East End Angel Part 23

Kathy crouched down by Jennifer's seat. Her sister looked sh.e.l.l-shocked. 'What's up? You didn't even know him that well. I'm not upset about us breaking up, if that's what's worrying you.' She took one of her sister's hands between her palms. 'To tell you the truth, I'm seeing another man, and I like him very much, so there's no hard feelings.'

'Well, good for you,' Jenny said bitterly, s.n.a.t.c.hing back her fingers. Her forehead dropped to her cupped palms. 'You told Mum and Dad about the mess I'm in?'

'No ... do you want me to?' Kathy stood up, sighing.

Jennifer slowly shook her head.

'Well, I won't say anything then.'

'Who's the new man you're seeing?'

'I doubt you'll know him ...'

'If he's from round here, bet your life I'll know him,' Jenny muttered sourly.

Kathy moistened her lips. She'd wondered before whether her twin and Nick Raven might have crossed paths, and now she had a chance to find out. But she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

'Nick Raven ...' Kathy's heart missed a beat at her sister's reaction to having her boyfriend's ident.i.ty. 'You've heard of him?' she asked.

'Round here, everybody's heard of him,' Jenny replied. 'Never had the good luck to meet him, though ... wish I had,' she added. She leaned into the sofa, her head c.o.c.ked and her smile sly. 'Well, well, well, you don't mess about, do you? Talk about from one extreme to the other. First you want a copper, now you want a villain.' Jenny pursed her lips. 'Good fer you, making the change. Knew you could do better than living off a policeman's poky wages. Bill used to say he'd like Nick Raven's life.'

Kathy hadn't heard Jennifer say anything untoward but something about her sister's att.i.tude was depressing her. 'Nick told me he's a successful businessman who buys up property and rents it out.'

'Yeah ... he is ... now. But he used to work for Wes Silver as a lorry driver, before he struck lucky.'

'I know ...' Kathy said.

'Then one of Wes's lorries got hijacked and all his f.a.gs and booze went missing off the back.' Jenny started to laugh. 'Guess who was driving it.'

'I know he was driving it 'cos he told me all about it.' Kathy fell quiet.

Jenny shrugged. 'If he did it, good luck to him, I say. So the copper's gonna be gone for a while, is he?'

'Who knows how long the war will last? Might be ages.' Kathy frowned. 'I hope he keeps his head down and comes home safe.'

'By then, it'll be too late to put things right ...'

'He knows we're finished. When he comes back, I doubt he'll come and see me.' Kathy went off to boil the kettle for tea.

'Nor me ...' Jennifer muttered beneath her breath. She felt tears p.r.i.c.k her eyes. She'd got no chance of any help from anyone with the baby: her parents hated her; David Goldstein hated her so much he'd sooner get himself killed than have anything to do with her or his kid. And Kathy would hate her, and also abandon her, if she ever found out what a mean selfish thing she'd done sleeping with her Jew ...

Jennifer found the knitting under the cus.h.i.+on and yanked the st.i.tches off the needles. Wiping her dripping eyes she decided she'd got another use for them ...

CHAPTER THIRTY.

'Police are outside!'

Winnie Finch got a gormless look from her husband for hissing the warning.

'Eh?' Eddie's teacup hovered in front of his slack mouth.

Winnie agitatedly twitched the front curtain again. 'Police ... and they're heading this way, by the looks of things.'

Eddie sprung out of his chair, and started booting boxes of sheets and pillowcases beneath the parlour table to conceal them. He yanked the tablecloth down so it drooped to touch the floor, hiding the stolen merchandise from view on one side.

's.h.i.+t!' he ground out between his teeth as the sound of the door knocker made them both jump. 'I'll nip out the back way,' he mouthed. 'You don't know nuthin' about nuthin' ... right?' Eddie jabbed with a pointing finger, threatening repercussions.

Winnie gave a single nod, licking her lips and smoothing her pinny. 'They'll know yer about,' she wailed beneath her breath. 'Yer van's out front ...'

'I've gone fer a bleedin' walk!' Eddie snarled through set teeth.

