East End Angel Part 26

'Go take a look through her winder, Dot; your eyes are younger 'n' mine,' Marge suggested.

Dot nodded, and the two women trotted into the street. Having ducked to and fro peering through the dirty net covering the gla.s.s, Dot straightened. 'She's in there on her own on the bed, far as I can tell.' She spontaneously rapped against the gla.s.s and put her lips to the cas.e.m.e.nt. 'You need anything in there?'

A wail met the offer of help.

'Reckon that was a yes,' Marge whispered in shock.

Dot rushed to the door and thrust a hand through the letter box pulling out the key dangling on a string, in the way she'd seen Jennifer's sister do in the past.

'I'll go up the shop and call for an ambulance.' Marge croaked, having taken one look at the awful sight. She knew an emergency when she saw one.

Dot hurried to the bed and gently pushed down on Jennifer's shoulders as she tried to struggle to sit up and wave them out. 'Don't you worry ... gonna get some help ... be right as rain, won't yer now ...' Dot lilted. She barely recognised the ghostly face with huge staring eyes. As Jennifer's lids fluttered shut, Dot guessed she'd fallen into unconsciousness. Dot's glance darted to the knitting needles enclosed limp in one of Jennifer's hands.

Carefully, she removed them. 'Get rid of them then, shall we?' she murmured, easing the needles from Jenny's cold bloodied fingers. She pulled the blanket up over Jennifer, hoping it might keep her warm till the ambulancemen arrived.

'Ruby ... will you look at me?' Kathy took the woman's icy face in her trembling fingers, gently turning her chin. Ruby's left profile was swollen and her single-eyed stare met Kathy's wide searching gaze. 'Did your husband smother Paul?' Kathy whispered.

Ruby turned her face to the wall. Since Kathy and Nick had arrived, the woman hadn't uttered a word to them. She seemed to be in shock, as well she might, considering the enormity of her suffering. In a short s.p.a.ce of time, Ruby had escaped her s.a.d.i.s.tic husband, been recaptured and brutalised, and lost her baby son.

Stiffly, Kathy rose from where she'd been crouching by the bed. They'd arrived to find Ruby lying on it, her poor battered features buried in a pillow. For some time, Kathy had been trying to coax an explanation for the tragedy from Ruby but she seemed unwilling or unable to answer questions.

'Perhaps if you wait outside, Ruby might open up to me,' Kathy murmured to Nick.

He nodded, rubbing a hand on his jaw, unsure how to comfort either the bereaved mother or the woman he loved.

'Woss going on?' Charlie stormed into the room from outside. He'd turned the corner expecting to see the loitering Chinaman, but it had been Nick Raven's flash car and his door standing ajar that had fixed an evil scowl on his face. The knot of women staring and gossiping had put the wind up him too so he'd immediately pelted headlong into the house, believing Ruby was plotting to take flight again. He slung a glance between the interlopers, then his eyes pounced on his wife's figure curled on the bed.

'What the f.u.c.k you playin' at now, Ruby?' He strode up to her, fists clenching. 'You lazy cow, s.h.i.+ft yer a.r.s.e. What these two doing here? You been blabbin' and ready to stir up more trouble?'

'Go for her again and it'll be the last thing you do.' Nick was immediately beside Charlie at the bed.

Furiously, Charlie elbowed Nick aside so he could tip his wife off the mattress but he'd barely touched Ruby's shoulder when he was punched to the floor. Nick hauled Charlie to his feet and flung him down on the armchair. 'Just sit there and you'll be all right till the police get here.'

'Police?' Charlie sprang up. 'What you on about?' He sneered at Ruby, fingering the blood on his lip. 'You've got nuthin' on me. She's me wife and I've every right to discipline the b.i.t.c.h after what she's done. Out searchin' for her and me kids fer weeks, I was. She'd no right to run off like that.'

'You'd left her no choice. And what about Paul?' Kathy asked calmly. 'What right had you to hurt him?'

'Dunno what you're talkin' about, Nurse Finch.' He started towards her menacingly. 'But I do know we was rubbin' along all right till you started poking yer nose in where it weren't wanted. It was you geeing Ruby up from the start.'

Nick spun Charlie around by a shoulder before he could get within arm's reach of Kathy. He ducked as Charlie swung at him but Potter's next tactic was a feint followed by a crafty low blow. Nick folded over but managed to s.h.i.+ft out of harm's way, leaving Charlie boxing air.

'Been needing to get you back fer a while, Raven. Reckoned you had me before, did yer?' Charlie leaped after the younger man but Nick jerked upright and nutted him, sending Charlie cras.h.i.+ng onto his back.

Kathy's hoa.r.s.e protest made Nick hesitate then return to the floor the foot he'd got aimed at Potter's ribs.

