for a woman she hardly knew. ‘Billy says Ikey has been working undercover for the police all this time – he’s a hero in their eyes, because they’ve caught a criminal who has been controlling a lot of the robberies in London.’

  ‘Yes, so Sister Beatrice says. She thinks a lot of Ikey – and of Billy. It seems Ikey might have been hurt worse if Billy hadn’t gone to his aid; he’s a bit of a hero too.’

  What had happened to Rose? Mary Ellen wanted to laugh, because her sister’s sunny mood was so unusual. She seemed really happy and she was clearly enjoying her new job at St Saviour’s. It had seemed a charmed place to Mary Ellen after she’d come to trust Sister Beatrice and the nurses and carers at Halfpenny Street, and perhaps a little of that magic was rubbing off on Rose.

  ‘How are you getting on at Sam’s now?’ Rose asked. ‘Does he know you’re hoping to be a teacher one day?’

  ‘He knows I’m studying and that one day I’ll leave, but it’s a long way off, Rose. I’ve got exams to do and then college work. I might get a few days here and there as a pupil teacher, but there aren’t many places going so it may be ages before I actually take a class – and I need to get some experience at college first anyway. In the meantime, I can carry on working at Sam’s.’

  ‘What will Billy think if you’re reading every night when he gets home and wants his tea?’

  ‘We’ll manage,’ Mary Ellen said. ‘Billy understands and he wants me to do it, Rose. I’ll keep the house tidy and cook simple meals … it will be fine …’

  ‘Men say it’s all right, but they want more attention than you think,’ Rose said. ‘You should consider Billy, love. Once you’re married, it isn’t just what you want any more …’

  Mary Ellen turned away. For once she didn’t think Rose was being mean, but speaking out of concern. It made her thoughtful for a while, but she was too busy with her studies and making her wedding dress to worry about it. Billy loved her and she loved him, nothing else mattered. She could hardly wait for Christmas Eve and their wedding.

  CHAPTER 31

  ‘What time is Ikey coming home?’ Archie asked his mother that Sunday morning. ‘Where will he stay – or will he go straight to the nursing home?’

  ‘The nurses said he would probably be sent down in an ambulance to save him the stress of a journey by train. He couldn’t drive himself, though he has friends who would take him. His chief constable has visited him several times. He wants Ikey to go back to the force now that they’ve rooted out all this corruption. I don’t know if he will, because he wasn’t feeling up to talking about it …’

  ‘What about you?’ Archie said, looking at her anxiously. ‘Are you going to marry him, Mum? Supposing he’s an invalid for the rest of his life?’

  ‘In that case I shall be both wife and nurse,’ she replied, sounding cross. ‘Really, Archie, you wouldn’t want me to let him down?’

  ‘No, I didn’t mean it that way. I’ll never forget what Ikey did for us, Mum. We’ve got our June back because of him, and he’s my friend. I love him – but I love you, too, and I want you to be happy, to have a good life …’

  ‘Thank you, my darling. You’re so like your father – that is exactly what he would have said to me, but you know I do love Ikey. It’s a different love from the love I gave your father, but it’s just as strong – and if Ikey is ill I want to care for him for as long as it takes.’

  ‘Good, I’m glad,’ Archie said. ‘I’m off now then …’

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘Nipper and me are takin’ June to the circus this afternoon and I’ve got to do a little errand for Ted first. There’s some stock we need to sort out for one of his stalls. I’ll have a snack with him and Maggie and I’ll be back by one thirty to collect June.’ He grinned at her. ‘We’ve got to get Ted a Father
Christmas suit. Sister was worried we hadn’t got anyone to hand the presents out this year, because Mr Adderbury was doing it at Halfpenny House, so I asked Ted and he said yes … though I think he’s getting the collywobbles now over it.’

  ‘All right, love,’ Sandra said. ‘I’ve got a bit of washing to do and then I’m going to the hospital to see Ikey off before he goes.’

  She smiled as her son went off whistling. He seemed to have become a young man all at once, and there was little left of the boy she’d known before she was sent to prison. Glancing at the clock beside her bed, she calculated that she just had time to wash the things she needed to before tidying up and catching a bus to the hospital …

  Sandra’s heart caught as she scanned the ward for Ikey and discovered he was not there. His bed at the far end had a new occupant and there was no sign of him. Was he waiting for her somewhere, expecting her to come and say goodbye? She’d arranged to be here by two o’clock and there were still twenty minutes to go but Ikey was not here.