He bolted into the washhouse and crouched down behind the mangle. He knew if the rozzers spotted the boxes of stolen linen they'd have a good search and come up with all they needed to put him away. The spare bedroom resembled Aladdin's cave. With shaking hands he yanked out a packet of cigarettes and lit one, drawing deeply. After a second it dawned on him that the smell of tobacco might drift in the open kitchen window and he panicked, trying to put out the cigarette so quickly that he burned his fingers. He swallowed his yelp of pain and began waving a hand, frantically trying to disperse the smoke. He strained to listen for raised voices. Then when all was quiet he waited for the sound of a car starting up so he'd know the coast was clear. It came sooner than he expected and immediately he started tiptoeing towards the house. He put his ear to the door, was about to creep in, when Winnie yanked it open, startling him.

'They gawn?'

Winnie nodded, looking uneasy.

Eddie easily recognised his wife's s.h.i.+ftiness. 'Well ... what d'they want?' he demanded, coming in and closing the door.

'Tom ...'

'Tom ...' Eddie parroted.

'I'm gonna kill that Polly Wright and that rat of a son of hers!' Winnie spat.

'What you on about?' Eddie roared.

'Coppers are making enquiries about a kid wot got run over and got a broken leg and his skull fractured over the East End.'

Eddie thrust his face close to Winnie's. No threats were necessary. She knew if she didn't cut to the chase soon, he'd clump her.

'Polly told 'em that our Tom's been over that way with Davy when they're out with Mosley's cadets. Seems a couple of kids in black s.h.i.+rts have been reported by shopkeepers for threatening behaviour.'

Eddie's eyes bulged in fury. If the coppers had spotted his hidden boxes he could have faced a stretch inside because of his own son acting stupid!

'Ain't nuthin' to worry over, Eddie. The constable said the injured kid's gonna make a good recovery,' Winnie babbled, knowing Tom was in for a hiding, knowing too just how savagely Eddie disciplined his kids. 'Just they have to follow things up, they said ...'

Eddie raised his fist, intending to stop his wife gabbling and discover if the police had mentioned him at all.

They both jumped as the door knocker was used again. Without a word, Eddie scooted back outside.

Gingerly, Winnie opened up to find her son grinning at her.

'Forgot me key,' Tom said blithely, although he found it odd that his mother seemed reluctant to let him in. A second later, his father appeared, shoved Winnie aside and dragged him in by his hair.

'So where you been hiding yerself this afternoon?' Violet looked Stan up and down. He'd been acting odd for a few days. He'd been quieter than usual and keeping out of her way. She knew he usually finished his van deliveries at four o'clock but it was way past that now.

'Had a few hours' overtime come up at work so had to do a run over Kent way.'

'Well, that's all right, we'll have a few extra drinks on it Sat.u.r.day night.' Violet gleefully rubbed her hands. 'Wouldn't mind an ale right now. Brought any bottles in with yer from the offie?'

A moment after shaking his head, Stan was again immersed in his thoughts. He was thankful Vi seemed to be in a reasonable mood. He'd still not decided whether to tell her that he knew where her daughter-in-law was to be found. Charlie had turned up during the week with a face on him, and mother and son had torn strips off the absentee, then pored over the size of the hiding Ruby could expect if they found her.

'You listening to me?'

Stan focused on Vi's coa.r.s.e features.

'I was just saying that Charlie's gonna move in with us.'

Stan blinked rapidly, clearing his mind to concentrate. 'Move in with us?' he echoed. 'What you on about?'

'He don't like livin' on his own or wasting rent on empty s.p.a.ce,' Violet snapped. 'We've got a spare room and it'll be just like old times having him back home. He was always me favourite.' Her mouth puckered grimly. 'Bleedin' cheek, that Ruby's got, walkin' out on my boy.'

Vi started rattling pots out of the cupboard under the sink then plonked a small sack of potatoes on the draining board. 'Get peeling a few spuds, will yer? Charlie's coming in fer tea with us when he's done his s.h.i.+ft down the docks.'

Stan licked his lips, his mind spinning, but he meekly picked up the peeler and set to work. 'There's something I've been meaning to say, Vi.' After days of dithering, Vi's news had prompted him make a snap decision. 'Didn't know whether to bring it up 'cos I know you don't like no interference in yer family's affairs.'

'What you on about?' Vi turned sharp eyes on him while filling a pot with water.

'I know where Ruby and the kids are,' Stan blurted. 'But as I said, you'll have to tell me if I'm speaking out of turn.'

Stan didn't have any beef with Ruby but his philosophy was to take care of number one. Living with Vi was bad enough. Having to put up with Charlie as well as his mother would be an unbearable ordeal.