Breathing heavily, Nick pivoted to the bed to see if the violence had affected Ruby. She hadn't spoken or moved during the brawl.

Charlie dragged himself onto his knees. 'Too quiet in here. Where's the kid, Ruby?'

'As if you didn't know,' Nick snarled.

Charlie struggled to his feet. 'Eh?' He shuffled towards the empty pram and stared in at rumpled blankets. 'You f.u.c.kin' wh.o.r.e!' He bounded to the bed but when Nick moved with him he tensed, glaring at Ruby. 'You given the boy to his father?' He sounded outraged. 'You done a deal behind me back? You've had that Chinaman in here while I was out, ain't yer?' He swung around to Nick. 'Been hanging around outside, he has. Tell 'em, go on, that yer fancy man's been back.'

'Dr Worth has taken Paul to hospital. The baby was suffocated.' Kathy frowned. Either Charlie hadn't known about the tragedy or he was a good actor.

Charlie licked his lips. 'It's an accident then. Ain't nuthin' to do with me. She had him in bed with us in the early hours but he was snufflin' 'n' whining as usual. I heard him.' He grunted in sudden enlightenment. 'Ain't a layin' over! I reckon the c.h.i.n.k didn't take to his kid after all and stuck a pillow on the blighter's head. Ask her what's gone on.' Charlie wagged a finger at his wife.

Kathy and Nick exchanged a quizzical look. Again, Potter's version sounded reasonable.

'Thought you'd pin it on me, is that it?' Charlie had hit on the peril in the situation. 'Thought you'd get me to swing fer it, didn't yer, so you could take up with the foreigner?' He barked a laugh but his eyes were s.h.i.+fting to and fro and he suddenly bolted for the door, punching Nick in the shoulder to give himself time to escape.

Kathy rushed to Nick as he steadied himself against the wall. 'Are you hurt?'

'Nah ...' Nick brushed down his clothes. 'Not sure if he's lying about the Chinese bloke or not.' He glanced at the bed. Ruby might have been asleep; she hadn't s.h.i.+fted an inch or reacted to any of her husband's violent accusations.

'Wait outside and I'll try and get her to talk to me.'

Nick touched Kathy's cheek, a tiny smile displaying his agreement.

'Pansy needs you, Ruby,' Kathy said softly, kneeling again by the side of the bed. She took Ruby's stiff fingers between her own. 'Matilda's looking after them well, but you know Pansy wants her mum. I saw her just a few days ago and she's missing you like mad.'

Ruby's eyelids flickered and a tear squeezed through her lashes, trailed to the side of her nose.

'Did Paul's father come here to see you?'

Ruby moved her shoulders in a vague shrug.

Kathy moistened her lips. 'Did he hurt Paul?'

'No ...' Ruby formed the word with her lips rather than uttering it. 'I had to do it. Had to ... there was no other way to keep him safe.' Ruby dried her face by turning it into the pillow. 'Did it kindly, see, no pain. Couldn't be sure that Charlie wouldn't torment him if I wasn't around. Didn't see no other way ... do you understand, Nurse Finch?' Ruby blinked open her good eye.

'Yes ... I understand ...' Kathy finally forced out through the tears pulsating pain into her throat.

Very slowly, Kathy got to her feet, feeling too drained of energy and emotion to loath Charlie for driving his wife to infanticide. At that moment, Kathy felt piercing sorrow but surprise was absent. In Ruby's place, tortured in mind and body, she might have made the same choice to protect a beloved baby from pain.

'Will you tell?' Ruby murmured.

'No ... I won't tell.' Kathy's vow was barely audible.

'And your fellow outside?'

'He won't tell either,' Kathy said, and almost smiled, so strong was her certainty that the birth and death of a baby boy would be a bond between her and Nick as strong and enduring as their love.

'I'll be better by the morning,' Ruby whispered. 'I'll go over and see the kids tomorrow. Charlie'll calm down now Paul's gone. It'll get better ...'

Kathy tidied the straggling hair back from Ruby's grazed cheek, tucking it behind her ear, then went outside to find Nick.

'There's no proof that it is anything but a tragic accident.' Dr Worth tapped his mouth with a forefinger, looking at Ruby Potter, still as death on the bed. He had returned from the hospital to check on the grieving mother and found Nurse Finch and Nick Raven at Ruby's house. 'Wretched women take desperate measures with unwanted children, but she is obviously traumatised by her loss rather than relieved.' He shook his head. 'Heaven knows she is a poor wretch. Her husband deserves prison for what he's done to her.' Sidney sighed in frustration. 'All her injuries are trips and falls, so she says. It's the way these women are: constantly lying and covering up for their attackers.' He glanced at Nick. 'I'm glad you were here with Nurse Finch. Has Potter been back?'

'Not for long. He scarpered almost immediately,' Nick answered succinctly.