  ‘Are you looking for Mr Blake?’ a pretty young nurse asked as she turned away.

  ‘Yes, I am. He was supposed to be leaving for the nursing home at two and it’s only twenty to …’

  ‘Oh, but he hasn’t gone to the nursing home. He declined the offer and left this morning – about half past eleven I think it was …’

  ‘He left?’ Sandra was stunned. ‘Did he leave a message for me – his address where I could find him?’

  ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know. You could ask Sister. She’s at the desk …’

  Sandra thanked her and walked slowly towards the desk. If Ikey had left the hospital some hours ago he could have come to St Saviour’s or telephoned and left a message. She felt apprehensive as she approached the senior nurse and asked when Mr Blake had been dis-charged.

  ‘Ah yes, Mrs Miller, isn’t it?’ Sister said, nodding. ‘Mr Blake left at just after eleven this morning. He decided that he did not wish to take up the place at the nursing home as he felt well enough to look after himself – I understand that a friend has invited him to stay and he has gone there for the Christmas period.’

  ‘Oh, I see … thank you so much.’ Sandra’s throat caught with emotion. She was not quite sure how she felt as she turned away. It was good that Ikey felt well enough not to need the extra time in the nursing home, but she couldn’t help wondering why he hadn’t let her know his intentions. He’d changed his mind about one thing, was it possible that he’d changed his mind about the way he wanted to live in the future? A great well of hurt rose up in her breast, because she’d thought he really cared for her – but perhaps his near brush with death had made him see things in another light?

  Catching the bus to take her back to St Saviour’s, Sandra stared blindly out of the window. It was damp and unseasonably warm, not a bit like Christmas, and she felt close to tears. Had she given her heart too soon? Perhaps she’d mistaken Ikey’s intentions – perhaps all he’d really wanted was a housekeeper and when she’d told him she loved him in a burst of emotion that first morning after he woke up, he’d felt obliged to smile and say they would be married. Or had he said that at all? Had he murmured something about wanting her to be happy?

  Sandra couldn’t recall. She only knew that she loved him and she was anxious that he’d refused the offer of two weeks at a nursing home. Was he really strong enough to stay with his bachelor friend? Who would look after him if he had a relapse or became suddenly ill? If he didn’t want to go to the nursing home, Sandra was sure Sister Beatrice would have let him have one of the spare rooms in the nurses’ home for a few days and she could have looked after him …

  Tears stung her eyes but she refused to give in to them. Perhaps he would be waiting for her here, or he might have telephoned …

  ‘Here it is then, old fellow.’ His friend handed Ikey a thick envelope. ‘I gave your instructions to the lawyer and he has done everything you asked – though I couldn’t quite see why you wanted it to be that way …’

  ‘Trust me, I know what I’m doing,’ Ikey smiled oddly. He had a nagging headache but the doctors had told him he must expect them for some weeks to come. He had some pills that helped but was trying not to take them too often because he didn’t want to become dependent. ‘I want her to be secure if anything happens to me …’

  ‘Why should it? You’re all right, aren’t you?’ Jon’s gaze narrowed. ‘Is there something you haven’t told me – is your head all right?’

  ‘I have awful headaches at times, but I’m told they will gradually go.’ Ikey touched the scar on the side of his head and felt the tiny bristles of hair where they’d had to shave his head for the operation. ‘I look much worse than I feel.’ He smiled self-deprecatingly. ‘No, the doc seemed to think I’d been lucky and there will be no lasting damage – but there is always a possibility of a blood clot developing after an operation like mine and …’

  ‘What?’ Jon frowned. ‘It’s more than that – isn’t it?’

  Ikey sighed and confessed what was on his mind. ‘Connolly is behind bars and some of his associates, but they know that I put them there and even from prison he could arrange for another assassination attempt. I’m not sure it would be fair of me to marry her, Jon. She’s lost one husband – it could break her to lose two. I think if I give her the house and just live there with her acting as my housekeeper …’

  ‘Connolly’s power is broken. He’ll be more worried about protecting his own back when he gets inside than sticking a knife in yours. Is making Sandra Miller your housekeeper what you really want? Is it because of Catherine?’