Violet strode up, staring-eyed. 'You know where Ruby's gawn?' she bellowed. 'Why ain't you said sooner?'

'Only just found out,' Stan howled, ducking her swinging fist. 'Honest, Vi, I only come across her recently. I went to see Davy over Islington at the weekend and spotted Ruby in Campbell Road. She didn't see me,' he speedily added, hoping to pacify Violet. 'I kept out of sight so Charlie can take her by surprise if he wants to.'

Violet crossed her arms over her chest; she felt like taking another swing at Stan for keeping such important information to himself. But as she'd kept something from him, and was continuing to do so, she thought she'd let him off lightly.

When the coppers had turned up looking for Charlie because some lads who worked for him might have caused a road accident, Vi had had no hesitation in pointing them in the direction of Stan's son in Campbell Road. She'd never liked Davy, in any case, and hoped in future he'd stay over his side of town.

Vi grinned. 'So ... you done us a favour turning up that news, Stan. We'll take Ruby by surprise, all right.' She rumbled a phlegmy laugh. 'The cow won't know what's. .h.i.t her.'

'Now you listen to me, Charlie! I know you've got trouble with the missus.' Wes Silver theatrically gave his chest a double-handed tap. 'I've got trouble with my missus. May's in the hospital having an operation on her unmentionables so I've got enough on my plate already ...' Wes grimaced distaste. 'You understand, Charlie; I don't need no more problems right now.'

Charlie s.h.i.+fted impatiently in front of Wes's desk, trying to control his temper. Like lots of people, he'd heard rumours for years about Wes being part Jewish, but he'd never taken them seriously. But ever since Blanche had brought it to his attention about the circ.u.mcision, Charlie had picked up on every mannerism and expression. Wes obviously didn't realise that he spoke, shrugged, gesticulated like the schmocks he despised, especially when money was under discussion.

'Ain't making it your business, Mr Silver,' Charlie said tightly. 'Just asking for a sub on me wages 'cos me rent's due.'

In fact, Charlie had no intention of laying out for any more rent. The landlord and his brother had collared him for half the arrears earlier in the week and nearly cleaned him out. Charlie never liked looking potless in front of other men so he'd pulled out his wallet and paid up to look big. The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds weren't getting another penny off him, though. Charlie was doing a moonlight flit over to his mother's place in a couple of days. He hated the idea of again being under Violet's roof because he knew she'd want to clock him in and out. She'd expect to be told where he'd been, and who with. Charlie was close to turning forty-five and he'd got used to Ruby being the woman running things at home. He'd taught her to mind her own business so he could please himself what he did.

'If everybody in my firm wanted a sub on his wages, where would that leave me?' Wes planted his fists on his desk top, pus.h.i.+ng himself upright.

Charlie was accustomed to seeing Wes in expensive suits but today he felt the difference in their status more acutely. Having come straight from his s.h.i.+ft at the docks he was in his donkey jacket and old trousers, but they seemed dirtier than usual and the pungent smell of tar was in his nostrils, killing the scent of Wes's cologne. Charlie's insides began churning in resentment because even Wes's expression seemed to him more superior than normal.

He'd helped Wes for over five years build his business, being a general dogsbody for a few quid and a bit of reflected glory. He'd even done six months without complaining, having put a bloke in hospital for crossing Wes. Today, he'd come, cap in hand, for an advance on his wages because he'd not had a woman or a good drink in over a week. None of his workmates would lend him the necessary for an evening out and he knew asking his mother would be a dead loss. Vi might offer to feed him up every so often but opening her purse for him was another matter.

'Can you tell me, Charlie, where does being too generous leave me?' Wes prodded his underling's greasy sleeve. 'How can a man like me survive if all his staff want cash they ain't yet earned?'

'I don't give a f.u.c.k, you tight-fisted Yid!' Charlie roared, losing control. He grabbed the lapels of Wes's jacket, tugging him off balance. 'I went inside for you, and what did I get? A few measly quid as compensation,' he snarled into Wes's face. 'I've taken s.h.i.+t off you for years doing yer dirty work and all I'm asking for is a little bit to tide me over.' Charlie shoved Wes back from him, sending his boss stumbling against his desk, before clearing the spittle from his lips with the back of a hand.

Wes was white-faced and trembling, but with rage rather than fear. 'What did you call me?' He straightened the knot in his tie.

'Nothing ...' Charlie was already regretting his outburst. 'Got a lot on me plate right now, that's all ...'