'He must know suspicion will fall on him as he's a renowned thug, and obviously not the dead child's natural father.'

'Was Paul otherwise harmed?' Kathy asked quietly.

'Nothing obvious at all other than teething rash. He seemed small but healthy. Have you managed to get anything out of the mother?' Dr Worth's enquiring gaze fell on Kathy.

'Before he left, Mr Potter confirmed that his wife brought the baby into bed and he heard Paul snuffling.' While giving her careful reply, Kathy kept her eyes steadily on Ruby.

Nick was delving into his pockets for his cigarettes. He lit one while propped against the doorjamb, blowing smoke into the hallway. Kathy knew why he'd distanced himself even if Dr Worth did not. Nick was avoiding answering questions. In the short s.p.a.ce of time between Ruby's confession and Sidney's arrival she'd confided in Nick the heartbreaking secret. But Dr Worth seemed satisfied drawing his own conclusions.

'The boy might have been congested cutting his teeth and having trouble breathing.' Sidney paused. 'I'll see if Mrs Potter would like a sleeping draught before I leave. I doubt she will. She didn't want me to fetch a neighbour to sit with her earlier.' He frowned at Ruby's turned back. 'She just wants to be left alone, so she said.'

'Perhaps Mrs Potter knows best.' Kathy knew that Ruby would rally despite her enervating grief. The woman had said she'd be better by tomorrow and Kathy believed she would be, because Pansy and Peter needed her. Ruby's love and duty to her remaining children would make her strong again. Instinctively the anguished mother understood that she needed silence and solitude to heal. Now Charlie had gone and Kathy doubted he'd show his face for some days she trusted that Ruby would recover if left alone.

'Would you mind if we drove to my sister's place before heading back to the surgery?'

They'd come out of Ruby's, leaving Dr Worth with his patient. As he got into the car Nick shot Kathy a surprised look. She seemed shattered and he'd guessed she'd want to go straight home. 'No, I don't mind, but it's not going to be easy getting through.' He frowned as Kathy settled beside him.

The Fascist march through the East End had drawn huge numbers of protesters and snarled up roads around the Royal Mint, making them impa.s.sable. Police were directing traffic away from the area around Cable Street and sending them into congested side roads.

'Something urgent you need to see her about, is it?' Nick asked, turning the corner into Christian Street.

Kathy had closed her eyes, feeling peculiarly peaceful as though she'd cried too hard and too long and was beyond exhaustion. Yet she'd not shed a tear. She roused herself in the seat, rubbing at her goose-pimply arms, although she was sure she wasn't chilled.

'I just want to see her, today.' Kathy sounded apologetic, giving him an appealing smile.

Nick swore beneath his breath as a mounted policeman clattered in front of the car, making him brake suddenly. 'This is gonna turn nasty, by the looks of it.' He pulled the car to the kerb. 'I'll try another route to the High Street.'

'Sorry ...' Kathy murmured, yet still felt unable to tell him to abandon the trip to Jennifer's. 'It's worse chaos than earlier when we came the other way ...' Her remark tailed away as she watched a few bobbies racing to separate fighting men. Elsewhere, people were stacking up furniture in the middle of the road to form a barricade as though a full-scale battle might erupt. 'If David were still around he'd be in the thick of it,' Kathy said as she saw a policeman knocked to the ground. It was the first time she'd thought or spoken about him in some days.

Nick manoeuvred the vehicle carefully, scowling as people banged on the roof in annoyance as he inched forward into their path.

Kathy craned her neck, feeling alarmed as she peered through the throng to see what was going on up ahead. She glimpsed pipe and drum band members kitted out in black-s.h.i.+rted uniform. Mosley's supporters women were much in evidence, as were the youth cadets were carrying Union flags and banners bearing the Fascist colours. They looked very smart and well organised, and Kathy realised the police were trying to protect them from the throng of demonstrators rather than disperse the parade.

Eventually, Kathy and Nick reached Mare Street, but, instead of being relieved on reaching their destination, Kathy felt a jolt of fear. The sight greeting them was eerily reminiscent of what they'd met outside Ruby's house earlier. A group of women were congregated on the pavement close to her sister's front door. They stared as Nick's car drew to a halt.

'Shall I come in or wait here?' Nick asked.

Kathy could tell he also sensed something was amiss. 'Let me see what's going on.' She attempted a smile, getting out.

As she approached Jenny's neighbours, Dot Pearson fiddled with the scarf knotted on top of her head, looking uncomfortable. The other women shuffled into a wider circle, arms crossed over pinafores, leaving Dot as spokeswoman.

'She ain't in,' Dot informed quietly. 'I went in to her, 'cos me and me mother-in-law could hear her crying out. Poor cow was too bad to manage getting help for herself.' Dot jerked her head at the top of the road. 'Rung fer an ambulance from the shop up there. It come and took her about an hour ago.'