  ‘No, no, it isn’t. I wanted to marry Sandra, I really did, but I feel it would be unfair to her …’

  ‘You’re a fool, man,’ his friend told him. ‘There are times when you take honour that bit too far. Think of yourself for once. As for you working for us again, I’m not going to take no for an answer. You can take a month or so to get over it, but then I want you back at the station – do you hear me?’

  ‘Yes, me lud,’ Ikey said and pulled an imaginary forelock. ‘As your lordship demands …’

  ‘Give her the house if that’s what you want, my friend, but please do not throw away your chance of being happy again. Love comes along too rarely; you should grab it with both hands.’

  ‘Well, I’ll let her choose,’ Ikey said. ‘If you wouldn’t mind my using your phone I’d like to ring St Saviour’s and ask her if she will come here. I really don’t feel like getting a taxi there.’

  ‘You should’ve had that extra time in the nursing home …’

  ‘I’m sick and tired of hospitals and nurses,’ Ikey said. ‘I’d far rather stay here – unless I’m in your way.’

  ‘Don’t be a bloody fool!’

  Ikey laughed and then winced. ‘My damned head. It feels as if a thousand hammers are at work.’

  ‘Did they give you anything to help?’ Ikey nodded. ‘Then take the bloody things and don’t be a martyr. You’re lucky to be alive, my friend, and even luckier to have a beautiful and loving woman waiting for you. Grab what has been offered and stop worrying about what might happen. I could walk across the road and get knocked down and killed by a bus – any of us could. Tell that conscience of yours to get lost and marry the woman …’

  ‘Only if you’ll support me to the altar?’

  ‘Damned right I will, and drag you there if I have to,’ Jonathan smiled. ‘Now make that telephone call and I’ll see what my housekeeper has left us for lunch.’

  Sandra was nervous as the taxi pulled up outside the lovely old building in Kensington. She’d been told to come in a taxi and that the fare would be paid; it was all arranged for half past five and she only had to get in when it arrived. She got out and looked uneasily at the names on the bell at the side of the door, pressing the one that belonged to Jonathan Carter. A few moments later it was opened and he appeared, wearing a thick overcoat.

  ‘Ah, Mrs Miller, we were expecting you, and here you are. Please
go straight up the stairs and turn left; it’s the first one and I’ve wedged it open. Ikey would have come down, but I was just leaving. He’s had a headache ever since he got here so if he’s a bit grouchy just ignore it. He’s a really good fellow you know – though at the moment he looks more like one of the criminal fraternity with that shaved head …’

  Chuckling to himself, Jon went out and the door closed after him. Sandra ran up the stairs, her heart beating wildly. She saw the door as he’d described it and went towards it, pushing it open and moving the wedge with her foot so that it closed after her. She was in a small hall with a polished wood floor and an antique side table with a bowl of flowers on top, and a mahogany chair standing to either side.

  ‘Sandra, is that you?’ Ikey came to the door of the sitting room. He looked pale and anxious and any feelings of annoyance she might have had at the way he’d behaved vanished in her anxiety for him. ‘Please come in. Jonathan’s gone out like the good soul he is to let us have some time alone …’

  ‘Ikey … I’ve been so worried. When you’d gone …’

  ‘Yes, I know. I should’ve let you know, but I made up my mind to leave on the spur of the moment and just got a taxi and came here. It was too much trouble to bother with a public phone …’

  ‘Jonathan said your head aches?’

  ‘Yes, it’s quite bloody sometimes, but the pills help and they told me it will get better in time – but until it does I have to put up with it, I’m afraid.’

  ‘I suppose after what happened you’re lucky it isn’t worse …’

  ‘Yes, that’s what Jon tells me. He’s given me quite a lecture this afternoon … Sit down, Sandra. I’d rather like to myself …’

  Sandra sat on the sofa and he took the armchair opposite. She glanced about her. It was a smart flat, with leather chairs and sofa, small tables, all antique and expensive, a few pieces of silver and one or two pictures on the wall. The home of a professional man, but not the kind of home Sandra liked or felt comfortable in.

  ‘Are you feeling terrible?’