'You called me a Jew ...' Wes locked eyes with Charlie.

Charlie knew he could back down and apologise and it'd probably be back as it was between them ... or it might not ...

'Well ... that's what you are, ain't it?' Charlie sounded maliciously amused. 'Think n.o.body knows that you've been trimmed up down there, do you?' He laughed softly, nodding at his boss's fly. 'Don't worry ... yer secret's safe with me.' He cracked his knuckles, wondering why he'd not tried a bit of blackmail sooner to open the miser's fist.

Wes pulled out his wallet and dropped two pound notes on the desk. 'I was born with a defect,' he enunciated icily. 'And I think it bad taste to mock, but different people, different ways. Your sense of humour ain't appreciated by me, Charlie, so no more of it, eh?'

Charlie s.n.a.t.c.hed up the cash. 'Yeah ... different people, Wes, that's all it is. Sorry if you didn't see the joke ... 'cos that's all it was. Ruby's giving me the hump lately, winding me up. You know me, loyal as the day's long.'

'Yeah ... I know you ...' Wes said, his mouth slanting grimly as Charlie sauntered towards the door. He knew where Potter had got the news about his circ.u.mcision: Blanche Raven. Wes had heard about their little fling and had a private sn.i.g.g.e.r. Apart from May and Blanche and a few a.s.sorted tarts, only his parents had ever seen him naked.

May was loyal and would stay that way. She'd fought tooth and nail to get him back from Blanche. Wes hadn't thought Blanche was bright enough to make the connection between his lack of foreskin and the Jewish religion. Wes still thought she was a dim floozie so wasn't worried about her blabbing again. Besides, it was only the likes of Charlie Potter who would understand the premium in such information.

Charlie now knew more about him than Wes felt comfortable with. So something would have to be done about that ...

Charlie strode along towards home, unaware that his boss was still brooding on their altercation. He was already thinking about women. He had hoped Blanche would agree to move in with him. He'd hung around outside the Goldsteins' shop for her earlier in the week, hoping to have another go at persuading her to carry on seeing him. She'd not been any more welcoming than when he'd last ambushed her for a talk. So he'd given up on her.

Charlie was heading towards the cafe where Joyce Groves worked. He had a feeling she might cut him dead too because he'd seen her snuggling up to one of her brother's pals who'd just got out of prison. Charlie knew he wasn't up to getting belligerent with a felon half his age. He'd have considered having a sc.r.a.p for Blanche but Joyce Groves wasn't worth breaking sweat for. So he'd give it a go, and if no dice, he'd head off back towards the pubs around the docks and find Beverly or another cheap tart to spend the evening with.

Charlie had been feeling his age lately, and the youngsters he'd employed had taken the weight off him a bit. Davy had been a good help, too, till his mate turned cissy on him. Unfortunately, without Tom by his side, it seemed Davy had turned cissy too. So, they'd had a visit from the police about the Butlers' son getting run over ... so what? n.o.body could prove anything. If the Butlers had done the sensible thing and paid up straight away, n.o.body would've needed to get hurt. Besides, the injured kid was up and about again and on his crutches, so no problem ...

'Well it's nice to meet you again.' Lottie enclosed Kathy's hands in her own.

'It's nice to see you too.' Kathy returned pressure to Lottie's warm fingers.

'Sorry if I offended you when you came in the shop with that letter for Nick,' Lottie continued, leading the way to the parlour. 'You see, I didn't realise Nick had started seeing a nice girl.' She darted an apologetic glance at her son, who was closing her front door. 'Sorry ... that wasn't very tactful,' she said. 'What I meant was that at the time you weren't the one I'd heard about ...' Lottie frowned. 'I'd best keep my mouth shut from now on so I don't put my foot in it no more.'

'Good idea,' Nick said drily. 'Come and sit down,' he invited Kathy, indicating an armchair in his mother's cosy front parlour.

'I'll make the tea,' Lottie offered brightly. 'It's lovely to be properly introduced. I baked a cake this afternoon after Nick came by the shop and said he'd bring you round later. What I will say, Kathy, is that I've never needed to bake a cake before.' Her son received a twinkling smile before Lottie disappeared to put the kettle on.

'I can tell she likes you,' Nick said with a chuckle.

'I like her too,' Kathy replied, looking around at Lottie's knickknacks on the mantelpiece and cabinets.