'Ambulance?' Kathy breathed. 'What for?' She feared she knew but didn't want to broadcast her sister's condition to anybody in case something else had caused the emergency. Jennifer was still slim and her pregnancy unnoticeable at first glance.

'Haemorrhaging badly, she were.' Dot's tone was sympathetic rather than sly. 'Suspected miscarriage, ambulance man said; they've taken her to Bethnal Green hospital.' She'd lowered her voice respectfully, although it was obvious to Kathy all the neighbours knew what had gone on. 'Your sister was in and out of consciousness but I promised her 'fore they took her away that I'd let you know all about it when you happened by.'

'How long ago, did you say?' Kathy asked, feeling dizzy with anxiety.

'Good hour or so.' Dot suddenly patted her arm. 'Be all right she will ... young 'n' strong, ain't she? Want a hand clearing up?' Dot tipped her head towards Jennifer's front door.

It took a moment for Kathy to understand the woman's offer of help, then she shook her head. 'Thanks anyway ... but I'll manage ...' Kathy's first instinct was to fly to her sister's side rather than sort bloodied sheets for was.h.i.+ng.

'Right you are ... but if you change yer mind just bang on me door.' Dot headed towards home, raising a hand to her cronies. She'd told them most of what had gone on, but not about the knitting needles. Dot had two children but she'd been pregnant three times. Two children were all she was having till her husband agreed to move them out of this dump and somewhere better. Then this afternoon she'd learned that her and Jennifer Finch had more in common than she knew, so she didn't regret for one moment throwing the knitting needles in the dustbin before the ambulance had turned up. Wasn't the first time she'd done that, after all ...

Dot disappeared inside her house and, aware no more gossip was to be had with the invalid's family present, the other women dispersed.

Kathy got back into the car, too distressed to speak immediately.

'What's happened?' Nick enquired softly.

'My sister's been taken to hospital ... a miscarriage,' she blurted.

'Do you want to go and see her?' Nick suggested gently.

Kathy nodded fiercely, keeping her face lowered towards her lap. But her shoulders started shaking with huge silent sobs.

Nick drew her into his arms. 'Never rains but it pours,' he murmured against her hair, soothing her with stroking fingers.

'I can't stand any more ... I can't! Why all today? Why this as well today?' Kathy keened against his shoulder.

''Cos tomorrow's gonna make up fer it.' Nick murmured comfort against her moist cheek. 'You'll see, Kath ... it's all gonna come right for us tomorrow.'

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR.

Charlie hung back in the shadows till he saw Beverly saunter out of the dockside pub. He swore beneath his breath in thankfulness. Under normal circ.u.mstances, he'd have strutted inside and straight up to the bar to find her, but following the recent uproar at his place he couldn't be sure the coppers weren't out with a warrant for his arrest. His haunts were well known so he was keeping his head down in case he'd been falsely accused of murdering Ruby's brat. Charlie was incensed that suspicion would naturally fall on him. He'd never clumped the boy, much as he'd been tempted to every time he looked in the pram at that sallow face.

He didn't want an inquisition from people who'd seen Ruby's bruises and so judged him a baby-killer. As far as Charlie was concerned, he'd been ent.i.tled to teach his wife a lesson for leading him a merry dance. Ruby was numb with shock at losing the kid but she might be the first to point the finger once she perked up. Charlie knew she was his alibi and if she lied to frame him he'd take her down with him, one way or the other ...

The Chinese weren't a rare sight in London by any means, but Charlie reckoned that the fellow he'd seen was Ruby's boyfriend. His bowels clenched in possessive jealousy. It was possible Ruby had invited the c.h.i.n.k in to introduce him to his kid while he was out earlier. If they'd argued the foreigner might have turned on the b.a.s.t.a.r.d he'd left behind on his last visit.

Ruby idolised her children and no man would ever compete with them in her heart. If the boyfriend had done it, Ruby would be screaming blue murder to the police; instead, she seemed to be blaming herself. So perhaps it had been an accidental laying over like Nurse Finch had said.

Charlie's expression turned vicious on thinking about that prissy little b.i.t.c.h. He knew she had been stirring things up for him; but he hadn't known until it was too late that Nurse Finch and Nick Raven were so close. He hadn't finished with Raven, and Charlie made a solemn vow that first chance he got he'd pay the b.a.s.t.a.r.d back for again making him look a berk in front of his own wife ...

Charlie was startled from his rumination by the sound of cats fighting close by. He slung a look over a shoulder, slinking further under the dripping brick arch, then peered into darkness to see if the noise had disturbed Beverly. She was still smoking and slouching.

The sudden yowling had set Charlie's heart racing and he knew he was jittery and must calm down. He needed a good few ales inside him, and Beverly under him all night long.